Which is the 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site in India?
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 |
FAQs
How many World Heritage Sites are in India by UNESCO?
India has 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites as of 2024.
Which is the 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site in India?
The 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site in India is Moidam – The Mound Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty in Assam.
Which is the 41st UNESCO World Heritage Site in India?
The 41st UNESCO World Heritage Site in India is Vikramshila Ancient University in Bihar.
Which is the 42nd UNESCO World Heritage Site in India?
The 42nd UNESCO World Heritage Site in India is the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala, which includes the temples of Belur, Halebid, and Somnathpur in Karnataka.
Which is the 40th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India?
The 40th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India is Dholavira: A Harappan City in Gujarat.
Which is the 39th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India?
The 39th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India is Jaipur City, Rajasthan.
What is the biggest heritage site in India?
The largest heritage site in India is Dholavira, an ancient Harappan city spread over 100 hectares in Gujarat.
Which state has the maximum UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India?
Maharashtra has the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with six sites.
Which country has the highest number of World Heritage Sites?
Italy has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with 60 sites, followed by China with 59.
Which is the 38th World Heritage Site in India?
The 38th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India is The Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai.
Which was the first UNESCO Heritage Site in India?
The first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India were Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Agra Fort, and the Taj Mahal, all inscribed in 1983.