Recently, ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ got inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee.
- ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ has become the 44th property in India to receive this recognition.
This global accolade celebrates India’s enduring cultural legacy, showcasing its diverse traditions of architectural brilliance, regional identity, and historical continuity.
47th Session of the World Heritage Committee:
The 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) was held in the Paris, France from July 6-16, 2025.
- The new sites were added to the coveted UNESCO World Heritage List during the three-day proceedings (July 11-13) of the session of the WHC.
- These new inscriptions include 21 cultural sites, four natural sites and one mixed site.
About 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India':
» The Maratha Military Landscapes of India, which developed between 17th and 19th centuries, represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers.
» There are more than 390 forts in Maharashtra out of which only 12 forts are selected under the Maratha Military Landscapes of India, of these eight forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
- Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee fort are protected under the Archaeological Survey of India whereas Salher fort, Rajgad, Khanderi fort and Pratapgarh are protected by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.
This extraordinary network of twelve forts demonstrates the strategic military vision and architectural ingenuity of the Maratha Empire.
12 Forts are:
Spread across the states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the selected sites, include Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
- Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad, and Gingee are situated in hilly terrains and are therefore known as hill forts.
- Pratapgad, nestled within dense woods, is classified as a hill-forest fort.
- Panhala, located on a plateaued hill, is a hill-plateau fort.
- Vijaydurg, positioned along the shoreline, is a notable coastal fort.
- Khanderi, Suvarnadurg, and Sindhudurg, surrounded by the sea, are recognized as island forts.
» These components, distributed across diverse geographical and physiographic regions, showcase the strategic military powers of the Maratha rule.
Significance:
- Located across a range of diverse terrains—from coastal outposts to hilltop strongholds – these forts reflect a sophisticated understanding of geography and strategic defence planning. Together, they form a cohesive military landscape that highlights the innovation and regional adaptation of fortification traditions in India.
- This extraordinary network of forts, varying in hierarchies, scales and typological features, is a result of integrating the landscape, terrain and physiographic characteristics distinctive to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau and the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula.
- The inception of the Maratha Military ideology dates back to 17th Century during the reign of the Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by the 1670 CE and continued through subsequent rules until Peshwa rule till 1818 CE.
Nomination for UNESCO World Heritage List:
» There are two categories of nomination- cultural and natural criteria, the Maratha Military landscapes is nominated in the category of cultural criteria.
- There are six criteria (i to vi) for cultural sites and four criteria (vii to x) for natural sites for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
» The Maratha Military Landscapes of India is nominated under criterion-
(iii): To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization that in living or which has disappeared, criterion;
(iv): to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape that illustrates significant stage(s) in human history and Criterion;
(vi): To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
- This site was India’s official nomination for the 2024-25 cycle.
Background:
» The purpose of including these heritage sites in UNESCO’s list is to preserve and promote shared heritage based on OUVs (Outstanding Universal Values) found in cultural, natural as well as mixed properties across 196 countries.
» India became a member of the World Heritage Committee from 2021-25.
- Last year, the Moidams of Charaideo, Assam were inscribed in the World Heritage List at the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi.
- Currently there are 44 World Heritage Sites in India, of which 36 are cultural sites, seven are natural sites while one is a mixed site.
- India ranks 6th globally and 2nd in Asia Pacific Region for the most number of World Heritage Sites. 196 nations have ratified the World Heritage Convention, 1972.
- India also has 62 sites in the Tentative List of the World Heritage, which is a mandatory threshold for any site to be considered as a World Heritage property in future.
- Every year, each State Party may propose just one site for consideration of the World Heritage Committee for inscription to the World Heritage List.
- On behalf of Government of India, Archaeological Survey of India is the nodal agency of all the World Heritage related matters in the country.