Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India — Taj Mahal, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Hampi, Konark, and all 44 monuments and natural sites with history, travel tips & FAQs.
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| Maratha Military Landscapes of India (Maharashtra) |
India’s cultural and natural legacy is world-famous — ancient caves, imperial forts, temple cities, colonial ensembles, wildlife sanctuaries and unique cultural landscapes. As of mid-2025 India has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (cultural, natural and mixed), each inscribed for outstanding universal value. This guide lists all 44 sites, gives a quick highlight of each, practical tips and top FAQs so you can plan heritage trips with confidence. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
Complete list — 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (mid-2025)
Below each site is one short line summarizing why it’s special. (Sites grouped roughly by cultural / natural / mixed.)
Cultural & Historic Sites (selected highlights)
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Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra) — Ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves with exquisite murals (2nd century BCE onward).
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Ellora Caves (Maharashtra) — Multi-religious rock-cut complex; Kailasa Temple is a monolithic marvel.
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Agra Fort (Uttar Pradesh) — Massive Mughal fort of red sandstone overlooking the Taj.
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Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh) — Shah Jahan’s white-marble mausoleum and global icon of love.
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Sun Temple, Konark (Odisha) — 13th-century chariot-shaped Sun Temple with stone carvings.
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Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) — Pallava rock-cut architecture and open-air reliefs.
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Churches & Convents of Goa (Goa) — Portuguese-era ecclesiastical architecture and baroque interiors.
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Khajuraho Group of Monuments (Madhya Pradesh) — Chandela temples famed for intricate sculptures.
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Group of Monuments at Hampi (Karnataka) — Ruins of Vijayanagara Empire: temples, bazaars, and stone chariots.
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Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh) — Akbar’s red-sandstone capital with royal palaces and mosques.
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Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (Karnataka) — Early Chalukyan temple complex mixing Northern & Southern styles.
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Elephanta Caves (Maharashtra) — Island rock-cut Shaiva cave temples with monumental Trimurti.
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Great Living Chola Temples (Tamil Nadu) — Brihadeeswarar & related Chola-era stone temples.
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Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) — Ancient stupas and Buddhist art.
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Humayun’s Tomb (Delhi) — Precedent to the Taj — Mughal garden tomb and architecture.
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Qutb Minar & its Monuments (Delhi) — 73-m brick minaret and early Indo-Islamic complex.
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Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (Bihar) — Site of Buddha’s enlightenment; ancient stupa & temple complex.
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Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh) — Prehistoric cave paintings spanning millennia.
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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai) — Victorian Gothic railway terminus and engineering landmark.
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Champaner–Pavagadh Archaeological Park (Gujarat) — Pre-Mughal and Mughal forts, mosques and stepped reservoirs.
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Red Fort Complex (Delhi) — Shah Jahan’s imperial citadel and symbolic site of India’s independence celebrations.
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Mountain Railways of India (Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Kalka-Shimla) — Historic hill railways and engineering achievements.
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Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Rajasthan) — Cluster of Rajput military architecture across six forts.
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Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (Rajasthan) — Royal astronomical observatory with monumental instruments.
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Rani-ki-Vav, Patan (Gujarat) — Elaborate stepwell with sculptural panels; engineering + art.
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Mahavihara at Nalanda (Bihar) — Remains of one of the world’s oldest residential universities.
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Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Chandigarh) — Modernist city ensemble by Le Corbusier.
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Historic City of Ahmedabad (Gujarat) — A living medieval-modern city of urban traditions and Indo-Islamic architecture.
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Victorian Gothic & Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (Maharashtra) — Colonial civic architecture and 20th-century urban design.
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Jaipur City (Rajasthan) — Planned Pink City and a living example of urban town planning.
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Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple (Telangana) — 13th-century Kakatiya stone craftsmanship (Ramappa).
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Dholavira: Harappan City (Gujarat) — Exceptionally preserved Indus Valley urban center with water management systems.
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Santiniketan (West Bengal) — Tagore’s cultural and educational campus blending art, architecture & pedagogy.
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Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (Karnataka) — Medieval Hoysala temples known for intricate soapstone carvings.
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Moidams — The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty (Assam) — Ahom funerary mounds and cultural landscape (recent addition).
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Maratha Military Landscapes of India (Maharashtra) — Network of historic forts & landscapes illustrating Maratha military strategy (India’s 44th inscription, 2025).
Natural & Mixed Sites (highlights)
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Kaziranga National Park (Assam) — One-horned rhinoceros stronghold & biodiversity hotspot.
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Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam) — Elephant & tiger habitat with rich biodiversity.
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Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) — World-famous bird sanctuary and migratory bird refuge.
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Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal) — Largest mangrove forest and Royal Bengal tiger habitat.
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Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Parks (Uttarakhand) — Alpine biodiversity and endemic flora.
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Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh) — High-altitude biodiversity and traditional mountain communities.
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Western Ghats (multi-state) — Global biodiversity hotspot spanning multiple states.
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Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim) — Mixed — Cultural landscapes & Himalayan biodiversity (mixed cultural + natural values).
Source note: This list and the two newest inscriptions (Charaideo/Moidams and Maratha Military Landscapes) are confirmed via UNESCO and official reports (UNESCO World Heritage Centre; UNESCO announcement on Maratha Military Landscapes). For the official full register and updates see UNESCO’s India page and the WHC list. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
How to use this list — travel tips
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Group trips regionally: e.g., Delhi–Agra–Jaipur golden triangle; Maharashtra circuit (Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Mumbai ensembles); South India temple & monument circuits (Hampi, Pattadakal, Mahabalipuram, Chola temples).
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Book ahead for peak seasons (Taj Mahal, Hampi, Kaziranga).
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Respect rules: photography limits, restricted entry zones, silence in sacred areas, and no-touch policies on fragile carvings.
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Hire certified local guides to unlock stories, inscriptions and chronology — they improve visitor experience and help heritage conservation.
Top FAQs — UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
Q1. How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in India now?
A1. As of mid-2025 India has 44 World Heritage Sites (cultural, natural and mixed).
Q2. Which were the most recent inscriptions for India?
A2. Recent inscriptions include Moidams — Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty (Assam) and Maratha Military Landscapes of India (Maharashtra) (2024–2025 updates).
Q3. Where can I find the official list and site descriptions?
A3. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre website maintains the full official list with nomination dossiers and statements of outstanding universal value.
Q4. Do UNESCO sites charge entry?
A4. Most do charge nominal entry fees (often different for Indian citizens and international visitors). Check the local ASI / park authority website for rates and timed-entry procedures.
Q5. Are UNESCO sites open year-round?
A5. Most cultural sites are open year-round; some natural sites close or limit visits during monsoons or sensitive breeding seasons — check local advisories.
Conclusion
India’s 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are a compelling invitation to travel through time — from prehistoric rock art and Harappan urban planning to imperial forts, temple masterpieces, colonial cityscapes and biodiversity hotspots. Use this list to plan regional circuits, respect preservation rules, and make each visit meaningful. For official updates, always check the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
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