World Heritage Sites
In this article, you are going to know about the list of world heritage sites in India. In India there are 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In latest, Dholavira and Ramappa Temple are added under ‘Cultural Category’. ‘Dholvira, Gujarat and ‘Ramappa Temple, Telangana are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2021. The total number of World Heritage Sites in 2021 are increased from 38 to 40.
1. Which Country has the highest number of World Heritage Sites ?
Ans: Italy-57
2. Which is the first site deleted from World Heritage Site List ?
Ans: Arabian Oryx Sanctury in Oman
3. According to India, how many sites are included under World Heritage site ?
Ans: 40 Sites (32 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed)
4. What is the Latest Site inscribed in India ?
Ans: Dholavira, Gujarat-2021
World Heritage Sites in India
| S.no | Name | Region | Year of Inscription |
| 1. | Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
| 2. | Ellora Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
| 3. | Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh, India | 1983 |
| 4. | Taj Mahal | Agra, Uttar Pradesh | 1983 |
| 5. | Sun Temple, Konark | Puri District, Odisha | 1984 |
| 6. | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram | Tamil Nadu | 1984 |
| 7. | Kaziranga National Park | Assam | 1985 |
| 8. | Manas Wildlife Sanctury | Assam | 1985 |
| 9. | Keoladeo National Park | Rajasthan | 1985 |
| 10. | Churches and Convents of Goa | Velha Goa (Old Goa),Goa | 1986 |
| 11. | Khajuraho group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh | 1986 |
| 12. | Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh | 1986 |
| 13. | Group of Monuments at Hampi | Vijayanagara, Karnataka | 1986 |
| 14. | Great Living Chola Temples | 1. Brihadeeswarar temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu 2. Airavateshwarar Temple, Darasuram, Tamil Nadu 3. Brihadeeswarar temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu | 1987 |
| 15. | Group of Monuments at Pattadakal | Bagalkot District, Karnataka | 1987 |
| 16. | Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal | 1987 |
| 17. | Elephant Caves | Maharashtra | 1987 |
| 18. | Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks | Uttarakhand | 1988 |
| 19. | Buddist Monuments at Sanchi | Madhya Pradesh | 1989 |
| 20. | Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi | Delhi | 1993 |
| 21. | Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi | Delhi | 1993 |
| 22. | Mountain Railways of India | 1. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1999), Darjeeling, West Bengal, India 2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway (2005) Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India 3.Kalka-Shimla Railway, Himachal Pradesh (2008) | 1999 |
| 23. | Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya | Bihar | 2002 |
| 24. | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka | Madhya Pradesh | 2003 |
| 25. | Champaner-Pavagadh archaeological Park | Gujarat | 2004 |
| 26. | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) | Maharashtra | 2004 |
| 27. | Red Fort Complex | Delhi | 2007 |
| 28. | The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur | Jaipur, Rajasthan | 2010 |
| 29. | Western Ghats | 1. Agasthyamalai Sub-Cluster (Kerala) 2. Periyar Sub-Cluster (Kerala) 3.Annamalai Sub-Cluster (Kerala) 4. Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (Tamil Nadu) 5. Talakaveri Sub-Cluster (Karnataka) 6. Kudremukh Sub-Cluster (Karnataka) 7. Sahyadri Sub-Cluster (Maharashtra) | 2012 |
| 30. | Hill Forts of Rajasthan6 | 1. Chittorgarh 2. Kumbhalgarh 3. Ranthambhore 4. Amber Sub-Cluster 5. Jaisalmer 6. Gagron | 2013 |
| 31. | Rani ki vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) | Patan, Gujarat | 2014 |
| 32. | Great Himalayan National Park | Himachal Pradesh | 2014 |
| 33. | Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar | Bihar | 2016 |
| 34. | Khangchendzongz National Park | Sikkim | 2016 |
| 35. | The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier | Chandigarh | 2016 |
| 36. | Historic City of Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 2017 |
| 37. | The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai | Maharashtra | 2018 |
| 38. | Jaipur | Rajasthan | 2019 |
| 39. | Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple | Telangana | 2021 |
| 40. | Dholavira: A Harappan City | Gujarat | 2021 |
Important Points On World Heritage Sites in India
1.Ajanta caves
Ajanta caves are famous for Buddhist rock-cut cave monuments. These are richly decorated with paintings.
2. Ellora Caves
Famous for Jain and Hindu Temples and Monasteries. These cavers are in rock-cut Architecture.
3. Agra Fort
This fort is one of the most prominent monumental structures by Mughal empire.
4. Taj Mahal
In the memory of his 3rd wife Begum Mumtaz Mahal, King Shahjahan had built this structure. This is one of the wonder in seven wonders of the world.
5. Sun Temple
Famous for traditional style of the Kalinga Architecture.
