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The Ajanta Caves are Hindu & Buddhist caves built

in two phases. The first, was from the reign of
Emperor Ashoka. The second, further additions
2nd
were made during the 5th and 6th centuries AD of
century
242; 1983; i, the Gupta period. The caves depict richly
1 Ajanta Caves Maharashtra BC to the
ii, iii, vi decorated fresco paintings, reminiscent of
6th
the Sigiriya paintings and sculptures in Sri Lanka.
century
There are 31 rock-cut cave monuments which are
unique representations of the religious art of
Hinduism and Buddhism.[9][10][11]

The Ellora Caves, also known as the Ellora

Complex, are a cultural mix of religious arts of
Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. 34 monasteries
600 to 243; 1983; and temples sculpted continuously into rock walls
2 Ellora Caves Maharashtra
1000 AD (i)(iii)(vi) of a high basalt cliff are seen along a length of 2
kilometres (1.2 mi). Dated to 600 to 1000 AD, they
are a reflection of artistic creation of the ancient
civilization of India.[12]

The Agra Fort, also known as the Red Fort of Agra,

represents Mughal opulence and power as the
center piece of their empire. It was inscribed in the
16th
3 Agra Fort Uttar Pradesh, India 251; 1983; iii UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982, under
century
Category iii as a cultural monument. The fortress is
located on the right bank of the Yamuna River,
built in red sandstone, covering a length of 2.5
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kilometres (1.6 mi). It is surrounded by

a moat which encloses several palaces, towers,
and mosques. They were built from the 16th
century onward until the early 18th century. This
corresponds to Emperor Akbar's reign in the 16th
century to that of Aurangzeb in the early part of the
18th century, including the contributions made
during the reign of Jahangir and Shahjahan of
the Moghul Rule in India. The impressive
structures built within the precincts of the fort are
the Khas Mahal, the Shish Mahal, Muhamman
Burje (an octagonal tower), Diwan-i-
Khas (1637), Diwan-i-Am, white marble mosque or
the Pearl Mosque (built during 1646–1653) and
the Nagina Masjid (1658–1707). These
monuments are remarkable for the fusion
of Persian art of the Timurid and Indian art forms. It
is near the famous Taj Mahal, with a buffer zone
separating the two monuments.[13][14]

The Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the

World, is a mausoleum — a funerary mosque. It
was built by Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his
third wife Begum Mumtaz Mahal who had died in
17th 1631. It is a large edifice made in white marble in
4 Taj Mahal Agra, Uttar Pradesh 252; 1983;i
century typical Mughal architecture, a style that combines
elements from Persian, Islamic, and Indian
architectural styles. This much acclaimed
masterpiece was built over a 16-year period
between 1631 and 1648 under the Chief
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Architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri supported by

several thousand artisans under the guidance of
an Imperial Committee. It was inscribed in the
UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983, under
Category i, as a cultural property/monument. It is
set amidst the vast Mughal Gardens, which cover
17 hectares (42 acres) of land on the right bank of
the Yamuna River. It has an octagonal layout
marked by four exclusive minarets at four corners
with a pristine elevation of a central bulbous dome
below which the tombs are laid in an underground
chamber. Calligraphic inscriptions in-crusted in
polychromatic pierra dura, decorative bands
and floral arabesques glorify the monument's
graphic beauty and provide a picture perfect
impression to the viewers.[15][16]

The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Sun

Temple (also known as the "Black Pagoda"),
at Konark, in Odisha. Located on the east coast of
the Bay of Bengal in the Mahanadi Delta, it is built
in the form of the chariot of Surya (Arka), the sun
246;
Sun Temple, 13th- god with 24 wheels, and is heavily decorated with
5 Puri District, Odisha 1984;(i)(iii)(vi
Konârak century symbolic stone carvings and led by a team of
)
seven horses. It was constructed from oxidizing
weathered ferruginous-coloured sandstone by
King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga
Dynasty. The temple is one of the most renowned
temples in India and is a World Heritage Site
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inscribed in 1984 as a cultural property under

categories (i), (iii) and (vi).[17][18]

The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram,

in Tamil Nadu, about 58 km (36 mi) from Chennai,
were built by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th
centuries. The town has gained prominence under
the rule of Mamalla. These monuments have been
carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast.
The temple town has approximately forty
Group of 7th and monuments, including the largest open-air bas-
249; 1984;
6 Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 8th relief in the world. It was inscribed under the
(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)
Mahabalipuram centuries UNESCO World Heritage list in 1984 as a cultural
heritage under categories (i)(ii)(iii)(vi). The
monuments inscribed are the Ratha Temples:
Temples in the form of chariots, Mandapas, 11
Cave sanctuaries covered with bas-reliefs, rock
relief of Descent of the Ganges, which is the
largest open air Rock relief also known as Arjuna's
Penance or Bhagiratha's Penance.[19][20]

