UNESCO'S LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA

Question 1

Criteria for Cultural Sites for selection to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites?

Answer 1

1. Represents a masterpiece of human creative genius.
2. Exhibits an important interchange of human values over a span of time, or within cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design.
3. Bears a unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation which is living or which has disappeared.
4. Is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history.
5. Is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use or sea-use which is representative of a culture or human-interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.
6. Is directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

Question 2

Criteria for Natural sites for selection to UNESCO’S List of World Heritage Sites?

Answer 2

7. Contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
8. Is an outstanding example representing major stages of the Earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features.
9. Is an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems, and communities of plants and animals.
10. Contains the most important and significant natural habitats conservation of biological diversity, including those containing for in-situ species of outstanding universal values from the point of view of science or threatened conservation.

Question 3

What happens when a site is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO?

Answer 3

If a site is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is accepted as prima facie evidence that such a site is culturally sensitive and warrants legal protection pursuant to the Law of War under the Geneva Convention, its Articles, protocols and customs, together with the other treaties including the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and International Law.

Question 4

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 1983?

Answer 4

1. Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra)
2. Ellora Caves (Maharashtra)
3. Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh)
4. Agra Fort (Uttar Pradesh).

Question 5

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 1984?

Answer 5

5. Sun Temple, Konark (Odisha)
6. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (Pancha Ratha, Shore temple, Arjuna’s Penance or Descent of the Ganges, Caves Temples, etc) (Tamil Nadu).

Question 6

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 1986?

Answer 6

7. Churchs and Convents of Goa.
8. Khajuraho group of Monuments Madhya Pradesh (Group of Hindu and Jain temples which include Kandariya Mahadeva temple, Vishvanatha temple, Lakshmana temple, Chausath Yogini temple, etc of Hindu origin and Parshvanatha, Adinath and Shantinatha temples, etc of Jain origin)
9. Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh)
10. Group of Monuments at Hampi, Karnataka (Krishna temple complex Narasimha, Ganesa, Hemakuta group of temples, Achyutaraya temple complex, Vitthala temple complex, Pattabhirama temple complex Lotus Mahal complex, etc).

Question 7

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 1987?

Answer 7

11. Elephanta Caves (Maharashtra)
12. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (Karnataka) (Nine Hindu temples and one jain temple which includes Virupaksha temple, Papanatha temple, etc.)
13. Great Chola Temples [Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu), Airavateshvara Temple, Darasuram (Tamil Nadu)]

Question 8

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 1989?

Answer 8

14. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh (Great Stupa, Ashokan Pillar, Shunga Pillar, Sri Satakani inscriptions of Satavahana period, various other Stupas, etc.)

Question 9

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 1993?

Answer 9

15. Humayun Tomb
16. Qutub Minar and its Monuments (Delhi).

Question 10

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 1999?

Answer 10

17. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (West Bengal) (Under Mountain Railways of India).

Question 11

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2002?

Answer 11

18. Mahabodhi Temple Complex, Bodh Gaya (Bihar).

Question 12

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2003?

Answer 12

Rock shelters of Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh).

Question 13

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2004?

Answer 13

20. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or Victoria Terminus, Mumbai (Maharashtra).
21. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (Gujarat).

Question 14

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2005?

Answer 14

• Nilgiri Mountain Railways (under Mountain Railways of India).

Question 15

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2007?

Answer 15

22. Red Fort Complex (Delhi).

Question 16

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2008?

Answer 16

• Kalka Shimla Railway (Himachal Pradesh) (under Mountain Railways of India).

Question 17

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2010?

Answer 17

23. Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (Rajasthan).

Question 18

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2013?

Answer 18

24. Six hill forts of Rajasthan
    - Chittorgarh
    - Ranthambhore
    - Kumbhalgarh
    - Amber
    - Gagron
    - Jaisalmer.

Question 19

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2014?

Answer 19

25. Rani ki Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell), Gujarat.

Question 20

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2016?

Answer 20

26. The Architectural work of Le Corbusier (Capital Complex, Chandigarh).
27. Archeological site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University), Bihar.

Question 21

UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites: In India declared in 2017?

Answer 21

28. Historic city of Ahmedabad.

Question 22

Natural sites under UNESCO’S World Heritage Sites in India?

Answer 22

1. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam), 1985
2. Kaziranga National Park (Assam), 1985
3. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur (Rajasthan), 1985
4. Sundarban National Park (West Bengal), 1987
5. Nanda Devi National Park (1988) and Valley of Flowers (Uttarakhand), 2005
6. Western Ghats, 2012 (Sub-clusters include Agasthyamalai, Periyar, Anamalai, Nilgiri, Talakaveri, Kudremukh and Sahyadri)
7. Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh), 2014
8. Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim) (2016)
   (Note: Khangchendzonga National Park is under the mixed category).

Question 23

Benefits of the World Heritage Site status?

Answer 23

• Brings international attention to the need for the preservation and conservation of the site.
• Brings tourism to the site ensuring economic benefits.
• UNESCO can provide funds for restoration, preservation, and training, if required.
• Promotes close ties with the United Nations system and the prestige and support it provides.
• Enables access to global project management resources.
• Facilitates creating partnerships between government, the private sector, and NGOs to achieve conservation goals.
• Site becomes protected under the Geneva Convention against destruction or misuse during wartime.