In March 2025, six Indian sites were added to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. This inclusion is a prerequisite for potential nomination to the World Heritage List. With these additions, India now has 62 sites on the Tentative List.
- The 6 Indian sites are: Kanger Valley National Park (Chhattisgarh); Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs (Telangana); Ashokan Edict Sites along the Mauryan Routes (Multiple States); Chausath Yogini Temples (Multiple States); Gupta Temples in North India (Multiple States) and Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas in Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP).
About the Tentative List:
i.The Tentative List is an inventory of properties that a country considers for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Inclusion in this list is a mandatory step before a site can be officially nominated.
ii.The Tentative list consists of sites that can be either cultural or natural areas or objects for having outstanding universal value.
iii.This process ensures that heritage sites in the Tentative List meet the necessary criteria, allowing for proper evaluation and preparation before being considered for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
About Six Newly Added Sites of India:
| Site Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP) | Chhattisgarh |
| Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs | Telangana |
| Ashokan Edict Sites along the Mauryan Routes | Multiple States |
| Chausath Yogini Temples | Multiple States |
| Gupta Temples in North India | Multiple States |
| Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas | Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP) |
Click here to view the newly added Sites:
1.Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP):
i.KVNP located in Jagdalpur, Bastar District, Chhattisgarh was established in 1982 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, one of India’s densest national parks, representing the moist Peninsular Valley Sal Forests.
ii.It covers 200 square kilometer (sq. km) and was named after the Kanger River, which flows from Northwest to Southeast through its terrain.
iii.The Valley starting from Tirathgarh waterfalls to the Kolab river (Orissa state boundary) is nearly 33.5 km in length and the average width is about 6 km.
iv.Flora: The park hosts 963 floral species from 120 families and 574 genera, including 456 angiosperm species (310 genera, 89 families) and 39 pteridophyte species (21 genera, 15 families). The rare Gigantochloa albociliata bamboo is also found here.
v.Fauna: Home to 49 mammal species, 201 bird species, 16 amphibian species, 37 reptile species (including 6 endemics to India), and 141 butterfly species.
2.Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs:
i.The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs site, located near the Krishna River, Karnataka, dates back 3500–4000 years and represents one of South Asia’s most significant megalithic astronomical observatories.
ii.Spanning 80 acres, the site features menhirs, burial stone circles, and inscribed rocks, with celestial alignments marking solstices and star patterns, indicating advanced astronomical knowledge.
iii. A hillock within the site contains a cuboid rock with cup marks depicting the Ursa Major constellation, aligning with the winter solstice sunrise.
iv.Cultural significance endures as local worship menhirs as deities like Thimmappa and Yellamma, integrating ancient traditions with contemporary beliefs.
v.Sites like Stonehenge and Korean dolmens highlight its unique celestial representations, solidifying its global heritage value.
3.Ashokan Edict Sites along the Mauryan Routes:
i.Ashokan Edict Sites, spanning across multiple states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Madhya Pradesh (MP), Delhi, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh (AP), and Gujarat, hold historical significance as inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka’s moral and administrative messages.
ii.These inscriptions, dating back to 268–232 Before Common Era (BCE), are classified into Major Rock Edicts, Minor Rock Edicts, Pillar Edicts, and Cave Inscriptions, reflecting the Mauryan Empire’s vast communication network.
iii.Situated along major trade routes like Uttarapatha and Dakshinapatha, these edicts facilitated mass communication, spreading Buddhism and Ashoka’s dhamma policies.
iv.The inscriptions, written in Brahmi script, provide crucial insights into Mauryan governance, religious influence, and ancient Indian craftsmanship, with pillars featuring artistic animal capitals.
4.Chausath Yogini Temples:
i.The Chausath Yogini Temples, spanning across 4 states: MP (8 sites), UP (3), Tamil Nadu (TN) (1), and Odisha (2), are 9th–12th-century Common Era (CE) hypaethral shrines dedicated to 64 Yoginis, embodying Tantric Shakti worship.
ii.Built under dynasties like Chandela, Gurjara-Pratihara, and Bhaumakara, they feature unique circular and rectangular layouts (Eg. Khajuraho’s rectangular form) with open courtyards and intricately carved stone sculptures.
iii.Key examples include Mitaoli (11th-century earthquake-resistant design), Hirapur (smallest, Odisha), and Ranipur-Jharial (dancing Yoginis).
iv.These temples, protected by the ASI, showcase architectural innovation and esoteric traditions, nominated for UNESCO under criteria (iii)(iv) for their cultural and historical significance.
5.Gupta Temples in North India:
i.India has proposed a serial nomination of 20 Gupta-era temples across MP, UP, Rajasthan, and Bihar for UNESCO World Heritage status.
ii.Outstanding Universal Value (OUV): Temples like the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh, Odisha (early shikhara) and Bhitargaon, UP (brick terracotta spire) exhibit proto-Nagara elements and innovative craftsmanship.
- These temples reflect the socio-religious evolution during the Gupta “Golden Age,” showcasing early Nagara-Dravida syncretism and religious pluralism.
iii.Contrasted with Ajanta’s Buddhist caves (2nd–1st BCE), Gupta temples emphasize structural innovation over rock-cut artistry.
iv.Unique as early prototypes of Hindu temple architecture; differ in religious and structural expression, it was managed by the ASI under the Ancient Monuments Act (1958).
6.Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas:
i.The ‘Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas’ is a serial property located in India’s Bundelkhand region, comprising 6 components: Garhkundar Fort, Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Datia Palace, Jhansi Fort, and Dhubela Palace.
ii.These forts and palaces exemplify the cultural traditions, architectural styles, and political history of the Bundela Rajputs, who were prominent in Indian history from the 16-19 centuries.
iii.In October 2024, the nomination dossier for Orchha’s historic group of monuments was officially accepted by UNESCO for consideration in the 2027–2028 cycle.
- This marks a significant milestone for MP, as Orchha is set to become India’s first state-protected site to attain World Heritage status, following previous recognitions like Bhimbetka (2003), Khajuraho (1986), and Sanchi (1989).
Points to Note:
i.As of March 2025, India has 43 properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, categorized as Cultural Sites (35), Natural Sites (7) and Mixed Site (1) (Khangchendzonga National Park).
ii.The most recent addition to India’s World Heritage Sites was the Moidams – the mound-burial system of the Ahom Dynasty in Assam, which was inscribed during the World Heritage Committee meeting hosted by India in 2024.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO):
Director-General (DG)– Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Established-1945
Member Nations– 194