Kaziranga, located in the Northeastern state

of Assam in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra
River's south bank, was declared a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO in 1985 for its unique natural
Kaziranga 20th 337; 1985; ix,
7 Assam environment. It was first established as a reserved
National Park century x
forest in 1908 to protect the dwindling numbers of
rhinoceros. It underwent several transformations
over the years, as The Kaziranga Game Sanctuary
in 1916, renamed Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary in
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1950, and declared a national park in 1974. The

park, which covers an area of 42,996 hectares
(106,250 acres), has the distinction of being home
to the largest population of the great Indian one-
horned rhinoceros. There are many other
mammals and birds species in the sanctuary.[21][22][23]

The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the

northeastern state of Assam covers an area of
50,000 hectares (120,000 acres) in the plains of
the Manas River in the foothills of the Himalayas,
on the border with Bhutan (contiguous with the
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan). It was
inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in
1985 for its unique natural environment. The
sanctuary is the habitat of several species of
plants, 21 most-threatened species of mammals
(out of 55 mammal species in the sanctuary), 36
Manas Wildlife 20th 338; 1985;
8 Assam reptile species, three amphibians and 350 species
Sanctuary century vii, ix, x
of birds. Endangered species include:
the tiger, pygmy hog, clouded leopard, sloth
bear, Indian rhinoceros, wild buffaloes (the only
pure strain of buffalo in India), Indian
elephants, golden langur and Bengal florican. In
1907, it was declared a reserve forest, a sanctuary
in 1928, and became a tiger reserve in 1973 as
part of "Project Tiger" and a World Heritage Site in
December 1985. Plants listed under the broad
category of Burma Monsoon Forests include 285
species of Dicotyledons and 98 species
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of Monocotyledons. Since 1992, the sanctuary was

listed under "The World Heritage in
Danger"|,[24][25][26] but removed in 2011 after
significant conservation efforts.

The Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur is

located within the Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest
Biogeographical Province. It extends over an area
of 2,783 hectares (6,880 acres). It was declared a
national park in 1982. In 1900 it was a duck-
hunting reserve of the Maharajasof Bharatpur, then
became a bird sanctuary in 1956, with the
Maharajas exercising shooting rights until 1972. It
was recorded as a Ramsar Wetland site in 1981. It
was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List
Keoladeo National 340; 1985; in 1985 under category (x), as a natural property.
9 Rajasthan 1981
Park (x) The area of the wetland of the park shrinks to
1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) during most of the
year. It has a human-built environment created
partly by embankments dividing the area into 10
units, and has a sluice controlled arrangement to
maintain the water level. 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.[27][28]
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The Churches and Convents of Goa are

monuments inscribed by UNESCO under the
World Heritage List in 1986 as cultural property,
under criteria (ii),(iv) and (vi), which were built by
the Portuguese colonial rulers of Goa between the
16th and 18th centuries. These monuments are
mainly in the former capital of Velha Goa. Velha
Goa is also known as Goem, Pornem Gõy, Adlem
Gõi, Old Goa or Saibachem Gõi, where Saib or
Goencho Saib refers to Saint Francis Xavier. The
most significant of these monuments is the Basilica
of Bom Jesus, which enshrines the tomb
containing the relics of St. Francis Xavier. These
16th and monuments of Goa, known as the "Rome of the
Churches and 234; 1986;
10 Velha Goa (Old Goa), Goa 18th Orient", were established by
Convents of Goa (ii)(iv)(vi)
centuries different Catholic religious orders, from November
25, 1510 onward. There were originally 60
churches of which some of the surviving
monuments in the city of Velha Goa are: the Saint
Catherine's Chapel (where one of the first,
probably only besides the Angediva Island, Latin
rite mass in Asia, was held on Saint Catherine's
feast day, November 25, 1510); the Church and
Convent of Saint Francis of Assisi; the Sé Catedral
de Santa Catarina dedicated to Saint Catherine of
Alexandria; the Jesuit Borea Jezuchi Bajilika
or Basílica do Bom Jesus; Igreja de São Francisco
de Assis (also known as Asisachea Sanv
Fransiskachi Igorz); the Theatine Igreja da Divina
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Providência (São Caetano) (also known as San

