Ancient monuments and buildings in the countries make them stand tall on world map. These are an asset to value for. World Heritage Day is a collective effort of the communities in the world to do the needful for these invaluable assets. The day takes an opportunity to hoist awareness about the assortment of cultural legacy and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve them and also to think about its susceptibility.
ICOMOS (International Council for Monuments and Sites) organised a symposium in Tunisia on 18 April 1982 and it was suggested that a special day is to be celebrated all through the world in the name of “International Day for Monuments and Sites” on the same day every year.
The idea was also approved in UNESCO’s General Conference in November 1983. “International Monuments and Sites Day” has been traditionally called the World Heritage Day. The day celebrates the diversity of heritage throughout the world.
India is one country that has been ruled by leaders from different religious and cultural backgrounds, like Aryans, Guptas, Mughals, Britishers, etc. And all of them have left their marks on the Indian soil, in the form of monuments and sites, that are protected and resurrected till date. World heritage day has an important part to play in this colorful land, where you can find huge tombs sprawling over the land, towers that are so high that one can feel the sky and sites- so beautiful that keeps you mesmerized. India has all of it and to maintain these monuments and keep them alive for our upcoming generations, this day is celebrated to spread awareness among the visitors to protect these priceless monuments.
Let’s now check out India’s world heritage sites listed by UNESCO:
List of 35 World Heritage Sites in India:
1. Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University), Bihar
2. Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim
3. Capitol Complex, Chandigarh
4. Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
5. Rani Ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat
6. Group of Monuments at Hampi, Karnataka
7. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka
8. Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh
9. Hill Forts of Rajasthan
10. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar
11. Churches and Convents of Goa
12. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
13. Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu
14. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
15. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh
16. Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
17. Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
18. Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
19. Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
20. Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
21. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan
22. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Uttarakhand
23. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
24. Western Ghats
25. Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi
26. Red Fort Complex, Delhi
27. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Maharashtra
28. Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha
29. Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan
30. Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh
31. Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
32. Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
33. Mountain Railways of India
34. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, New Delhi
35. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat
