Important Heritage sites of India
Dear Readers, Static General Awareness often forms an important part of many bank exams. Our Static GK series aims to help you prepare this section properly.
Recently India’s Ahmadabad city listed in World Heritage Sites. So, we can expect some questions on this topic in upcoming exams. In this article, we will discuss about “World Heritage Sites”.
World Heritage Sites-
- These Sites are the places which have been officially recognized by a specialized agency of the UN (United Nations), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) based on their natural, cultural, historical, and scientific importance.UNESCO-UNESCO is a specialized agency of the UN, whose objective is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. Its headquarter is in Paris, France.
- The list of World Heritage sites is maintained by World Heritage Programme which is administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.UNESCO World Heritage Committee-It is composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the UN General Assembly.
- These are areas of importance of cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972.
- Currently, there are total 1073 sites listed in World Heritage Sites in which 53 sites are only in Italy making it on the top.
Criteria for Selection of World Heritage Sites-
- These criteria are explained in the World Heritage Convention, 1972.
- These criteria are regularly revised by the World Heritage Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.
- Before revised Operational Guidelines, world Heritage sites were selected based on six cultural and four natural criteria.
- With the adoption of the revised Operational Guidelines, only one set of ten criteria
Tentative lists of Heritage Sites-
- All countries are required to submit their Tentative Lists of places which they consider to be a cultural or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List.
- Tentative Lists is not considered exhaustive and need to submit one year prior to the submission of any nomination.
- Countries are required to re-examine and re-submit their Tentative List at least every ten years.
- If any site is listed in World Heritage Sites, then it must be removed from the tentative list.
World Heritage Sites in India-
- There are 36 (28 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed) World Heritage Sites in India after the inclusion of Ahmedabad city in July 2017.
- First time from India two sites Agra fort and Ajanta Caves were included in World Heritage Sites in 1983.
- In 2016, following three sites have been listed in World Heritage Sites-(i) Nalanda Mahavihara University, Bihar(ii) Capitol Building Complex– Chandigarh(iii) Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim
- In July 2017, Ahmedabad became India’s first city to be listed in World Heritage Sites.
- Only one mixed-criteria site in India is Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim.
- There are 44 sites (including Keibul Lamjao National Park) submitted by India in the tentative list of World Heritage Sites.
Cultural Heritage sites in India
| 1 | Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh |
| 2 | Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra |
| 3 | Ellora Caves | Maharashtra |
| 4 | Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh |
| 5 | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram | Tamil Nadu |
| 6 | Sun Temple, Konârak | Orissa |
| 7 | Churches and Convents of Goa | Goa |
| 8 | Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh |
| 9 | Group of Monuments at Hampi | Karnataka |
| 10 | Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh |
| 11 | Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra |
| 12 | Great Living Chola Temples 12 | Tamil Nadu |
| 13 | Group of Monuments at Pattadakal | Karnataka |
| 14 | Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi | Madhya Pradesh |
| 15 | Humayun's Tomb | Delhi |
| 16 | Qutb Minar and its Monuments | Delhi |
| 17 | Mountain Railways of India (Includes Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the Kalka-Shimla Railway) | Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim |
| 18 | Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya | Bihar |
| 19 | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka | Madhya Pradesh |
| 20 | Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Gujarat |
| 21 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) | Mumbai |
| 22 | Red Fort Complex | Delhi |
| 23 | The Jantar Mantar | Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| 24 | Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore fort, Gagron Fort, Amber Fort and Jaisalmer Fort) | Rajasthan |
| 25 | Rani-ki-Vav at Patan | Gujarat |
| 26 | Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) | Bihar |
| 27 | Capitol Building Complex - The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier | Chandigarh |
| 28 | Historic City of Ahmadabad | Gujarat |
Natural Heritage sites in India-
| 1 | Kaziranga National Park | Assam |
| 2 | Keoladeo National Park | Rajasthan |
| 3 | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary | Assam |
| 4 | Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal |
| 5 | Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks | Uttarakhand |
| 6 | Western Ghats | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra |
| 7 | Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area | Himachal Pradesh |
Mixed Heritage site in India-
| 1 | Khangchendzonga National Park | Sikkim |
All the best for your Exams..
Team aimsuccess..!!
