Heritage Sites in India – In September 2023, UNESCO included two places in India in its list of World Heritage Sites. So the total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India increased from 40 to 42. In this article, the information about the two latest World Heritage Sites in India as well as the list of a total of 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India have been shared. If you are preparing for any exam then definitely read the entire article.
Download PDF – Most Important Current Affairs 2023
New UNESCO Heritage Sites in India 2023
- In September 2023, UNESCO recognized ‘Shantiniketan City’ located in the West Bengal state as India’s 41st and the ‘Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas’ located in Karnataka state as India’s 42nd World Heritage Site.
- In 2023, the 45th session of UNESCO was organized in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Shantiniketan, 41st Heritage Site
- Shantiniketan is a small town located in Birbhum district of West Bengal state.
- In 1863, Devendranath Tagore, father of Guru Rabindranath Tagore, established an ashram in Shantiniketan.
- In 1901, Guru Rabindranath Tagore opened a school in this city with 5 students, which was given the status of a national university as Visva-Bharati University in 1921 and a central university in 1951.
- In 2023, Shantiniketan City was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas, 42nd Heritage Site
- In 2023, the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka was recognized by UNESCO as the 42nd World Site of India.
- These temples are located in Belur, Halebid, and Somnathpura in Karnataka.
- Hoysala temples were built between the 12th and 13th centuries.
- The Ministry of Culture of India nominated the Hoysala group of sacred temples for World Heritage Site recognition for the year 2022–23.
The Hoysala sacred temple complex consists of 3 major temples.
- Chennakeshava Temple
- Hoysaleswara Temple
- Keshava Temple
Now we will read about these temples in detail.
Chennakeshava Temple [Belur]
- Chennakeshava Temple is also known as Vijayanarayan Temple. It is situated in Belur in Hassan district of Karnataka.
- In 1117 CE, Chennakeshava Temple was built by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala Empire on the banks of the Yagachi River.
- The construction work of this temple was completed in 103 years.
- Chennakeshava Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Hoysaleswara Temple [Halebidu]
- Hoysaleswara Temple is located in Halebidu town of Hassan district of Karnataka state.
- This temple was built by King Vishnuvardhan of the Hoysala Empire.
- The construction work of the Hoysaleswara temple started in 1121CE and this temple was completed in 1160CE.
- Hoysaleswara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Keshava Temple [Somnathpura]
- Keshava Temple is situated on the banks of the Kaveri River in Somnathpura town in the Mysore district of Karnataka state.
- Somnath Dandakaranya, the general of King Narasimha III of the Hoysala Empire, built the temple in 1258 CE.
- Keshava temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- UNESCO recognizes the world’s cultural and natural sites as “World Heritage Sites” for their protection and conservation.
- On November 16, 1972, the General Assembly of UNESCO approved the “Convention Regarding the Protection of the World’s Cultural & Natural Heritage”.
World Heritage Sites Country-Wise list
The number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy is 58, which is the highest in the world. Information about the country and the number of World Heritage Sites in that country is given in the table below.
| S.N. | Country | Total Heritage Sites |
| 1. | Italy | 58 |
| 2. | China | 56 |
| 3. | Germany | 51 |
| 4. | Spain | 49 |
| 5. | France | 49 |
| 6. | India | 42 |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
- In 1983, for the first time, 4 Indian sites, Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Taj Mahal, and Agra Fort, were recognized as World Heritage Sites.
- At present, there are a total of 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India, out of which 34 are cultural, 7 are natural and 1 is included in the mixed site category.
- A site included in the World Heritage Site list can also be removed.
