World Heritage Sites In India – The Speakers of Past
To begin with, let me quote this recent addition to your attention;
As of June 2018 – country India is blessed with 37 Heritage Sites in total [the Sixth most of any country]. The spot of importance, which has just a little while back titled as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai.
The uncommon presence; the otherworldly appearance; the captivating past; the significant function; their role and contribution; the source of knowledge and awareness – the World Heritage sites of India are truly worth a visit.
- Do some researches about the places
- Select a zone of your choice
- Write down the places you wish to explore
- Pack your bag and leave for an adventurous ride.
There is something quite distinct about the heritage sites; it showers a varied vibe, not just the heritage monument but the region encircling it also understands the importance of this title [the World Heritage sites in India are truly amazing].
37 UNESCO World Heritage Sites In India
Here are the names of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India [followed by a brief introduction] –
1. The Ajanta Caves [1983]
This point of attraction is adorned with 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments, which belongs to the interval starting from 2nd Century BCE to about 480 CE. The cave lands of Gesture, pose and form is situated in the Aurangabad district of the state of Maharashtra.
2. The Ellora Caves [1983]
The place of artistry is regarded as one of the largest rock-cut monastery temple cave complexes residing in the arms of this striking world. It features the great artwork through the presence of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain Monuments [situated in the Aurangabad district of the state of Maharashtra].
3. The Taj Mahal [1983]
The Crown of the Palace; Taj Mahal is a white-marbled Mughal Mausoleum situated in the South bank of the River Yamuna in the city of Agra. It’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World [made in memory by a Mughal emperor for his wife].
4. The Agra Fort [1983]
Precisely quoted as a walled City; it’s a historic Fort made up of Red Sandstone standing tall in the city of Agra – back in days the Agra Fort served as the main residence of the Emperors of Mughal Dynasty.
5. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram [1984]
The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is an impressive collection of 7th and 8th Century CE religious monuments [the significant spots of worship] situated in the coastal resort town of Mamallapuram in the remarkable state of Tamil Nadu.
It’s located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal to the South of Chennai.
6. The Konark Sun Temple [1984]
It’s truly a masterpiece [devoted to the Hindu God Surya]; the Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-Century Sun Temple situated at Konark on the Coastline of Odisha.
This commendable temple is attributed to King Narasimhadeva first of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
7. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary [1985]
It also serves as a National park [classified roles – a Project Tiger Reserve| a Biosphere Reserve and an Elephant Reserve]. It’s situated in the Himalayan Foothills of the Northeastern state of Assam.
8. Keoladeo National Park [1985]
Earlier it was addressed as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Man-made and man-managed wetland and one of the eminent National Parks of India. The Keoladeo National Park is situated in Bharatpur, Rajasthan serving the avifauna.
Delhi Bharatpur Weekend Tour, Delhi Agra Jaipur Bharatpur Tour
Also Read – Best Places For Wildlife Photography In India
9. Kaziranga National Park [1985]
Unique in its own way; the Kaziranga National Park hosts two-third of the World’s Great One-Horned Rhinoceros. It’s situated in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the northeastern state of Assam.
10. Churches and Convents of Goa [1986]
The Churches and Convents of Goa are the striking monuments; regarded as a cultural Property [inscribed by UNESCO under the World Heritage List of 1986] – Basilica of Bom Jesus.
11. Group of Monuments at Hampi [1986]
Wondrous formations; the Group of Monuments at Hampi is situated in the East Central zone of Karnataka. It served as the centre of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire capital during the period of 14th Century.
Also Read – Heritage Tour to India
12. Khajuraho Group of Monuments [1986]
A unique cluster of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples residing in the arms of Madhya Pradesh (Khajuraho). These temples are well-known for their Nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures.
13. Fatehpur Sikri [1986]
The City of Victory is situated in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh; widely referred as the dream city of Akbar [the third Mughal Emperor]. Some major attractions are-
- Buland Darwaza
- Jama Masjid
- Tomb of Salim Chishti
- Panch Mahal
- Mariam-Uz-Zamani’s Palace etc.
