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Government of India
Ministry of Culture
27-April-2016 14:05 IST
Heritage Status to Indian Sites by UNESCO

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the nodal agency for forwarding any request for World Heritage status to any Indian site whether cultural or natural. Based on the proposals received from the Central or State Government agencies as well as management Trusts, etc., and after their due scrutiny, the Government forwards the nomination dossiers to the World Heritage Center. The list of places in India which have been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO is given below in Table-1.

 

There are 10 enlisted criteria (given below) for determining Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) for World Heritage nomination. The proposed nomination must satisfy at least one of these 10 criteria.

 

TABLE-1

CULTURAL SITES

 

UNDER PROTECTION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

 

S.No

Name of Site

State

1.

Ajanta Caves (1983)

Maharashtra

2.

Ellora Caves (1983)

Maharashtra

3.

Agra Fort (1983)

Uttar Pradesh

4.

Taj Mahal (1983)

Uttar Pradesh

5.

Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)

Odisha

6.

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)

Tamil Nadu

7.

Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)

Goa

8.

Group of Temples, Khajuraho (1986)

Madhya Pradesh

9.

Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)

Karnataka

10.

Group of Monuments, FatehpurSikri (1986)

Uttar Pradesh

11.

Group of Temples, Pattadakal (1987)

Karnataka

12.

Elephanta Caves ( 1987)

Maharashtra

13.

Great Living Chola temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (1987 & 2004)

Tamil Nadu

14.

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)

Madhya Pradesh

15.

Humayun’s  Tomb, Delhi (1993)

Delhi

16.

Qutb Minar Complex, Delhi (1993)

Delhi

17.

Prehistoric Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)

Madhya Pradesh

18.

Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004)

Gujarat

19.

Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007)

Delhi

20.

Hill Forts of Rajasthan

 (Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts)      (2013)

(Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums)

Rajasthan

21.

Rani ki Vav (2014)

Gujarat

 

Under Protection of Ministry of Railways

 

22.

Mountain Railway of India ( Darjeeling,1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka-Shimla(2008)

West Bengal,  Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh

23.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)

Maharashtra

 

Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee

 

24.

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya (2002)

Bihar

 

Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums Department

 

25.

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)

Rajasthan

 

NATURAL SITES

 

Under Protection of Ministry of Environment & Forest

 

26.

Kaziranga National Park (1985)

Assam

27.

Manas Wild Life Sanctuary (1985)

Assam

28.

Keoladeo National Park (1985)

Rajasthan

29.

Sunderban National Park (1987)

West Bengal

30.

Nanda Devi  and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005)

Uttarakhand

31.

Western Ghats (2012)

Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu

32.

Great Himalayan National Park (2014)

Himachal Pradesh

 

CRITERIA FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE (OUV) AS PER UNESCO’S OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

 

(i)    

to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;

 

(ii)   

to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a   cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;

 

(iii)            

to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;

 

 

(iv)  

to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological   ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;

 

(v)   

to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;

(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. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria.

(vii)           

to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;

 

(viii)          

to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;

 

(ix) 

to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

 

(x)   

to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

 

 

This information was given by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

 

*****

 

Sanjay Kumar/jk/RS. No.-6/27-04-2016