UNESCO
UNESCO Full Form – United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation
- Formation – November 16, 1945
- Headquarters – Paris, France
- Director General – Andre Azoulay
List of 42 Heritage Sites in India
In the table given below, the names of all the World Heritage Sites of India recognized by UNESCO, the year of recognition, and the names of the respective states are given.
| S.N. | World Heritage Site | Year | State |
| 1. | Ajanta Caves | 1983 | Maharashtra |
| 2. | Ellora Caves | 1983 | Maharashtra |
| 3. | Agra Fort | 1983 | Uttar Pradesh |
| 4. | Taj Mahal | 1983 | Uttar Pradesh |
| 5. | Sun Temple, Konark | 1984 | Odisha |
| 6. | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram | 1984 | Tamil Nadu |
| 7. | Kaziranga National Park | 1985 | Assam |
| 8. | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary | 1985 | Assam |
| 9. | Keoladeo National Park | 1985 | Rajasthan |
| 10. | Churches and Convents of Goa | 1986 | Goa |
| 11. | Khajuraho Group of Monuments | 1986 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 12. | Group of Monuments at Hampi | 1986 | Karnataka |
| 13. | Fatehpur Sikri | 1986 | Uttar Pradesh |
| 14. | Group of Monuments at Pattadakal | 1987 | Karnataka |
| 15. | Elephanta Caves | 1987 | Maharashtra |
| 16. | Great Living Chola Temples | 1987 | Tamil Nadu |
| 17. | Sundarbans National Park | 1987 | West Bengal |
| 18. | Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park | 1988, 2005 | Uttarakhand |
| 19. | Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi | 1989 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 20. | Humayun’s Tomb | 1993 | Delhi |
| 21. | Qutub Minar & its Monuments | 1993 | Delhi |
| 22. | Mountain Railways of India | 1999, 2005, 2008 | West Bengal, Tamilnadu, Himachal Pradesh |
| 23. | Mahabodhi Temple Complex | 2002 | Bihar |
| 24. | Rock Shelter of Bhimbetka | 2003 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 25. | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus | 2004 | Maharashtra |
| 26. | Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | 2004 | Gujarat |
| 27. | Red Fort Complex | 2007 | Delhi |
| 28. | Jantar Mantar, Jaipur | 2010 | Rajasthan |
| 29. | Western Ghats | 2012 | Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra |
| 30. | Hill Forts of Rajasthan | 2013 | Rajasthan |
| 31. | Rani Ki Vav | 2014 | Gujarat |
| 32. | Great Himalayan National Park | 2014 | Himachal Pradesh |
| 33. | Nalanda Mahavihara | 2016 | Bihar |
| 34. | Khangchendzonga National Park | 2016 | Sikkim |
| 35. | The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier | 2016 | Chandigarh |
| 36. | Ahmedabad City | 2017 | Gujarat |
| 37. | Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles | 2018 | Maharashtra |
| 38. | Jaipur City | 2019 | Rajasthan |
| 39. | Rudreshwara or Ramappa Temple | 2021 | Telangana |
| 40. | Dholavira | 2021 | Gujarat |
| 41. | Shantiniketan City | 2023 | West Bengal |
| 42. | Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas | 2023 | Karnataka |
Questions related to World Heritage Sites in India
Question – What is the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India at present?
Answer – With the addition of two new sites in the year 2023, the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India has increased from 40 to 42.
Question – Which site was recognized as India’s 41st World Heritage Site in the year 2023?
Answer – ‘Santiniketan city’ located in Birbhum district of West Bengal state was recognized by UNESCO as the 41st World Heritage Site of India.
Question – Which site was recognized as India’s 42nd World Heritage Site in the year 2023?
Answer – ‘ Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas’ located in Hassan and Mysore districts of Karnataka state was recognized by UNESCO as the 42nd World Heritage Site of India.
Question – Which site was recognized as the 39th World Heritage Site of India in the year 2021?
Answer – In the year 2021, Ramappa or Rudreshwar Temple located in Telangana state was recognized by UNESCO as the 39th World Heritage Site of India.
Question – Which site was recognized as India’s 40th World Heritage Site in the year 2021?
Answer – In the year 2021, UNESCO gave the status of India’s 40th World Heritage Site to a place called Dholavira of the Indus Valley Civilization located in the state of Gujarat.
Question – Which country currently has the maximum number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Answer – Italy has the maximum number of 58 World Heritage Sites, China is at second place with 56 sites and Germany is at third place with 51 sites.
Question – What is India’s position in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Answer – With 42 World Heritage Sites, India is at 6th place in the list of most sites.
This article shares the list of all 42 World Heritage Sites in India along with the latest UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you liked the article then share it with your friends also.
