UNESCO World Heritage Sites of India 2025 List, 44 Sites

As of 2025, India boasts 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, highlighting its diverse cultural, historical, and natural heritage. The list includes iconic monuments like the Taj Mahal and Ajanta Caves, ancient cities like Hampi and Dholavira, and natural treasures such as Kaziranga and Western Ghats. These sites are recognized globally for their outstanding universal value and contribute significantly to India’s tourism, culture, and heritage preservation. A detailed list of all 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India has been shared below in the table.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites of India

India is home to 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites as of 2025, reflecting the country’s rich cultural, historical, and natural heritage. These include 36 Cultural sites, 7 Natural sites, and 1 Mixed site, encompassing ancient temples, forts, rock-cut caves, national parks, and scenic landscapes. Each site is recognized for its outstanding universal value, showcasing India’s architectural brilliance, historical significance, and ecological diversity.

What are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are landmarks, structures, or natural areas recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for their outstanding universal value. These sites are considered important to human history, culture, or nature and are protected to ensure their preservation for present and future generations.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Background

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are landmarks or areas recognized for their outstanding universal value to humanity, either culturally, naturally, or both. Established under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention of 1972, the program aims to preserve and protect heritage sites worldwide for future generations. These sites reflect the diversity of human creativity, history, and the planet’s natural wonders.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Classification

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are classified into Cultural, Natural, and Mixed categories based on their outstanding universal value. This classification helps in recognizing sites for their historical, architectural, ecological, or combined significance.

Classification:

1. Cultural Sites: Monuments, buildings, archaeological sites, and cities of historical or artistic value.
2. Natural Sites: National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, mountains, forests, and ecosystems with ecological importance.
3. Mixed Sites: Sites that possess both cultural and natural significance, reflecting human interaction with nature.

List of UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites of India

The Maratha Military Landscapes of India, inscribed in 2025 as India’s 44th UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprise twelve forts showcasing the strategic and architectural brilliance of the Maratha Empire. Spread across coastal, mountainous, and forested terrains, these forts reflect remarkable military engineering adapted to diverse landscapes.

List of UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites of India

India is home to seven UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites, including Kaziranga, Sundarbans, and Western Ghats. These sites are recognized for their rich biodiversity, unique ecosystems, and endangered species, making them globally significant for nature conservation.

List of UNESCO Mixed Heritage Sites of India

India has one UNESCO Mixed Heritage Site, Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim, inscribed in 2016. It is recognized for its unique combination of natural Himalayan biodiversity and cultural significance, reflecting the traditions of local indigenous communities alongside its stunning landscapes.

Maratha Military Landscapes of India: Latest UNESCO Addition 2025

Inscribed in July 2025, this serial nomination includes twelve major fortifications, mostly in Maharashtra State, with one in Tamil Nadu. These forts were built, adapted, or expanded by the Marathas between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. They represent a remarkable diversity of military architecture, including hill forts, a hill-forest fort, a hill-plateau fort, a coastal fort, and island forts.