27-Jul-2021: India gets its 40th World Heritage Site

India’s nomination of Dholavira, the Harappan City in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. India submitted the nomination dossier for Dholavira: A Harappan City to the World Heritage Centre in January, 2020. The site was on the UNESCO’s tentative list since 2014. Dholavira: a Harappan city, is one of the very few well preserved urban settlements in South Asia dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi tweeted, “Absolutely delighted by this news. Dholavira was an important urban centre and is one of our most important linkages with our past. It is a must visit, especially for those interested in history, culture and archaeology.”

The Union Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Sri G Kishan Reddy shared this news on Twitter shortly after the announcement. This follows a few days after the Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Mulugu district, Telangana State becoming the 39th World Heritage Centre in India.

Shri G Kishan Reddy tweeted, “It gives immense pride to share with my fellow Indians that Dholavira is now the 40th treasure in India to be given @UNESCO World Heritage tag. Another feather in India’s cap as we now enter the Super-40 club for World Heritage Site inscriptions.”

With this successful nomination, India has 40 world heritage properties overall, which includes 32 cultural, 7 natural and one mixed property. The Union Minister for Culture was referring to the countries that have 40 or more World Heritage sites and apart from India, this now contains Italy, Spain, Germany, China and France. The Minister also observed in his tweet how India has added 10 new world Heritage sites since 2014, and this is testimony to the Prime Minister’s steadfast commitment in promoting Indian culture, heritage and the Indian way of life.

About the Harappan city of Dholavira

Dholavira: a Harappan city, is one of the very few well preserved urban settlements in South Asia dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE. Being the 6th largest of more than 1,000 Harappan sites discovered so far, and occupied for over 1,500 years, Dholavira not only witnesses the entire trajectory of the rise and fall of this early civilization of humankind, but also demonstrates its multifaceted achievements in terms of urban planning, construction techniques, water management, social governance and development, art, manufacturing, trading, and belief system. With extremely rich artefacts, the well preserved urban settlement of Dholavira depicts a vivid picture of a regional centre with its distinct characteristics that also contributes significantly to the existing knowledge of Harappan Civilization as a whole.

The property comprises two parts: a walled city and a cemetery to the west of the city. The walled city consists of a fortified Castle with attached fortified Bailey and Ceremonial Ground, and a fortified Middle Town and a Lower Town. A series of reservoirs are found to the east and south of the Citadel. The great majority of the burials in the Cemetery are memorial in nature.

The configuration of the city of Dholavira, during its heyday, is an outstanding example of planned city with planned and segregated urban residential areas based on possibly differential occupational activities, and a stratified society. Technological advancements in water harnessing systems, water drainage systems as well architecturally and technologically developed features are reflected in the design, execution, and effective harnessing of local materials. Unlike other Harappan antecedent towns normally located near to rivers and perennial sources of water, the location of Dholavira in the island of Khadir was strategic to harness different mineral and raw material sources (copper, shell, agate-carnelian, steatite, lead, banded limestone, among others) and to facilitate internal as well as external trade to the Magan (modern Oman peninsula) and Mesopotamian regions.

Dholavira is an exceptional example of a proto-historic Bronze Age urban settlement pertaining to the Harappan Civilization (early, mature and late Harappan phases) and bears evidence of a multi-cultural and stratified society during the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. The earliest evidence can be traced back to 3000 BCE during the early Harappan phase of the Harappan Civilization. This city flourished for nearly 1,500 years, representing a long continuous habitation. The excavated remains clearly indicate the origin of the settlement, its growth, zenith and the subsequent decline in the form of continuous changes in the configuration of the city, architectural elements and various other attributes.

Dholavira is an outstanding example of Harappan urban planning, with its preconceived city planning, multi-layered fortifications, sophisticated water reservoirs and drainage system, and the extensive use of stone as a building material. These characteristics reflect the unique position Dholavira held in the entire gamut of Harappan Civilization.

