PM Modi Urges Visit to Maratha Forts on UNESCO Heritage List

Quick Summary

• Prime Minister Narendra modi urged Indians to visit the Maratha Military Landscapes, newly added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ include 12 forts, with 11 in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu.
• At the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee (July 11, 2025), India’s nomination for thes forts was officially inscribed as India’s 44th UNESCO World Heritage property.
• The forts demonstrate strategic military vision and architectural ingenuity from the Maratha Empire between the 17th to 19th centuries CE.
• Notable sites: Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg (Maharashtra), and Gingee Fort (Tamil Nadu).
• The decision followed a rigorous process involving technical evaluations and field reviews by ICOMOS advisors since January 2024.
• India also has another 62 sites listed under UNESCO’s Tentative List as part of future considerations for heritage status.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The inclusion of Maratha Military Landscapes underscores India’s rich cultural heritage while reaffirming global recognition of its architecture and history. This achievement is important for elevating local pride and potentially boosting tourism in regions like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. As these forts embody principles like resistance against injustice and strategic innovation from historical governance systems under Maratha rulers such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy-this highlights broader opportunities for education on Indian history through heritage conservation efforts.

Moreover, it demonstrates how rigorous international collaboration leads to conserving India’s diverse historical treasures while adhering to global standards. By maintaining a healthy pipeline with UNESCO via its Tentative List system (with over six dozen prospective entries),India continues strengthening its strategy toward securing more world heritage designations. Such measures not onyl preserve national treasures but also position India prominently within international cultural dialogues.

Read more: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-maratha-military-landscapes-inscribed-on-unesco-world-heritage-list/article69802028.ece