Maratha Military Landscapes Inscribed as India’s 44th UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Maratha Military Landscapes of India has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India’s 44th site to receive this prestigious recognition. The announcement was made during the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris last evening. This global honour celebrates India’s enduring cultural legacy, highlighting its architectural brilliance, regional identity, and historical continuity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have lauded the historic milestone and congratulated the people of India on this achievement. Spanning the 17th to 19th centuries CE, the Maratha Military Landscapes comprise an extraordinary network of twelve forts that reflect the strategic military vision and architectural ingenuity of the Maratha Empire. Spread across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the selected 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 consideration of World Heritage Committee in January 2024 and after a rigorous eighteen-month evaluation process, which included several technical meetings with advisory bodies and an on-site review by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the Committee approved the inscription during its ongoing session in Paris.