The expansive water management system designed to store every drop of water available shows the ingenuity of the people to survive against the rapid geo-climatic transformations. Water diverted from seasonal streams, scanty precipitation and available ground was sourced, stored, in large stone-cut reservoirs which are extant along the eastern and southern fortification. To further access water, few rock-cut wells, which date as one of the oldest examples, are evident in different parts of the city, the most impressive one being located in the citadel. Such elaborate water conservation methods of Dholavira is unique and measures as one of the most efficient systems of the ancient world.

25-Jul-2021: India gets its 39th World Heritage Site

In yet another landmark achievement, India’s nomination of Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Mulugu district, near Warangal in the state of Telangana  has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. The decision was taken at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO today. Ramappa temple, a 13th century engineering marvel named after its architect, Ramappa, was proposed by the government as its only nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage site tag for the year 2019.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed happiness on UNESCO declaring Kakatiya Ramappa Temple a World Heritage site. He also urged the people to visit this majestic Temple complex and get a first-hand experience of its grandness.

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting of the World Heritage Committee(WHC) of UNESCO could not be conducted in 2020 and the nominations for 2020 and those for 2021 were discussed in a series of online meetings that are currently underway. The discussion on Ramappa Temple took place on Sunday, the 25th July 2021.

A brief description on the Rudreswara(Ramappa) Temple

The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire by Recharla Rudra, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. The presiding deity here is Ramalingeswara Swamy. It is also known as the Ramappa temple, after the sculptor who executed the work in the temple for 40 years.

The temple complexes of Kakatiyas have a distinct style, technology and decoration exhibiting the influence of the Kakatiyan sculptor. The Ramappa Temple is a manifestation of this and often stands as a testimonial to the Kakatiyan creative genius. The temple stands on a 6 feet high star-shaped platform with walls, pillars and ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that attest to the unique skill of the Kakatiyan sculptors.

The sculptural art and decoration specific to the time and Kakatiyan Empire have an outstanding universal value. The distinct style of Kakatiyas for the gateways to temple complexes, unique only to this region confirm the highly evolved proportions of aesthetics in temple and town gateways in South India.

European merchants and travelers were mesmerized by the beauty of the temple and one such traveler had remarked that the temple was the "brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temples of the Deccan".

8-Mar-2021: Declaration Of World Heritage Sites By UNESCO

At present, India has 42 sites listed under Tentative List which is a pre-requisite condition for inscription as World Heritage Site. ‘Dholavira: A Harappan City’ has been submitted for nomination of World Heritage Site in 2019-2020. Nomination dossiers of ‘Santiniketan, India’ and ‘Sacred Ensemble of Hoysalas’ have been submitted to UNESCO for the year 2021-22 cycle.

Augmentation of sites on the World Heritage List/Tentative List is a continuous process and sites are selected on the basis of their potential for fulfilling criteria under Operational Guidelines and demonstration of Outstanding Universal Value.

At present, India has 38 World Heritage Properties. All the sites under the Ministry are conserved as per ASI’s Conservation Policy and are in good shape.

WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA (38)

CULTURAL SITES:

Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India (22)

Under Protection of Ministry of Railways (2)

Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (1)

Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums (1)

Under Protection of Chandigarh Administration (1)

Under Protection of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (1)

Under Protection of Bombay Municipal Corporation (1)

Under Protection of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (1)

NATURAL SITES: (7)

Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

MIXED SITE: (1)

Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

16-Mar-2020:  India has 38 World Heritage Sites at present

At present, India has 38 World Heritage Sites. The world heritage sites are well conserved and in good shape. The details of World Heritage Sites are as below:-

Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India (22)

Name of Site	State
Agra Fort (1983)	Uttar Pradesh
Ajanta Caves (1983)	Maharashtra
Ellora Caves (1983)	Maharashtra
Taj Mahal (1983)	Uttar Pradesh
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)	Tamil Nadu
Sun Temple, Konark (1984)	Odisha
Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)	Goa
Fatehpur Sikri (1986)	Uttar Pradesh
Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)	Karnataka
Khajuraho, Group of Temples (1986)	Madhya Pradesh
Elephanta Caves ( 1987)	Maharashtra
Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (1987 & 2004)	Tamil Nadu
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)	Karnataka
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)	Madhya Pradesh
Humayun’s  Tomb, Delhi (1993)	Delhi
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)	Delhi
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)	Madhya Pradesh
Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004)	Gujarat
Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007)	Delhi
Hill Forts of Rajasthan  (Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts) (2013) (Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums)	Rajasthan
Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan (2014)	Gujarat
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda (2016)	Bihar

Under Protection of Ministry of Railways (2)

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

Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (1)

25

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, (2002)

Bihar

Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums   (1)                                                                                            

26.

