UNESCO World Heritage Sites In India: Quick Revision For Competitive exams

Updated: Sunday, July 26, 2026, 19:38 [IST]

The places of great Historical, Cultural and Traditional and Natural values are known as Heritage sites. The sites are preserved and conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India which comes under the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, currently headed by hon'ble Minister G Kishan Reddy.

In view of India's vast historical background, there are around 3691 monuments and sites of historical importance. Out of these, 40 sites are accredited by UNESCO as world Heritage sites. So let's know what a World Heritage site is?

What is a World Heritage Site?

The sites of outstanding universal value to culture and tradition are called World Heritage sites. The United Nations Education, Science and Cultural organization (UNESCO) has the authoritative Power to designate a site of universal importance as a World Heritage Site. In 1972, UNESCO world heritage convention was held and the signatory countries have a right to nominate sites of cultural and natural importance. India became the signatory of this convention on 14 November 1977.

Types of World Heritage Sites

World Heritage sites are categorized in three types.

Cultural Heritage: It comprises monuments, sculptures, buildings with great archeological styles, geological and physiographical formations including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants, archeological sites etc. 32 out of 40 cultural sites are located in India.

Natural Heritage: Sites which are important from the perspective of Science, conservation of natural beauty are known as Natural heritage sites. 7 out of 40 Natural Heritage sites are located in India.

Mixed Category: Sites which fall under both aforementioned categories are considered mixed types of heritage sites. In India Kanchenjunga National Park is a mixed world Heritage site.

World Heritage day

World Heritage day has been observed every year on April 18, by the United Nations, since 1983. The day was proposed on 18 April 1982, by the International Council on Monuments and Sites which was approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983.

The day is commemorated to mark the significant efforts of various organizations working towards the preservation of our valuable heritages.

Theme of World Heritage Day 2022: "Heritage and Climate"

World Heritage Sites Facts for UPSC
India comes on number 6 with 40 World Heritage sites.
The most recent site listed is Dholavira in 2021.
Ajanta caves, Ellora caves, Agra fort and Taj Mahal are the first heritage sites to be listed from India in the 1983 session of the World Heritage Committee.
Italy has the highest number of world heritage sites,58 followed by China 56 and Germany 51.
A total 1,154 world heritage sites have been listed till July 2021 which exist across 167 countries.
26 countries are the signatories of the World Heritage Convention without any World Heritage site.
The largest World Heritage site is Phoenix Islands with an area of 408,250 km square.
In 1978 a total of 12 sites were designated as World Heritage sites for the first time.
In India Maharashtra has 5, the highest number of heritage sites among all states and union territories.
India's first UNESCO World Heritage City is Ahmedabad.
UNESCO has recognised Nalanda University, Bihar as a World Cultural Heritage site.
Darjeeling Himalayan railway (1999), Nilgiri mountain railway (2005), Kalka Shimla railway (2008) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai (2004) are the four Indian railway stations that are recognised as UNESCO's World Heritage sites.

List Of Heritage Sites

	A	B	C	D
1	Name of WH Site	State Location	Year of Notification	Area (sq.km)
2	Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area	Himachal Pradesh	2014	905.4
3	Western Ghats	Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala	2012	7953.15
4	Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks	Uttarakhand	1988	630.00 87.50
5	Sundarbans National Park	West Bengal	1987	1330.1
6	Kaziranga National Park	Assam	1985	429.96
7	Keoladeo National Park	Rajasthan	1985	28.73
8	Manas Wildlife Sanctuary	Assam	1985	391

	A	B	C
1	Name of WH Site	State Location	Year of Notification
2	Historic City of Ahmedabad	Gujarat	2017
3	Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda	Bihar	2016
4	The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement	Chandigarh	2016
5	Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell) at Patan	Gujarat	2014
6	Hill Forts of Rajasthan	Rajasthan	2013
7	The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur	Rajasthan	2010
8	Red Fort Complex	Delhi	2007
9	Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park	Gujarat	2004
10	Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)	Maharashtra	2004
11	Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka	Madhya Pradesh	2003
12	Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya	Bihar	2002
13	Mountain Railways of India	West Bengal	1999
14	Humayun's Tomb	Delhi	1993
15	Qutb Minar and its Monuments	Delhi	1993
16	Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi	Madhya Pradesh	1989
17	Elephanta Caves	Maharashtra	1987
18	Great Living Chola Temples	Tamil Nadu	1987
19	Group of Monuments at Pattadakal	Karnataka	1987
20	Churches and Convents of Goa	Goa	1986
21	Fatehpur Sikri	Uttar Pradesh	1986
22	Group of Monuments at Hampi	Karnataka	1986
23	Khajuraho Group of Monuments	Madhya Pradesh	1986
24	Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram	Tamil Nadu	1984
25	Sun Temple, Konârak	Odisha	1984
26	Agra Fort	Uttar Pradesh	1983
27	Ajanta Caves	Maharashtra	1983
28	Ellora Caves	Maharashtra	1983
29	Taj Mahal	Uttar Pradesh	1983
30	Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai	Maharashtra	2018
31	Jaipur City	Rajasthan	2019

Note: Two new recently added Cultural heritage sites are; Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple - Telangana - 2021
Dholavira ( A Harappan City) - Gujarat - 2021.