India is home to forty-two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In September 2023, Santiniketan, founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, is designated as India's forty-first world historic site. In September 2023, the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka were added to the list by UNESCO. With this addition, India now has 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Most recent information regarding India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
UNESCO added the Hoysala Temples of Karnataka, which date back to the 12th century, to the list in September 2023.
UNESCO designated Santiniketan, West Bengal, as a World Heritage Site in September 2023.
Dholavira, Harappan City in the Rann of Kutchh, will be inducted as India's 40th UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 27, 2021.
The Rudreswara Temple, also known as the Ramappa Temple, is located in Palampet, Warangal, Telangana. On July 25, 2021, UNESCO listed it on the List of World Heritage Sites.
India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a location that has been designated as having exceptional cultural or physical significance and being of exceptional worth to humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. UNESCO works to promote global natural and cultural heritage identification, conservation, and upkeep. A good example of this is the 1972 UNESCO-accepted Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Listed as Natural World Heritage by UNESCO
Sites with unique cultural features, such as geological formations and physical, ecological, and cultural landscapes, are recognized as UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites.
Below is a list of India's UNESCO-designated Natural World Heritage sites:
Natural World Heritage Site | State | Year of Notification |
Kaziranga National Park | Assam | 1985 |
Keoladeo Ghana National Park | Rajasthan | 1985 |
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary | Assam | 1985 |
Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers | Uttarakhand | 1988, 2005 |
Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal | 1987 |
Western Ghats | Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala | 2012 |
Great Himalayan National Park | Himachal Pradesh | 2014 |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites for Culture
Sites featuring distinctive cultural elements, such as paintings, monuments, architecture, etc., are designated as UNESCO Cultural World Heritage sites.
Below is a list of India's UNESCO-designated Cultural World Heritage sites:
Cultural World Heritage Site | State | Year of Notification |
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas | Karnataka | 2023 |
Santiniketan | West Bengal | 2023 |
Dholavira | Gujarat | 2021 |
Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple | Telangana | 2021 |
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement | Chandigarh | 2016 |
Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai | Maharashtra | 2018 |
Historic City of Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 2017 |
Jaipur City | Rajasthan | 2020 |
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) | Bihar | 2016 |
Rani-Ki-Van | Gujarat | 2014 |
Hill Forts of Rajasthan | Rajasthan | 2013 |
The Jantar Mantar | Rajasthan | 2010 |
Red Fort Complex | Delhi | 2007 |
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Gujarat | 2004 |
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus | Maharashtra | 2004 |
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka | Madhya Pradesh | 2003 |
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya | Bihar | 2002 |
Mountain Railways of India | Tamil Nadu | 1999 |
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi | Delhi | 1993 |
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi | Delhi | 1993 |
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi | Madhya Pradesh | 1989 |
Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1987 |
Great Living Chola Temples | Tamil Nadu | 1987 |
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal | Karnataka | 1987 |
Churches and Convents of Goa | Goa | 1986 |
Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh | 1986 |
Group of Monuments at Hampi | Karnataka | 1986 |
Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh | 1986 |
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram | Tamil Nadu | 1984 |
Sun Temple, Konarak | Orissa | 1984 |
Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh | 1983 |
Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
Ellora Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh | 1983 |
Mixed World Heritage Sites by UNESCO
A mixed site includes elements that are significant from a cultural and environmental perspective.
Mixed World Heritage Site | State | Year of Notification |
Khangchendzonga National Park | Sikkim | 2016 |
Crucial Information regarding India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
1.Agra Fort
It's the Red Fort of Agra, a 16th-century Mughal monument.
Agra Fort includes the Shah Jahan-built Khas Mahal and Jahangir Palace.
2.The Ajanta Caves
They are caves carved out of rock.
There are 29 caverns in all.
3.The Nalanda Mahavihara Archaeological Site
India's oldest university is called Nalanda.
This location has the archaeological remnants of a monastic and scholastic establishment that dates from the third century BCE to the thirteenth century CE.
4.Buddhist Structures in Sanchi
It includes monasteries, mansions, temples, and monolithic pillars.
It is regarded as the most ancient Buddhist sanctuary still in use.
5.Pavagadh Archaeological Park in Champaner
It includes properties with living cultural heritage, historic sites, and unexcavated archeological sites.
Here are found buildings constructed in the eighteenth and fourteenth centuries, including residential precincts, palaces, religious complexes, fortresses, agricultural buildings, and water facilities.
6.Terminus of Chhatrapati Shivaji
CST was formerly known as Victoria Terminus.
It is an example of Indian Victorian Gothic Revival architecture.
It was created by British architect F. W. Stevens.
7.Goa's Churches and Convents
The evangelizing of Asia is symbolized by the churches in the city that served as the capital of Portugal.
8.Caves of Elephanta
Elephanta Caves is known locally as Gharapuri Caves.
Seven caverns can be found.
9.The Ellora Caves
Thirty-four temples and monasteries exist.
10.Fatehpur Sikri
Built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
For ten years, it served as the capital of the Mughals.
Among them is Jama Masjid.
11.Great Living Chola Temples
Temples like as the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram, and the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur are included in it.
12.Hampi Monument Cluster
The final capital of the Vijayanagar Empire was Hampi.
13.Collection of Mahabalipuram Monuments
The group's most well-known works include Rathas, Mandapas, and enormous outdoor reliefs.
