List of World Heritage Sites in India
UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are the important places of cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
| UNESCO Full Form | United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| UNESCO established | 16 November 1945 |
| UNESCO Headquarter | Paris, France |
| Official Website | whc.unesco.org |
There are 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) in India that are recognised by UNESCO as of 2021. These Places are of cultural and natural importance as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, Established in 1972. At the 7th session, India’s Agra Fort and Ajanta was enlisted, in 1983, for the first time. The recent inclusion was that of two new sites –  Dholavira, Harappan City in the Rann of Kutchh Gujrat ,Rudreswara Temple (Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Warangal, Telangana in July 2021.Â
Latest Update about UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India:
- 25th July 2021 – Rudreswara Temple (Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Warangal, TelanganaÂ
- 27th July 2021 – Dholavira, Harappan City in the Rann of Kutchh . Gujrat
The list of UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites in India is given below:
UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites ListÂ
| Cultural World Heritage Site Name | State | Year of Award |
| Dholavira | Gujarat | 2021 |
| Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple | Telangana | 2021 |
| The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement | Chandigarh | 2016 |
| Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai | Maharashtra | 2018 |
| Historic City of Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 2017 |
| Jaipur City | Rajasthan | 2020 |
| Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) | Bihar | 2016 |
| Rani-Ki-Van | Gujarat | 2014 |
| Hill Forts of Rajasthan | Rajasthan | 2013 |
| The Jantar Mantar | Rajasthan | 2010 |
| Red Fort Complex | Delhi | 2007 |
| Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Gujarat | 2004 |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus | Maharashtra | 2004 |
| Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka | Madhya Pradesh | 2003 |
| Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya | Bihar | 2002 |
| Mountain Railways of India | Tamil Nadu | 1999 |
| Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi | Delhi | 1993 |
| Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi | Delhi | 1993 |
| Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi | Madhya Pradesh | 1989 |
| Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1987 |
| Great Living Chola Temples | Tamil Nadu | 1987 |
| Group of Monuments at Pattadakal | Karnataka | 1987 |
| Churches and Convents of Goa | Goa | 1986 |
| Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh | 1986 |
| Group of Monuments at Hampi | Karnataka | 1986 |
| Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh | 1986 |
| Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram | Tamil Nadu | 1984 |
| Sun Temple, Konarak | Orissa | 1984 |
| Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh | 1983 |
| Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
| Ellora Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
| Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh | 1983 |
UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites ListÂ
| Natural World Heritage Site | State | Year of Award |
| Kaziranga National Park | Assam | 1985 |
| Keoladeo Ghana National Park | Rajasthan | 1985 |
| Manas Wildlife Sanctuary | Assam | 1985 |
| Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers | Uttarakhand | 1988, 2005 |
| Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal | 1987 |
| Western Ghats | Maharashtra,
Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala |
2012 |
| Great Himalayan National Park | Himachal Pradesh | 2014 |
UNESCO Tentative List of Heritage SitesÂ
Apart from the 40 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, there is a list of tentative sites for recognition which has been submitted to the UNESCO Committee for evaluation and acceptance. This procedure of prelisting is a prerequisite for the nominations for the World Heritage List to be accepted.
