NEW DELHI: Maratha Military Landscapes have been inscribed on the World Heritage list of UNESCO, making India’s total sites on the World Heritage list as 44.
The decision was taken at the 47th World Heritage Committee held in Paris on Friday.
This global accolade celebrates India’s enduring cultural legacy, showcasing its diverse traditions of architectural brilliance, regional identity, and historical continuity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis lauded the historic milestone and congratulated the people of India for this achievement.
Spanning from the 17th to 19th centuries CE, Maratha Military Landscapes are an extraordinary network of 12 forts that demonstrates the strategic military vision and architectural ingenuity of the Maratha Empire.
"Every Indian is elated with this recognition. These ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ include 12 majestic forts, 11 of which are in Maharashtra and 1 is in Tamil Nadu. When we speak of the glorious Maratha Empire, we associate it with good governance, military strength, cultural pride and emphasis on social welfare. The great rulers inspire us with their refusal to bow to any injustice. I call upon everyone to go visit these forts and learn about the rich history of the Maratha Empire," Modi posed on 'X' on Saturday.
"The proposal was sent to the consideration of World Heritage Committee in January 2024 and after a rigorous 18-month long process involving several technical meetings with the advisory bodies and visit of ICOMOS’s mission to review the sites, this historic decision was taken by the members of the World Heritage Committee today evening at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris," said culture ministry officials.
The cluster of forts includes Salher fort, Shivneri fort, Lohagad, Khanderi fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijay durg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. These components, distributed across diverse geographical and physiographic regions, showcase the strategic military powers of the Maratha rule.