Lok Sabha Question No. 3591 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Tentative Sites for World Heritage List of UNESCO
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Thiru Thanga Tamilselvan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3591

ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## TENTATIVE SITES FOR WORLD HERITAGE LIST OF UNESCO

## 3591.   SHRI THIRU THANGA TAMILSELVAN:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the total number of national heritage shrines /temples/locations/memorials  in  the  country,  State/UT-wise  including  Tamil Nadu  nominated  by  India  and  recognized  by  UNESCO  (United  Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as World Heritage Sites;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  maintaining  any  list  of  tentative  sites  from  the Country  for  consideration  of  nominations  for  the  World  Heritage  List  of UNESCO;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State/UT and site-wise; and
- (d) the details of the budget allocated by the Government to maintain these World Heritage Sites in the country during the last three years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) There  are 44  World  Heritage  properties,  including  those  in  Tamil  Nadu, inscribed  on  the  UNESCO  World  Heritage  List.  The  details  of  these  World Heritage properties are attached at Annexure-I .
- (b) Yes Sir, there are 62 properties currently on the Tentative List for consideration

&

for  nomination  to  the  UNESCO  World  Heritage  List.  The  list  is  attached  as

- (c) Annexure-II .
- (d) The  details  of  the  budget  allocated  for  the  maintenance  of  the  World  Heritage properties protected by the Archaeological Survey of India in the last three years are attached as Annexure-III .

*****

## Annexure-I

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3591 FOR 11.08.2025.

## INDIA: WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES

|     | Property                               | State                                                                          | Year of inscription   | Criteria             |
|-----|----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------|
|     | Cultural Properties                    | Cultural Properties                                                            | Cultural Properties   | Cultural Properties  |
| 1.  | Agra Fort                              | Uttar Pradesh                                                                  | 1983                  | (iii)                |
| 2.  | Ajanta Caves                           | Maharashtra                                                                    | 1983                  | (i)(ii)(iii)(vi)     |
| 3.  | Ellora Caves                           | Maharashtra                                                                    | 1983                  | (i)(iii)(vi)         |
| 4.  | Taj Mahal                              | Uttar Pradesh                                                                  | 1983                  | (i)                  |
| 5.  | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram    | Tamil Nadu                                                                     | 1984                  | (i)(ii)(iii)(vi)     |
| 6.  | Sun Temple, Konârk                     | Odisha                                                                         | 1984                  | (i)(iii)(vi)         |
| 7.  | Churches and Convents of Goa           | Goa                                                                            | 1986                  | (ii)(iv)(vi)         |
| 8.  | Fatehpur Sikri                         | Uttar Pradesh                                                                  | 1986                  | (ii)(iii)(iv)        |
| 9.  | Group of Monuments at Hampi            | Karnataka                                                                      | 1986                  | (i)(iii)(iv)         |
| 10. | Khajuraho Group of Monuments           | Madhya Pradesh                                                                 | 1986                  | (i)(iii)             |
| 11. | Elephanta Caves                        | Maharashtra                                                                    | 1987                  | (i)(iii)             |
| 12. | Great Living Chola Temples             | Tamil Nadu                                                                     | 1987, 2004            | (ii)(iii)            |
| 13. | Group of Monuments at Pattadakal       | Karnataka                                                                      | 1987                  | (iii)(iv)            |
| 14. | Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi           | Madhya Pradesh                                                                 | 1989                  | (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) |
| 15. | Humayun's Tomb, Delhi                  | Delhi                                                                          | 1993                  | (ii)(iv)             |
| 16. | Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi    | Delhi                                                                          | 1993                  | (iv)                 |
| 17. | Mountain Railways of India             | Darjeeling, West Bengal; Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu; Kalka - Shimla, Himachal Pradesh | 1999,2005,2008        | (ii)(iv)             |
| 18. | Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya  | Bihar                                                                          | 2002                  | (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) |
| 19. | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka             | Madhya Pradesh                                                                 | 2003                  | (iii)(v)             |
| 20. | Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Gujarat                                                                        | 2004                  | (iii)(iv)(v)(vi)     |
| 21. | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus           | Maharashtra                                                                    | 2004                  | (ii)(iv)             |

