Introduction:
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO) lists and maintains the international World
Heritage Programme. A UNESCO World Heritage Site can be any place such as a
forest, lake, building, island, mountain, monument, desert, complex or a city;
which has a special physical or cultural significance. It was in the year 1972
that a resolution was adopted by the General Conference of the UNESCO with a
'Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage'. The main objective of this resolution was to define the cultural and natural
aspects of these sites. Out of the total sites in the world, 32 are
present in India. Of these, 25 sites have cultural
importance while seven other are known for their natural
splendour.
Agra
Fort:
The Agra Fort is located in
Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Agra Fort was begun by Akbar
in 16th century till
Aurangzeb’s reign in 18th century. It represented Mughal opulence and
power as the centre piece of
their empire. It was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982, under
category 3 as a cultural monument. Nearest International Airport is IGIA, New
Delhi.
Ajanta
Caves:
The Ajanta Caves are situated
in the Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, India. There are 30 extraordinary
rock-cut caves cut into the side of a cliff along Waghora river. The earliest
and finest examples of Buddhist painting in India can be seen at the Ajanta
Caves. The murals show scenes from the Buddha’s life and from the Jataka Tales.
It was declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. Nearest Airport is
Aurangabad.
Ellora
Caves:
Ellora Caves are located 26
km far from Aurangabad, Maharashtra. These monuments are dating from AD 600 to
1000 are witness to three great religions Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism -
characteristics of ancient India. The most popular and the finest of the Ellora
group of rock-cut caves is the magnificent Kailasanatha Temple. Buddhist caves
are from 1 to 12, Hindu caves are from 13 to 29 and Jain caves are from 3 0 to
34. Ellora caves were declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.
Nearest airport is Aurangabad airport
Buddhist
Monuments at Sanchi:
These are group of Buddhist
monuments dated between
200 BC and 100 BC located in
Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. The Great Stupa is the India’s finest surviving
Buddhist monument. The Stupa’s main glory lies in its four stone Toranas and
its hemispherical shape. It was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in
1989. Nearest International Airport is Bhopal.
Churches
and Convents of Goa:
These are located in Old Goa
or Velha Goa, a historical city in North Goa District, Goa, India. The churches
were built by Portuguese and affiliated to various congregations, including the
Se Cathedral, The Church of St. Francis of As sisi, The Church of S. Caetano
and notably, The Basilica of Bom Jesus. All these monuments were inscribed by
UNESCO World Heritage List
in 1986 under
2, 4, 6
categories. Nearest international
airport is Dabolim Airport.
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park:
It is situated in
Panchmahal district in Gujarat, India. It was inscribed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 as cultural site under 3, 4,5, 6 criteria.
The park is studded with forts, palaces, tombs, temples with bastions starting
from Pavagadh hill to Champaner city. Both Hindu and Islamic archtecture can be
observed. Nearest international airport is Ahmedabad Airport.
Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus (Formerly Victoria
Terminus):
The
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Formerly
Victoria Terminus) is located in
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
The terminal was built over a period of 10 years starting in 1878 and
this is one of the finest functional railway station buildings of the world and
is used by more than three million people daily. This is the most impressive
example of Victorian Gothic architecture in India. In 2004, it was declared as
a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Nearest international airport is C.S.I.A,
Mumbai.
Elephanta
Caves:
Elephanta Caves are located
on an island off Mumbai’s eastern shore (11 km). The 6th century AD Elephanta
cave temples is chiseled into a rocky cliff and dedicated to lord Shiva. A
UNESCO World Heritage Site from 1987, the Elephanta caves can be visited on a
day trip by boat or ferry from Mumbai. Nearest international airport i s
C.S.I.A, Mumbai.
Fatehpur
Sikri:
It was built during the
second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri (The City
of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire only for 10 years. The complex of monuments
and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest
mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. In 1986 Fatehpur Sikri was listed in the
World Heritage List of UNESCO. Nearest airport is Agra airport.
Group of
Monuments Mahabalipuram:
This group of
sanctuaries located in
Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu,
founded by the Pallava Kings, was carved out of rock along the
Coromandel coast in the 7th
and 8th centuries. It is known especially for its Shore Temple, Rathas,
Mandapas, giant open-air reliefs and the temple of Rivage with thousands of
sculptures to the glory of lord Shiva. The spectacular Shore Temple, perched
dramatically on a promontory by the sea, has survived the ravages of time and
erosion. It was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984. Nearest
International airport is Chennai airport.
Group
Monuments at Hampi:
Hampi is situated on the
south bank of the Thungabhadra river, Karnataka. Hampi was the capital of three
generations of Hindu rulers for more than
200 years and the last
capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. The group of monuments
includes rich Dravidian Temples, Palaces etc., which won the admiration of
travellers between 14th and 16th centuries. Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to the
goddess Pampa and her consort Shiva, is dominated by a 50m big gopura. This is
the principal place of worship in Hampi till date. It was declared as a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. Nearest international airport is Bangalore
airport.
