India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
India’s 43rd World Heritage Site:
“Moidam – the Mound Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” in Assam has received the prestigious 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site tag in the cultural category.
These approximately 700-year-old Moidams are repositories of the remains of kings and royal families within hollow vaults made of brick and stone, similar to the pyramids of the Egyptian pharaohs and the royal tombs in ancient China.
This announcement was made on July 26, 2024, during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi.
The famous Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid, and Somnathpur in Karnataka were included as the 42nd UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Assam’s Moidam is the first cultural site from the Northeast to be included in the World Heritage List and the third overall site from the Northeast. The other two are Kaziranga and Manas, which are included in the natural heritage category.
Moidam is a royal mound burial site built by the Tai-Ahom in Northeast India, located in the foothills of the Patkai mountain range in eastern Assam.
The Tai-Ahom people came to Assam in the 13th century and established Charaideo as their first city and the site of the royal cemetery.
From the 13th to the 19th centuries AD, for 600 years, the Tai-Ahom built Moidam or “House for the Soul,” using natural elements such as hills, forests, and water to create sacred geography.
India became a member of the World Heritage Committee from 2021-25 and is currently hosting its first session since joining UNESCO’s 1972 World Heritage Convention.
The 46th session of the World Heritage Committee began on July 21 and ran until July 31 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
India ranks 6th globally for World Heritage properties. Italy has the most sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List with 60, while China is second with 59 sites.
List of 43 Heritage Sites of India
Cultural Heritage Sites (35)
| Heritage Site | Related State | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh | 1983 |
| Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh | 1983 |
| Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
| Ellora Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
| Sun Temple, Konark | Odisha | 1984 |
| Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram | Tamil Nadu | 1984 |
| Churches and Convents of Goa | Goa | 1986 |
| Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh | 1986 |
| Group of Monuments at Hampi | Karnataka | 1986 |
| Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh | 1986 |
| Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1987 |
| Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (Jain temples and a series of nine Hindu temples) | Karnataka | 1987 |
| Great Living Chola Temples | Tamil Nadu | 1987, 2004 |
| Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi | Madhya Pradesh | 1989 |
| Humayun’s Tomb | Delhi | 1993 |
| Qutub Minar and its Monuments | Delhi | 1993 |
| Mountain Railways of India (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Kalka–Shimla Railway) | 1999, 2005, 2008 | |
| Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya | Bihar | 2002 |
| Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka | Madhya Pradesh | 2003 |
| Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Gujarat | 2004 |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) | Maharashtra | 2004 |
| Red Fort Complex | Delhi | 2007 |
| Jantar Mantar, Jaipur | Rajasthan | 2010 |
| Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Chittorgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Ranthambore Fort, Gagron Fort, Amer Fort, Jaisalmer Fort) | Rajasthan | 2013 |
| Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) | Patan, Gujarat | 2014 |
| Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar | Nalanda, Bihar | 2016 |
| The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to Modern Movement, Capital Complex | Chandigarh | 2016 |
| Historic City of Ahmadabad | Gujarat | 2017 |
| Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 2018 |
| Jaipur City | Rajasthan | 2019 |
| Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple (39th) | Telangana | 2021 |
| Harappan City: Dholavira (40th) | Gujarat | 2021 |
| Shantiniketan (41st) | West Bengal | 2023 |
| Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (Chennakeshava Temple of Belur, Hoysaleswara Temple of Halebidu, Keshava Temple of Somanathapura) (42nd) | Karnataka | 2023 |
| Moidams – the Burial Sites of the Ahom Kings (43rd) | Assam | 2024 |
Natural Heritage Sites (7)
| Heritage Site | Related State | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Kaziranga National Park | Assam | 1985 |
| Keoladeo Ghana National Park | Rajasthan | 1985 |
| Manas Wildlife Sanctuary | Assam | 1985 |
| Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal | 1987 |
| Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks | Uttarakhand | 1988, 2005 |
| Western Ghats | 2012 | |
| Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area | Himachal Pradesh | 2014 |
Mixed Heritage Site (1)
| Heritage Site | Related State | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Khangchendzonga National Park | Sikkim | 2016 |
Important Questions and Answers Related to India’s World Heritage Sites
- How many World Heritage Sites are there in India (in 2024)? There are a total of 43 World Heritage Sites in India, including 35 cultural, 7 natural, and 1 mixed site.
- How many Intangible Cultural Heritages are there in India? India has a total of 13 Intangible Cultural Heritages recognized by UNESCO.
- How many Geo Heritage Sites are there in India? There are 34 notified National Geological Heritage Monument sites in India.
- Which is India’s only mixed World Heritage Site? India’s only mixed World Heritage Site is “Khangchendzonga National Park,” which was recognized by UNESCO in 2016.
- Which dance is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list? The traditional dance of Gujarat, “Garba,” has been included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
- To which state does the Mudiyettu dance belong? The Mudiyettu dance is a traditional dance of Kerala, performed in the temples of Goddess Bhagwati between February and May. It was included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010.
- What is the total number of World Heritage Sites? As of 2024, there are a total of 1,223 UNESCO World Heritage Sites worldwide.
- Is India Gate a World Heritage Site? No, India Gate is not included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
- Which is India’s 42nd World Heritage Site? India’s 42nd World Heritage Site is the “Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas,” which received UNESCO recognition in 2023.
- Which is the latest UNESCO World Heritage Site in India? “Moidams – the Burial Sites of the Ahom Kings” of Assam became India’s latest UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024.
- When did India become a member of UNESCO? India became a member of UNESCO in 1946.
- When was the Shore Temple included in UNESCO? The Shore Temple of Mamallapuram was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
- Who built the Hoysaleswara Temple? The Hoysaleswara Temple was built in the 12th century during the reign of the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana.
- Where is the headquarters of UNESCO located? UNESCO’s headquarters is located in Paris, the capital of France.
- Who is the head of UNESCO in 2024? The Director-General of UNESCO in 2024 is Audrey Azoulay.
- How many member countries are there in UNESCO? There are a total of 194 member countries and 12 associate members in UNESCO.
- What does ‘E’ stand for in UNESCO? In UNESCO, ‘E’ stands for “Educational.”
- How many sites from India are included in the World Heritage list? A total of 43 World Heritage Sites from India are included in the list.
- Which is India’s 43rd World Heritage Site? “Moidams – the Burial Sites of the Ahom Kings” of Assam was recognized as India’s 43rd World Heritage Site in 2024.
- Which were the first World Heritage Sites in India? The first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India in 1983 were Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Qutub Minar.
- Which is the oldest heritage site in India? The Ajanta Caves are considered one of the oldest surviving examples of ancient Indian art.
- What is the number of World Heritage Sites in Rajasthan (in 2024)? There are a total of 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Rajasthan, including Jaipur City, Jantar Mantar, Keoladeo National Park, and 6 forts.
- Which is the latest heritage site in India? “Moidams – the Burial Sites of the Ahom Kings” of Assam became India’s latest World Heritage Site in 2024.
- How many WHS (World Heritage Sites) are there in India in total? There are a total of 43 World Heritage Sites in India.
- Which temples have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Monuments? The famous Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebidu, and Somanathapura in Karnataka were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.
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