Kaitanachi Igorz or the church of Saint Cajetan and
its seminary (resembles Basilica Papale di San
Pietro in Vaticano); Igreja de Nossa Senhora do
Rosário (also known as Ruzai Saibinnichi Igorz
(Church of Our Lady of the Rosary)) and Igreja de
Santo Agostinho (also known as Sanv
Agustineachi Igorz (Church of Saint Augustine)
(only the belfry stands today and some graves,
including the Georgian Orthodox Church
Saint, Saint Ketevan, who was also a queen).
These monuments were forerunners in
establishing an ensemble of
the Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art forms in
the Asian region. The monuments are built
in laterites and the walls are plastered with
limestone mortar mixed with broken shells. For this
reason, the monuments need constant
maintenance to prevent deterioration due to
monsoon climatic conditions.[29][30]

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments attributed to

the Chandela dynasty which, under sovereignty of
Gurjar Pratihars reached its glory. The ensemble of
monuments that have survived belong to
Khajuraho Group 950 AD to 240; 1986; (i)
11 Madhya Pradesh the Hindu and Jain Religious practices with striking
of Monuments 1050 AD (iii)
fusion of sculpture and architecture; the best
example of this outstanding feature is seen in
the Kandariya Temple. Of the 85 temples built,
only 22 temples have survived in an area of 6 km2,
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which represents the Chandela period of the 10th

century. Located in the Indian state of Madhya
Pradesh, it was inscribed by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site, a cultural property on October 15,
1982, for its unique original artistic creation and
proof of the Chandela Culture that existed prior to
the Muslim invasion of India in the early 12th
century.[31][32]

The Group of Monuments at Hampi comprise a

sombre but ostentatious Hampi town, on the banks
of the river Tungabhadra in Karnataka. Hampi
subsumes the ruins of Vijayanagara, which was
the former capital of the powerful Vijayanagara
Empire. Dravidian temples and palaces abound in
Group of 14th and
241; 1986; Hampi. These won the admiration of travellers
12 Monuments at Vijayanagara district, Karnataka 16th
(i)(iii)(iv) between the 14th and 16th centuries. Hampi, as an
Hampi centuries
important Hindu and Jain religious centre, has
the Virupaksha Temple (different from Pattadakal's
Virupaksha Temple) and several other
monuments, which are part of the cultural heritage
site inscribed under category (i), (iii) and (iv) in the
UNESCO World Heritage List.[33][34]

Fatehpur Sikri, "the City of Victory," was built

during the second half of the 16th century by
16th 255; 1986; ii, the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556–1605). It was
13 Fatehpur Sikri Uttar Pradesh
century iii, iv the capital of the Empire and seat of the grand
Mughal court but only for 14 years. Despite bearing
exceptional testimony to the Mughal civilization at
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the end of the 16th century, it had to be abandoned

due to the twin reasons of lack of water and unrest
in north-west India, leading the emperor to shift the
capital to Lahore. Akbar decided to construct it in
1571, on the same site where the birth of his son,
the future Emperor Jahangir, was predicted by the
wise saint Shaikh Salim Chisti (1480–1572). The
work, supervised by the great Mughal himself, was
completed in 1573. The complex of monuments
and temples, all uniformly in Mughal architectural
style, includes one of the largest mosques in India,
the Jama Masjid, the Buland Darwaza, the Panch
Mahal, and the Tomb of Salim Chishti. The English
traveller Ralph Fitch considered the city in 1585 as
'considerably larger than London and more
populous.' Its form and layout strongly influenced
the evolution of Indian town planning, notably
at Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). The city has
numerous other palaces, public buildings and
mosques, as well as living areas for the court, the
army, servants of the king and for an entire
population whose history has not been
recorded.[35][36]

The Group of monuments in Pattadakal designated

under UNESCO World Heritage List, in 1987,
Group of
8th 239; 1987; cover a remarkable series of nine Hindu temples,
14 Monuments at Bagalkot District, Karnataka
century (iii)(iv) as well as a Jain sanctuary in northern Karnataka.
Pattadakal
In this group of temples, the Virupaksha Temple,
built c. 740 by Queen Lokamahadevi to
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commemorate her husband's (King Vikramaditya

II) victory over the Pallava kings from the south, is
considered the most outstanding architectural
edifice (This is different from the Virupaksha
Temple at Hampi.) These are a remarkable
combination of temples built by the Chalukya
Dynasty in the 6th to the 8th century
at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal, the latter city
was known as the "Crown Rubies". The temples
represent a remarkable fusion of the architectural
features of northern (Nagara) and southern
(Dravida) India. Pattadakal is considered a Hindu
holy city and within the heritage complex are eight
temples dedicated to Shiva, a
ninth shaivite sanctuary called the Papanatha
Temple, and a Jain Narayana temple.[37][38]

