India’s Maratha Military Forts Added to UNESCO World Heritage List.
National
India has recently achieved a significant cultural milestone as UNESCO inscribed the “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” on the World Heritage List during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Paris on July 11–12, 2025.
- This marks India’s 44th site to be included in the prestigious list and reflects global recognition of Maratha military strategy and architectural excellence.
- The inscription includes a network of 12 forts representing the military vision of the Maratha Empire, primarily during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. These include Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Shivneri, Salher, Lohagad, Panhala, Sindhudurg, Vijaydurg, Suvarnadurg, Khanderi (all in Maharashtra), and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. These forts were strategically located across hilltops, coastal zones, and forested areas to resist Mughal expansion and later British influence.
- The Maratha forts were selected based on UNESCO Criteria (iv) for their unique architecture and Criteria (vi) for their link to Maratha history and culture. These forts were first added to the UNESCO Tentative List in 2021. Later, India officially submitted the nomination in January 2024. After that, a team from ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) inspected the forts in October 2024 and recommended their inclusion. Finally, UNESCO approved the list in July 2025.
Main Point :- (i) The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the recognition, calling it a matter of national and regional pride. The UNESCO recognition is expected to boost tourism, create jobs, and increase conservation funding across the 12 sites.
(ii) The Government of Maharashtra has announced buffer zone conservation plans, especially around the Salher Fort, with a 10-year infrastructure and heritage management blueprint.
(iii) UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) currently lists India among the top 6 countries globally and 2nd in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of the number of World Heritage Sites. With this recognition, India continues to highlight its diverse and layered historical identity, strengthening its case for future cultural nominations under UNESCO’s global heritage framework.
About UNESCO
Director-General: Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters: Paris, France
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