Important facts

1 . A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as of special cultural or physical significance.

2 . As of 2025, India has 44 heritage sites, the sixth most of any country.

3 . Of the 44 heritage sites , 7 are in the Natural World Heritage Site list , 36 are in the Cultural World Heritage Site list and one in the Mixed World Heritage Site list.

4 . One site is transnational: The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier is shared with six other countries.

5 . As of July 2025, a total of 1,248 World Heritage Sites (972 cultural, 235 natural, and 41 mixed properties) exist across 170 countries. With 61 selected areas, Italy is the country with the most sites on the list; China is the second with 60 sites, and Germany is the third with 55.

6 . Agra Fort , Ajanta Caves , Ellora Caves and Taj Mahal are the first Indian sites to be included in the World Heritage Sites List. All of them were included in 1983.

7 . The latest entrant (44th) to the list is Maratha Military Landscapes of India (Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu) in 2025.

8 . Moidams – the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty were added to UNESCO World Heritage list in 2024 as 43rd World Heritage Site in India. Hoysala Temples of Belur, Halebid, and Somnathapura in Karnataka were added to UNESCO World Heritage list in 2023 as 42nd and Shanti Niketan in 2023 was included as 41st World Heritage Site in India.

9 . Khangchendzonga National Park(Sikkim) is the only mixed World Heritage Site in India.

Natural World Heritage Sites in India

1 . Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area- Himachal Pradesh

2 . Western Ghats- Maharashtra ,Goa ,Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

3 . Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks-Uttarakhand

4 . Sundarbans National Park-West Bengal

5 . Kaziranga National Park- Assam

6 . Keoladeo National Park – Rajasthan

7 . Manas Wildlife Sanctuary – Assam

Cultural World Heritage Sites in India

1 . Historic City of Ahmadabad – Gujarat

2 . Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda – Bihar

3 . The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement-Chandigarh

4 . Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan-Gujarat

5 . Hill Forts of Rajasthan- Rajasthan

6 . The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur- Rajasthan

7 . Red Fort Complex-Delhi

8 . Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park-Gujarat

9 . Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)-Maharashtra

10 . Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka – Madhya Pradesh

11 . Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya-Bihar

12 . Mountain Railways of India-West Bengal

13 . Humayun’s Tomb – Delhi

14 . Qutb Minar and its Monuments-Delhi

15 . Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi -Madhya Pradesh

16 . Elephanta Caves – Maharashtra

17 . Great Living Chola Temples -Tamil Nadu

18 . Group of Monuments at Pattadakal – Karnataka

19 . Churches and Convents of Goa – Goa

20 . Fatehpur Sikri – Uttar Pradesh

21 . Group of Monuments at Hampi -Karnataka

22 . Khajuraho Group of Monuments -Madhya Pradesh

23 . Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram-Tamil Nadu

24 . Sun Temple, Konârak – Odisha

25 . Agra Fort- Uttar Pradesh

26 . Ajanta Caves – Maharashtra

27 . Ellora Caves – Maharashtra

28 . Taj Mahal – Uttar Pradesh

29 . Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai – Maharashtra

30. Jaipur – Rajasthan

31 . Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana

32 . Dholavira: a Harappan City

33 . Shanti Niketan, West Bengal

34 . Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala, Karnataka

35 . Moidams – the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty

36 . Maratha Military Landscapes of India (Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu)

Mixed World Heritage Sites in India

1 . Khangchendzonga National Park – Sikkim

External link: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/

UPSC Previous Year Questions

QUES . Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO : UPSC 2024

1 . Shantiniketan

2 . Rani-ki-Vav

3 . Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas

4 . Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Show Answer