Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Culture announced the inclusion of 12 Maratha forts in the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertakes conservation and maintenance of protected monuments. Currently, properties from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are on the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **UNESCO World Heritage Site Inclusion:**
* 12 Maratha forts, under the title "Maratha Military Landscapes of India," have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
* The inscription is based on Criteria iv and vi of UNESCO's Operational Guidelines.
* The forts included are Raigad, Rajgad, Shivneri, Pratapgarh, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Lohagad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Khanderi, and Gingee.
* **Conservation and Maintenance:**
* ASI undertakes conservation and maintenance work for protected monuments and sites, providing amenities like drinking water, toilet blocks, pathways, and landscaping.
* Conservation is a continuous process based on the needs of the monuments and the availability of resources.
* Funds allocated for conservation and maintenance under Mumbai Circle:
* 2022-23: Rs. 15.35 Crores
* 2023-24: Rs. 15.56 Crores
* 2024-25: Rs. 12.58 Crores
* **Tentative List of World Heritage Sites:**
* 2 properties from Maharashtra and 11 from Madhya Pradesh are on the Tentative List.
* No property from Jharkhand is on the Tentative List.
* Inclusion in the Tentative List is required for World Heritage nomination.
* Maharashtra: Geoglyphs of Konkan Region, Serial nomination of Coastal Fortifications along the Konkan Coast
* Madhya Pradesh: The historic ensemble of Orchha, the historic ensemble of Dhamnar, The Gond monuments of Ramnagar, Mandla, The Bhojeshwar Mahadev Temple, Bhojpur, Rock Art Sites of the Chambal Valley, Khooni Bhandara, Burhanpur, Gwalior Fort, Serial nomination for Ashokan Edict sites along the Mauryan Routes, Serial nomination of Chausath Yogini Temples, Serial nomination of Gupta Temples in North India, The Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas
Impact Analysis:
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
* Impact: Responsible for the ongoing conservation and maintenance of the listed forts and sites, including providing amenities.
* Action Required: Continue conservation efforts as per monument needs and resource availability.
State Government of Maharashtra
* Impact: Several forts from the state have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, potentially boosting tourism and cultural preservation efforts.
* Action Required: Collaborate with the ASI and other stakeholders to promote tourism, conservation, and infrastructure development around the forts.
State Government of Madhya Pradesh
* Impact: Has multiple properties included in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites, indicating potential for future UNESCO recognition.
* Action Required: Prepare and submit nominations for properties on the Tentative List, working with ASI and other stakeholders.
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
* Impact: Oversees the process of nominating and conserving cultural heritage sites in India.
* Action Required: Continue supporting the nomination and conservation efforts, allocating funds as needed, and fostering partnerships with state governments and other stakeholders.
Key Entities Referenced
UNESCO World Heritage Site: A list maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) of cultural and natural heritage sites considered to have outstanding universal value.
Maratha Military Landscapes of India: A property comprising 12 Maratha forts, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Maharashtra: A state in India, where several of the Maratha forts and other properties are located.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India with properties included in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
Jharkhand: A state in India with no property featuring in the Tentative List.
Archaeological Survey of India ASI: The Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
Raigad fort Maharashtra: A fort located in Raigad district, Maharashtra, part of the Maratha Military Landscapes of India.
Gingee Fort Tamilnadu: A fort located in Villupuam district, Tamilnadu, part of the Maratha Military Landscapes of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2316
ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
INCLUSION OF MARATHA FORTS IN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
2316. SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:
SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:
SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:
SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether 12 Maratha forts have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the
country recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the names and locations of the said forts;
(c) the criteria adopted/used for nominating/including these sites into the UNESCO List;
(d) whether the Government proposes to promote tourism, conservation and infrastructure
development around these forts and if so, the details thereof;
(e) the details of the budgetary allocations or partnership with State Government and other
Stakeholders; and
(f) the details of the places to be included in future in the State of Maharashtra,
MadhyaPradesh and Jharkhand?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) Yes Sir, the property titled “Maratha Military Landscapes of India”, comprising 12
& Maratha forts, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 47th
(b) session of the World Heritage Committee held in UNESCO Headquarters, Paris this
year. The list of these forts is enclosed at Annexure I.
(c) The Maratha Military Landscapes of India has been inscribed under Criteria (iv) and (vi)
as per UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines.
(d) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) takes up conservation and maintenance work of
& protected monuments and sites including provision of amenities like drinking water,
(e) toilet blocks, pathways and landscaping etc. throughout the country. Conservation and
maintenance of monuments and archaeological sites is a continuous process and is taken
up as per the need of monuments and availability of resources. However, funds areallocated as per the need of monuments. The details of funds allocated for conservation
and maintenance of CPMs under Mumbai Circle during the last three years are as under:
Sr. No Year Allocation (Rs. in Crores)
1 2022-23 15.35
2 2023-24 15.56
3 2024-25 12.58
Currently, 2 properties from Maharashtra and 11 properties from Madhya Pradesh have
(f) been included in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. However, no property from
Jharkhand features in the Tentative List. Inclusion in the Tentative List is a mandatory
prerequisite for proceeding with World Heritage nomination. Details of the properties
included in the Tentative List are provided at Annexure II.
*****Annexure-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 2316 FOR 04.08.2025.
Forts of Serial Nomination of Maratha Military Landscape of India
Sr No. Name of the Fort District State
Raigad
1 Raigad fort Maharashtra
Pune Maharashtra
2 Rajgad Fort
Pune Maharashtra
3 Shivneri Fort
Satara Maharashtra
4 Pratapgarh Fort
Kolhapur Maharashtra
5 Panhala Fort
Sindhudurg Maharashtra
6 Vijaydurg Fort
Pune Maharashtra
7 Lohagad
Nashik Maharashtra
8 Salher Fort
Sindhudurg Maharashtra
9 Sindhudurg
Ratnagiri Maharashtra
10 Suvarnadurg
Raigad Maharashtra
11 Khanderi Fort
Villupuam Tamilnadu
12 Gingee FortAnnexure-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.
2316 FOR 04.08.2025.
Property Included in the Tentative List
Madhya Pradesh
1. The historic ensemble of Madhya Pradesh 2019 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
Orchha
2. The historic ensemble of Madhya Pradesh 2024 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
Dhamnar
3. The Gond monuments of Madhya Pradesh 2024 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
Ramnagar, Mandla
4. The Bhojeshwar Mahadev Madhya Pradesh 2024 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
Temple, Bhojpur
5. Rock Art Sites of the Madhya Pradesh 2024 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
Chambal Valley
6. KhooniBhandara, Burhanpur Madhya Pradesh 2024 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
7. Gwalior Fort Madhya Pradesh 2024 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
8. Serial nomination for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, 2025 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
Ashokan Edict sites along the Madhya Pradesh, Delhi,
Mauryan Routes Karnataka, Adhra Pradesh,
Gujrat
9. Serial nomination of Chausath Madhya Pradesh, Uttar 2025 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
Yogini Temples Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Odisha
10. Serial nomination of Gupta Madhya Pradesh, Uttar 2025 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
Temples in North India Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar
11. The Palace-Fortresses of the Madhya Pradesh 2025 Govt of Madhya Pradesh
Bundelas
Maharashtra
1. Geoglyphs of Konkan Region Maharashtra 2022 Govt of Maharashtra
of India
2. Serial nomination of Coastal Maharashtra 2024 ASI and Govt. of
Fortifications along the Maharashtra
Konkan Coast