Santiniketan becomes 41st UNESCO World Heritage site in India

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Name of Sites

Details

Agra Fort

• The construction of the fort was started by Akbar between 1565 and 1573.

• Situated on: Yamuna River

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1983

Ajanta Caves

• It is a series of rock-cut caves.

• Location: Sahyadri ranges (Western Ghats) on Waghora River near Aurangabad in Maharashtra

• Number of Caves: 29 caves (all Buddhist)

• Developed in: Between 200 BC to 650 AD

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1983

Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara

• The Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara is located at Nalanda, Bihar.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2016

• Founded by: Kumargupta I (Gupta dynasty)

The Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi

• The Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi is located in Madhya Pradesh.

• Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989.

• Three main stupas are stupa 1, stupa 2, and stupa 3.

• Built by: Ashoka

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park

• The Archaeological Park of Champaner-Pavagadh is located in Gujarat.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2004

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, which was formerly Victoria Terminus, is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2004

• It was designed by British architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens.

• It was designed in the style of Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture.

• Construction period: 1878 - 1887

Churches and Convents of Goa

• Churches and convents of Old Goa is located in in Goa Velha (or Old Goa), Goa.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1986

• The Old Goa was founded in the fifteenth century.

• It was founded by the Sultanate of Muslim rulers of Bijapur as a port on the banks of the Mandovi River.

Dholavira: a Harappan City

• In 2021, Dholavira: a Harappan City was recognised as the 40th UNESCO World Heritage Site of India.

• It is located in Kachchh District, Gujarat.

• About Dholavira:

  • Discovered in: 1968

  • Discovered by: Archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi

  • The site contains ruins of an ancient Indus Valley Civilization /Harappan city.

Elephanta Caves

• Elephanta Caves was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

• It is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• It is the glorious abode of Lord Shiva and the epitome of Hindu cave culture.

Ellora Caves

• Ellora Caves was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

• Location: Sahyadri range of Maharashtra

• Number of Caves: 34 caves (17 Brahmanical, 12 Buddhist and 5 Jain)

• The cave temples is Kailasa (Kailasanatha; cave 16) is also located here.

Fatehpur Sikri

• Fatehpur Sikri, which was recognized as a World Heritage Site, was built by Jalal-ud-din Mohammad Akbar.

• It was built in honor of the great Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chisti.

• Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1986

Great Living Chola Temples

• The Great Living Chola Temples was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

• Built by: Chola Empire Kings

• The site includes three great Temples:

  • The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur,

  • The Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram

  • The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.

• The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram was built by Rajendra I and completed in 1035.

• During the period of Rajaraja II, the Airavatesvara temple complex was built.

The Group of Monuments at Hampi

• Location in: Hampi, Karnataka

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1986

• It was a capital of the Vijayanagar Empire.

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

• The group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.

• Location: Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai (TN)

• Founded by: Pallava king Narasimhavarman I (7th century AD)

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal

• Location: Bagalkot district, Karnataka.

• It is also called Raktapura.

• It is a complex of Hindu and Jain temples in northern Karnataka.

• Architecture: Chalukyan

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1987

Hill Forts of Rajasthan

• It is a serial site that comprises six majestic forts.

• These six forts are - Chittorgarh; Kumbhalgarh; Sawai Madhopur; Jhalawar; Jaipur, and Jaisalmer.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2013

Historic City of Ahmedabad

• Founded by: Ahmad Shah I (Gujarat Sultanate)

• Founded in: 1411

• The Historic City of Ahmedabad was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.

Humayun's Tomb

• Located in: Delhi

• Built by:  Biga Begum (Hajji Begum)

• Built between:1569-70 (14 years after his death)

• Architect of tomb: Mirak Mirza Ghiyath

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1993

Jaipur City

• Jaipur City was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is located in Rajasthan.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2019

• Founded in: 1727

• Founded by: Sawai Jai Singh II

Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple

• Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple is located in Palampet, Telangana.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2021

• Main Temple: Shiva temple

• It was built during the Kakatiyan period under rulers Rudradeva and Recharla Rudra.