14. The Elephanta Caves [1987]
Addressed as the city of caves; it showcases a remarkable collection of cave temples primarily devoted to the Hindu God Shiva. They are situated on the Elephanta Island in the state of Maharashtra.
15. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal [1987]
Also addressed as Pattadakallu or Raktapura; it’s a notable complex of 7th and 8th century CE Jain and Hindu Temples situated in the Northern zone of Karnataka [ located on the West bank of River Malaprabha in the Bagalakote district].
UNESCO has illustrated Pattadakal as “a harmonious blend of architectural forms from Northern and Southern India” and a sketch of “Eclectic Art” at its height.
16. Sundarbans National Park [1987]
[The largest estuarine mangrove forest across the World]; the National Park of Sundarban also functions as a Tiger Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve. It’s situated in the state of West Bengal [one of the largest reserves of the Bengal Tiger].
The Sundarbans National Park serves as home to a wide variety of reptile, bird and invertebrate species including the Salt-water Crocodile.
17. The Great Living Chola Temples [1987]
Constructed by the Kings of the Chola Empire; it’s stretched over all of Tamil Nadu [the Southern State] –the three significant temples are Brihadeeswara Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram; the Airavateshwarar temple of Darasuram and the Brihadeeswarar temple of Thanjavur.
18. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park [1988 and 2005]
Residing in the wide-spread arms of Uttarakhand. In the year of 1988, the destination was outlined as Nanda Devi National park and further in 2005 it was stretched to encompass the Valley of Flowers National Park and an extensive buffer zone.
Also Read – 6 Best Trekking Trails In India
19. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi [1989]
A praiseworthy Buddhist Complex, well-known for its Great Stupa situated on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh. The Great Stupa is one of the oldest Stone Structures in India, showcases the fine Indian Architecture.
Also Read – Best Places To Visit In Madhya Pradesh
20. Qutb Minar and Its Exemplary Monuments [1993]
A noteworthy collection of buildings and monuments from the Delhi Sultanate situated at Mehrauli in Delhi [it was built on the ruins of Lal Kot]. The impressive Qutub Minar residing in the complex was named after Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki.
21. Humayun’s Tomb [1993]
It’s the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun situated in the vicinity of Delhi. The Humayun’s tomb was commissioned by his first wife and prime consort [Empress Bega Begum]. The tomb is constructed with a Char-Bagh layout with two gates [one to the South and other to the west].
22. Mountain Railways of India [1999, 2005 and 2008]
Includes three mountain railways;
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway [1999 – West Bengal]
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway [2005 –Tamil Nadu]
- Kalka-Shimla Railway [2008 – Himachal Pradesh].
Also Read – 5 Mountain Railways In India
23. Mahabodhi Temple Complex [2002]
Unique property of cultural and archaeological importance; an ancient Buddhist temple situated in the religious site of Bodh Gaya in the state of Bihar [this is where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment]. This exemplary temple complex includes two large straight-sided Shikhara Towers.
24. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka [2003]
The imposing repository of Rock paintings within natural Rock Shelters; the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka is situated in the Foothills of the Vindhya Range of the hills in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
It displays the earliest traces of human life on the Indian Subcontinent [seven hills and over 750 rock shelters distributed in an expanse of more than 10 kms].
Also Read – 10 Places To Visit In India Before Your Turn 30
25. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park [2004]
A notable archaeological park situated in the Panchmahal district of the state of Gujarat. It’s situated around the historical city of Champaner [a city that was constructed by Sultan Mahmud Begada of Gujarat.
This park includes archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage monuments like the remains of the 16th capital, chalcolithic sites etc.
26. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus [Earlier Addressed as Victoria Terminus – 2004]
One of the busiest railway stations in India [packed by travellers]; it was outlined by Frederick William Stevens.
This historic railway station was constructed in the year 1887 in the Bori Bunder region of Mumbai to honour the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Maharashtra Splendor Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train Tour, Rajasthan Tour With Mumbai
27. Red Fort Complex [2007]
The historic fort served as the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty for quite some time [closely 200 years]. The Red Fort is situated in the heart of Delhi and it even houses a number of Museums. It was constructed in the year of 1639 by the Mughal Shah Jahan [made up of Red Sandstone].
