Mumbai: India’s official nomination ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, making it the 44th Indian entry on the list. This inclusion celebrates the country’s enduring military architecture and strategic ingenuity dating from the 17th to 19th centuries CE.
The Maratha Military Landscapes consist of twelve forts spread across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. These include Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee. These forts reflect a range of fortification styles adapted to varied geographies—hill, coastal, island and forest environments—offering insight into the Maratha Empire’s military strategies and architectural innovation.
The nomination was submitted in January 2024 and was subject to an eighteen-month process of technical assessments, including a site visit by ICOMOS. The inscription was supported by 18 out of 20 State Parties during a 59-minute discussion at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The properties were recognised under criteria (iv) and (vi), acknowledging their architectural and technological significance and their deep historical and cultural associations.
While some of these forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, others are maintained by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.
Located in diverse terrains—from the coastal bastions of Suvarnadurg and Sindhudurg to inland hill forts like Rajgad and Shivneri—the collection offers a coherent narrative of regional military innovation and strategic depth. Notable among them, Panhala is situated on a plateau, while Pratapgad is nestled within dense forests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the recognition. The government credited the efforts of the Archaeological Survey of India and the Maharashtra administration for their work in preserving and promoting these sites.
India is currently the sixth-ranked country globally and second in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of the number of World Heritage Sites. The country also has 62 properties on UNESCO’s Tentative List. The nomination process is overseen by the Archaeological Survey of India, which serves as the nodal agency for all World Heritage matters in the country.
This inscription follows the inclusion of the Moidams of Charaideo, Assam, in the World Heritage List last year.
BI Bureau
