GK of the day: World Heritage Sites in India

GK of the day: World Heritage Sites in India

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are important places of cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.

There are 37 World Heritage Sites located in India. These include 29 cultural sites, seven natural sites and one mixed site. India has the sixth largest number of sites in the world.

List of UNESCO Heritage Sites

Cultural

• Agra Fort, UP (1983)
• Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra (1983)
• Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)
• Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, MP (1989)
• Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat (2004)
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)
• Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
• Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra (1987)
• Ellora Caves, Maharashtra (1983)
• Fatehpur Sikri, UP (1986)
• Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu (1987,2004)
• Group of Monuments at Hampi, Karnataka (1986)
• Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu (1984)
• Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka (1987)
• Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)
• Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017)
• Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)
• Khajuraho Group of Monuments, MP (1986)
• Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar (2002)
• Mountain Railways of India, Maharashtra (1999,2005,2008)
• Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
• Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
• Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007)
• Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, MP (2003)
• Sun Temple, Konârak, Odisha (1984)
• Taj Mahal, UP (1983)
• The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement), Chandigarh (2016)
• The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)
• Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)

Natural

• Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh (2014)
• Kaziranga National Park, Assam (1985)
• Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur , Rajasthan (1985)
• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam (1985)
• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Chamoli District, Uttarakhand (1988,2005)
• Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal (1987)
• Western Ghats (known as the Sahyadri Mountains) (2012)

Mixed

• Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim (2016)

Kumbh Mela which is organised in every 12 years in different holy places in India viz. Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Haridwar in Uttarakhand and Nashik, Maharashtra is selected in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2017.