Great
Living Chola Temples:
The Great living Chola
Temples are stretched all over South
India and neighbouring islands. These were built by Kings of the Chola empire,
but the most popular and finest are the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the
Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at
Darasuram. The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur marks the greatest achievement
of the Chola architects. In 1987 these temples were inscribed in the list of
UESCO World Heritage Sites and the extension was in
2004.
Group
of Monuments at Pattadkal:
The sacred complex at Pattadakal is situated
on the banks of the Malprabha River, Bijapur district, Karnataka. These
monuments were built in the 7th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty with
a blend of northern and southern Indian architecture. These are a series of
nine Hindu temples and a Jain sanctuary. The neighbouring towns of Badami and
Aihole were also important ancient settlements, however, Pattadkal with only a
small resident population, was mainly used for royal festivities and coronation
ceremonies. In 1987 these group of monuments were declared as World Heritage
Site by UNESCO. Nearest international airport is Bangalore airport.
Humayun’s
Tomb:
This is the Tomb of Humayun,
the second Mughal emperor located in Delhi, India. Built in 1565 and it was commissioned by Humayun’s senior widow, Haji Begum. This
is the first great example of a mughal garden tomb and also inspiration for
several later monuments like Taj Mahal etc. In 1993 it was listed in UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Nearest international airport is IGIA, Delhi.
Hill
Forts of Rajasthan:
Within the state of
Rajasthan, six extensive and majestic hill forts together reflect the
elaborate, fortified seats of power of Rajput states between 8th and 18th
centuries. The extensive fortifications up to 20 km in circumference optimized
various kinds of hilly terrain. The six forts are situated in Chittorgarh,
Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Jaipur and Jaisalmer. The forts use the
natural defences offered by the landscape such as hills, deserts, rivers and
dense forests. They also feature extensive water harvesting structures, largely
still in use today. In 2013 UNESCO declared them as World Heritage Sites.
Khajuraho
Group of Monuments:
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
are Hindu and Jain temples located in Madhya Pradesh, India. The temples are
famous for their Nagara -style architectural
symbolism and their
erotic sculptures. Most
of these temples
were built between 950 and 1050
CE by the Chandela dynasty. Of the 85 temples built, only 22 temples have
survived. It was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1982 under the
criteria 1 and 3. Nearest airport is Khajuraho airport.
Mahabodhi
Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya:
It is located in Bodh Gaya,
Bihar, India. The first temple was built by emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century
BC around the Bodhi Tree. It is the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the
Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment. Mahabodhi Temple is constructed
of brick and it is the oldest temple in the Indian sub -
continent built during the
“Golden Age” of Indian culture credited to the Gupta period. In
2002 UNESCO listed it as a
World Heritage Site under criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, 6. Nearest airport is
Gaya airport.
Mountain Railways of India:
Mountain railways of India are the six lines. Built during the nineteenth and
early twentieth century of British colonial rule, these lines have been running
since then. Today the Indian Railways runs them. While four of these six: the
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Kalka–Shimla Railway , the Kangra Valley
Railway Pathankot , and the Kashmir Railway , are in the rugged hill regions of
the Himalayas of Northern India, two are further down south in the Western Ghats:
the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Tamil Nadu, and the Matheran Hill Railway in
Maharashtra. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and
the Kalka–Shimla Railway have collectively been designated as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Qutb Minar
and its Monuments:
The Qutb
complex is an
array of monuments
and buildings located at Delhi, India. The best-known structure in the
complex is the Qutb Minar, built to honor the Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiar
Kaki. The Qutb Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world, inspired by the
Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, the constru ction was started in 1200 AD. The
iron pillar is one of the world’s foremost metallurgical curiosities. The
pillar, 7.21-metre high and weighing more than six tonnes, was originally
erected by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya. In 1993, it was inscribed in the
UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Nearest airport is IGIA, Delhi.
Rani-Ki-Vav
(The Queen’s Stepwell):
Rani ki vav is an intricately
constructed stepwell situated in Patan, Gujarat, India. It is located on the
banks of the Saraswati River.It was initially built as a memorial to a king in
the 11th century AD. Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity
of water, it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of
high artistic quality; more than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand
minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often
referencing literary works. In 2014 it
was listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Nearest airport is Ahmedabad
airport.
Red
Fort Complex:
The Red Fort Complex was
built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad the new capital of the fifth Mughal
emperor of India, Shah Jahan. It was constructed in the
17th century and it is also
known as Lal Qila because of its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone. It
is situated on the banks of river Yamuna, Delhi. The Red Fort’s innovative
planning and architectural style, including the garden design, strongly
influenced later buildings and gardens in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and further
afield. UNESCO declared the property as a World Heritage Site in 2007. Nearest
airport is IGIA, Delhi.
