UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
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A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a location acknowledged by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was ratified by UNESCO in 1972.
This designation signifies a place of significant cultural or natural importance that is safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations.
India now has 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Santiniketan in West Bengal and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka are the newest additions, receiving their status in 2023. This brings India’s total count of UNESCO World Heritage Sites from 40 to 42 in 2023.
—Recent UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
—Dholavira (2021): Dholavira, located in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, is one of the five largest Harappan sites in the Indian subcontinent. It provides significant archaeological evidence of the advanced urban planning and engineering skills of the Harappan civilization. The city’s sophisticated water conservation system and well-organized urban layout are particularly noteworthy. Dholavira’s unique features include large reservoirs, intricate channels, and well-defined divisions within the city.
—Ramappa Temple (2021): The Ramappa Temple, also known as the Ramalingeswara Temple, stands as a testament to the architectural brilliance of the Kakatiya dynasty. Situated in the town of Palampet in Telangana, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. What sets it apart is its exceptional craftsmanship and innovative use of bricks, known as “Kakatiya Thoranam,” which are so light that they reportedly float on water. The temple complex is adorned with intricate carvings depicting various scenes from Hindu mythology.
—Recent UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
—Santiniketan (2023): Founded by Debendranath Tagore as an ashram, it later became a university town for Visva-Bharati University. It’s connected to the life and philosophy of his son, Rabindranath Tagore, a key figure in the Bengali Renaissance.
—Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (2023): Chennakeshava Temple in Belur, Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu, and Keshava Temple in Somanathapura, built between the 12th and 14th centuries. They blend Dravidian and northern Indian architecture, built by Vaishnavism and Shaivism followers. Richly decorated with stone sculptures, they hold cultural and religious significance.
1)Agra Fort is the first world heritage site in India.
2)China and Italy have the highest number of World Heritage Sites
3)The oldest UNESCO World Heritage Site in India is the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram. It was designated as a UNESCO site in 1984 and have a collection of intricately carved temples and sculptures dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries CE. These monuments showcase the architectural and artistic brilliance of the Pallava dynasty.
4)Following Mahabalipuram, the next oldest World Heritage Site in India is the Agra Fort, which was recognized by UNESCO in 1983. This historic fortification, located in Uttar Pradesh, dates back to the 16th century and is an outstanding example of Mughal architecture. Please note that while other ancient and historically significant sites exist in India, these two are among the earliest to be designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
India has 42 world heritage sites that include 34 Cultural sitess, 7 Natural sites, and 1 mixed site.
qUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization
—It was founded in 1945 to develop the “intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind” as a means of building lasting peace.
—It is located in Paris, France.
Agra Fort (1983)
16th-century Mughal monument
Fortress of red sandstone
It comprises the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas
—Ajanta Caves (1983)
Ajanta is a series of rock-cut caves in the Sahyadri ranges (Western Ghats) on the Waghora river near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
Number of Caves: There are a total of 29 caves (all Buddhist) of which 25 were used as Viharas or residential caves while 4 were used as Chaitya or prayer halls.
Time of Development
The caves were developed in the period between 200 B.C. to 650 A.D.
The Ajanta caves were inscribed by the Buddhist monks, under the patronage of the Vakataka kings – Harishena being a prominent one.
Reference of the Ajanta caves can be found in the travel accounts of Chinese Buddhist travellers Fa Hien (during the reign of Chandragupta II; 380- 415 CE) and Hieun Tsang (during the reign of emperor Harshavardhana; 606 – 647 CE). .
Painting The figures in these caves were done using fresco painting.
The outlines of the paintings were done in red colour. One of the striking features is the absence of blue colour in the paintings.
The paintings are generally themed around Buddhism – the life of Buddha and Jataka stories.
Elephanta Caves (1987)
Located at Elephanta island or island of Gharapuri(literally- ‘City of Caves’) in the Sea of Oman, close to Mumbai.
Contains a collection of rock art connected to the Shaivite cult.
It is a vital symbol of the greatness of Indian art, especially the huge high reliefs in the main cave.
qThey were constructed around the mid-5th to 6th centuries AD.
—Ellora Caves
qIt is located nearly 100 Kms away from Ajanta caves in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra.
qNumber of Caves: It is a group of 34 caves – 17 Brahmanical, 12 Buddhist, and 5 Jain.
qTime of Development
qThese set of caves were developed during the period between the 5th and 11th centuries A.D.
qThat is why the caves reflect a natural diversity in terms of theme and architectural styles.
qThe Ellora complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
qThe most remarkable of the cave temples is Kailasa (Kailasanatha; cave 16), named for the mountain in the Kailasa Range of the Himalayas where the Hindu god Shiva resides.
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—Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
—Built during the second half of the 16th century by Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri or ‘The City of Victory,’ also served as the capital of the Mughal empire for a short time period.
—It contains an array of monuments and temples, including one of the largest mosques in India- the Jama Masjid
—Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
This site was the last capital of the kingdom of Vijaynagar.
These Dravidian temples and palaces were built by rulers of Vijaynagar between the 14th and 16th centuries.
