A Short Note on 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

A World Heritage Site is a place that is designated by UNESCO for its extraordinary cultural or physical value. The list of World Heritage Sites is maintained by the international ‘World Heritage Programme’, supervised by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) works to facilitate the identification, conservation, and preservation of cultural and natural assets around the world considered to be of extraordinary importance to humanity.

This is incorporated in an international treaty called the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.

India has 38 world heritage sites that include 30 Cultural assets, 7 Natural properties, and 1 combined site.

Taj Mahal, Agra

The Taj Mahal is a complex of mausoleums in Agra, western Uttar Pradesh state, in northern India. It is regarded as the most outstanding example of Mughal architecture (a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles). The Taj Mahal is also one of the most famous landmarks in the world, attracting millions of people annually. 1983 saw the designation of the complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Taj Mahal is regarded as the finest architectural accomplishment in the history of Indo-Islamic design. It has a rhythmic blend of solids and voids, concave and convex, and light shadow; the addition of arches and domes further enhances its beautiful quality. The mix of a verdant green landscape, a reddish roadway, and a blue sky above it demonstrate the monument’s ever-changing hues and tones. The relief work in marble and the inlay of precious and semiprecious stones distinguish it as a unique monument.

Taj Mahal is situated in a 17-hectare Mughal Garden on the right bank of the Yamuna River in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, India. For his wife Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan erected the mausoleum in 1632 AD and finished it in 1648 AD. The mosque, guest house, and main gateway on the south, the outer courtyard, and its cloisters were added in 1653 AD. It has been easier to date the Taj Mahal because of the presence of various historical and Quranic inscriptions in Arabic script. Many craftsmen from across the empire, as well as the Central Asian region, were summoned to help build the temple of Baalshamin. The Taj Mahal’s primary architect was Ustad-Ahmad Lahori. 

The Taj Mahal is often regarded as the finest example of Indo-Islamic architecture ever built. A rhythmic combination of solids and voids, concave and convex, and light shadows, such as arches and domes, further enhances the aesthetic aspect of its recognized architectural beauty. The colours and moods of the monument are always changing thanks to the lush green scape, reddish road, and blue sky above it. It’s a one-of-a-kind monument because of the marble carvings and gemstone inlays.

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

The Khajuraho temples are a series of temples in Madhya Pradesh that are known all over the world. These temples can be found in the Chhatarpur Tehsil of the District Chharpur in the Bundelkhand – Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is well known for these temples. It is known from ancient times as a site for pilgrimage. Despite the fact that its potential as a tourist destination wasn’t recognized until relatively recently, in the 1950s. At the years 950–1050 A.D., a collection of twenty-four temples in Khajuraho sparked the interest of the Indian government in the region as a potential location for a tourist destination. The Chandela dynasty is credited with building these temples, which are representative of the Jain, Hindu, and Buddhist religious traditions.

Khajuraho is a hamlet in the Chhatarpur District of Madhya Pradesh. The old name of Khajuraho, “Khatjuravahaka,” is derived from the Sanskrit word kharjur, which means date palm.

In the 27th century of Kali yuga, Mlechcha invaders began attacking North India, and the Bargujar Rajputs moved east to central India. They ruled over the North-Eastern area of Rajasthan known as Dhundhar, and were known as Dhundhel/Dhundhela for the region they dominated.

Hampi, Karnataka

Hampi is one of the world’s best old historical sites. It was the initial capital of the famed historical Vijayanagara Empire and was located 11 kilometers from Hospet City on the bank of the Tungabhadra River. Hampi is a small area of 25 square kilometers that is completely surrounded by mountains (Anjaneya, Malyavanta, and Matanga Hills) on three sides and the Tungabhadra River on the other. Hindus believe that Hampi was a Monkey kingdom (according to the Ramayana) before the Vijayanagara Empire in the prehistoric era (about 1 CE), when the city was known as Kishkindha.

Hampi’s traditional culture will compel you to bear witness to its culture and architecture. Hampi stood as the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire for more than 200 years (around 1336 AD to 1565 AD). Vijayanagara Rulers embellished and constructed this city with numerous beautiful temples, palaces, market streets, and monuments, making it one of the most renowned ancient cities in India. This extremely ancient landscape has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

Conclusion 

India has 38 world heritage sites that include 30 Cultural assets, 7 Natural properties, and 1 combined site. The Taj Mahal is regarded as the finest architectural accomplishment in the history of Indo-Islamic design. Shah Jahan erected the mausoleum in 1632 AD and finished it in 1648 AD. Khajuraho is a one-of-a-kind monument because of the marble carvings and gemstone inlays. Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire for more than 200 years (around 1336 AD to 1565 AD).