World Heritage Sites in India

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India are:

  1. Agra Fort
  2. Ajanta Caves
  3. Ellora Caves
  4. Taj Mahal
  5. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
  6. Sun Temple, Konârak
  7. Kaziranga National Park
  8. Keoladeo National Park
  9. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
  10. Churches and Convents of Goa
  11. Fatehpur Sikri
  12. Group of Monuments at Hampi
  13. Khajuraho Group of Monuments
  14. Elephanta Caves
  15. Great Living Chola Temples
  16. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
  17. Sundarbans National Park
  18. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
  19. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
  20. Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi
  21. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
  22. Mountain Railways of India
  23. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
  24. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
  25. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
  26. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
  27. Red Fort Complex
  28. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
  29. Western Ghats
  30. Hill Forts of Rajasthan
  31. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
  32. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
  33. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
  34. Khangchendzonga National Park
  35. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
  36. Historic City of Ahmadabad
  37. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
  38. Jaipur City, Rajasthan
  39. Dholavira: a Harappan City
  40. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana
  41. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
  42. Santiniketan

> View other UNESCO World Heritage Sites

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites comprise 1,199 properties.

World heritage property is a legacy from the past, that people live with today, and pass on to future generations.

World Heritage symbol. It is used to identify properties protected by the World Heritage Convention

The cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of knowledge and inspiration.

Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela, Ethiopia. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela
Speyer Cathedral, Germany
Mount Kenya National Park, Kenya
Sukur Cultural Landscape, Adamawa, Nigeria

UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world that are considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty known as the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.

A World Heritage Site is an area or landmark designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance. The sites have legal protection by an international convention.

A World Heritage Site is nominated by their host country and determined by the international committee to be a unique landmark which is geographically and historically identifiable and having a special cultural or physical significance. World Heritage Sites are usually ones with ancient features, historical structures, buildings, cities, deserts, forests, islands, lakes, monuments or mountains.

The site may signify a remarkable accomplishment of people and serve as evidence of intellectual history or a place of unparralled natural beauty.

The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing, unmonitored, uncontrolled or unrestricted access, or threat from local administrative negligence. Sites are demarcated by UNESCO as protected zones.

The programme catalogues, names, and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance.

The work began with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage. The convention was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972. Since then, 195 states have ratified the convention, making it one of the most widely recognised international agreements and a popular cultural programme.