6. Mahabalipuram Monuments
This is Pallava Dynasty Architecture. Famous for Open Air Rock Relief, Chariot Temples, Mandapas.
7. Kaziranga National Park
Famous for Rhinoceroses. This park has highest density of Tigers in the world, wild water buffalo, swamp deer, elephants and also recognized as important bird area.
8. Keoladeo National Park
Popular for the man-made wetland bird sanctuary, Hotspot for Siberian Cranes and Ornithologists.
9. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Famous for Project Tiger Reserve, Elephant Reserve and Biosphere Reserve.
10. Churches and Convents of Goa
Famous for Rome of orient, First latin rite mass in Asia.
11. Monuments of Khajuraho
Popular for group of Jain and Hindu Temples. Well known for Nagara style symbolism and erotic figures and sculptures.
12. Monuments of Hampi
This is a Prosperous kingdom of Vijayanagara. Fine Dravidian style of art and architecture. Virupaksha Temple is the most important heritage monument in this site.
13. Fatehpur Sikri
The structure constitutes of four main monuments. The Jama Masjid, The Buland Darwaza, Panch mahal or Jada Baai ka mahal, Diwane-Khas and Diwan-eaam.
14. Elephant Caves
Popular for Buddhist and Hindu caves. Situated on Island in Arabian Sea. And has Shiva Temples and Basal Rock Caves.
15. Great Living Chola Temples
Popular for Chola Architecture, painting, sculpture and bronze casting.
16. Pattadakal Monuments
Popular for Chalukya style architecture and Dravidian styles of architecture.
17. Sundarbans National Park
This park is popular for Biosphere Reserve, Bengal Tiger, Largest Estuarine Mangrove Forest and salt-water Crocodile.
18. Nanda Devi & Valley of flowers National Park
Famous for snow leopard, brown bear, Himalayan monal, Asiatic black bear, blue sheep and world network of biosphere.
19. Monuments of Buddha
Popular for monolithic pillars, palaces, Mauryan architecture, Ye dharma Hetu Inscriptions.
20. Humayun’s Tomb
Popular for Precursors to Taj Mahal and Mughal Architecture. It constitutes a Pavilion, a Tomb, any water channels and a Bath.
21. Qutub Minar and its Monuments
Includes Qutub Minar, Alai Minar, Alai Darwaza, Qubbat-ul-Islam Mosque, Tomb of IItumish and Iron Pillar
22. Mountain Railways of Darjeeling, Kalka Shimla & Nilgiri
The montain railways of India comprises of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka-Shimla
23. Mahabodhi Temple
This Temple is religious center for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is considered as holiest Pilgrimage spot for Buddhists.
24. Bhimbetka
Bhimbetka is famous for Rock paintings within natural rock shelters, stone age inscriptions, sitting place of Bhima (Mahabharata)
25. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Popular for central railways headquarters, Gothic Style Architecture, In 2008 Terror Attacks on Mumbai.
26. Champaner Pavagadh Archeological Park
This is the only place of complete and unchanged Islamic Pre-Mughal City. This park consists of some ancient Chalcolithic Indian sites from stone age era.
27. Red Fort
Popular for Shahjahanabad, Timuri, Persian and Indian Architectural Styles, Moti Masjid, Red Sandstone Architecture.
28. Jantar Mantar
Famous for Architectural Astronomical Instruments.
29. The Western Ghats
Famous for World’s top ten “Hottest Biodiversity Hotspots”. This includes many National parks, Reserve forests and Wildlife sanctuaries.
30. Hill forts
This place is famous for its unique Rajput Military defense architecture. Includes six majestic forts in Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Gagron Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Ranthambore, and Amber Fort.
31. Rani ki Vav
Explicit example of fine Ancient Indian Architecture. This is constructed during the time of Solanki dynasty.
32. Great Himalayan National Park
This park is home to about 375 fauna species and several floral species. It is a part of Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspots.
33. Nalanda
A Centre of learning Buddhist monastery from 3rd century BCE to 13th century CE.
34. Khangchendzonga National Park
Famous for its fauna and flora, with snow leopard being ocassionally sighted.
35. Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Capitol Complex)
As a part of an outstanding contribution to the Modern Movement, this place was recognized as a World Heritage Site.
36. The Historic City
This is a walled city on banks of Sabarmati where the communities following Hinduism, Islam and Jainism have co-existed for centuries.
37. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles
Collection of 94 buildings of great cultural importance, located in the fort area of Mumbai.
38. The Pink City
Jaipur is home to many forts, palaces, museums and temples. And also filled to brim with the local handicrafts and trinkets.
39. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple
This Ramappa temple was situated in the village palampet, Telangan.This temple is estimated to atleast 800 to 900 years old. Especially known for light weight porous bricks which are known as floating bricks.
40. Dholavira
Dholavira is an architectural site situated in Kutch district of the Gujarat. This is one of the most prominent Indus Valley Civilization Sites.