India is a land of diverse cultural traditions, ancient monuments, and natural wonders. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognizes certain sites around the world as World Heritage Sites for their outstanding cultural, historical, or natural value to humanity. These sites are protected under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972).
AFCAT 1 2026 Exam Static GK – World Heritage Sites in India
Categories of World Heritage Sites
- Cultural Sites – Represent the creativity, architecture, and traditions of India’s past civilizations.
- Natural Sites – Highlight India’s ecological and geological diversity.
- Mixed Sites – Exhibit both cultural and natural significance.
List of World Heritage Sites in India (as of 2025)
Cultural Heritage Sites
- Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra)
- Ellora Caves (Maharashtra)
- Agra Fort (Uttar Pradesh)
- Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh)
- Sun Temple, Konark (Odisha)
- Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu)
- Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam)
- Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
- Churches and Convents of Goa (Goa)
- Khajuraho Group of Monuments (Madhya Pradesh)
- Group of Monuments at Hampi (Karnataka)
- Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh)
- Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (Karnataka)
- Elephanta Caves (Maharashtra)
- Great Living Chola Temples (Tamil Nadu)
- Group of Monuments at Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh)
- Humayun’s Tomb (Delhi)
- Qutub Minar and its Monuments (Delhi)
- Mountain Railways of India (Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Kalka–Shimla)
- Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (Bihar)
- Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh)
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai)
- Champaner–Pavagadh Archaeological Park (Gujarat)
- Red Fort Complex (Delhi)
- The Jantar Mantar (Jaipur, Rajasthan)
- Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Amer, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, and Gagron)
- Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) (Gujarat)
- Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (Himachal Pradesh)
- Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Bihar)
- Historic City of Ahmadabad (Gujarat)
- Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (Maharashtra)
- Jaipur City (Rajasthan)
- Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple (Telangana)
- Santiniketan (West Bengal) – Inscribed in 2023
Natural Heritage Sites
- Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
- Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam)
- Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal)
- Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (Uttarakhand)
- Western Ghats (Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka)
- Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh)
Mixed Heritage Site
- Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim) – Represents both natural beauty and cultural significance linked to Sikkimese traditions.
Recent Additions
- Santiniketan (West Bengal) – Added in 2023, recognized for its association with Rabindranath Tagore and its unique educational and cultural heritage.
- Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (Karnataka) – Added in 2023, showcasing the architectural brilliance of the Hoysala Empire.
The Maratha Military Landscapes of India in Maharashtra were officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 11, 2025, during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, while in 2024, the “Moidams—the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” in Assam was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 26, 2024, during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi. This prestigious recognition marks India’s 43rd site in 2024, and now in 2025, it is marked as the 44th UNESCO World Heritage Site.
