UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India: A Complete Guide

Famous UNESCO world heritage sites in India like the Taj Mahal to natural wonders like the Kaziranga National Park, these sites represent India’s heritage and global significance. For government job aspirants, understanding these sites is crucial, as questions about their historical, cultural, and ecological importance frequently appear in competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, and state-level tests.

In this blog post, we will provide Important key notes of UNESCO world heritage sites in India.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites In India

• UNESCO – United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
• Established – 16 Nov 1945.
• Headquarters – Paris (France)
• Director General – Andre Azoulay.
  (Recognised by UNSECO as a World heritage sies for the protection of the world’s cultural and natural places.)

• At present, there are 40 UNSECO world heritage sites in India, out of which 7 are natural, 32 cultural and 1 mixed site.

 

1. Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra) –

• Ajanta caves included as UNSECO site in 1983.
• The Ajanta caves are located on the Waghora river near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
• Aurangabad, Maharashtra, under it there are 29 caves and all of them are Buddhist caves.
• It is one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.

 

2. Ellora Caves (Maharashtra) –

• Ellora caves included as UNSECO site in 1983.
• The Ellora caves are located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
• Built by Rashtrakuta dynasty.
• It is a group of 34 caves (12 Buddhist caves, 17 Hindu caves, and 5 Jain caves).

 

3. Agra Fort (Uttar Pradesh) –

• Agra Fort included as UNSECO site in 1983.
• It is a 16^th century Mughal monument.
• Fortress of red sandstone.
• It comprises the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal ‘Diwan-i-aam (Hall of Public audience) and Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private audience) were built by Shah Jahan in the Agra fort.

 

4. Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh) –

• Taj Mahal included as UNSECO site in 1983.
• Located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
• Built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his Mumtaz Mahal.
• It stands on the banks of the river Yamuna.

 

5. Group of monuments of Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) –

• Mahabalipuram included as UNSECO site in 1984.
• Located in Tamil Nadu. Established in the 7^th and 8^th centuries by the Pallava Kings.

 

6. Sun Temple, Konark (Odisha) –

• This temple included as UNSECO site in 1984.
• This temple is located in Puri, Odisha.
• Built in the 13^th century by the ruler of the Ganges dynasty, Narasimha Dev I.

 

7. Kaziranga National Park (Assam) –

• This national park included in UNESCO site in 1985.
• It is located in Assam and is famous for one horned rhinoceros.

 

8. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary or National Park (Assam) –

• It is included in UNESCO site in 1985.
• Located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalaya, Assam.

 

9. Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) –

• It is included as UNSECO site in 1985.
• Located in Rajasthan, it is formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

 

10. Group of monuments at Hampi (Karnataka) –

• It is included as UNESCO site in 1986.
• It is located in Bellary, Karnataka.
• Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 14^th century.
• Virupaksha temple situated here.

 

11. Khajuraho group of monuments (Madhya Pradesh) –

• The Khajuraho temples included as UNESCO site in 1986.
• Located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh.
• Built by the Chandela ruler.
• It includes Hindu and Jain temples.

 

12. Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh) –

• It is included as UNESCO site in 1986.
• Located in Uttar Pradesh.

 

13. Churches and Convents (Goa) –

• Included as UNESCO site in 1986.

 

14. Elephant Caves (Maharashtra) –

• Included as UNESCO site in 1987.
• Elephant cave is located in Maharashtra.
• It is also called Gharapuri cave.
• There are 7 caves and all have temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.

 

15. Group of monuments at Pattadakal (Karnataka) –

• Included as UNESCO site in 1987.
• Located in Karnataka.
• Built by the Chalukya dynasty of 7^th to 8^th century.

 

16. Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal) –

• Included as UNESCO site in 1987.
• Located in West Bengal.
• It is famous for having the largest mangrove forests in the world.

 

17. Great living Chola Temples (Tamil Nadu) –

• Included as UNESCO site in 1987.
• Located in Tamil Nadu.
• Built by Chola ruler.
• Consists of three temples – Vridheswara temple, Gangaikonda Choliswarm temple and Airteshwara temple.

 

18. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (Uttarakhand) –

• Both Included as UNESCO site in 1988 and 2005 respectively.
• Both of them are located in Uttarakhand.

