Maratha Military Landscapes of India inscribed as India's 44th World Heritage property
On 11 July 2025 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the World Heritage Committee inscribed the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' on the World Heritage List as India's 44th property.
Summary
The World Heritage Committee, at its 47th session at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, inscribed the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' on the World Heritage List on 11 July 2025 under criteria (iv) and (vi), making it India's 44th World Heritage property. The serial property comprises 12 forts built, adapted or expanded by the Marathas between the 17th and 19th centuries: Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. According to the Ministry of Culture, 18 State Parties gave positive recommendations on India's proposal, which was India's official nomination for the 2024-25 cycle, sent in January 2024 and reviewed by an ICOMOS mission. The forts include hill forts, a hill-forest fort (Pratapgad), a hill-plateau fort (Panhala), a coastal fort (Vijaydurg) and island forts (Khanderi, Suvarnadurg, Sindhudurg).
Key facts
- Inscription
- 11 July 2025, 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO HQ, Paris (Decision 47 COM 8B.16)
- India's count
- 44th World Heritage property
- Criteria
- (iv) and (vi)
- Components
- 12 forts â 11 in Maharashtra, Gingee in Tamil Nadu
- Fort types
- Hill: Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad, Gingee; hill-forest: Pratapgad; hill-plateau: Panhala; coastal: Vijaydurg; island: Khanderi, Suvarnadurg, Sindhudurg
- Support
- Positive recommendations by 18 State Parties; discussion lasted 59 minutes
- Process
- Nominated Jan 2024 (2024-25 cycle); ICOMOS mission reviewed sites
- Protection
- 8 forts under ASI; Salher, Rajgad, Khanderi, Pratapgad under Maharashtra's Directorate of Archaeology and Museums
Practice MCQs 5 questions
With the inscription of the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' on 11 July 2025, how many World Heritage properties does India have?
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Correct answer: A â 44
UNESCO and Ministry of Culture: the inscription made it India's 44th World Heritage property.
Which component of the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' is located in Tamil Nadu?
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Correct answer: C â Gingee Fort
Ministry of Culture and UNESCO: 11 forts are in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
Consider the following statements about the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India': 1. They were inscribed at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. 2. They were inscribed under criteria (iv) and (vi). 3. The property comprises 12 forts, 11 of which are in Maharashtra. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D â 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct as per UNESCO Decision 47 COM 8B.16 and the Ministry of Culture.
Which of the following forts in the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' is classified as an island fort?
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Correct answer: B â Khanderi
Ministry of Culture: Khanderi, Suvarnadurg and Sindhudurg, surrounded by the sea, are island forts; Raigad is a hill fort, Panhala a hill-plateau fort and Pratapgad a hill-forest fort.
Which UNESCO advisory body sent a mission to review the sites of the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' before the inscription?
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Correct answer: A â ICOMOS
Ministry of Culture: the 18-month process involved technical meetings with the advisory bodies and a visit of ICOMOS's mission to review the sites.