The Maratha Military Landscapes of India have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking India’s 44th site to achieve this honor.
This international recognition highlights India’s rich cultural heritage, reflecting its varied architectural traditions, regional identities, and historical continuity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis praised this significant achievement and extended their congratulations to the citizens of India. This resolution was made during the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee.
Dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries CE, the Maratha Military Landscapes of India consist of a remarkable network of twelve forts that showcase the strategic military insight and architectural ingenuity of the Maratha Empire.
Located in the states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the designated sites include Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, as well as Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
The proposal was submitted for the World Heritage Committee’s consideration in January 2024, and after an extensive eighteen-month process involving numerous technical meetings with advisory bodies and a visit from the International Council on Monuments and Sites to assess the locations, this landmark decision was reached by the World Heritage Committee members last evening at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commended the addition of the Maratha Military Landscapes to the esteemed UNESCO World Heritage List. In a post on social media, Mr. Modi expressed that every Indian is thrilled by this acknowledgment.
He noted that these Maratha Military Landscapes consist of twelve grand forts, with eleven situated in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu.