|     | (formerly Victoria Terminus)                                                               |                                                                          |            |               |
|-----|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|---------------|
| 22. | Red Fort Complex                                                                           | Delhi                                                                    | 2007       | (ii)(iii)(vi) |
| 23. | The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur                                                                  | Rajasthan                                                                | 2010       | (iii)(iv)     |
| 24. | Hill Forts of Rajasthan                                                                    | Chittorgarh, Kumbalgarh, Jaisalmer, Ranthambore, amber, Gagron Rajasthan | 2013       | (ii)(iii)     |
| 25. | Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell)at Patan                                                 | Gujarat                                                                  | 2014       | (i)(iv)       |
| 26. | Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda                                       | Bihar                                                                    | 2016       | (iv)(vi)      |
| 27. | The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement | Chandigarh                                                               | 2016       | (i)(ii)(vi)   |
| 28. | Historic City of Ahmadabad                                                                 | Gujarat                                                                  | 2017       | (ii)(v)       |
| 29. | Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai                                          | Maharashtra                                                              | 2018       | (ii)(iv)      |
| 30. | Jaipur City                                                                                | Rajasthan                                                                | 2019       | (ii)(iv)(vi)  |
| 31. | Dholavira: a Harappan City                                                                 | Gujarat                                                                  | 2021       | (iii)(iv)     |
| 32. | Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple                                                      | Telangana                                                                | 2021       | (i)(iii)      |
| 33. | Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas                                                           | Karnataka                                                                | 2023       | (i)(ii)(iv)   |
| 34. | Santiniketan                                                                               | West Bengal                                                              | 2023       | (iv)(vi)      |
| 35. | Moidams - the Mound-Burial System of theAhom Dynasty                                       | Assam                                                                    | 2024       | (iii)(iv)     |
| 36. | Maratha Military Landscapes of India                                                       | Maharashtra&Tamilnadu                                                    | 2025       | (iv)(vi)      |
|     | Natural Properties                                                                         |                                                                          |            |               |
| 37. | Kaziranga National Park                                                                    | Assam                                                                    | 1985       | (ix)(x)       |
| 38. | Keoladeo National Park                                                                     | Rajasthan                                                                | 1985       | (x)           |
| 39. | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary                                                                   | Assam                                                                    | 1985       | (vii)(ix)(x)  |
| 40. | Sundarbans National Park                                                                   | West Bengal                                                              | 1987       | (ix)(x)       |
| 41. | Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks                                            | Uttarakhand                                                              | 1988, 2005 | (vii)(x)      |
| 42. | Western Ghats                                                                              | Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu                               | 2012       | (ix)(x)       |
| 43. | Great Himalayan National                                                                   | Himachal Pradesh                                                         | 2014       | (x)           |

|     | Park Conservation Area   |        |      |                   |
|-----|--------------------------|--------|------|-------------------|
|     | Mixed Properties         |        |      |                   |
| 44. | Khangchendzonga National | Sikkim | 2016 | (iii)(vi)(vii)(x) |

## Annexure-II

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b)& (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3591 FOR 11.08.2025.

## INDIA: PROPERTIES ON THE TENTATIVE LIST

| No.   | Site                                                                             | State                                                                                                           | Date of Submission   |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|
|       | Cultural Properties                                                              |                                                                                                                 |                      |
| 1.    | Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath, Varanasi                                         | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                   | 1998                 |
| 2.    | Group of Monuments at Mandu                                                      | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                  | 1998                 |
| 3.    | Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam                                                    | Kerala                                                                                                          | 1998                 |
| 4.    | Temples at Bishnupur                                                             | West Bengal                                                                                                     | 1998                 |
| 5.    | River Island of Majuli in midstream of Brahmaputra River in Assam                | Assam                                                                                                           | 2004                 |
| 6.    | Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar                                                   | Punjab                                                                                                          | 2004                 |
| 7.    | Mughal Gardens in Kashmir                                                        | Jammu and Kashmir                                                                                               | 2010                 |
| 8.    | Silk Road Sites in India                                                         | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Union Territory of Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir | 2010                 |
| 9.    | The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar | Telangana                                                                                                       | 2010                 |
| 10.   | Delhi - AHeritage City                                                           | Delhi                                                                                                           | 2012                 |
| 11.   | Apatani Cultural Landscape                                                       | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                               | 2014                 |
| 12.   | Archaeological remains of a Harappa Port-Town, Lothal                            | Gujarat                                                                                                         | 2014                 |
| 13.   | Baha'i House of Worship                                                          | New Delhi                                                                                                       | 2014                 |
| 14.   | Cellular Jail, Andaman Islands                                                   | Andaman and Nicobar Islands                                                                                     | 2014                 |
| 15.   | Chettinad, Village Clusters of the Tamil Merchants                               | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                      | 2014                 |
| 16.   | Ekamra Kshetra-The Temple City, Bhubaneswar                                      | Odisha                                                                                                          | 2014                 |
| 17.   | Iconic Saree Weaving Clusters of India                                           | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam                                               | 2014                 |
| 18.   | Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate                                      | Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh                                                                                    | 2014                 |
| 19.   | Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town                                           | Karnataka                                                                                                       | 2014                 |