The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted

caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri
(literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10
kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city
of Mumbai. The island, located on an arm of
the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves
5th to 8th 244rev;
15 Elephanta Caves Maharashtra — the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the
centuries 1987; (i)(iii)
second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves.
The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures,
representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to
the god Shiva. The rock-cut architecture of the
caves is dated to between the 5th and 8th
centuries, although the identity of the original
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builders is still a subject of debate. The caves are

hewn from solid basalt rock. Renovated in the
1970s, the caves were designated a World
Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork.[39][40]

The Great Living Chola Temples, built by kings of

the Chola Empire stretched over all of Tamil Nadu.
This cultural heritage site includes three great
Brihadeeswarar
temples of the 11th and 12th centuries namely,
temple, Gangaikonda
the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur,
Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu
the Brihadisvara Temple at
Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara
Temple at Darasuram. The Temple of
Gangaikondacholisvaram, built by Rajendra I, was
Airavateshwarar 11th and completed in 1035. Its 53 metres
Great Living Chola 250bis; 1987;
16 Temple, Darasuram, Tamil 12th (174 ft) vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed
Temples (ii)(iii)
Nadu century corners and a graceful upward curving movement,
contrasting with the straight and severe tower at
Thanjavur. The Airavatesvara temple complex,
built by Rajaraja II, at Darasuram features a 24
metres (79 ft) vimana and a stone image of Shiva.
Brihadeeswarar The temples testify to the brilliant achievements of
Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and
bronze casting. The site was inscribed under
UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 as Cultural
heritage under criteria (ii) and (iii).[41][42]
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The Sundarbans National Park, the

largest estuarine mangrove forest in the world is
a national park, tiger reserve, World Heritage Site
and a biosphere reserve located in
the Sundarbans Ganges river delta bordering
the Bay of Bengal, in West Bengal. It is also on the
UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
The Sundarbans as a whole encompasses
10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi) of land and water, about
5,980 km2 (2,310 sq mi) in Bangladesh and the
balance is in India. It is integral to the world's
largest delta of 80,000 km2 formed from sediments
deposited by the three great rivers, the Ganges,
the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, which
Sundarbans 1939 and 452; 1987;
17 West Bengal confluence in the Bengal Basin. The entire basin is
National Park 1982 (ix) and (x)
traversed by a complex network of interconnecting
waterways. Though, the history of protection in the
area of Indian part of the Sundarbans dates back
to 1878, it was declared as the core area of
Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in 1973, and a wildlife
sanctuary in 1977 of 133,000-hectare core area
within the 258,500 hectares (639,000 acres)
Sundarbans Tiger Reserve. On May 4, 1984, it
was declared a National Park. It was inscribed on
the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987 as a
natural property under category (ix) and (x). This
region is densely covered by mangrove forests,
and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal
tiger. It is also home to a variety
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of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including

the salt-water crocodile.[43][44]

The Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National

Parks are nestled high in West Himalaya. Valley of
Flowers National Park is renowned for its
meadows of endemic alpine flowers and
outstanding natural beauty. It is located in
the Garhwal Himalaya of Chamoli
District of Uttarakhand. This richly diverse area is
also home to rare and endangered animals,
including the Asiatic black bear, snow
leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. The gentle
landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park
complements the rugged mountain wilderness
Nanda Devi and
1939 and 335bis; 1988, of Nanda Devi National Park. Together, they
18 Valley of Flowers Uttarakhand
1982 2005; (vii),(x) encompass a unique transition zone between the
National Parks
mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great
Himalaya. The park stretches over an expanse of
87.5 km2 (33.8 sq mi). It was established as a
national park on November 6, 1982. However, it
was initially established as a game sanctuary on
January 7, 1939. It was inscribed under the
UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 with
extension in 2005 under category (vii) and
(x).[45][46] Together, they comprise the Nanda Devi
Biosphere Reserve, which is on the
UNESCO World Network of Biosphere
Reserves since 2004.
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The Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, located 45

kilometres (28 mi) from Bhopal in the Indian state
of Madhya Pradesh are a group of Buddhist
monuments dated between 200 BC and 100 BC.
The site, however, has been conjectured to have
been developed in the 3rd century BC,
when Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan
3rd and
Empire ruled. The principal monument is Stupa 1
1st
dated to the 2nd century and 1st century BC.
Buddhist centuries 524; 1989;
These Buddhist sanctuaries were active Buddhist
19 Monuments at Madhya Pradesh BC to the (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi
religious monuments, which flourished until the
Sanchi 12th )
12th century. The sanctuary has a plethora of
century
monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and
AD
monasteries in different status of preservation. It
was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO on January 24, 1989, for its unique
cultural importance. It was discovered only in 1818
in a deserted state of preservation. Archaeological
excavations undertaken thereafter revealed 50
unique monuments.[47][25][48]

