12 Maratha forts of 'Maratha Military Landscapes', representing extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers, have been inscribed on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List.
The decision to include 12 forts in the list was taken during the ongoing 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) being held in Paris.
"New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Maratha Military Landscapes of India, #India," UNESCO said in a post on X.
The nomination for UNESCO tag was for the 2024-25 cycle.
Now India has 44 of its sites on the list. The country ranks sixth globally and second in the Asia Pacific Region for the most number of World Heritage Sites.
Spread across the Indian states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, 12 forts are Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
Of the 12 forts eight are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) while the other forts are protected by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.
While Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee fort are protected under the Archaeological Survey of India whereas Salher fort, Rajgad, Khanderi fort and Pratapgarh are protected by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.
Belonging to the period from the 17th to 19th centuries CE, this network of twelve forts demonstrates the strategic military vision and architectural ingenuity of the Maratha Empire.
Last year Moidams, the 700-year-old mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, becoming the first cultural site from the Northeast India to make it to the coveted list.
12 forts Maratha Military Landscapes
Salher Fort
Shivneri Fort
Located near Junnar in Pune district in Maharashtra, Shivneri Fort comes lauded as the birthplace of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu
Situated atop three hillocks — Rajagiri, Krishnagiri, and Chandragiri in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district, the Gingee Fort was built in the 12th century by the rulers belonging to the Konar Dynasty.
Later it came under the control of many dynasties that included the Vijayanagar Empire, Marathas, Mughals, Arcot's Nawabs (Carnatic Nawabs), the French, and the British.
Called ‘Troy of the East’ by the British, the Gingee Fort is known for its invincibility and immense fortifications which made Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji to rank
it as the "most impregnable fortress in India". The fort was captured by Shivaji in 1677. After remaining under the Maratha possession till 1698 it came under the control of the Mughals. In 1714 the Arcot Nawabs captured the fort from the Bundela Rajput Raja Desingh (Tej Singh) by killing him who ruled Gingee for a short time in the same year. Desingh's wife committed sati on his funeral pyre.
Gingee remained under the control of Arcot Nawabs till 1749. The fort came under the French power from 1750 to 1770 before the British finally took control of Gingee in 1761.
Raigad Fort
Lohagad fort
10 km from Malavali railway station, Lohagad fort is situated on the top of a hill. Located at an altitude of 1025 meters, the fort is perched
on an enormous cliff of sheer rock in the Sahyadris hills.
Suvarnadurg
Suvarnadurg
Suvarnadurg fort meaning The Golden Fort, is located on a small island in the Arabian Sea, near Harnai village in Ratnagiri district of Konkan. It is near the town of Dapoli.