|   20. | Mountain Railways of India (Extension)                                                                               | Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh                                                                   |   2014 |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
|    21 | Padmanabhapuram Palace                                                                                               | Kerala                                                                                             |   2014 |
|    22 | Sites of Satyagrah, India's non- violent freedom movement                                                            | Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi |   2014 |
|    23 | Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam                                                                                | Tamil Nadu                                                                                         |   2014 |
|    24 | The Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom                                                                                 | Jammu and Kashmir                                                                                  |   2014 |
|    25 | Thembang Fortified Village                                                                                           | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                  |   2014 |
|    26 | Evolution of Temple Architecture -Aihole - Badami-Pattadakal                                                         | Karnataka                                                                                          |   2015 |
|    27 | Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grant Trunk Road                                           | Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal       |   2015 |
|    28 | The historic ensemble of Orchha                                                                                      | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                     |   2019 |
|    29 | Hire Benkal, Megalithic Site                                                                                         | Karnataka                                                                                          |   2021 |
|    30 | Temples of Kanchipuram                                                                                               | Tamil Nadu                                                                                         |   2021 |
|    31 | Iconic Riverfront of Historic City of Varanasi                                                                       | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                      |   2021 |
|    32 | Geoglyphs of Konkan Region of India                                                                                  | Maharashtra and Goa                                                                                |   2022 |
|    33 | Jingkiengjri: Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes                                                                 | Meghalaya                                                                                          |   2022 |
|    34 | Sri Veerabhadra Temple and Monolithic Bull (Nandi), Lepakshi (The Vijayanagara Sculpture and Painting Art Tradition) | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                     |   2022 |
|    35 | Sun Temple, Modhera and its adjoining monuments                                                                      | Gujarat                                                                                            |   2022 |
|    36 | Rock-cut Sculptures and Reliefs of the Unakoti, Unakoti Range, Unakoti District                                      | Tripura                                                                                            |   2022 |
|    37 | Vadnagar - Amulti-layered Historic town, Gujarat                                                                     | Gujarat                                                                                            |   2022 |
|    38 | Serial nomination of Coastal Fortifications along the Konkan Coast, Maharashtra                                      | Maharashtra                                                                                        |   2024 |
|    39 | Gwalior Fort                                                                                                         | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                     |   2024 |
|    40 | KhooniBhandara, Burhanpur                                                                                            | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                     |   2024 |

| 41.   | Rock Art Sites of the Chambal Valley                               | Madhya Pradesh                         |      |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|------|
| 42.   | The Bhojeshwar Mahadev Temple, Bhojpur                             | Madhya Pradesh                         | 2024 |
| 43.   | The Gond monuments of Ramnagar, Mandla                             | Madhya Pradesh                         | 2024 |
| 44.   | The historic ensemble of Dhamnar                                   | Madhya Pradesh                         | 2024 |
| 45.   | Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs                                         | Telangana                              | 2025 |
| 46.   | Serial nomination for Ashokan Edict sites along the Mauryan Routes | Madhya Pradesh                         | 2025 |
| 47.   | Serial nomination of Chausath Yogini Temples                       | Madhya Pradesh                         | 2025 |
| 48.   | Serial nomination of Gupta Temples in North India                  | Madhya Pradesh                         | 2025 |
| 49.   | The Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas                              | Madhya Pradesh                         | 2025 |
| 50.   | Salkhan Fossil Park, Sonbhadra                                     | Uttar Pradesh                          | 2025 |
|       | Natural Properties                                                 |                                        |      |
| 51.   | Namdapha National Park                                             | Arunachal Pradesh                      | 2006 |
| 52.   | Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch                           | Gujarat                                | 2006 |
| 53.   | Desert National Park                                               | Rajasthan                              | 2009 |
| 54.   | Neora Valley National Park                                         | West Bengal                            | 2009 |
| 55.   | Chilika Lake                                                       | Odisha                                 | 2014 |
| 56.   | Narcondam Island                                                   | Andaman and Nicobar Islands            | 2014 |
| 57.   | Satpura Tiger Reserve                                              | Madhya Pradesh                         | 2021 |
| 58.   | Bhedaghat-Lametaghat in Narmada Valley                             | Madhya Pradesh                         | 2021 |
| 59.   | K anger Valley National Park                                       | Chhattisgarh                           | 2025 |
|       | Mixed Properties                                                   |                                        |      |
| 60.   | Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India                            | Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh | 2015 |
| 61.   | KeibulLamjao Conservation Area                                     | Manipur                                | 2016 |
| 62.   | Garo Hills Conservation Area (GHCA)                                | Meghalaya                              | 2018 |