|
Sr. No. |
Name |
Region |
Period |
UNESCO data |
|
01 |
Temples at Bishnupur |
West Bengal (Bishnupur) |
1600–1758 AD |
1998 |
|
02 |
Mattancherry Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala |
Kerala (Mattancherry, Kochi) |
1555 AD |
1998 |
|
03 |
Mandu, Madhya Pradesh Group of Monuments |
Madhya Pradesh (Mandu) |
mostly 16th and 17th centuries AD |
1998 |
|
04 |
Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
Uttar Pradesh (Sarnath, Varanasi District) |
500 CE |
1998 |
|
05 |
Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab |
Punjab, India (Amritsar) |
August 1604 |
2004 |
|
06 |
River Island of Majuli in midstream of Brahmaputra River in Assam |
Assam (Brahmaputra River) |
2004 |
|
|
07 |
Namdapha National Park |
Arunachal Pradesh |
2006 |
|
|
08 |
Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch |
Gujarat (Kutchh) |
2006 |
|
|
09 |
Bhitarkanika Conservation Area |
Odisha |
2009 |
|
|
10 |
Neora Valley National Park |
West Bengal (Kalimpong District) |
2009 |
|
|
11 |
Desert National Park |
Rajasthan |
2009 |
|
|
12 |
Mughal Gardens in Kashmir |
Jammu and Kashmir (Chashma Shahi, Srinagar) |
1619–1650 AD |
2010 |
|
Jammu and Kashmir (Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar) |
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|
Jammu and Kashmir (Verinag Garden, Anantnag) |
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|
Jammu and Kashmir (Pari Mahal, Srinagar) |
||||
|
Jammu and Kashmir (Achabal Gardens, Anantnag) |
||||
|
Jammu and Kashmir (Nishat Bagh, Srinagar) |
||||
|
13 |
Silk Road Sites in India |
Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh |
Around 114 BC – 1450s |
2010 |
|
14 |
Santiniketan |
West Bengal (Shantiniketan) |
1862 |
2010 |
|
15 |
The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad |
Telangana (Hyderabad) |
14th to 17th centuries |
2011 |
|
16 |
Delhi |
Delhi |
6th century BC |
2012 |
|
17 |
Apatani Cultural Landscape |
Arunachal Pradesh |
2014 |
|
|
18 |
Archaeological remains of Lothal |
Gujarat |
2450 to 1800 BC.[98] |
2014 |
|
19 |
Bahá’à House of Worship |
Delhi (New Delhi) |
December 24, 1986 |
2014 |
|
20 |
Cellular Jail |
Andaman Islands |
1906 AD |
2014 |
|
21 |
Chettinad, Village Clusters of the Tamil Merchants |
Tamil Nadu (Chettinad) |
mostly 19th century |
2014 |
|
22 |
Chilika Lake |
Odisha |
2014 |
|
|
23 |
Monuments and forts of the Deccan Sultanate |
Karnataka (Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur) and Telangana (Hyderabad) |
16th and 17th centuries |
2014 |
|
24 |
Ekamra Kshetra – The Temple City |
Odisha (Bhubaneswar) |
3rd century BC to 11th century AD |
2014 |
|
25 |
Iconic Saree Weaving Clusters of India |
India |
2014 |
|
|
26 |
Padmanabhapuram Palace |
Tamil Nadu |
1601 AD |
2014 |
|
27 |
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala |
Karnataka (Belur and Halebidu) |
1113–1268 AD |
2014 |
|
28 |
Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town |
Karnataka |
9th–18th century |
2014 |
|
29 |
Narcondam Island |
Andaman and Nicobar islands |
2014 |
|
|
30 |
The Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom |
Jammu and Kashmir |
3000 BC to 1000 BC |
2014 |
|
31 |
Thembang Fortified Village |
Arunachal Pradesh |
2014 |
|
|
32 |
The Glorious Kakatiya Temples and Gateways |
Telangana (Warangal) |
12th and 13th centuries |
2014 |
|
33 |
Sites of Satyagraha, India’s non-violent freedom movement |
India |
2014 |
|
|
34 |
Moidams – the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty |
Assam |
2014 |
|
|
35 |
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam |
Tamil Nadu (Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli) |
817 AD, or before, to 1987 |
2014 |
|
36 |
Mountain Railways of India (Extension) |
Maharashtra |
1881 |
2014 |
|
37 |
Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road |
India |
Antiquity – present |
2015 |
|
38 |
Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal |
Karnataka (Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal) |
5th to 8th centuries |
2015 |
|
39 |
Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India |
Ladakh |
2015 |
|
|
40 |
Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area |
Manipur |
1977 |
2016 |
|
41 |
Garo Hills |
Meghalaya |
2018 |
|
|
42 |
The historic ensemble of Orchha |
Madhya Pradesh |
16th century |
2019 |
|
43 |
Iconic Riverfront of the Historic City of Varanasi |
Uttar Pradesh |
2021 |
|
|
44 |
Temples of Kanchipuram |
Tamil Nadu |
6th – 7th centuries CE |
2021 |
|
45 |
Hire Benkal, Megalithic Site |
Karnataka |
Neolithic Age |
2021 |
|
46 |
Bhedaghat– Lametaghat in Narmada Valley |
Madhya Pradesh |
2021 |
|
|
47 |
Satpura Tiger Reserve[126] |
Madhya Pradesh |
2021 |
|
|
48 |
Serial Nomination of Maratha Military Architecture in Maharashtra |
Maharashtra |
17th century CE |
2021 |
