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India Nominates 'Maratha Military Landscape' for UNESCO World Heritage List

  • 31 Jan 2024

On 29th January, 2024, the Ministry of Culture officially announced India's nomination of the 'Maratha Military Landscape' for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle, comprising 12 distinct components.

Key Points

  • Historical Significance: The 'Maratha Military Landscapes' nomination represents a remarkable fortification and military system envisioned by Maratha rulers, providing a glimpse into the vibrant history of India.
  • Components Included: The twelve components in the nomination are Salher fort, Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Khanderi fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee fort in Tamil Nadu.
  • Geographical Diversity: These components are strategically distributed across diverse geographical and physiographic regions, showcasing the military prowess of the Maratha rule in ancient India.
  • Development Period: The 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' developed between the 17th and 19th centuries, representing an extraordinary network of forts integrated with the distinctive landscapes of various regions.
  • Terrain Integration: The forts vary in hierarchies, scales, and typological features, reflecting the integration of landscape, terrain, and physiographic characteristics specific to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau, and Eastern Ghats.
  • Previous Consideration: The Maratha Military Landscape was included in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2021, emphasizing its historical and cultural significance.
  • Fort Distribution in Maharashtra: Maharashtra boasts over 390 forts, with the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' specifically selecting 12 forts, out of which eight are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
  • ASI-Protected Forts: Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, and Gingee fort are among the eight forts protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
  • State Protection: Salher fort, Rajgad, Khanderi fort, and Pratapgarh receive protection from the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, government of Maharashtra.