The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)

Rajasthan

Under Protection of Chandigarh Administration (1)

27.

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016)

Chandigarh

Under Protection of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation  (1)

28.

Historic City of Ahmedabad  (2017)

Gujarat

Under Protection of Bombay Municipal Corporation (1)

29.

Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (2018)

Govt of Maharashtra

Under Protection of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (1)

30.

Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)

Govt of Rajasthan

NATURAL SITES: (7)

Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

31.	Kaziranga National Park (1985)	Assam
32.	Keoladeo National Park (1985)	Rajasthan
33.	Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)	Assam
34.	Sundarbans National Park (1987)	West Bengal
35.	Nanda Devi  and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005)	Uttarakhand
36.	Western Ghats (2012)	Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
37	Great Himalayan National Park (2014)	Himachal Pradesh

MIXED SITE: (1)

Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

38.

Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)

Sikkim

2-Mar-2020: Nominations for the World Heritage List for the year 2020

Government of India has submitted two nomination dossiers namely ‘Dholavira: A Harappan City’ and ‘Monuments and Forts of Deccan Sultanate’ for inclusion in the World Heritage List for the year 2020. Govt. of Madhya Pradesh has submitted the proposal of ‘Group of Monuments at Mandu’ in the year 2019. The dossier was further forwarded to World Heritage Centre (WHC) for completeness check.  Inputs received from WHC have been conveyed to the State Government for further incorporation.

A consultation workshop was organized by the Wild Life Institute of India and State Govt. of Madhya Pradesh to inventorize and prioritize the potential World Heritage Sites of M.P. The workshop has proposed Bhedaghat (Narmada Valley) as one of the recommended potential site subject to criteria set by UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

6-Jul-2019: India gets its 38th WORLD UNESCO World HERITAGE SITE as Pink City Jaipur

In yet another landmark achievement, India’s nomination of the Jaipur City, Rajasthan got inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO during the 43rd Session of the World Heritage Committee held at Baku, Azerbaijan.

The nomination of Jaipur City has successfully been done by complying with the various UNESCO guidelines of 2017. With Successful inscription of Jaipur City, India has 38 world heritage sites, that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site.

India's nomination was initially recommended by the ICOMOS (advisory body of World Heritage (WH) Centre for cultural sites) as Deferral, but the 21 nation World Heritage  Committee debated it and after discussion decided to inscribe it on the World Heritage  list.

The excerpts of  proposed statement of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) before the World Heritage Committee was presented by India as follows:

The City of Jaipur is an exceptional urban example in indigenous city planning and construction in South Asia. Unlike other medieval cities of the region, Jaipur was deliberately planned as a new city on the plains open for trade as opposed to hilly terrain and military cities of past, though its planning still ensured a response to the surrounding hill tops in all directions. The site selected within the valley that lay to the south of Amber hills was comparatively flat and unmarred by any previous construction. Besides an exemplary planning, its iconic monuments such as the Govind Dev temple, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal excel in artistic and architectural craftsmanship of the period. Jaipur is an expression of the astronomical skills, living traditions, unique urban form and exemplary foresighted city planning of an 18th century city from India. Jaipur is an exemplary development in town planning and architecture that demonstrates amalgamation and important interchange of several ideas over the late medieval period.

The countries that supported India's nomination are as follows: Brazil, Bahrain, Cuba, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Zimbabwe, China, Guatemala, Uganda, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Angola, St. Kitts and Nevis. Australia and Norway initially proposed referral but after the debate they agreed for Inscription of Jaipur city.

With this, India now has 38 World Heritage Sites , that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site.

26-May-2019: Orchha town in Madhya Pradesh makes it to tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The architectural heritage of Orchha town in Madhya Pradesh which depict peculiar style of the Bundela dynasty have been included in the tentative list of the UNESCO’s world heritage sites following a proposal sent by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the United Nations (UN) body.

