MP Study Notes: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

UNESCO world heritage sites in India

World Heritage Sites

These Sites are the places that have been officially recognized by a specialized agency of the UN (United Nations), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) based on their natural, cultural, historical, and scientific importance.
UNESCO-
UNESCO is a specialized agency of the UN, whose objective is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. Its headquarter is in Paris, France.
The list of World Heritage sites is maintained by World Heritage Programme which is administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
UNESCO World Heritage Committee-
It is composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the UN General Assembly.
These are areas of importance of cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972.
Italy has the highest number of World Heritage Sites in the world.

Criteria for Selection of World Heritage Sites

These criteria are explained in the World Heritage Convention, 1972.
These criteria are regularly revised by the World Heritage Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.
Before the revised Operational Guidelines, World Heritage sites were selected based on six cultural and four natural criteria.
With the adoption of the revised Operational Guidelines, only one set of ten criteria.

Tentative lists of Heritage Sites

All countries are required to submit their Tentative Lists of places that they consider to be a cultural or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List.
Tentative Lists is not considered exhaustive and need to submit one year prior to the submission of any nomination.
Countries are required to re-examine and re-submit their Tentative List at least every ten years.
If any site is listed in World Heritage Sites, then it must be removed from the tentative list.

World Heritage Sites in India

There are 38 (30 Cultural, 7 Natural, and 1 Mixed) World Heritage Sites in India after the inclusion of Wall City of Jaipur in July 2019.
First time in India two sites Agra fort and Ajanta Caves were included in World Heritage Sites in 1983.
In 2016, the following three sites have been listed in World Heritage Sites-
(i) Nalanda Mahavihara University, Bihar
(ii) Capitol Building Complex– Chandigarh
(iii) Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim
In July 2017, Ahmedabad became India’s first city to be listed in World Heritage Sites.
In July 2018, Victorian and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai were listed as 37^th World Heritage Sites from India.
In July 2019, the Walled City of Jaipur was listed as 38^th World Heritage Sites from India.
Only one mixed-criteria site in India is Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim.
The Ministry of Culture recommends one property every year for nomination to UNESCO.

Cultural Heritage sites in India

1	Agra Fort (1983)	Uttar Pradesh
2	Ajanta Caves (1983)	Maharashtra
3	Ellora Caves (1983)	Maharashtra
4	Taj Mahal (1983)	Uttar Pradesh
5	Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)	Tamil Nadu
6	Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)	Odisha
7	Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)	Goa
8	Fatehpur Sikri (1986)	Uttar Pradesh
9	Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)	Karnataka
10	Khajuraho, Group of Temples (1986)	Madhya Pradesh
11	Elephanta Caves ( 1987)	Maharashtra
12	Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (1987 & 2004)	Tamil Nadu
13	Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)	Karnataka
14	Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)	Madhya Pradesh
15	Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (1993)	Delhi
16	Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)	Delhi
17	Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)	Madhya Pradesh
18	Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004)	Gujarat
19	Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007)	Delhi
20	Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts) (2013) (Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums)	Rajasthan Rajasthan
21	Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan (2014)	Gujarat
22	Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda (2016)	a state in eastern India
23	Mountain Railways of India ( Darjeeling,1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka- Shimla(2008)	West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh
24	Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)	Maharashtra
25	Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, (2002)	a state in eastern India
26	The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)	Rajasthan Rajasthan
27	The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016)	Chandigarh
28	Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017)	Gujarat
29	Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (2018)	Maharashtra
30	Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)	Rajasthan

Natural Heritage sites in India-

1	Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)	Himachal Pradesh
2	Kaziranga National Park (1985)	Assam
3	Keoladeo National Park (1985)	Rajasthan
4	Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)	Assam
5	Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park (1988,2005)	Uttarakhand
6	Sundarbans National Park (1987)	West Bengal
7	Western Ghats (2012)	Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra