Indian Tangible World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

World Heritage Sites are sites selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) based on criteria that are historically, culturally, scientifically and environmentally significant. Whether they are cities, villages, other man-made structures or landscapes, the aim is to preserve their history and contemporary significance and to preserve them for the future. There are 45 such sites in India. Of these, 37 sites are culturally significant and 7 sites are ecologically significant. One site is both culturally and environmentally significant. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaziranga National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Park, Western Ghats and Great Himalayan National Park are ecologically significant sites. Khangchendzonga is the only one that has both ecological and cultural significance. The others are culturally or ecological significant.

The Ajanta-Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, Agra Fort and Taj Mahal were the first sites to be selected from India in this way. This was in 1983. Sites of outstanding universal value and those that meet any of the ten criteria recommended by UNESCO are included in the World Heritage List. The World Heritage Committee is the main body appointed to implement the recommendations of the World Heritage Convention. It is this committee that has developed precise criteria for marking sites on the World Heritage List and has made provisions for international monitoring under the World Heritage Fund. The document containing these recommendations is known as the Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

Criteria

These are the criteria that UNESCO considers when declaring a place as a World Heritage Site.

1. It should be a crowning example of the creative genius of man.

2. The arrangement of the territories should represent the most important transfer of human values ​​that has occurred in a period or in a particular cultural region of the world, in terms of the development of urban planning, permanent artistic expressions, technology, and architecture.

3. It must be a unique or distinctive sign of a cultural tradition or a human culture, whether extant or extinct.

4. It must be an outstanding example of a landscape, architectural or technical integrity, or unique buildings that illustrate important stages in human history.

5. Traditional human settlement should be a distinct example of land use, sea use, and human interaction with nature for survival, representing one or more cultures, as a result of a constant change.

6. It must be directly or indirectly related to universally significant literary works, beliefs, ideas, customs, or events that still exist today.

7. Places that contain indescribable natural beauty or where amazing natural phenomena occur.

8. It should represent major stages in the history of the Earth, including geological and geomorphological features that bear witness to life, the formation of land areas, and the geological processes that are taking place in the formation of land areas.

9. It should represent the ecological and biological processes that contribute to the formation and development of ecosystems and various species of flora and fauna on land, fresh water, coasts and oceans.

10. A natural habitat that is of great importance from a scientific and conservation perspective and that conserves biodiversity, including endangered species, in its current state.

World Heritage Sites in India

1. Ajanta, Maharashtra (1983)

Built between 200 BC and 650 AD, the Ajanta Caves were a major center for Buddhist monks. Ancient rock-cut Buddhist monasteries, worship halls known as Chaityas, and carvings can be seen here. The Ajanta Caves, which had been covered in forest for centuries, came to public attention again when Captain John Smith, a British officer, accidentally arrived here in 1819. Ajanta is located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.

2. Ellora, Maharashtra (1983)

Ellora is a collection of 34 monasteries and temples spread over a distance of over two kilometers, not far from Aurangabad. What makes it even more amazing is that they were carved out of the sides of a steep basalt hill. This architectural marvel, carved into rock, reflects the influence of Buddhism, Jainism, and Brahmanism, shedding light on the history and culture of ancient India.

3. Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh (1983)

This Mughal fort, built in the 16th century, is known as the Red Fort of Agra. It is located near the gardens of the Taj Mahal. The fort houses the Jahangir Palace, the Khas Mahal, the Diwan-e-Khas, and two beautiful mosques.

4. Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh (1983)

The world-famous love tomb. This is a monument built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz. The Taj Mahal was built in marble on the banks of the Yamuna between 1613 and 1648. The Taj Mahal is considered a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture. Ustad Ahmad Lahori was the main architect of the Taj Mahal.

5. Sun Temple, Odisha (1984)

A beautiful temple located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal in Konark. Believed to have been built by Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the 13th century, the Sun Temple is a fine example of Kalinga temple architecture. The temple is built in the style of a chariot carved in stone. Efforts are underway to save the dilapidated temple complex.

6. Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu (1984)

Mahabalipuram is a city on the eastern coast of the Indian subcontinent, on the Coromandel Coast, built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is also an ancient port city. Cave temples, solitary pavilion and temples are the main features in Mahabalipuram. The most famous are the Vishnu temple called Thirukadalmallai stone sculptures, Arjuna's Penance (Descent of the Ganges), the Varaha Cave Temple, and the Pancha rathas.

7. Kaziranga National Park, Assam (1985)

Located in the heart of Assam, this forest wonder is home to the largest population of one-horned rhinos in the world. It is also home to a variety of wild animals and rare bird species, including tigers, leopards, bears, hoolock gibbons, and sambar. This national park is located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River.

8. Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan (1985)

Maharajas used to go duck hunting in this forested area, a paradise for migratory birds. 364 species of birds, including Siberian cranes, migrate here. Spread over 2873 hectares, it is a diverse landscape consisting of grasslands, woodlands and swamps.

9. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam ( 1985)

A wildlife sanctuary spread over the small slopes of the Himalayas. It is home to rare species such as the Assam Roofed Tortoise, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur, and Pygmy Hog. This 39,100- hectare forest is located on the banks of the Manas River. It shares a border with the forest area under the control of Bhutan to the north.

10. Churches and Convents, Goa (1986)

The ancient churches and convents of Goa, once the capital of Portuguese India, are a testament to the missionary work in Asia. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, the Tomb of St. Francis, the Chapel of St. Catherine, and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary are excellent examples of Manueline, Mannerist, and Baroque art and architecture.

11. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh (1986)

Khajuraho is home to temples built during the reign of the Chandela dynasty. There are remains of about twenty temples related to Hinduism and Jainism here. The sculptures at Khajuraho are the crowning examples of Indian sculpture.

12. Hampi, Karnataka (1986)

The last capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi is an unparalleled example of Dravidian architecture. The Vijayanagara Empire ruled from the 14th to the 16th century AD. Hampi is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the Ballari district of Karnataka. Hampi is home to over 1,600 archaeological sites, including forts, temples, gardens, pavilions, gates, and idols. The Vijayanagara Empire was the golden age of Dravidian architecture. The Queen's Bath and the Elephanta Caves, which also flourished as a major commercial center, are beautiful examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.

13. Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh (1986)

Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in the second half of the 16th century. The name Fatehpur Sikri means "City of Victory". It was the capital of the Mughal emperor for about ten years. Built in the same architectural style, this city contains many temples and monuments. Jama Masjid, one of the largest Muslim mosques in India, is located here.

14. Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra (1987)

Elephanta is an island in the Arabian Sea, off the west coast of India, off the coast of Mumbai. Its local name is Gharapuri. Archaeological remains dating back to the 2nd century BC can be found on the island. The rock-cut Elephanta Caves are believed to have been built between the mid-5th and 6th centuries AD. The main cave, known as the Great Cave, is 39 meters long.

15. Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu (1987)

These are temples built in South India and the nearby islands by the Chola kings who ruled Thanjavur and its surrounding areas from the 9th century CE. They include three great temples built in the 11th and 12th centuries. They are the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur, the Brihadeeswara Temple in Gangaikonda cholapuram, and the Airavatesvara Temple in Dharasuram.

16. Pattadakal, Karnataka (1987)

Pattadakal is a blend of Hindu and Jain temples built by the Chalukya dynasty in the 7th-8th centuries. These structures are a blend of the artistic traditions of North and South India. This ancient village is located in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka. It is 10 km from another historical city, Aihole. Pattadakal was the capital of the Chalukya kings. The temples were built here to commemorate the victories of the kings. The most famous Virupaksha temple in Pattadakal is the only temple still worshipped there. This temple was built by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate the victory of the Chalukya king Vikramaditya over the Pallava kings.

17. Sundarbans, West Bengal (1987)

Spread over 10,000 square kilometers of land and water, more than half of the Sundarbans is in India and the rest in Bangladesh. It is also home to the world's largest mangrove forest. It is home to Bengal tigers. This national park is home to rare aquatic animals, birds, and reptiles.

18. Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand (1988)

The famous Valley of Flowers National Park is located in the Western Himalayas. The beauty of the 'Valley of Flowers' is its unique combination of flowers found only in mountainous areas and pristine grasslands. It is also home to many endangered animals and birds, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, and bharal sheep. The terrain where Nanda Devi National Park and the Valley of Flowers meet between the Great Himalayas and the Zanskar ranges is a favorite destination for mountaineers and botanists.

19. Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh (1989)

Sanchi has a long history dating back to the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD. It is home to some of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the world. It is located 40 km from Bhopal. The Buddhist stupa at Sanchi is world famous. The ruins of palaces, temples, Buddhist monasteries and solitary pillars can be seen here.

20. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)

The first garden tomb in the Indian subcontinent was that of the Mughal emperor Humayun. It served as a model for Mughal structures, including the Taj Mahal. It was built in 1570.

21. Qutub Minar, Delhi (1993)

Located a few kilometers south of Delhi, Qutub Minar was built in the early 13th century. This tower, made of red sandstone, is 72.5 m. high. The diameter at the base is 14.32 m. and at the top is 2.75 m. Around it are tombs of archaeological importance, the Alai Darwaza Gate ( 1311), a masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art, and two mosques.

22. Mountain Railways of Darjeeling, Kalka-Shimla and Nilgiris (1999)

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was inaugurated in 1881. It connects the mountains in the unique beauty of the Himalayan ranges. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is located in Tamil Nadu. The idea of ​​a 46 km meter-gauge single-track railway line was conceived as early as 1854. However, due to construction difficulties, its construction began in 1891. The railway line, completed in 1908, passes through an altitude of 326 m to 2023 m above sea level. The Kalka-Shimla railway line passes through a distance of 96 km. This single-track railway line was built in the mid-nineteenth century. All three railways are still operational today.

23. Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar (2002)

The Mahabodhi Temple complex in Bodh Gaya is one of the four holy sites associated with the life of Lord Buddha. It is 115 km from Patna, the capital of Bihar, and 16 km from Gaya. The Mahabodhi Temple complex was built by the great emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. The other temples were built in the 5th-6th centuries AD. Built entirely of brick, the Mahabodhi Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples that has survived to this day, dating back to the end of the Gupta Empire. It is believed that this temple has had a great influence on the brick architectural style that has existed for centuries.

24. Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh (2003)

The Bhimbetka rock caves are located in the foothills of the Vindhya Mountains at the southern tip of the Central Indian Plateau. The specialty of this place is its cave paintings that are more than nine thousand years old. These are paintings drawn by early humans at various stages of evolution. Rocks in the shape of turtles and human faces can be seen here. Located 45 km from Bhopal, this place was hidden in dense forests until many years ago. Today, it is a protected area with a radius of about ten km.

25. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Maharashtra (2004)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the new name of the main railway station in Mumbai, Victoria Terminus. It is a fine example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. The influence of Indian traditional architecture is also visible in this structure. The building was designed by British architect F.W. Stevens. The construction of the terminal, which began in 1878, took about ten years to complete. It is one of the best functioning railway stations in the world.

26. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat (2004)

This archaeological park is located in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat. Sultan Mahmud Begada is the founder of the historic city of Champaner. On the top and slopes of the Pavgad hill, palaces, gateways, arches, mosques, temples, forts, wells and reservoirs are still intact. The famous pilgrimage center of Kalika Mata Temple is also located here.

27. Red Fort, Delhi (2007)

The Red Fort was the capital of the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. The Red Fort is the center of the city of Old Delhi or Shahjahanabad. The Red Fort was built of red sandstone in 1546. Emperor Shah Jahan named it Qila-e-Mualla. The fort served as the capital of the Mughal dynasty until it was captured by the British from the then Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar in 1857.

28. Jantar Mantar, Rajasthan (2010)

Jantar Mantar was built in Jaipur in the early 18th century. It is an ancient astronomical observatory. It is a set of nineteen fixed pillars. This magnificent structure is a testament to the architectural and astronomical discoveries of the Rajput dynasty. Jantar Mantar was completed in 1734 by Sawai Jai Singh II, the Rajput king who founded the city of Jaipur. Jai Singh, a great scholar, was very interested in astronomy. The word 'Jantar' is derived from the Sanskrit word ' Yantram '. It was declared a national monument in 1948. Spread over an area of ​​18,700 square meters, Jantar Mantar is built using locally available stone and marble.

29. Western Ghats - Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra (2012)

Our Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. The Western Ghats are unique in their topography, ecology, and flora and fauna, which are not found anywhere else in India. This is also the best example of the monsoon cycle on Earth. The monsoon in India is influenced by the forest environment and ecosystem of the Western Ghats. It is one of the eight 'hottest hotspots' in the world in terms of biodiversity. The Western Ghats, which extend parallel to the west coast of India in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, are of global importance in the study of the formation of the Earth's surface.

30. Hill Forts, Rajasthan (2013)

These are the six great forts of Rajasthan. They are Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Jaipur and Jaisalmer. These forts are symbols of the power and wealth of the Rajput kings who ruled these regions from the 8th to the 18th centuries. The specialty of these forts is their natural defense system. The hilly terrain, the dense forests of Ranthambore, the Garon River and the desert become part of these forts. Chittorgarh is the largest fort in India.

31. Rani Ki Vav, Gujarat (2014)

Rani ki Vav is an 11th-century stepwell in Patan, Gujarat. It is a multi-storey structure built in the Maru-Gurjara architectural style on the banks of the Saraswati River. It was built in 1063 by Rani Udayamati of the Chalukya dynasty in memory of her husband, Bhimdev I. The stepwell took about twenty years to complete. The ancient structure, which had been covered in mud, was rediscovered in the 1940s.

32. Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh (2014)

This national park is located on the western side of the Himalayan mountain range. It is a place of natural beauty with high mountains, meadows, and riverine forests. With numerous rivers originating from glaciers, twenty-five different forest types, and rare plants, it is part of the Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot.

33. Nalanda, Bihar (2016)

Nalanda is an ancient Indian university founded by Kumaragupta I of the Gupta dynasty in the 5th century. Originally a Buddhist monastery, Nalanda later emerged as a center of higher learning. It had three large libraries, Ratna Sagar, Ratnadhati, and Ratnarajak, and facilities for students to stay and study. Students from China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan also studied here. Valuable information about Nalanda is available from the descriptions of the Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler Xuanzang. He was one of the teachers here. It was the first university in the world.

34. Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim (2016)

Khangchendzonga is located in the heart of the Himalayas. It is a beautiful landscape of plains, valleys, lakes, and glaciers. Snow-capped mountains and ancient forests can be seen here. Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world, is also located here. This mountain is closely related to the beliefs and culture of the indigenous people of Sikkim.

35. Architectural Works of Le Corbusier, Chandigarh (2016)

This is a new architectural synthesis consisting of seventeen centers spread across seven countries. It was led by Le Corbusier, a Swiss-French architect, painter, and urban planner. He is one of the standard bearers of modern architecture. This structure, which took more than half a century to complete, is a symbol of modern architectural language. The Complex du Capitole in Chandigarh, The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo (Japan), The Dr. Curutchet House in La Plata (Argentina), and the Unité d'Habitation in Marseille (France) are examples of such structures.

36. Ahmedabad City, Gujarat (2017)

Ahmedabad is the first heritage city in India. The old city of Ahmedabad, also known as the Walled City, has remained historically significant for centuries. Ahmedabad was built by Ahmed Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, on the east bank of the Sabarmati River in the 15th century. It is home to houses, other buildings and streets that are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

37. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles, Maharashtra (2018)

As Mumbai emerged as a global trading hub in the second half of the 19th century, many new buildings were built as part of the city planning projects implemented. Public buildings were built around the Oval Maidan in South Mumbai, first in Victorian Neo-Gothic style and later in the early 20th century in Art Deco style. Victorian buildings were designed with terraces and verandas to suit the Indian climate. Art Deco buildings, including theatres and cinemas, are a fusion of Indian design and Art Deco imagination. This unique style is known as Indo-Deco.

38. Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)

Jaipur is the capital and largest city of Rajasthan. The city is also known as the 'Pink City' due to the similar colors of its buildings. The fort city of Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II. While other cities in the region were built on hilly terrain, Jaipur was built on a plain in accordance with Vedic architecture. It features large public squares known as chaupars, streets with shops, houses and temples.

39. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (2021)

Rudreshwara Temple is located in Palampet village, 200 km from Hyderabad city in Telangana. It is commonly known as Ramappa Temple. This Shiva temple was built during the rule of the Kakatiya dynasty between 1123 and 1323 AD. The construction of the temple, which began in 1213, is believed to have taken forty years to complete. The temple was built by the Kakatiya kings Rudradeva and Recharla Rudra.

40. Dholavira, Gujarat (2021)

The ancient city of Dholavira was the southern center of the Harappan civilization. The remains of this city have been found on the Khadir Island, an arid region of Gujarat. The city was active between 3000 and 1500 BC. It contains some of the best-preserved remains of the period, including a walled city and a necropolis, from which some of the best-preserved remains of the city have been found in Southeast Asia. Copper, clay vessels and sculptures, precious stone ornaments, and gold have been found.

41. Santiniketan, West Bengal (2023)

Santiniketan was founded by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore in rural West Bengal in 1901. Santiniketan stands as a center of ancient Indian cultural arts and a vision of human unity beyond the barriers of religion and culture. In 1921, a world university named Visva-Bharati was established here. Pan-Asian modernity is the hallmark of Santiniketan.

42. Hoysala Temples, Karnataka (2023)

These are temples built by the Hoysala kings in South India in the 12th-13th centuries. The Belur Chennakesava Temple in Hassan district, the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu, and the Somanathapura Kesava Temple in Mysore district are recognized as heritage sites, which combine the beauty and grandeur of Hoysala architecture. All three temples, which have rare carvings and rock inscriptions, are under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India.

43. Moidams – the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty, Assam ( 2024)

This is the first place from the northeastern states to be listed in the cultural category. Moidams are a special type of tomb of the Ahom Dynasty, which dates back about 600 years. It has a special architectural design. Archaeologists have found that the items used by the buried king are also in the tomb.

44. Maratha Military Landscapes of India (2025)

These are strategic forts built and developed by the Maratha rulers from the 17th to 19th centuries. The twelve forts on the list are Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. These forts are located in the Sahyadri Mountains, Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau and Western Ghats.

45. Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh (2026)

This comprises two groups of monuments. The first group includes the Buddhist temples, stupas and monasteries as well as the remains of a pillar of Ashoka. They date from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th century CE. The second group is represented by the Chaukhandi Stupa, built in 1588.