Delhi Day Tour Package, Delhi Jaipur Weekend Tour
28. Jantar Mantar [Jaipur – 2010]
One of the five Jantar Mantars residing in the arms of nation India; it’s an equinoctial Sundial, gifted with a giant triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the Earth’s axis.
The Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is regarded as the largest amongst all, which effectively features many instruments; it’s also considered as the World’s largest stone Sundial.
Jaipur Day Tour Packages, Delhi Agra Jaipur Tour
29. Western Ghats [2012]
One of the World’s Ten “Hottest Biodiversity Hotspots”; the Western Ghats are also popularly addressed as the Sahyadri Mountains – an impressive mountain range along the western side of India.
A count of 39 properties [including the wildlife sanctuaries, reserve forests and national parks] were labelled as World Heritage Sites. Twenty in the state of Kerala [God’s Own Country]; five in the state of Tamil Nadu; ten in the state of Karnataka and four in the western state of Maharashtra.
Agasthyamalai Sun-Cluster, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, Periyar Sub-Cluster, Kudremukh Sub-Cluster, Nilgiri Sub- Cluster, Talakaveri Sub-Cluster and Sahyadri Sun-Cluster.
30. Hill Forts of Rajasthan [2013]
It’s a series of sites situated on rocky outcrops of the Aravalli Mountain Range in the state of Rajasthan; built and transformed between the period of 5th and 18 CE by numerous Rajput Kings of varied Kingdoms.
There are Six hill-forts in total;
- Chittor Fort of Chittorgarh
- Gagron Fort of Jhalawar
- Kumbhalgarh Fort of Kumbhalgarh
- Ranthambore Fort of Sawai Madhopur
- Jaisalmer Fort of Jaisalmer
- Amer Fort of Jaipur
31. Rani Ki Vav [2014]
An intricately built stepwell located in the town of Patan in the state of Gujarat. It’s perfectly situated on the banks of River Saraswati. It was built as a memorial to an 11th Century King Bhima First.
Stepwells are a varied form of subterranean water resource and storage systems existing on the Indian Subcontinent. It has earned the title of the Cleanest Iconic Place in India.
The Rani Ki Vav was built during the governance of the Chaulukya Dynasty.
Also Read – Best Places To Visit In Gujarat
32. Great Himalayan National Park [2014]
Adorned with high alpine peaks, striking riverine forests and flourishing alpine meadows; the Great Himalayan National Park is situated in the Kullu region of the happening state of Himachal Pradesh.
It’s one of India’s national Parks serving as a habitat to various flora and more than 375 fauna species. This park was established in the year 1984 – spread over an area of 1,171 Kilometers square.
33. Khangchendzonga National Park [2016]
Situated in the heart of the himalayan range of the state of Sikkim; it’s a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve situated in the Northeastern region – The Khangchendzonga National Park is the First “Mixed Heritage” site in India. It’s named after the third-highest peak in the World [Kangchenjunga].
34. Nalanda [2016]
A site composed of archaeological remains of a Monastic and Scholastic institution dating from the 3rd Century BCE to the period of 13th Century CE.
Nalanda is a Mahavihara Site –a large Buddhist monastery situated in the ancient Kingdom of Magadha [present-day Bihar].
Much of our knowledge of Nalanda drives from the writings of Pilgrim monks from Asia namely Xuanzang and Yijing who travelled to the Mahavihara in the 7th century.
35. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier [2016]
The architectural works and contributions of Le Corbusier; he was a Swiss-French architect, Urban Planner, Designer, Painter, Writer and one of the pioneers of what is presently termed as Modern architecture.
From the work of Le Corbusier – the 17 destinations comprising this transnational serial property are spread impressively over Seven Countries. The city of Chandigarh is blessed with the contribution of Le Corbusier.
India Sikh Temple Tour Package, Delhi Chandigarh Weekend Tour
Also Read – Things To Do In Chandigarh
36. The Historic City of Ahmedabad [2017]
The Old Ahmedabad or say the historic city of Ahmadabad or the walled city of Ahmedabad; it was founded by Ahmad Shah first of Gujarat Sultanate in the year 1411.
It also served as the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate and yet in time, it serves as the symbolic heart of Metropolitan Ahmedabad.