Khajuraho Group of Monuments

• It is located in Madhya Pradesh.

• Khajuraho Group of Monuments was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

• It is a magnificent example of the Nagara style of temples.

• Collection of Hindu and Jain temples

• Located in: Vindhya Mountain range

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya

• It is located in Bihar.

• It is particularly related to the attainment of Enlightenment (Bodhi) by Mahatma Buddha.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2002

• The other three are sites which are related to Mahatma Buddha:

  • Lumbini (Birth) in Nepal,

  • Sarnath (Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana - 1st Sermon)

  • Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana- death) in Uttar Pradesh

Mountain Railways of India

• It consists of three railways i.e. (1) Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, (2) Nilgiri Mountain Railways, and (3) Kalka Shimla Railways

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railways: It is a gauge track that connects New Jalpaiguri with Darjeeling and was recognized as a UNESCO site in 1999.

• Nilgiri Mountain Railways: It is located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, and was recognized as a UNESCO site in 2005.

• Kalka Shimla Railway: It is located in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh, which was recognized as a UNESCO site in 2008.

Qutb Minar and its Monuments

• It is located in New Delhi.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1993

• Qutb Minar’s red sandstone tower is 72.5 m high.

• Its construction was started by Qutub-ud-din Aibak (1206-1210) in 1193.

• The construction was completed by Iltutmish (1211-1236).

Rani-ki-Vav

• It is located in Patan, Gujarat.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2014

• Located on: Saraswati River

• Built by: Solanki dynasty’s queen Udayamati (Memorial to her deceased husband Bhimdev I)

Red Fort Complex

• Built by: The palace fort of Shahjahanabad (The new capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan)

• It was built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546.

• It is the fusion of the Timurids and Persian architectural styles.

• Architect by: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri

• Indo-Islamic and Mughal architectural styles.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2007

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

• The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains, Madhya Pradesh.

• UNESCO Heritage Site: 2003

Sun Temple

• Konark Sun Temple is located in Odisha.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1984

• Built-by: King Narasimhadeva I (AD 1238-1264)

Taj Mahal

• Location on: Bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1983

• Built by: Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan

• It was built in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal

• Construction: 1632 AD - 1648 AD.

• Taj Mahal’s Main architect: Ustad-Ahmad Lahori

Jantar Mantar

• Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

• UNESCO World Heritage site: 2010

Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles

• UNESCO World Heritage site: 2018

• Location: Mumbai

Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area

• UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Natural category in 2014.

• Location: Himachal Pradesh

Kaziranga National Park

• Location: Golaghat, Nagaon, and Sonitpur districts of Assam

• Famous for: One-horned Rhinoceros

• UNESCO World Heritage site: 1985

Keoladeo National Park

• Formerly, it was also known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

• Famous for: Bird breeding and feeding grounds

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1985

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

• Located in: Assam

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1985

• Famous for: Tigers and Tiger conservation

Valley of Flowers National Parks and Nanda Devi

• Location: Chamoli district, Uttarakhand

• India’s Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi were recognized as UNESCO Heritage sites in 1988, and later it was extended in 2005.

Sundarbans National Park

• It covers 10,000 km2 of land and water in the Ganges delta.

• Famous for: World's largest area of mangrove forests

• UNESCO site: 1987

Western Ghats

• UNESCO site: 2012

• It covers six states of India i.e. Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Gujarat.

Khangchendzonga National Park

• Location: Sikkim

• UNESCO site: 2016

Architectural Work

of Le Corbusier

(Capitol Complex)

• Location: Chandigarh

• UNESCO site: 2016

  41. 

Santiniketan

• It is located in West Bengal

• It became the 41st UNESCO World Heritage Site of India in 2023.

   42. 

Hoysala temples               

• Location: Karnataka

• It became the 42nd UNESCO World Heritage Site of India in 2023.