Parliament Question: Conservation of Maratha Military Landscapes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2282 ANSWERED ON 12.03.2026 CONSERVATION OF MARATHA MILITARY LANDSCAPES 2282. SHRI ASHOKRAO SHANKARRAO CHAVAN: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) whether ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ have recently been included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether Government has also prepared a comprehensive conservation and management plan for protection, restoration, sustainable tourism development and local employment generation in coordination with concerned State Governments and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether Government has provided assistance to these landscapes for the said purposes and if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether Government proposes to nominate other historically significant Maratha forts for inclusion in the World Heritage List in future and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) Yes. The Maratha Military Landscapes of India were inscribed on the World Heritage List on 11 July 2025 during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. This inscription includes a total of 12 forts, 11 from the state of Maharashtra and 01 from the state of Tamil Nadu. 8 of these forts are under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI ) while remaining 4 are protected by Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra. The list of the above –mentioned forts is provided in Annexure-I. (b) The Government has prepared phased comprehensive Site Management Plans for all Fort included in the World Heritage List. The details are provided in Annexure- II. (c) ASI undertakes conservation and maintenance of the 8 forts under its protection as per requirement and availability of funds. Similarly, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra also undertakes the conservation and maintenance of 4 forts protected by them. (d) No Sir. There is no proposal to nominate other historically significant Maratha Forts for inclusion in the World Heritage List.Annexure- I ANNEXUREREFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2282 FOR 12.03.2026. Sr. No. Name of District, State Protected under Fort 1 Salher Nashik, Maharashtra Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) 2 Shivneri Pune, Maharashtra Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 3 Lohagad Pune, Maharashtra Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 4 Khanderi Raigad, Maharashtra Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) 5 Raigad Raigad, Maharashtra Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 6 Rajgad Pune, Maharashtra Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) 7 Pratapgad Satara, Maharashtra Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) 8 Suvarnadurg Ratnagiri, Maharashtra Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 9 Panhala Kolhapur, Maharashtra Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 10 Vijaydurg Sindhudurg, Maharashtra Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 11 Sindhudurg Sindhudurg, Maharashtra Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 12 Gingee Villupuram, Tamil Nadu Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)Annexure-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2282 FOR 12.03.2026. Sr. Fort Name Phases No. Short Term (6 Mid Term (2-5 years) Long Term months - 2 years) (5-10 years) 1 Salher Administrative Site Infrastructure, Conservation, structure, Mobility and Visitor Site Site Infrastructure, Management, Infrastructure, Interpretation and Risk and Visitor Environment Visitor Management Management, and Disaster and Risk Landscape, Management Overall Site Management 2 Shivneri Administrative Excavation, Conservation, structure, Conservation, Community Site Infrastructure, Site Infrastructure, Outreach Interpretation and Mobility Plan, Visitor Management Interpretation and Visitor Management, Disaster and Risk Management, Community Outreach 3 Lohagad Administrative Excavation and Conservation, Excavation structure, Site Infrastructure, and Excavation and Mobility and Visitor Conservation, Conservation, Management, Overall Site Interpretation and Disaster and Risk Management, Visitor Management Management Community Outreach 4 Khanderi Administrative Excavation and Conservation, Community structure, Disaster and Risk Outreach Excavation and Management Conservation, Mobility Plan, Interpretation and Visitor Management 5 Raigad Administrative Conservation, Environment structure, Site Infrastructure, and Interpretation and Interpretation and Visitor Landscape, Visitor Management Management, Disaster and Mobility and Visitor Risk Management, Management, Risk and Visitor Overall Site Management, Management Disaster and Risk Management 6 Rajgad Administrative Excavation and Conservation, Excavationstructure, Disaster and Risk and Excavation and Management Conservation, Conservation, Community Site Infrastructure, Outreach Mobility Plan, Interpretation and Visitor Management 7 Pratapgad Administrative Excavation and Conservation, Excavation structure, and Excavation and Conservation, Conservation, Community Site Infrastructure, Outreach Mobility Plan, Interpretation and Visitor Management, Disaster and Risk Management 8 Suvarnadurg Conservation, Site Interpretation and Infrastructure,Interpretation Visitor Management, andVisitor Mobility and Visitor Management,Environment Management, andLandscape,Risk and Visitor Management, Disaster and Risk Management, Overall Site Management 9 Panhala Administrative Site Infrastructure, Mobility and structure, Interpretation and Visitor Visitor Excavation and Management Management, Conservation Settlement Controls, Environment and Landscape, Risk and Visitor Management, Disaster and Risk Management, Overall Site Management 10 Vijaydurg Administrative Excavation and Conservation Excavation structure, and Excavation and Conservation, Conservation, Community Site Infrastructure, Outreach Mobility Plan,Interpretation and Visitor Management, Disaster and Risk Management 11 Sindhudurg Administrative Excavation and Conservation Excavation structure, and Excavation and Conservation, Conservation, Community Site Infrastructure, Outreach Interpretation and Visitor Management, Disaster and Risk Management 12 Gingee Administrative Conservation, Environment structure, Site Infrastructure, and Conservation Interpretation and Visitor Landscape, Management, Mobility and Risk and Visitor Management Visitor Management, Disaster and Risk Management, Overall Site Management *****