World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity. Read to know more.
The pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon in the USA, and the Acropolis in Greece are examples of the 1000+ natural and cultural places inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites List to date.
What is a World Heritage Site?
Note: Subscribe to the ClearIAS YouTube Channel to learn more.
A World Heritage Site is a place on earth having a special cultural or physical significance and outstanding universal value to humanity.
It may be a building, a city, a complex, a desert, a forest, an island, a lake, a monument, or a mountain.
They have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
According to the sites ranked by country, Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites with 51 sites, followed by China (48), Spain (44), France (41), Germany (40), Mexico (33), and India (43).
UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in India
| Sr. no | Name | State |
| 1. | Agra Fort (1983) | Delhi |
| 2. | Ajanta Caves (1983) | Maharashtra |
| 3. | Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda (2016) | Bihar |
| 4. | Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) | Madhya Pradesh |
| 5. | Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004) | Gujarat |
| 6. | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004) | Mumbai |
| 7. | Churches and Convents of Goa (1986) | Goa |
| 8. | Dholavira: a Harappan City (2021) | Gujarat |
| 9. | Elephanta Caves (1987) | Maharashtra |
| 10. | Ellora Caves (1983) | Maharashtra |
| 11. | Fatehpur Sikri (1986) | Delhi |
| 12. | Great Living Chola Temples (1987, 2004) | Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Airavateshwarar Temple, Darasuram, Tamil Nadu, India
|
||
| Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 13. | Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986) | Karnataka |
| 14. | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984) | Tamil Nadu |
| 15. | Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987) | Karnataka |
| 16. | Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013) | Chittorgarh
Kumbhalgarh Ranthambhore Amber Sub-Cluster Jaisalmer Gagron |
| 17. | Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017) | Gujarat |
| 18. | Humayun’s Tomb (1993) | Delhi |
| 19. | Jaipur City (2019) | Rajasthan |
| 20. | Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple (2021) | Telangana |
| 21. | Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986) | Madhya Pradesh |
| 22. | Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002) | Bihar |
| 23. | Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty (2024) | Assam |
| 24. | Mountain Railways of India (1999, 2005, 2008) | Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1999), Darjeeling, West Bengal, India |
| Nilgiri Mountain Railway (2005) Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
|
||
| Kalka-Shimla Railway, Himachal Pradesh (2008) | ||
| 25. | Qutb Minar and its Monuments (1993) | Delhi |
| 26. | Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan (2014) | Gujarat |
| 27. | Red Fort Complex (2007) | Delhi |
| 28. | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003) | Madhya Pradesh |
| 29. | Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (2023) | |
| 30. | Santiniketan (2023) | West Bengal |
| 31. | Sun Temple, Konark (1984) | Odisha |
| 32. | Taj Mahal (1983) | Agra |
| 33. | The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016) | |
| 34. | The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010) | Rajasthan |
| 35. | Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018) | Maharashtra
|
| 36. | Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014) | |
| 37. | Kaziranga National Park (1985) | Assam |
| 38. | Keoladeo National Park (1985) | Rajasthan |
| 39. | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985) | Assam |
| 40. | Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005) | Uttarakhand |
| 41. | Sundarbans National Park (1987) | West Bengal |
| 42. | Western Ghats (2012) | Agasthyamalai Sub-Cluster
Periyar Sub-Cluster Anamalai Sub-Cluster Nilgiri Sub-Cluster Talakaveri Sub-Cluster (five properties) Kudremukh Sub-Cluster (five properties) Sahyadri Sub-Cluster |
| 43. | Khangchendzonga National Park (2016) | Sikkim |
Who lists World Heritage Sites?
A world Heritage site is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which is based in Paris, France.
The International World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee establishes the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention (The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage or the World Heritage Convention), defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.
It is composed of 21 state parties which are elected by the General Assembly of States Parties for a four-year term.
Currently, India is a member of the World Heritage Committee.
How is a World Heritage Site selected?
- The first step towards the listing is the nomination of a site by the respective government of a country.
- The site should have an Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) for the World Heritage nomination.
- To determine the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) for the World Heritage nomination, there are ten enlisted criteria.
- The proposed nomination must satisfy at least one of these ten criteria.
- The Nomination File is then evaluated by the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the World Conservation Union.
- These bodies then make their recommendations to the World Heritage Committee.
- The Committee meets once per year to determine whether or not to inscribe each nominated property on the World Heritage List and sometimes defers the decision to request more information from the country which nominated the site.
What are the ten criteria for determining Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)?
