Revision

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

Important UNESCO World Heritage Sites of India by state and category, for CAPF Paper I revision

CAPF wiki2 min read4 sections
At a glance
SubjectHistory
RevisionHistoryGeographyArt And CultureUNESCOPaper 1

India has a large number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, split into cultural, natural and one mixed site. The total grows as new sites are inscribed, so for the current count verify the latest. Cover the right columns and recall state and year. See art and architecture of india and national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Cultural sites (selected)

Site State / location Note
Agra Fort Uttar Pradesh Mughal fort (1983)
Taj Mahal Uttar Pradesh (Agra) Shah Jahan's mausoleum (1983)
Ajanta Caves Maharashtra Buddhist rock-cut caves; murals (1983)
Ellora Caves Maharashtra Hindu, Buddhist and Jain caves; Kailasa temple (1983)
Sun Temple, Konark Odisha 13th-century temple (1984)
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram Tamil Nadu Pallava rock-cut (1984)
Khajuraho Group Madhya Pradesh Chandela temples (1986)
Hampi (Group of Monuments) Karnataka Vijayanagara capital (1986)
Fatehpur Sikri Uttar Pradesh Akbar's capital (1986)
Elephanta Caves Maharashtra Shiva cave temples (1987)
Great Living Chola Temples Tamil Nadu Brihadeeswarar and others (1987, 2004)
Sanchi (Buddhist Monuments) Madhya Pradesh Stupas (1989)
Humayun's Tomb Delhi Mughal garden-tomb (1993)
Qutb Minar and Monuments Delhi (1993)
Mountain Railways of India Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Kalka-Shimla (1999 onwards)
Red Fort Complex Delhi (2007)
Jantar Mantar Jaipur, Rajasthan (2010)
Hill Forts of Rajasthan Rajasthan (2013)
Rani-ki-Vav Gujarat (Patan) Stepwell (2014)
Historic City of Ahmedabad Gujarat First Indian city so listed (2017)
Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble Mumbai, Maharashtra (2018)
Jaipur City Rajasthan (2019)
Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple Telangana (2021)
Dholavira Gujarat Harappan city (2021)

Natural and mixed sites

Site State Category
Kaziranga National Park Assam Natural (one-horned rhino)
Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan Natural (birds)
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Assam Natural
Sundarbans National Park West Bengal Natural (mangroves, tiger)
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers Uttarakhand Natural
Western Ghats Multi-state Natural
Great Himalayan National Park Himachal Pradesh Natural
Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim Mixed (cultural and natural)

Quick memory hooks

  • The first three Indian sites (1983) include the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Ajanta and Ellora.
  • Khangchendzonga (Sikkim) is India's only mixed (cultural plus natural) site.
  • Ahmedabad (2017) was the first Indian city declared a World Heritage City.

Cross-references

← BackAll of Revision