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List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

A World Heritage Site is a spot that is placed in a list of Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its natural or cultural significance as depicted by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972. World heritage sites can be categorized as natural, cultural or mixed.



Natural heritage sites are those sites that are having distinctive geological, biological and topographical features. Cultural heritage sites consist of Monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculpture and painting, inscriptions, or cave dwellings), Groups of buildings, and Sites (works of man or the combined works of man and nature and areas including archaeological sites). Mixed heritage sites include both natural and cultural features. Of the present 43 total world heritage sites in India, 7 are natural world heritage sites, 35 are cultural world heritage sites and 1 is mixed world heritage site.

Natural World Heritage Sites in India

The following list shows the list of Natural World Heritage Sites in India. The states or the Union Territories and their Natural World Heritage Sites in India are arranged from North to South.


Sl. No. Heritage Site Name Year of Notification Location
1 Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area 2014 Himachal Pradesh
2 Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks 1988,
Boundaries altered in 2005		 Uttarakhand
3 Keoladeo National Park 1985 Rajasthan
4 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary 1985 Assam
5 Kaziranga National Park 1985 Assam
6 Sundarbans National Park 1987 West Bengal
7 Western Ghats 2012 Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Cultural World Heritage Sites in India

The following list shows the list of Cultural World Heritage Sites in India. The states or the Union Territories and their Cultural World Heritage Sites in India are arranged from North to South.


Sl. No. Heritage Site Name Year of Notification Location
1 The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement 2016 Chandigarh
2 Red Fort Complex 2007 Delhi
3 Humayun's Tomb 1993 Delhi
4 Qutb Minar and its Monuments 1993 Delhi
5 Fatehpur Sikri 1986 Uttar Pradesh
6 Agra Fort 1983 Uttar Pradesh
7 Taj Mahal 1983 Uttar Pradesh
8 Jaipur City 2020 Rajasthan
9 Hill Forts of Rajasthan 2013 Rajasthan
10 The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur 2010 Rajasthan
11 Moidams – the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty 2024 Assam
12 Mountain Railways of India 1999 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - West Bengal, Nilgiri Mountain Railway - Tamil Nadu & Kalka Shimla Railway - Himachal Pradesh
13 Santiniketan 2023 West Bengal
14 Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda 2016 Bihar
15 Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya 2002 Bihar
16 Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka 2003 Madhya Pradesh
17 Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi 1989 Madhya Pradesh
18 Khajuraho Group of Monuments 1986 Madhya Pradesh
19 Dholavira 2021 Gujarat
20 Historic City of Ahmadabad 2017 Gujarat
21 Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan 2014 Gujarat
22 Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park 2004 Gujarat
23 Sun Temple, Konark 1984 Odisha
24 Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai 2018 Maharashtra
25 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) 2004 Maharashtra
26 Elephanta Caves 1987 Maharashtra
27 Ajanta Caves 1983 Maharashtra
28 Ellora Caves 1983 Maharashtra
29 Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple 2021 Telangana
30 Churches and Convents of Goa 1986 Goa
31 Group of Monuments at Pattadakal 1987 Karnataka
32 Group of Monuments at Hampi 1986 Karnataka
33 Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas 2023 Karnataka
34 Great Living Chola Temples 1987 Tamil Nadu
35 Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram 1984 Tamil Nadu

Mixed World Heritage Sites in India

There is only one Mixed World Heritage Site in India recognized by UNESCO.


Sl. No. Heritage Site Name Year of Notification Location
1 Khangchendzonga National Park 2016 Sikkim

Quiz

  1. Match the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the States in which they are located:

    1. Dholavira

    2. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area

    3. Khangchendzonga National Park

    4. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka


    1. Himachal Pradesh

    2. Madhya Pradesh


    3. Gujarat

    4. Sikkim


    1. a-3, b-4, c-1, d-2

    2. a-2, b-1, c-4, d-3

    3. a-3, b-1, c-4, d-2

    4. a-2, b-4, c-1, d-3

    Answer

    Ans: C


  2. Sun Temple, a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site in India, is located at:

    1. Sanchi

    2. Konark

    3. Hampi

    4. Pattadakal

    Answer

    Ans: B