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, the first tomb built with

several innovations, set at the centre of luxurious
gardens with water channels, was the precursor
monument to the Taj Mahal (built a century later). It
Humayun's Tomb, 232, 1993,
20 Delhi 1572 was built in 1570 and was inscribed as a UNESCO
Delhi (ii), (iv)
World Heritage Monument in 1993 for its cultural
importance. It was built in 1569–1570 by the
second Mughal Emperor Humayun's widow Biga
Begum (Hajji Begum). Its architecture is credited to
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Mirza Ghiyath and its Mughal architectural

style has been acclaimed as the "necropolis of
the Mughal dynasty" for its double domed elevation
provided with Chhatris. Apart from the tomb of
Humayun, the funerary also has 150 tombs of
various members of the royal family. The tomb is
built with a char-bagh (fourfold) layout with two
gates, one on the south and the other on the west.
It has a number of water channels, a pavilion and a
bath. The tomb set on an irregular octagonal plinth
has a raised dome of 42.5 metres (139 ft) in height,
covered by marble slabs and decorated with
chhatris.[49][50]

The Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi, located

to the south of Delhi, is a complex with the Qutb
Minar as the centre piece, which is a red
sandstone tower of 72.5 metres (238 ft) height with
a base of 14.32 metres (47.0 ft) reducing to 2.75
metres (9.0 ft) diameter at the top. Built in the
beginning of the 13th century, the complex of
Qutb Minar and its Late 12th 233, 1993, structures comprises itineraries, the Alai
21 Delhi
Monuments, Delhi century (iv) Darwaza Gate (1311), the Alai Minar (an
incomplete mound of the intended Minar or tower),
the Qubbat-ul-Islam Mosque (the earliest existing
mosque in India), the tomb of Iltutmish, and an Iron
Pillar. The complex is a testimony to the Islamic
depredations during the period as seen from the
materials used for building the complex which are
those that were removed. a shining iron pillar of
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7.02 metres (23.0 ft) height (without any trace of

rusting) erected at the centre of the complex, with
inscriptions in Sanskrit, of the Chandra Gupta
II period is a mute witness. History records its
construction, initially by Qutubuddin Aibak in 1192,
its completion by Iltumish (1211–36) and again
by Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316). It underwent
several renovations by subsequent rulers, following
damage to the structures due to lightning. It was
inscribed under the UNESCO World Heritage List
under category iv for its unique representation of
the Islamic architectural and artistic excellence.[51][52]

Darjeeling Himalayan The Mountain Railways of India represent a

Railway (1999), Darjeeling, Wes collective listing of the Darjeeling Himalayan
t Bengal, India Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and
the Kalka-Shimla Railway under the UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Two railways, the Darjeeling
Nilgiri Mountain
Himalayan Railway (1881) and the Kalka-Shimla
Railway (2005) Ooty, Tamil
Railway (1898) are located in the rugged hill
Nadu, India
19th and 944ter; 1999, regions of the Himalayas of Northern India and the
Mountain
22 early 20th 2005, 2008; other two, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (1908) and
Railways of India
centuries (ii)(iv) the Matheran Hill Railway (1907) are located in the
rugged hill regions of the Western
Kalka-Shimla Railway, Himachal Ghats of Southern India. The World Heritage
Pradesh (2008) UNESCO recognition of these mountain railways of
India India has been stated as for being "outstanding
examples of bold, ingenious engineering solutions
for the problem of establishing an effective rail link
through a rugged, mountainous terrain". The
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Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was recognized first

in 1999, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway followed suite
as an extension to the site in 2005, and in 2008 the
Kalka–Shimla Railway was further added as an
extension; and the three together have been titled
as Mountain Railways of India under Criteria: ii, iv
under the region in the Asia-Pacific. The claim of
the Matheran Hill Railway, the fourth mountain
railway, is pending acceptance by the international
body.[53][54]

The Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh

Gaya (Buddha Gaya), spread over an area of 4.86
hectares (12.0 acres) was inscribed in the
UNESCO World Heritage List i as a unique
property of cultural and archaeological importance.
The first temple was built by Emperor Ashoka in
3rd
the 3rd century BC (260 BC) around the Bodhi
century
Tree Ficus religiosa (to the west of the temple).
BC, 5th
Mahabodhi 1056 rev; However, the temples seen now are dated
and 6th
23 Temple Complex Bihar 2002; i, ii, iii, between 5th and 6th centuries AD. The structures
century
at Bodh Gaya iv, vi have been built in bricks. Revered and sanctified
AD and
as the place where Siddhartha
19th
Gautama Buddha was enlightened in 531 BC at
century
age 35, and then propagated his divine knowledge
of Buddhism to the world, it has been the ultimate
temple for reverential worship, over the last several
centuries, by Buddhists of all denominations, from
all over the world who visit on pilgrimage. The main
temple is 50 metres (160 ft) in height, built in Indian
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architectural style, dated between 5th and 6th

centuries, and it is the oldest temple in the Indian
sub-continent built during the "Golden Age" of
Indian culture credited to the Gupta period.
Sculpted balustrades of the Ashokan times (3rd
century BC) are preserved in the Archaeological
Museum located within the temple complex.[55][56]