(i) |
to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius; |
(ii) |
to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design; |
(iii) |
to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared; |
(iv) |
to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; |
(v) |
to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change; |
(vi) |
to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria. |
(vii) |
to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance; |
(viii) |
to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; |
(ix) |
to be outstanding examples representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals; |
(x) |
to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. |
How does this program help the listed site and the country?
When a site is inscribed on the World Heritage List, the resulting prestige often helps raise awareness among citizens and governments for heritage preservation.
Greater awareness leads to a general rise in the level of the protection and conservation given to heritage properties.
A country may also receive financial assistance and expert advice from the World Heritage Committee to support activities for the preservation of its sites.
The site will also get immediate international recognition which boosts the tourism of the country.
Also read: Gothic Architecture
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the nodal agency for forwarding any request for World Heritage status to any Indian site whether cultural or natural.
Based on the proposals received from the Central or State Government agencies as well as management Trusts, etc., and after their due scrutiny, the Government forwards the nomination dossiers to the World Heritage Center.
India now has 35 sites, including 27 cultural properties, seven natural sites and one mixed site, notified as World Heritage Sites.
The latest entries in 2016 were – (1) Nalanda University (2) Capitol Complex and (3) Khangchendzonga National Park (mixed site).
The list of places in India that have been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO is given below:
Cultural Sites
1. |
Agra Fort (1983) |
Delhi |
2. |
Ajanta Caves (1983) |
Maharashtra |
3. |
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda (2016) |
Bihar |
4. |
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) |
Madhya Pradesh |
5. |
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004) |
Gujarat |
6. |
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004) |
Mumbai |
7. |
Churches and Convents of Goa (1986) |
Goa |
8. |
Dholavira: a Harappan City (2021) |
Gujarat |
9. |
Elephanta Caves (1987) |
Maharashtra |
10. |
Ellora Caves (1983) |
Maharashtra |
11. |
Fatehpur Sikri (1986) |
Delhi |
12. |
Great Living Chola Temples (1987, 2004) |
Tamil Nadu |
13. |
Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986) |
Karnataka |
14. |
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984) |
Tamil Nadu |
15. |
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987) |
Karnataka |
16. |
Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013) |
Rajasthan |
17. |
Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017) |
Gujarat |
18. |
Humayun’s Tomb (1993) |
Delhi |
19. |
Jaipur City (2019) |
Rajasthan |
20. |
Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple (2021) |
Telangana |
21. |
Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986) |
Madhya Pradesh |
22. |
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002) |
Bihar |
23. |
Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty (2024) |
Assam |
24. |
Mountain Railways of India (1999, 2005, 2008) |
Darjeeling, Nilgiris, Kalka Shimla |
25. |
Qutb Minar and its Monuments (1993) |
Delhi |
26. |
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan (2014) |
Gujarat |
27. |
Red Fort Complex (2007) |
Delhi |
28. |
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003) |
Madhya Pradesh |
29. |
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (2023) |
|
30. |
Santiniketan (2023) |
West Bengal |
31. |
Sun Temple, Konark (1984) |
Odisha |
32. |
Taj Mahal (1983) |
Agra |
33. |
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016) |
|
34. |
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010) |
Rajasthan |
35. |
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018) |
Maharashtra |
Natural Sites
36. |
Kaziranga National Park (1985) |
Assam |
37. |
Manas Wild Life Sanctuary (1985) |
Assam |
38. |
Keoladeo National Park (1985) |
Rajasthan |
39. |
Sunderban National Park (1987) |
West Bengal |
40. |
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005) |
Uttarakhand |
41. |
Western Ghats (2012) |
Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu |
42. |
Great Himalayan National Park (2014) |
Himachal Pradesh |
43. |
Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) (2016)* [Mixed site] |
Sikkim |
Article compiled by: Jijo Sudarsan
thank u sir
Nice
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Thank you very must be used
Thank u very much for these notes.
Thanks a lot sir
As it is very good for forthcoming exams
I need a clear idea to attempt the mains of UPSC exam
Thank you !!!
NICE
very nice
Ty sir
Useful information…
Currently, India is a member of the World Heritage Committee.
India is not among 21 members of the World heritage Committee. What the above statement implies, please comment
Thank u sir..I require online material for only prelims..but thanks a lot for this help..
thank you very much sir for this fully comprehensive information….not only this topic but almost on every topic..thank you again sir..
Thanks a lot for the positive feedback. All the best!
Please add more details of each
Thank you so much sir, it’s very helpful.
36 sites present please update
Add Latest entry ‘Historic City of Ahmadabad’ (2017) -Cultural List 28 total
Thank you sir
Good Collection!!!