In 1565, the city was captured by Deccan Muslim Confederacy and pillaged for a period of 6 months, before being abandoned.
—Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
This group of monuments was founded by Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries along the Coromandel coast of Bay of Bengal.
These temples boast of intricate and unique architectural styles in the form of- rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries) and giant open-air reliefs such as- ‘Descent of the Ganges.’
It also encloses the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures dedicated to the glory of Shiva.
—Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
These temples were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached at its pinnacle between 950 and 1050.
Only 20 temples remain, belonging to two different religions namely-Hinduism and Jainism, including the famous Temple of Kandariya decorated with intricately and beautifully carved sculptures.
—Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
This temple was earlier built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C.However, the present structure dates back to the 5th or 6th centuries.
It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick and considered to be one of the four sacred sites associated with the life of Gautama Buddha.
—Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
Qutub Minar was built in red sandstone in the early 13th century, in Delhi.
It is 72.5 m high, with diameters of 14.32 m and 2.75 m at its base and peak respectively.
The tower is surrounded by various aesthetically-pleasing treasures, for instance- the Alai Darwaza built-in 1311 as well as two mosques including the Quwwatu’l-Islam, the oldest mosque in northern India.
—Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
Situated on the banks of Saraswati river, this stepwell was built as a memorial to a king.
Stepwells are considered to be easily accessible underground water resources and storage systems, which have been constructed in the Indian subcontinent since the 3rd millennium B.C.
This stepwell flaunts the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, designed in the form of an inverted temple to emphasize the sanctity of water and is endowed with more than thousand sculptures depicting a combination of religious, mythological and secular imagery.
—Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
These shelters are located within the foothills of Vindhya range, on the southern edge of the central Indian plateau.
Unearthed in the form of five clusters of natural rock shelters exhibiting paintings that date back to the Mesolithic, and other periods succeeding it.
The cultural traditions of the inhabitants in surrounding areas are very similar to those displayed in the paintings.
—Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)
Konark Sun Temple, located in East Odisha near the sacred city of Puri.
Built-in 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I (AD 1238-1264). Its scale, refinement, and conception represent the strength and stability of the Ganga Empire as well as the value systems of the historic milieu.
It marks the highest point of achievement of Kalinga architecture depicting the grace, the joy, and the rhythm of life all its wondrous variety.
There are two rows of 12 wheels on each side of the Konark sun temple. Some say the wheels represent the 24 hours in a day and others say the 12 months.
The seven horses are said to symbolize the seven days of the week.
—Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)
qSailors once called this Sun Temple of Konark, the Black Pagoda because it was supposed to draw ships into the shore and cause shipwrecks.
qKonârak is the invaluable link in the history of the diffusion of the cult of Surya, which originating in Kashmir during the 8th century, finally reached the shores of Eastern India.
—Taj Mahal (1983)
—The Taj Mahal (Agra) is a mausoleum of white marble built by the Mughal emperor, Shahjahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It stands on the banks of the river Yamuna.
—The construction of the Taj Mahal was completed within a period of 17 years from 1631 to 1648 AD.
—The Taj Mahal was declared a centrally protected monument of national importance in December 1920.
—Considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, it was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites in 1983.
—It is famous for its unique layout, perfection in symmetry and inlay work.
—Kaziranga National Park (1985)
It is located in the State of Assam and covers 42,996 ha. It is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.
It was declared as a National Park in 1974.
It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007. It has a total tiger reserve area of 1,030 sq km with a core area of 430 sq. km.
International Status
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
—Keoladeo National Park (1985)
This wetland is located in the state of Rajasthan and served as a duck shooting reserve till the end of 19th century. However, soon enough the hunting ceased and the area was declared a national park in 1982.
This National Park is home to 375 bird species and various other life forms.
—Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot located in Assam. It is a part of Manas Tiger Reserve and sprawls alongside Manas river.
It also provides a habitable environment to a range of endangered species such as- tiger, greater one-horned rhino, swamp deer, pygmy hog and Bengal florican.
—Sundarban National Park (1987)
The Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the largest such forests in the world, lies across India and Bangladesh on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal.
It is adjacent to the border of India’s Sundarbans World Heritage site inscribed in 1987.
The area is known for its wide range of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger, and other threatened species such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian python.
It is home to many rare and globally threatened wildlife species such as the estuarine crocodile, Royal Bengal Tiger, Water monitor lizard, Gangetic dolphin, and olive ridley turtles.
—Western Ghats (2012)
Western Ghats consist of a chain of mountains running parallel to India’s Western Coast and passing from the states of Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
They cover an immense area in a 1600 km long stretch and are interrupted only once by a 30km Palghat gap at around 11 degrees North.
Western Ghats are also home to tropical evergreen forests, as well as to 325 globally threatened species.
—Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)
Located in Sikkim, this National Park is dominated by the world’s third-highest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga.
The Park comprises steep-sided valleys, snow-clad mountains and various lakes and glaciers including the 26km long Zemu glacier, located around the base of Mount Khangchendzonga.
It covers almost 25% of the state of Sikkim and ensures a habitable environment for various endemic as well as threatened, plant and animal species.