The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka described in the

UNESCO Inscription as "the site complex … a
magnificent repository of rock paintings within
natural rock shelters" is located in the foothills of
the Vindhya range of hills in the Central
Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is spread in
sandstone formations extending over an area of
1893 ha with a buffer zone 10,280 hectares
(25,400 acres). The rock shelters, discovered only
in 1957, comprise a group of "five clusters of rock
Rock Shelters of 30,000 925; 2003; shelters" with paintings that are inferred to date
24 Madhya Pradesh
Bhimbetka years (iii) (v) from the "Mesolithic period right through to the
Historical period", with the 21 villages surrounding
them reflecting the traditions displayed in the rock
paintings. The unique rock art has been discovered
in 400 painted shelters spread over an area of
1,892 ha amidst dense forest with high diversity of
flora and fauna, with some of the shelters dated
from 100,000 BC (Late Acheulian) to 1000 AD. It
was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO in 2003 as a unique cultural property
representing a convergence displayed in the art
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form between the people and the landscape with

links to the hunting gathering economy of the
past.[25][57][58]

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a historic

railway station in Mumbai, which serves as the
headquarters of the Central Railways. It is one of
the busiest railway stations in India, and serves
Central Railway trains terminating in Mumbai as
well as the Mumbai Suburban Railway. The station
was designed by Frederick William Stevens, a
consulting architect in 1887–1888. It took ten years
to complete and was named "Victoria Terminus" in
Chhatrapati
honour of the Queen and Empress Victoria; it was
Shivaji Terminus 1887– 945rev;
25 Maharashtra opened on the date of her Golden Jubilee in 1887.
(formerly Victoria 1888 2004; (ii)(iv)
This famous architectural landmark in Gothic
Terminus)
style was built as the headquarters of the Great
Indian Peninsular Railway. In 1996, in response to
demands by the Shiv Sena, and in keeping with
the policy of renaming locations with Indian names,
the station was renamed by the state government
after Chatrapati Shivaji, the famed 17th-
century Maratha king. On July 2, 2004, the station
was nominated as a World Heritage Site by the
World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.[59][60]

Champaner- Prehistoric Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is

Pavagadh and 8th to 1101; 2004; situated in the Panchmahal district in Gujarat,
26 Gujarat
Archaeological 14th iii, iv, v, vi India. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World
Park centuries Heritage Site in 2004 as a cultural site. There is a
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concentration of largely unexcavated

archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage
properties cradled in an impressive landscape
which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill
fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of
the 16th-century capital of the state of Gujarat. The
site also includes, among other vestiges,
fortifications, palaces, religious buildings,
residential precincts, agricultural structures and
water installations, from the 8th to the 14th
centuries. The Kalikamata Temple and Jain
Temple on top of the Pavagadh Hill is considered
to be an important shrine, attracting large numbers
of pilgrims throughout the year. The site is the only
complete and unchanged Islamic pre-
Mughal city.[61][62]

The Red Fort Complex, also known as Lal Qila is a

palace fort built in the 17th century
by Shahjahan (1628–58), the fifth Mughal
emperor as part of his new capital city
of Shahjahanabad. Located to the north of Delhi, it
231rev, represents the glory of the Mughal rule and is
27 Red Fort Complex Delhi 1648 2007, (ii), (iii), considered the Highpoint of Mughal architectural,
(vi) artistic aesthetic creativity. The architectural design
of the structures built within the fort represents a
blend of Persian, Timuri and Indian architectural
styles; Isfahan, the Persian Capital is said to have
provided the inspiration to build the Red Fort
Complex. The planning and design of this complex,
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in a geometrical grid plan with pavilion structures,

was the precursor of several monuments which
were built later in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and other
places. The palace complex has been fortified by
an enclosure wall built with red sandstone (hence
the name Red Fort). It is adjacent to the Salimgarh
Fort on its north built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546
and is now part of the Red Fort Complex (area
covered 120 acres) under the revised inscription of
the UNESCO World Heritage List under categories
(i),(ii), (iii) and (vi). Built between 1639 and 1648,
enclosing an area of size 656 metres (2,152 ft) x
328 metres (1,076 ft) and raising to a height of 23
metres (75 ft) on the right bank of the Yamuna
River, it is linked to the Salimgarh Fort through a
bridge over an old river channel, now a city road.
The palace within the fort complex, located behind
the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience),
comprises a series of richly engraved marble
palace pavilions, interconnected by water channels
called the Nehr-i-Behishit meaning the "Stream of
Paradise", the Diwane-i-khas (Private audience
hall), several other essential private structures, and
also the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque built by
Emperor Aurangzeb).[63][64]