 

19. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) –

• Included as UNESCO site in 1989.
• Located in Madhya Pradesh.
• Built by Emperor Ahsoka.

 

20. Humayun’s Tomb (Delhi) –

• Included as UNESCO site in 1993.
• Humayun’s tomb is located in Madhya Pradesh.
• It is built in Char Bagh style.
• Built by Akbar.

 

21. Qutub Minar and its monuments –

• Recognised as UNESCO site in 1993.
• It is located in Delhi.
• The Qutub Minar complex was built in honour of the Sufi saint Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.
• Its construction was started by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1193 and finish by Ilutmish.
• It was repaired by the rulers of the day, Muhammad bin Tughluq and Firuz Shah Tughluq.
• Its height is 72.5 meters.

 

22. Mountain Railways of India –

There mountain railways were included in the UNSECO World heritage under mountain Railway.

1. Darjeeling Mountain Railway (1999) (West Bengal).
2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway (2005) (Tamil Nadu)
3. Kalka Shimla Railway (2008) (Himachal Pradesh).

 

23. Mahabodhi Temple complex at Bodh Gaya (Bihar) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2002.
• It is located in Bodh Gaya (Bihar)
• Built by Emperor Ashoka.

 

24. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (Madha Pradesh) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2003.
• It is located in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh.
• This place is famous for rock paintings.

 

25. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Formerly Victoria Terminus) (MH) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2004.
• Located in Maharashtra.

 

26. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (Gujarat) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2004.
• Located in Gujaarat.
• It used to be the capital of Hindu Kings, with the holy temple of Kalika Mata above it.

 

27. Red Fort Complex (Delhi) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2007.
• It is built using red sandstone.
• Mughal empire Shah Jahan built this.

 

28. The Jantar Mantar (Rajasthan) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2010.
• Located in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• Built by Rajput King Sawai Jai Singh II.

 

29. Western Ghats –

• Included in UNESCO in 2012.
• Western ghats located in Gujrat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu present in 6 state’s.
• The western ghat mountain range which runs from the western coast of Peninsular India is known as Sahyadri.

 

30. Hill Forts of Rajasthan –

• Included in UNESCO in 2013.
• Located in Rajasthan.
• 6 Hill forts – Chittorgarh fort, Kumbhalgarh fort, Ranthambore fort, Jaipur fort, Jaisalmer fort, Gagron Durg.

 

31. Rani-Ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) (Gujarat) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2014.
• Situated on the banks of Saraswati River in Patan city of Gujarat.
• Built during the Chalukya dynasty ruler.

 

32. Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2014.
• Located in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.

 

33. Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2016.
• Located in the state of Sikkim, India.
• It is the only mixed heritage site in India.
• A National Park as well as a Biosphere reserve.

 

34. The architectural wok of Le Corbusier (Chandigarh) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2016.
• Located in Chandigarh

 

35. Archaeological site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Bihar) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2016.
• Located at Nalanda of Bihar.
• Kumargupta I founded Nalanda University.
• It was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji.

 

36. Historic Site of Ahmedabad (Gujarat) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2017.
• Situated on the banks of the Sabarmati River, Gujarat.
• It is the first city in India to get World Heritage Site tag.

 

37. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (MH) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2017. (Maharashtra)
• The site includes a collection of public buildings designed in Victorian Ne Gothic style in the 19^th century and Art deco style in the 20^th century.

 

38. Jaipur City (Rajasthan) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2019.
• Jaipur is the largest city un the Indian state oof Rajasthan.
• This city was founded by Maharaj Jai Singh II (1727 AD).

 

39. Kakatiya Rudreshwara Ramappa Temple (Telangana) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2021.
• 1^st world heritage site of Telangana.
• Built in Kakatiyan period.

 

40. Dhoavira (A Harrapan City) (Gujarat) –

• Included in UNESCO in 2021.
• Dholavira is the famous site of the Indus Valley Civilization located in Gujarat.
• Location is on the tropic of Cancer.
• Famous for water management.

 

41. Santiniketan (West Bengal) –

• Included in 2023.

 

42. Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid and Somananthpura (Karnataka) –

• Included in 2023.

 

43. Moidams

• Included in 26^th July, 2024.
• the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty.