Lok Sabha Question No. 5028 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 5028

ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

†5028.Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  present  number  of  UNESCO  World    Heritage  Sites    in  the country ;
- (b) whether the Government has sent any proposals for the inclusion of new sites in the World Heritage List;
- (c) the details of the special steps taken by the Government for the conservation of the said sites; and
- (d) the details of the coordination being done to promote tourism?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) There are 44 World Heritage Properties in the country, details of which are provided in Annexure - I
- (b) Yes Sir. The Government has sent the following proposals to the World Heritage Centre for consideration for inclusion in the World Heritage List:
1. Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath (2025-26)
2. JingkiengJri / Lyu Charai Cultural Landscape (2026-27)
- (c) The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertakes conservation and maintenance of 3,686 monuments, including 27 World Heritage properties, along
- & with  the  provision  of  amenities  for  tourists  such  as  drinking  water,  toilet  blocks,
- (d) pathways  and  landscaping  etc.  for  protected  monuments/sites  under  the  ASI's jurisdiction. Conservation and maintenance of these monuments/sites is a continuous process and is carried out based on the needs of the monuments and the availability of resources.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †5028 FOR 23.03.2026

## Properties on World Heritage List (44)

36

07

01

| A.   | Cultural World Heritage Properties in India   | : 36   |
|------|-----------------------------------------------|--------|
| B.   | Natural World Heritage Properties in India    | : 07   |
| C.   | Mixed World Heritage Properties in India      | : 01   |

## CULTURAL SITES:

## Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India (27)

|   S. No | Name of Site                                                                                                                                                                                     | State          | Year of inscription   |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------------|
|       1 | Agra Fort                                                                                                                                                                                        | Uttar Pradesh  | 1983                  |
|       2 | Ajanta Caves                                                                                                                                                                                     | Maharashtra    | 1983                  |
|       3 | Ellora Caves                                                                                                                                                                                     | Maharashtra    | 1983                  |
|       4 | Taj Mahal                                                                                                                                                                                        | Uttar Pradesh  | 1983                  |
|       5 | Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram                                                                                                                                                              | Tamil Nadu     | 1984                  |
|       6 | Sun Temple, Konarak                                                                                                                                                                              | Odisha         | 1984                  |
|       7 | Churches and Convents of Goa                                                                                                                                                                     | Goa            | 1986                  |
|       8 | Fatehpur Sikri                                                                                                                                                                                   | Uttar Pradesh  | 1986                  |
|       9 | Group of Monuments at Hampi                                                                                                                                                                      | Karnataka      | 1986                  |
|      10 | Khajuraho, Group of Temples                                                                                                                                                                      | Madhya Pradesh | 1986                  |
|      11 | Elephanta Caves                                                                                                                                                                                  | Maharashtra    | 1987                  |
|      12 | Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram                                                                                                                     | Tamil Nadu     | 1987 &2004            |
|      13 | Group of Monuments at Pattadakal                                                                                                                                                                 | Karnataka      | 1987                  |
|      14 | Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi                                                                                                                                                                     | Madhya Pradesh | 1989                  |
|      15 | Humayun's Tomb, Delhi                                                                                                                                                                            | Delhi          | 1993                  |
|      16 | QutbMinar and its Monuments, Delhi                                                                                                                                                               | Delhi          | 1993                  |
|      17 | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka                                                                                                                                                                       | Madhya Pradesh | 2003                  |
|      18 | Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park                                                                                                                                                           | Gujarat        | 2004                  |
|      19 | Red Fort Complex, Delhi                                                                                                                                                                          | Delhi          | 2007                  |
|      20 | Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts) (Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums) | Rajasthan      | 2013                  |

|   21. | Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen's Stepwell) at Patan                               | Gujarat     |   2014 |
|-------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|--------|
|    22 | Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda | Bihar       |   2016 |
|    23 | Dholavira: AHarappan City                                                 | Gujarat     |   2021 |
|    24 | Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana                          | Telangana   |   2021 |
|    25 | Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas                                          | Karnataka   |   2023 |
|    26 | Moidams-the Mount-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty                       | Assam       |   2024 |
|    27 | Maratha Military Landscapes of India                                      | Maharashtra |   2025 |

## Under Protection of Ministry of Railways (2)

|   28. | Mountain Railways of India ( Darjeeling,1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka- Shimla   | West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh   |   2008 |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|--------|
|    29 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)                      | Maharashtra                                 |   2004 |

## Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (1)

| 30.   | Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya   | 2002   |
|-------|-----------------------------------------|--------|

## Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums (1)

| 31.   | The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur   | Rajasthan   | 2010   |
|-------|-----------------------------|-------------|--------|

## Under Protection of Chandigarh Administration (1)

| 32.   | The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement   | Chandigarh   | 2016   |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|--------|

## Under Protection of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (1)

| 33.   | Historic City of Ahmedabad   | Gujarat   | 2017   |
|-------|------------------------------|-----------|--------|

## Under Protection of Bombay Municipal Corporation (1)

| 34.   | Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai Govt   | of Maharashtra 2018   |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|

## Under Protection of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (1)

| 35.   | Jaipur City, Rajasthan   | Govt of Rajasthan   | 2019   |
|-------|--------------------------|---------------------|--------|

| 36.   | Santiniketan   | Visva Bharati   | 2023   |
|-------|----------------|-----------------|--------|

## NATURAL PROPERTIES: (7)

## Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

|   37. | Kaziranga National Park                         | Assam                                     | 1985       |
|-------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|------------|
|    38 | Keoladeo National Park                          | Rajasthan                                 | 1985       |
|    39 | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary                        | Assam                                     | 1985       |
|    40 | Sunderbans National Park                        | West Bengal                               | 1987       |
|    41 | Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks | Uttarakhand                               | 1988, 2005 |
|    42 | Western Ghats                                   | Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu | 2012       |
|    43 | Great Himalayan National Park                   | Himachal Pradesh                          | 2014       |

## MIXED PROPERTIES: (1)

## Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

| 44.   | Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)   | Sikkim   | 2016   |
|-------|----------------------------------------|----------|--------|

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