The earliest settlements were located in the Southern zone of the current old city on the bank of River Sabarmati.
37. The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai
Comprises of – Rajabai Clock Tower, Bombay High Court, University of Mumbai and Eros Cinema; it’s a cluster of 19th-century Victorian Neo-Gothic Public buildings and 20th Century Art Deco Buildings located in the Fort area of Mumbai in the exemplary state of Maharashtra.
This imposing collection sets around the Oval Maidan [an extensive recreational ground, which was once referred as the Esplanade].
The Tentative List of World Heritage Sites In India
[Subject to Confirmation]
Here is a table providing the names and regions of some of the tentative destinations for recognition; submitted in the evaluating hands of the UNESCO committee [standing in the queue of acceptance] –
| NAME |
PLACE OF STAY |
|
| 1 | Mattancherry Palace |
Kochi, Kerala |
| 2 | Temples at Bishnupur | West Bengal |
| 3 | Ancient Buddhist site in Sarnath | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
| 4 | Mandu-Madhya Pradesh Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh |
| 5 | The Golden Temple | Amritsar- Punjab |
| 6 | Namdapha National Park | Arunachal Pradesh |
| 7 | River Island of Majuli | Assam |
| 8 | Wild Ass Sanctuary | Gujarat |
| 9 | Neora Valley National Park | West Bengal |
| 10 | Bhitarkanika Conservation Area | Odisha |
| 11 | Mughal Gardens of Jammu and Kashmir | Chashma Shahi| Verinag Garden| Shalimar Bagh| Achabal Gardens| Pari Mahal| Nishat Bagh |
| 12 | Desert National Park | Rajasthan |
| 13 | Santiniketan | West Bengal |
| 14 | Silk Road sites in India | [Jammu and Kashmir| Bihar| Puducherry| Punjab| Maharashtra| Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu |
| 15 | Delhi | India’s Capital territory |
| 16 | The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad | Hyderabad |
| 17 | Apatani Cultural Landscape | Arunachal Pradesh |
| 18 | Baha i house of Worship | New Delhi |
| 19 | Cellular Jail | Andaman Islands |
| 20 | Archaeological remains of Lothal | Gujarat |
| 21 | Chettinad – Village clusters of the Tamil Merchants | Tamil Nadu |
| 22 | Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate | Karnataka and Telangana |
| 23 | Chilika Lake | Odisha |
| 24 | Ekamra Kshetra – The Temple city | Odisha |
| 25 | Padmanabhapuram Palace | Tamil Nadu |
| 26 | Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town | Karnataka |
| 27 | Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala | Karnataka |
| 28 | Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town | Karnataka |
| 29 | The Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom | Jammu and kashmir |
| 30 | Narcondam Island | Andaman and Nicobar |
| 31 | Thembang Fortified Village | Arunachal Pradesh |
| 32 | Destinations of Satyagraha | India |
| 33 | The Kakatiya Temples and Gateways | Telangana |
| 34 | Moidams | Assam |
| 35 | Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple | Tamil Nadu |
| 36 | Dholavira | Gujarat |
| 37 | Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole- Pattadakal and Badami | Karnataka |
| 38 | Sites along the Uttarapath – Sadak-e-Azam| Badshahi Sadak| Grand Trunk Road | India |
| 39 | The Jaipur City | Rajasthan |
| 40 | Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area | Manipur |
| 41 | Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India | Ladakh |
World Heritage Sites In India – The Statewise Data
[Take a quick look]
Here is a list that conveys the number of the Heritage sites in India classified by the states
| STATE | EXCLUSIVE SITES |
| Bihar | 2 |
| Chandigarh | 1 |
| Assam | 2 |
| Goa | 1 |
| Delhi | 3 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 1 |
| Karnataka | 2 |
| Gujarat | 3 |
| Maharashtra | 5 |
| Kerala | 0 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 3 |
| Rajasthan | 3 |
| Odisha | 1 |
| Uttarakhand | 1 |
| Tamil Nadu | 2 |
| Sikkim | 1 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 3 |
| West Bengal | 1 |
Country India is a place of wonder; choose the destination of your choice and anytime soon plan a trip with your friends and family.