14.Monument Group in Pattadakal
Chalukyan art is reflected in the monuments.
It includes Jain sanctuaries and Hindu temples.
15.Rajasthan's Hill Forts:
These include the forts at Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Jaipur, and Jaisalmer.
16.Ahmadabad's Historic City
In the 15th century, the walled city was established by Sultan Ahmad Shah.
17.The Tomb of Humayun
Constructed in 1570.
It is recognized as the subcontinent of India's first garden tomb.
18.City of Jaipur
Observed The city was founded in 1727 by Jai Singh II.
19.Khajuraho Monument Group
It has temples constructed during the Chandely Dynasty.
There are temples dedicated to two religions: Jainism and Hinduism.
20.Mahabodhi Temple Complex
It is among the four sacred locations associated with the life of the Buddha.
21.India's Mountain Railways
This site includes three railways: the Kalka Shimla Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
22.The Qutb Minar and Its Structures
13th-century construction took place on Qutb Minar.
It is India's tallest tower.
23.The Queen's Stepwell, or Rani-ki-Vav
it is situated along the Saraswati River's banks.
The architecture is of the Maru-Gurjara style.
24.Red Fort Complex
It was constructed to serve as Shah Jahanabad's palace fort.
This compound includes Salimgarh Fort.
25.The Rock Caves of Bhimbetka
The Bhimbetka Caves were discovered in 1958 by Dr. V. S. Wakankar.
26.Sun Temple
King Narasimhadeva I constructed the Sun Temple in the thirteenth century.
It is an illustration of Kalinga architecture.
27.The Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan constructed the Taj Mahal.
Situated on the banks of the Yamuna river.
28.Le Corbusier's Architecture: A Prominent Contribution to the Modern Movement
Three continents are home to 17 locations.
This includes the Complexe du Capitole in Chandigarh, India.
29.The Jantar Mantar
The astronomical observation station was constructed by Sawai Jai Singh II, Rajput king.
30.Mumbai's Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles
This collection includes Art Deco structures in Mumbai and Victorian Neo-Gothic public buildings.
31.Conservation Area and Great Himalayan National Park
This Himachal Pradesh conservation area is home to high mountain peaks, alpine meadows, and riverine forests.
32.National Park Kaziranga
It is situated in the northeastern Indian state of Assam's Karbi Anglong district, in the towns of Golaghat and Nagaon.
33.National Park Keoladeo
This National Park was formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
Among the water birds that use this park as a wintering ground are Siberian Cranes.
34.The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
As part of Project Tiger, it was the first reserve added to the network of tiger reserves in 1973.
Moreover, it is a biosphere reserve.
35.National Parks of Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers
The second-highest mountain in India is called Nanda Devi West.
36.National Park of the Sundarbans
It is a component of the Ganges Delta.
37.Ghats in the West
These are among the hotspots for biodiversity.
Go through the linked article to get detailed notes about Western Ghats.
38.The National Park of Khangchendzonga
The third-highest peak in the world is Mount Khangchendzonga.
39.Temple of Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa)
Constructed during the 13th century CE, the temple is a remarkable sandstone Kakatiyan work of art.
The building features carved granite and dolerite pillars and beams that are embellished with a unique, pyramid-shaped Vimana composed of lightweight porous bricks, often known as "floating bricks," which lessened the weight of the roof structures.
40.Dholavira
Named after the settlement in Gujarat's Kutch area, Dholavira was found by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi in 1968.
It continued to be a center of trade and manufacture in ancient India for almost 1,500 years, until it began to fall about 1500 BC.
It was the fifth-largest city of the Indus Valley Civilization, after Rakhigarhi, Mohen-jo-Daro, Ganweriwala, and Harappa.
41.Santiniketan
Santiniketan, which means "abode of peace" and is situated in the Birbhum area of West Bengal, was founded in 1901 by Rabindranath Tagore, who also established the groundwork for Visva-Bharati University.
It was founded by Tagore Rabindranath.
Santiniketan is extremely important for urban planning, landscape design, monumental arts, architectural and technological advancements, and human values.
Santiniketan has been the target of UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination efforts since 2010, with the most recent nomination proposal being started in the 2020–21 budget year.
In recent years, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been working to restore a number of Santiniketan's buildings.
42.Sacred Groups in the Hoysala Tradition
The Karnataka districts of Hassan and Mysuru have the temples at Belur, Halebidu, and Somanathapura.
India's Culture Ministry suggested adding the temples, which are sometimes referred to as "poetry carved in stone," to the list in 2022–2023.
Included in the ensemble are the following temples: Channakeshava Temple, located in Belur, Hassan district; built by King Vishnuvardhana and devoted to the god Vishnu.
King Vishnuvardhana commissioned the Hoysalesvara Temple at Halebidu, Hassan district, which is devoted to the god Shiva.
Kesava Temple, Somanathapura, Mysuru district (Dedicated to the god Vishnu and consecrated by Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of Hoysala King Narasimha III)
Note for UPSC Aspirants: For UPSC aspirants interested in exploring further, here are some keywords to guide your research: Taj Mahal, Jaipur City, Red Fort Complex, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutb Minar, Western Ghats, Hampi Monument Cluster, Ellora Caves, Kaziranga National Park,UNESCO, Khangchendzonga National Park.
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