UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12th July 2025
Maratha Military Landscapes of India Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2025)
Why in News?
- The Maratha Military Landscapes of India were inscribed as India’s 44th UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2025, recognizing their strategic and architectural significance from the 17th–19th centuries.
Introduction
- The Maratha Military Landscapes of India were inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France.
- This became India’s 44th entry on the list and highlights the global recognition of India’s cultural and architectural heritage.
World Heritage List: Overview
The World Heritage List is maintained by UNESCO under the World Heritage Convention, 1972. Its purpose is to identify and protect cultural, natural, and mixed properties of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) to humanity.
- India ratified the Convention in 1977.
- Each member state is allowed to nominate one site per year for inscription.
- India is a member of the World Heritage Committee for the term 2021–2025.
- As of 2025, India ranks sixth globally and second in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of the number of inscribed sites.
Historical Background
- The Maratha Military Landscapes comprise a network of twelve forts that represent the military vision, architectural ingenuity, and administrative capabilities of the Maratha Empire, which rose to prominence during the 17th to 19th centuries CE.
- These forts exemplify the Maratha Empire’s ability to strategically harness local geography for defense, surveillance, and regional control. The military landscapes collectively narrate a significant chapter in the history of pre-colonial India.
List of Forts and Geographical Classification
Fort Name | State | Classification/Type of fortifications |
Salher | Maharashtra | Hill Fort |
Shivneri | Maharashtra | Hill Fort |
Lohgad | Maharashtra | Hill Fort |
Khanderi | Maharashtra | Island Fort |
Raigad | Maharashtra | Hill Fort |
Rajgad | Maharashtra | Hill Fort |
Pratapgad | Maharashtra | Hill-Forest Fort |
Suvarnadurg | Maharashtra | Island Fort |
Panhala | Maharashtra | Hill-Plateau Fort |
Vijaydurg | Maharashtra | Coastal Fort |
Sindhudurg | Maharashtra | Island Fort |
Gingee | Tamil Nadu | Hill Fort |
These forts are located across a variety of terrains including hills, plateaus, coastal areas, islands, and forested regions. They reflect a deep understanding of military strategy, defensive planning, and resource management.
Types of Fortifications
- Hill Forts: Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad, and Gingee
- Hill-Forest Fort: Pratapgad
- Hill-Plateau Fort: Panhala
- Coastal Fort: Vijaydurg
- Island Forts: Khanderi, Suvarnadurg, Sindhudurg
Heritage Status and Protection
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protects eight of the twelve forts: Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, and Gingee.
- The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra, protects the remaining four: Salher, Rajgad, Khanderi, and Pratapgad.
UNESCO Recognition: Criteria for Inscription
The site was inscribed under the following criteria:
- Criterion (iv): Recognizes an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural ensemble that illustrates a significant stage in human history.
- Criterion (vi): Acknowledges the site’s direct association with events, living traditions, and historical developments of universal significance.
The Maratha forts were selected for their representation of a living cultural tradition, their technological and strategic ingenuity, and their association with major historical events, particularly those related to the Maratha resistance and expansion under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his successors. During the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, 18 out of 20 State Parties supported the nomination.
Significance of the Inscription
- Cultural Recognition: The inscription affirms the cultural, historical, and architectural significance of the Maratha legacy on a global platform.
- Boost to Heritage Tourism: The inclusion in the UNESCO list is likely to attract greater tourism, generate employment, and promote local economies.
- Preservation and Conservation: Enhanced global recognition helps secure funding and expert support for long-term conservation.
- International Prestige: Strengthens India’s profile as a custodian of global heritage and cultural diversity.
- Academic and Public Awareness: Encourages further study, documentation, and dissemination of Maratha history and military strategy.
India’s World Heritage Progress
Category | Number (2025) |
Total World Heritage Sites | 44 |
Tentative List Sites | 62 |
Global Rank | 6th |
Asia-Pacific Rank | 2nd |
Recent Additions to the World Heritage List
Year | Site | State |
2024 | Moidams of Charaideo | Assam |
2025 | Maratha Military Landscapes | Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu |
Institutional Roles and Responsibilities
- Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the nodal agency for all World Heritage-related matters in India. It is responsible for the identification, protection, conservation, and management of cultural heritage sites, including sites nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) oversees the World Heritage Convention (1972). Its advisory bodies — such as ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) — provide technical evaluations, recommend sites for inscription, and monitor the conservation status of World Heritage properties worldwide.
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