Rock
Shelters of Bhimbetka:
The Bhimbetka rock shelters,
located near to Bhopal were discovered only in 1957, comprise a group of five
clusters of rock shelters with paintings that are inferred to date from the
Mesolithic period right through to the historical period. The cultural
traditions of the inhabitants of the twenty-one villages adjacent to the site
bear a strong resemblance to those represented in the rock paintings. It was
inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003 as a unique cultural
property representing a convergence displayed in the art form between the
people and the landscape with links to the hunting gathering economy of the
past. Nearest airport is Bhopal airport.
Sun
Temple – Konark:
Konark Sun Temple is a 13th
century Sun Temple located at Konark in Odisha, India. It is also known as the
Black Pagoda, it is built in the form of the chariot of Surya with 24 wheels
led by a team of six horses. The temple is one of the most renowned temples in
India and is a World Heritage Site inscribed in 1984 as cultural property under
categories 1, 3, 6. Nearest International Airport is Bhubaneswar airport.
Taj
Mahal:
One of the Seven Wonders of
the World, Taj Mahal, is located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a
mausoleum built by Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his third wife Begum Mumtaz
Mahal who had died in 1631. It is a large edifice made in white marble in
typical Mughal architecture,
this much acclaimed masterpiece was built over a 16 -year period between 1631
and 1648. This monument is also situated on the banks of river Yamuna. The
relief work in marble and inlay with precious and semi precious stones make it
a monument apart. In 1983 it was inscribed in the World Heritage Site list by
UNESCO.
The
Jantar Mantar, Jaipur:
The Jantar Mantar, in Jaipur,
is an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century, by
Maharaja Jai Singh II at his then new capital of Jaipur between 1727 and 1734.
It is modelled after the one that he had built at the Mughal capital of Delhi.
He had constructed a total of five such facilities at different locations,
including the ones at Delhi and Jaipur. The Jaipur observatory is the largest
and best preserved of these and has a set of some 20 main fixed instruments
built in masonry. It was inscribed as cultural property on the UNESCO World
Heritage List in 2010. Nearest airport is Jaipur airport.
NATURAL
SITES
Great
Himalayan National Park Conservation Area:
The Great Himalayan National
Park is one of India's national parks, located in Kullu region, Himachal
Pradesh, India. The park was established in 1984 at an altitude of between 1500 to 6000m. The
Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat to numerous flora and more than 375
fauna species. In June 2014, the Great Himalayan National Park was added to the
UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Kaziranga
National Park:
It is located in the heart of
Assam. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned
rhinoceroses as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and
bears and thousands of birds. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
in 1985 for its unique natural environment.
Keoladeo
National Park:
Keoladeo National Park is
located in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India. It was inscribed in the UNESCO World
Heritage List in 1985 as a natural property. It is famous for 364 species of
wintering birds that flock in large numbers, arriving from distant countries of
Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China and Siberia. It is surrounded by 17 villages
and Bharatpur city. This former
duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas is one of the major wintering areas for
large numbers of aquatic birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China and Siberia. Some 364 species of birds, including
the rare Siberian crane, have
been recorded in the park. Nearest airport is Agra airport.
Manas
Wildlife Sanctuary:
Manas National Park or Manas
Wildlife Sanctuary is a National Park, a
Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam,
India. Manas is famous for its population of the wild water buffalo and it is
home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, such as
the tiger, pygmy hog, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant. The name of the
park is originated from the Ma nas River, which is named after the serpent
goddess Manasa. The Manas river is a major tributary of Brahmaputra River,
which passes through the heart of the national park. It was inscribed as a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 for its unique natural environment.
Nanda
Devi and Valley of Flowers:
Valley of Flowers National
Park is an Indian national park, located in Uttarakhand. It is known for its
meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora. This richly diverse
area is also home to rare and endangered
animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear,
red fox, and blue sheep. Birds found in the park include Himalayan monal
pheasant and other high altitude birds.
It was inscribed under the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 with
extension in
2005 under category 7 and 10.
Nearest airport is Dehradun airport.
Sundarbans National
Park:
The Sundarban
National Park is a National
Park, Tiger Reserve, and a
Biosphere Reserve located in West Bengal, India. Located at the mouth of the
Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers between India and Bangladesh, the world's largest
mangrove forests and one of the most biologically productive of all natural
ecosystems, is one of the largest reserves
for the Bengal tiger. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World
Heritage list in 1987 as a
natural property under category 9 and 10. Nearest airport is
Kolkata airport.
Western
Ghats:
The mountain range that runs
almost parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula are called Western
Ghats. These are located in Gujarat, Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamilnadu,
Kerala. The area is
one of the
world's ten "Hottest
biodiversity hotspots". A total of thirty nine properties including
national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests were designated as
world heritage sites by UNESCO in 2012.
Image source : By Mohammed Asif
Content Source : EPG Pathashala
0 Comments