The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is a collection of

The Jantar 1727 and 1338; 2010; architectural astronomical instruments, built by
28 Jaipur, Rajasthan
Mantar, Jaipur 1734 (iii)(iv) Maharaja (King) Jai Singh II at his then new capital
of Jaipur between 1727 and 1734. It is modelled
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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 has been inscribed as cultural property
on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an
expression of the astronomical skills and
cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly
prince at the end of the Mughal period."[65][66]

Agasthyamalai Sub-Cluster
(Kerala)

The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri

Periyar Sub-Cluster (Kerala) Mountains, a mountain range along the western
side of India and one of the world's ten "Hottest
biodiversity hotspots" (sub cluster
nomination)[67][68][69] A total of thirty nine properties
29 Western Ghats Anamalai Sub-Cluster (Kerala) 2012
(including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and
reserve forests) were designated as World
Heritage Sites – twenty in the state of Kerala, ten
in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu and four
Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (Tamil Nadu) in Maharashtra.[70][71]

Talakaveri Sub-
Cluster (Karnataka)
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Kudremukh Sub-
Cluster (Karnataka)

Sahyadri Sub-Cluster
(Maharashtra)

The Hill Forts of Rajasthan, are a series of sites

Chittorgarh located on rocky outcrops of the Aravallis mountain
range in Rajasthan. They represent a typo of
Rajput military hill architecture, a style
characterized by its mountain peak settings,
Kumbhalgarh utilizing the defensive properties of the terrain.
7th to 16th These hill forts in Rajasthan
Hill Forts of 247;
30 centuries[72 represent Rajput military strongholds across a vast
Rajasthan 2013;(ii)(iii)
] range of geographical and cultural zones. The
number of hill forts is said to express the
development of Rajput defensive architecture and
Ranthambhore
are examples of Rajput military architecture. Rajput
forts are well known for their defensive
architecture. They enclose large territories and
even complete villages in walled compounds. The
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property consists of Chittor

Amber Sub-Cluster Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Ranthambore Fort, Gagro
n Fort, Amer Fort, Jaisalmer Fort. These fort
complexes include palaces, Hindu and Jain
temples, urban centers and trading centers.[73] Due
Jaisalmer to the variety of built structures in each hill fort,
only the most significant elements of each complex
are described.[74][75]

Gagron

Rani ki vav (The Queen's Stepwell) at Patan,

Gujarat, is a famous stepwell It is famous for its
size and sculpture. The length of Rani ki Vav is
more than 64 m (210 ft) long, 20 m (66 ft) wide and
27 m (89 ft) deep and there are more than 500
11th
Rani ki vav (The sculptures of god. Most of the sculptures are in
31 Patan, Gujarat century 2014
Queen's Stepwell) devotion to Vishnu, in the forms of Dus-Avatars
AD
Kalki, Rama, Mahisasurmardini, Narsinh, Vaman,
Varahi and others representing their return to the
world. Nagkanya, Yogini beautiful women – Apsara
showcasing 16 different styles of make-up to look
more attractive called Solah-shringar.[76][77][78]

The Great Himalayan National

Park at Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, is characterized
Great Himalayan
32 Himachal Pradesh 2014 by high alpine peaks, alpine meadows and riverine
National Park
forests. The 90,540 ha property includes the upper
mountain glacial and snow melt water source
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origins of several rivers, and the catchments of

water supplies that are vital to millions of
downstream users. The GHNPCA protects the
monsoon-affected forests and alpine meadows of
the Himalayan front ranges. It is part of the
Himalaya biodiversity hotspot and includes 25
forest types along with a rich assemblage of fauna
species, several of which are threatened. This
gives the site outstanding significance for
biodiversity conservation.[79]

The Nalanda Mahavihara site is in the State of

Bihar, in north-eastern India. It comprises the
archaeological remains of a monastic and
scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century
BCE to the 13th century CE. It includes stupas,
shrines, viharas (residential and educational
Archaeological
buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone
Site of Nalanda 5th to 12th
33 Bihar 2016 and metal. Nalanda stands out as the most ancient
Mahavihara at centuries
university of the Indian Subcontinent. It engaged in
Nalanda, Bihar
the organized transmission of knowledge over an
uninterrupted period of 800 years. The historical
development of the site testifies to the
development of Buddhism into a religion and the
flourishing of monastic and educational
traditions.[80]
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Located at the heart of the Himalayan range in

northern India (State of Sikkim),
the Khangchendzonga National Park includes a
Khangchendzong
34 Sikkim 2016 unique diversity of plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers
a National Park
and spectacular, snow-capped mountains covered
with ancient forests, including the world's third
highest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga.[81][82]

