The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has inscribed the fort cities of Gwalior and Orchha in Madhya Pradesh (MP) in its world heritage cities under urban landscape city programme. This was informed by the state government of MP. With this Inclusion the total number of UNESCO World Heritage Cities of India will increase to 40.
- The inclusion will led to the beautification of both cities by the MP Tourism Department in collaboration with UNESCO.
- In this regard, UNESCO team will visit the state in 2021 and will prepare a master plan for their development and conservation under the Historic Urban Landscape recommendation.
- A chemical treatment of historic spots like Mansingh Palace, Gujri Mahal and Sahastrabahu Temple will also be done so that art inscribed on them will become more visible.
- Guards will also be deployed at both places to welcome tourists as per the Indian traditions
About Gwalior:
Gwalior was established in 9th century and ruled by Gurjar Pratihar Rajvansh, Tomar, Baghel Kachvaho and Scindias. It occupies a sandstone plateau and consists of memorials, forts and palaces
- The famous spots include Sun Temple, Jal Vilas Palace, Memorial of Tansen, Tigra Dam, 15th-century Gujari Mahal Palace among others.
About Orchha:
Orchha means ‘hidden palace’, as it name suggests it is popular for its temples and palaces and was the capital of the Bundela kingdom in the 16th century.
- The famous spots in the town are Raj Mahal, Jehangir Mahal, Ramraja Temple, Rai Praveen Mahal, and Laxminarayan Mandir.
Additional Info:
–On global front there are 1121 world heritage sites. While in India there are 38 world heritage sites consisting of two cities viz. Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Ahmadabad (Gujarat).
- The Indian sites include 30 cultural sites, 7 Natural sites, and 1 Mixed site.
–It should be noted that in June 2019, Jaipur was declared as World Heritage site UNESCO following the number of India heritage sites under UNESCO was increased to 38. Click Here to Read
About Urban Landscape City Programme:
The Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape was adopted on November 10, 2011 at the 36th session of the UNESCO’s General Conference. It acts as an addition tool in the practices of conservation of the built environment into the wider goals of urban development.
Click Here for Official World Heritage List
Recent Related News:
i.On October 29, 2020, International Coordinating Council (ICC) of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme included 3 sites to the list of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. They are Panna Biosphere Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) in India, Fuvahmulah Biosphere Reserve (Maldives) and Addu Atoll Biosphere Reserve (Maldives).
ii.UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) conducted an Indian Ocean-wide mock Tsunami Drill – ‘IOWave20’ (Indian Ocean Wave2020) on October 6, 13 and 20, 2020.
About UNESCO World Heritage Centre:
Director– Mechtild Rossler
Headquarter– Paris, France