Annexure-III

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (d)OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3591 FOR 11.08.2025.

## Details of the budget allocated for the maintenance of the World Heritage properties protected by the Archaeological Survey of India

| S.   | Name of Site                                                                                            | State          | Budget Allocation   | Budget Allocation   | Budget Allocation   |
|------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| No   |                                                                                                         |                | 2022-23             | 2023-24             | 2024-25             |
| 1.   | Agra Fort                                                                                               | Uttar Pradesh  | 30447695            | 34643842            | 23192766            |
| 2.   | Ajanta Caves                                                                                            | Maharashtra    | 18607730            | 39575601            | 11059386            |
| 3.   | Ellora Caves                                                                                            | Maharashtra    | 27764143            | 65411091            | 9607284             |
| 4.   | Taj Mahal                                                                                               | Uttar Pradesh  | 28443366            | 31776447            | 25813898            |
| 5.   | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram                                                                     | Tamil Nadu     | 11819435            | 8619791             | 11621560            |
| 6.   | Sun Temple, Konarak                                                                                     | Odisha         | 30249010            | 24989,85            | 12904875            |
| 7.   | Churches and Convents of Goa                                                                            | Goa            | 42537165            | 81772937            | 52560719            |
| 8.   | Fatehpur Sikri                                                                                          | Uttar Pradesh  | 48625437            | 52809325            | 33942053            |
| 9.   | Group of Monuments at Hampi                                                                             | Karnataka      | 47709092            | 83681075            | 29285386            |
| 10.  | Khajuraho, Group of Temples                                                                             | Madhya Pradesh | 43002632            | 29051512            | 14260152            |
| 11.  | Elephanta Caves                                                                                         | Maharashtra    | 19025620            | 22174430            | 6935952             |
| 12.  | Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram                            | Tamil Nadu     | 15080506            | 21473356            | 16780409            |
| 13.  | Group of Monuments at Pattadakal                                                                        | Karnataka      | 100800000           | 90750000            | 72000000            |
| 14.  | Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi                                                                            | Madhya Pradesh | 5456571             | 6460252             | 2076740             |
| 15.  | Humayun's Tomb, Delhi                                                                                   | Delhi          | 11534853            | 11302414            | 15743606            |
| 16.  | Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi                                                                     | Delhi          | 15017741            | 12309367            | 14743015            |
| 17.  | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka                                                                              | MadhyaPrades h | 2504364.00          | 5287312.58          | 796980.00           |
| 18.  | Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park                                                                  | Gujarat        | 13309594            | 14797567            | 17996279            |
| 19.  | Red Fort Complex, Delhi                                                                                 | Delhi          | 89408517            | 84809135            | 90977487            |
| 20.  | Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts) | Rajasthan      | 34380666            | 66267698            | 55453712            |
| 21.  | Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen's Stepwell) at                                                                   | Gujarat        | 6894938             | 3953587             | 4771202             |

|    | Patan                                                                     |                        |             |             |             |
|----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| 22 | Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda | Bihar                  | 1.21127e+07 | 2.07453e+07 | 8.1896e+06  |
| 23 | Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana                          | Telangana              | 2.46936e+07 | 1.48845e+07 | 9.47423e+06 |
| 24 | Dholavira: A Harappan City                                                | Gujarat                | 1.68135e+07 | 2.63916e+06 | 1.90923e+06 |
| 25 | Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas                                              | Karnataka              | 1.985e+08   | 1.7335e+08  | 5.04999e+07 |
| 26 | Moidams - the Mound- Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty                    | Assam                  | 1.53955e+06 | 1.68344e+07 | 3.16995e+07 |
| 27 | Maratha Military Landscapes of India                                      | Maharashtra& Tamilnadu | 1.63739e+07 | 1.86779e+07 | 2.60011e+07 |