India - UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Qutb or Qutub Minar and its Monuments:- Located in the southern part of Delhi. At the center of this square is the Qutub Minar. Built of red sandstone, the minaret is 72.5 meters (238 ft) tall. The minaret is 14.32 meters (47.0 ft) in diameter at the base and 2.75 meters (9.0 ft) at the top. The construction of this minaret was completed in the early part of the thirteenth century. A few passages around the minaret include the Alai Darwaza (1311), the Alai Minar (an unfinished minaret, which was supposed to be built but never completed), the Qubbat-ul-Islam Mosque (one of the oldest extant mosques in India), the tomb of Iltutmis and There is an iron pillar. The minaret was built from the ruins of several Hindu and Jain temples. All these temples are believed to have been destroyed by foreign invasions during the early Islamic rule in India. The 7.02 m (23.0 ft) high glistening iron pillar at the center of the square is not rusted at all. This iron pillar bears an inscription in Sanskrit by Chandragupta II. In 1192, Qutbuddin Aibak started the construction of this minaret. The minaret was completed during the reign of Iltutmis (1211-38). Later during the reign of Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316) several more constructions were done in this area.

Mountain Railways of India:- The Darjeeling Himalayan, Nilgiris and Mountain Railways Kalka-Shimla Railway together with the Mountain Railways of India are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. However, five mountain railways were introduced in India during the British rule in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. They are currently operated by Indian Railways. Three of these five are located in the Himalayan mountain range of northern India. These are Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1881), Kalka-Shimla Railway (1898) and Kangra Valley Railway (1924). Of the remaining two, one is the Nilgiri Hill Railway in the Western Ghats of South India and the other is the Matheron Hill Railway in Maharashtra.  

Mahabodhi Temple Complex Bodh Gaya:- The Buddhist temple complex marks the site where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. The present temple dates to the 5th and 6th centuries CE (during the Gupta period) and was built upon a previous structure commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. The temple is 50 m (160 ft) high and made of brick.

Red Fort Complex:- The Red Fort was built under Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the mid-17th century. It represents the zenith of Mughal architecture, blending the elements of Indo-Persian culture with Timurid elements

The Jantar Mantar:- The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is India's most significant historic astronomical observatory. It dates from the early 18th century and was built by Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh. There are about 20 astronomical instruments that were designed and built for naked eye observations of the positions of stars and planets.

Rani-ki-Vav:- Rani-ki-Vav is one of the finest examples of a stepwell, an elaborate type of well where groundwater is accessed through several levels of stairs.

Nalanda Mahavihara:- Nalanda Mahavihara was a Buddhist ancient higher-learning institution established in the 5th century and lasting until its sacking in the 13th century. However, some archaeological remains also date back to the 3rd century BCE. The remains include shrines and stupas, viharas (residential and educational buildings), and artworks in different materials

Jaipur City:- Jaipur was founded by the Rajput ruler Jai Singh II in 1727. The city was built with a grid plan, inspired by ancient Hindu and Western ideals.

Santiniketan:- Santiniketan was founded as an ashram by Debendranath Tagore in the second half of the 19th century and then developed into a university town for Visva-Bharati University. It is connected to the life and philosophy of Debendranath's son Rabindranath Tagore, the leading figure of the Bengali Renaissance.

Moidams-the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty:- Charaideowas the capital of the Ahom kingdom (1228–1826), and the tumuli were the burial sites of the royals and nobility. The tumuli create an undulating landscape reminiscent of hills, in line with the spiritual beliefs of the Tai-Ahom people.

Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas:- Three Hoysala temples - the Chennakeshava Temple in Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu and the Keshava.

Kakatiya Rudreshwara(Ramappa) Temple:- The Hindu temple, dedicated to Shiva, was constructed in the first half of the 13th century under the Kakatiya dynasty.

Khangchendzonga National Park:- The national park is located around Mount Khangchendzonga, the world's third highest mountain (8,586 m (28,169 ft)). It is a sacred mountain in Tibetan Buddhism, where the area is considered a beyul, a sacred hidden land.

Dholavira: a Harappan City:- Dholavira was one of the centres of the Harappan Civilisation from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE, in the Bronze Age. The remains include a walled city and a cemetery, and there are remains of buildings and water management systems.

Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai:- This site comprises two assemblies of buildings in Mumbai from the British Empire era. Public buildings in the Victorian Gothic style from the second half of the 19th century adapted Gothic Revival elements for the Indian climate, introducing features such as balconies and verandas.

Historic City of Ahmadabad:- The city of Ahmedabad was founded by Ahmad Shah I in 1411 to serve as the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate. It was the meeting place of many religions.

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier:- This transnational site (shared with Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan) encompasses 17 works of Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier.

Great Himalayan National Park:- The national park covers habitats from alpine peaks of the Himalayas above 6,000 m to alpine meadows and riverine forests below 2,000 m.

Hill Forts of Rajasthan:- This site comprises six forts: the Chittor Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Ranthambore Fort, Gagron Fort, Amber Fort (pictured), and Jaisalmer Fort, which were constructed between the 8th and 18th centuries.