The ASI had sent a proposal to the UNESCO on April 15, 2019 to include the sites in its list. According to the rules, to be a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, the heritage or any historical site first has to be on the tentative list. After it makes to the tentative list, another proposal is sent to the UNESCO.

The ASI in its earlier proposal had requested to include Orchha in the list of cultural heritage. Orchha is situated on the banks of the Betwa river. It is located around 80 km away from Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh and 15 km from Jhansi of Uttar Pradesh. Orchha was built by king Rudra Pratap Singh of Bundela dynasty in the 16th century. The ancient town is famous for its Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha fort complex, Raja Mahal among others.

The Bundela architecture has Mughal influence since the two dynasties were very close. The famous King of Bundela dynasty Veer Singh Dev was a close friend of Mughal emperor Jahangir and fought wars as Akbar’s aid.

Orchha is also famous for its two elevated minaret called Saavan and Bhadon and its four palaces -- Jahangir Palace, Raj Mahal, Sheesh Mahal and Rai Praveen Mahal -- and for its concept of open bungalows, stone work windows, animal statues depicting the culture of Bundelkhand.

It is the only place in India where Lord Ram is worshipped as a king with a dedicated temple in his name called Sri Ram Raja Mandir.

30-Jun-2018: India gets its 37th WORLD UNESCO World Heritage Site

In yet another landmark achievement, India’s nomination of the "Victorian and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai " has been inscribed on  UNESCO's World Heritage list. The decision was taken at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO at Manama in Bahrain. As recommended by the World Heritage Committee, India accepted the renaming of the ensemble as “Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai”.

India has been successful in securing the inscription of the "Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai” on UNESCO's World Heritage List under Criteria (ii) and (iv) as defined in the UNESCO's Operational Guidelines.

This makes Mumbai city the second city in India after Ahmedabad to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. In the past 5 years alone, India has managed to get inscribed seven of its properties/sites on the World Heritage List of UNESCO. India now has overall 37 World Heritage Inscriptions with 29 Cultural, 07 Natural and 01 Mixed sites. While India stands second largest in number after China in terms of number of World Heritage properties in ASPAC (Asia and Pacific) region, it is overall sixth in the world.

The international recognition to the heritage precinct of the city of Mumbai is a matter of great pride to the nation and it will boost the local economy in a number of ways. This achievement is expected to give a tremendous fillip to domestic and international tourism leading to increased employment generation, creation of world-class infrastructure and augmentation of sale of local handicrafts, handlooms and heritage memorabilia.

The Ensemble comprises of two architectural styles, the 19th century collection of Victorian structures and the 20th century Art Deco buildings along the sea, conjoined by means of the historical open space of the Oval Maidan. Together, this architectural ensemble represents the most remarkable collection of Victorian and Art Deco buildings in the world which forms the unique character of this urban setting, unparalleled in the world.

The Ensemble consists of 94 buildings primarily of 19th century Victorian Gothic revival and early 20th century Art Deco style of architecture with the Oval Maidan in the centre. The 19th century Victorian buildings form part of the larger Fort precinct situated to the east of the Oval Maidan. These public buildings include the Old Secretariat (1857-74), University Library and Convention Hall (1874-78), the Bombay High Court (1878), the Public Works Department Office (1872), Watson’s Hotel (1869), David Sasoon Library (1870), the Elphinstone College(1888), etc. The Art Deco styled buildings to the west of the Oval Maidan were raised in early 20th century on the newly reclaimed lands at Marine Drive and symbolised the shift in expression to represent contemporary aspirations.

The inscription has been done under Criteria (ii) and (iv) as defined in the UNESCO's Operational Guidelines. Criterion (ii) refers to the important interchange of human values, over a span of time on development of architecture, monumental arts, town planning and landscape while Criterion (iv) refers to being an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage (s) in human history. This achievement is especially remarkable in the view of the successive inscription of another Indian city after Ahmedabad last year.

In addition, 42 sites from the country figures in the Tentative List of World Heritage and the Ministry of Culture would be recommending one property every year for nomination to UNESCO.