Chosen from the work of Le Corbusier, the 17 sites

comprising this transnational serial property are
The Architectural spread over seven countries. Urban and
20th
35 Work of Le Chandigarh 2016 Architectural Work of Le Corbusier in Chandigarh,
century
Corbusier is home to numerous architectural projects of Le
Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Matthew
Nowicki and Albert Mayer.[83]

The walled city of Ahmedabad, founded by

Sultan Ahmad Shah I in the 15th century, on the
eastern bank of the Sabarmati River, presents a
rich architectural heritage from the sultanate
period, notably the Bhadra citadel, the walls
and gates of the Fort city and numerous mosques
Historic City of 15th and tombs as well as important Hindu and Jain
36 Ahmedabad, Gujarat 2017
Ahmadabad century temples of later periods. The urban fabric is made
up of densely-packed traditional houses (pols) in
gated traditional streets (puras) with characteristic
features such as bird feeders, public wells, and
religious institutions. The city continued to flourish
as the capital of the State of Gujarat for six
centuries, up to the present.[84]
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This is a collection of the Victorian Gothic buildings

The Victorian and late 19th
and Art Deco buildings. They are the Bombay High
Art Deco to early 1480; 2018;
37 Maharashtra Court, Rajabai Clock Tower, Eros
Ensemble of 20th (ii)(iv)[85]
Cinema and Convocation Hall, University of
Mumbai century
Mumbai, University Library, Mumbai.[86][87]

The fortified city of Jaipur, in India's

[88]

northwestern state of Rajasthan was founded in

1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II. Unlike other cities in
the region located in hilly terrain, Jaipur was
established on the plain and built according to a
grid plan interpreted in the light of Vedic
architecture. The streets feature continuous
colonnaded businesses that intersect in the centre,
November
38 Jaipur Jaipur, Rajasthan 2019 creating large public squares called chaupars.
18, 1727
Markets, stalls, residences and temples built along
the main streets have uniform facades. The city's
urban planning shows an exchange of ideas from
ancient Hindu and modern Mughal as well as
Western cultures. The grid plan is a model that
prevails in the West, while the organization of the
different districts refers to traditional Hindu
concepts. Designed to be a commercial capital, the
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city has maintained its local commercial, artisanal

and cooperative traditions to this day.[89]

Rudreshwara, popularly known as Ramappa

Temple, is located in the village of Palampet
approximately 200km north-east of Hyderabad, in
the State of Telangana. It is the main Shiva temple
in a walled complex built during the Kakatiya
period (1123–1323 CE) under rulers Ganapati
Deva and Recharla Rudra Reddy. Construction of
the sandstone temple began in 1213 CE and is
believed to have continued over some 40 years.
The building features decorated beams and pillars
of carved granite and dolerite with a distinctive and
Kakatiya
pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower)
Rudreshwara 1570; 2021;
39 Telangana 1213 CE made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called
(Ramappa) (i)(iii)
‘floating bricks’, which reduced the weight of the
Temple
roof structures. The temple’s sculptures of high
artistic quality illustrate regional dance customs
and Kakatiya culture. Located at the foothills of a
forested area and amidst agricultural fields, close
to the shores of the Ramappa Cheruvu, a
Kakatiya-built water reservoir, the choice of setting
for the edifice followed the ideology and practice
sanctioned in dharmic texts that temples are to be
constructed to form an integral part of a natural
setting, including hills, forests, springs, streams,
lakes, catchment areas, and agricultural lands.[90]
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The ancient city of Dholavira is one of the most

remarkable and well-preserved urban settlements
in South Asia dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd
millennium BCE (Before Common Era).
Discovered in 1968, the site is set apart by its
unique characteristics, such as its water
3rd to mid- management system, multi-layered defensive
Dholavira: A 2nd 1645; 2021; mechanisms, extensive use of stone in
40 Gujarat
Harappan City millennium (iii)(iv) construction and special burial structures. Of note
BCE is also the art associated with the city – artefacts of
various kinds such as copper, shell, stone,
jewellery of semi-precious stones, terracotta, gold,
ivory have been found at the site. In addition, the
interregional trade links associated with Dholavira,
have also been acknowledged as contributing to
the shared heritage of humanity.[91]