Western Ghats:- Western Ghats is a mountain range that runs along the western coast of the Indian subcontinent. It is covered with montane forests. The area is a biodiversity hotspot and home to endangered species such as the Bengal tiger, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, and Nilgiri langur. In terms of evolutionary history, the area is important given the breakup of Gondwana in the early Jurassic period.

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park:- The site contains remains from several periods, from the Chalcolithic to the remains of Champaner, a short-lived capital of the Gujarat Sultanate in the 16th century. 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus:- The historic terminal train station in Mumbai was built in the late 19th century. It was designed by Frederick William Stevens in the Victorian Gothic style.

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka:- This site comprises five clusters of rock shelters in the foothills of the Vindhya Range. They contain rock paintings from the hunter-gatherer societies of the Mesolithic to the historical period.

Humayun's Tomb:- The tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun was constructed in the 1560s and represents the first example of a garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent 

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi:- Sanchi is one of the oldest extant Buddhist sanctuaries and was instrumental in the spread of the religion through the Indian subcontinent. It became important under Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire in the 3rd century BCE.

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks:- This site comprises two areas in the West Himalayas, the Valley of Flowers National Park and the Nanda Devi National Park.  

Sundarbans National Park:- The national park covers the Indian part of the Sundarbans, the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. It is the world's largest and richest mangrove forest, with about 78 recorded mangrove species. It is a biodiversity hotspot, home to a large population of Bengal tigers.

Great Living Chola Temples:- This site comprises three Hindu temples built in the 11th and 12th centuries under the Chola dynasty. 

Elephanta Caves:- The cave complex, located on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbour, was constructed mainly in the 5th and 6th centuries, with remains of human occupation dating back to the 2nd century BCE.

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal:- This site comprises nine Hindu temples and one Jain temple that were built in the 7th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty.

Fatehpur Sikri:- For about a decade in the second half of the 16th century, Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar,  

Group of Monuments at Hampi(Karnataka) :- Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire until its abandonment after its sacking and pillaging by the Deccan sultanates in 1565. 

Khajuraho Group of Monuments(Madhya Pradesh) :- This site comprises 23 temples, both Hindu and Jain, that were built in the 10th and 11th centuries, during the Chandela dynasty. The temples are built in the Nagara style. 

Churches and Convents of Goa:- Old Goa was the capital of Portuguese India, a colony that lasted for 450 years until 1961. The site comprises seven churches and convents that were built in the 16th and 17th centuries in the Gothic, Manueline, Mannerist, and Baroque styles. 

Keoladeo National Park(Rajasthan) :- Initially a duck-hunting reserve for Maharajas, Keoladeo is a man-made and man-maintained wetland. It is important both for migratory and resident birds.

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary:- sanctuary along the Manas River covers grasslands on floodplains and forests, both in lowlands and in hills. The area is a biodiversity hotspot and home to several endangered species.

Kaziranga National Park:- Kaziranga is located in the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River. It is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in the world, home to the world's largest population of the Indian rhinoceros.

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram:- The monuments around the town of Mamallapuram were built in the 7th and 8th centuries, under the Pallava dynasty. There are different types of monuments: the rathas, which are chariot-shaped temples (Dharmaraja Ratha); the mandapas (rock-cut temples); rock reliefs, including the giant Descent of the Ganges; Shore Temple.

Sun Temple Konarak:- This Hindu temple was built in the 13th century and is one of the finest examples of Kalinga architecture. It represents the chariot of the solar deity Surya: on the outer sides, it has 24 wheels carved of stone and richly decorated, being pulled by six horses. Other decorative motifs include lions, musicians, dancers, and erotic scenes.

 Taj Mahal:- The Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Indo-Islamic architecture. It was built in Agra on the bank of the Yamuna river as a mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal, the Persian wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, between 1631 and 1648. It was designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahori and built in white marble inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones. The tomb is surrounded by four free-standing minarets.

Agra Fort:- Agra Fort is a 16th-century Mughal imperial fortress in Agra. It got its present layout under the Emperor Akbar. The complex contains several palaces (Jahangiri Mahal pictured), audience halls, and two mosques. Stylistically, it is one of the high points of Indo-Islamic architecture, with influences of Persian and Timurid architecture.

Ajanta Caves:- The caves at Ajanta represent a collection of Buddhist art from two periods. The first monuments date to the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE and were created by the followers of Theravada Buddhism. Further monuments were added in the 5th and 6th centuries CE, during the Vakataka dynasty, by the followers of Mahayana Buddhism. The monuments are masterpieces of Buddhist art and exerted strong artistic influence in India and the broader region, especially in Java.

Ellora Caves:- The Ellora Caves comprise 34 temples and monasteries that were cut into a 2 km (1.2 mi) long basalt cliff between the 7th and 11th centuries. As they were built by followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, they illustrate the religious tolerance of the period when they were constructed. The largest temple is the Kailasa Temple (pictured), which is elaborately decorated with sculptures and painting.

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Category:- India