| UNESCO Site (Status & Year) | Location (City, State, Country) | Key Exam-Oriented Points (Max 7) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanger Valley National Park (Tentative List – 2025) | Jagdalpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, India | - Natural Heritage proposed under Criteria (vii), (viii), (x). - National Park (1982); 200 sq km under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. - Famous for karst topography, limestone caves (Kotamsar, Dandak, Kailash, Aranyak) and Tirathgarh Waterfall. - River: Kanger River.- One of India's densest Moist Peninsular Sal Forests. - Important bird: Bastar Hill Myna. - Rich biodiversity with endemic cave fauna and tribal-cultural significance. |
| Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs (Tentative List – 2025) | Narayanapet, Telangana, India | - Cultural Heritage under Criteria (v), (vi). - Megalithic Culture (3500–4000 years old). - Features: Menhirs, stone circles, burials, cup-marked rocks. - Ancient archaeo-astronomical observatory aligned with solstices/equinoxes.- Near Krishna River. - Depicts Ursa Major (Saptarishi), Leo & possible Jupiter. - Living tradition: Niluralla Thimmappa and Goddess Yellamma worship. |
| Ashokan Edict Sites along Mauryan Routes (Proposed Cultural Theme) | Dhauli (Odisha), Girnar (Gujarat), Jaugada (Odisha), Sopara (Maharashtra), India | - Connected with Emperor Ashoka (3rd Century BCE) and Mauryan Empire. - Written in Prakrit using Brahmi script. - Dhauli linked with Kalinga War and Daya River. - Jaugada contains Separate Kalinga Edicts. - Sopara (Suparaka) was an important Mauryan port and Buddhist centre. - Major source for Mauryan administration, Dhamma and Ashokan inscriptions. - Strong connection with Ancient Indian History & Buddhism. |
| Serial Nomination of Buddhist Triangle Sites (Tentative List – 2025) | Lalitagiri (Cuttack), Udayagiri & Ratnagiri (Jajpur), Odisha, India | - Cultural Heritage under Criteria (ii), (iv). - Represents Theravada → Mahayana → Vajrayana evolution. - Time span: 2nd–3rd Century BCE to 13th Century CE. - Rivers: Brahmani, Birupa & Kelua.- Important dynasty: Bhaumakara. - Rich Buddhist monasteries, stupas, Chaityas & relic caskets.- Important Buddhist learning centre comparable to Nalanda. |
| Varkala Cliff (Tentative List – 2025) | Varkala, Kerala, India | - Natural Heritage under Criteria (vii), (viii). - Only major sea cliff on India's western coast. - Exposes Warkalli Formation (Neogene sediments). - Geological evidence of Gondwana breakup. - Arabian Sea coastal geomorphology. - National Geological Monument (GSI). - Famous for natural springs and scenic landscape. |
| Andaman & Nicobar Geo-Heritage Sites (Proposed – 2025) | Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India | - Proposal includes 4 geo-heritage sites. - Barren Island – India's only active volcano. - Narcondam Island – habitat of endemic Narcondam Hornbill. - Baratang Mud Volcanoes – tectonic mud volcanoes. - Shaheed Dweep Natural Rock Bridge – coastal geomorphology. - Collaboration with Geological Survey of India (GSI). - Focus on geo-tourism and conservation. |
| Naga Hill Ophiolite (Tentative List – 2025) | Kiphire, Nagaland, India | - Natural Heritage under Criteria (viii), (x). - Rare ophiolite (oceanic crust thrust over continental crust). - Located in Indo-Myanmar Ranges / Arakan Range. - National Geological Monument (GSI). - Rich biodiversity with Blyth's Tragopan, Rufous-necked Hornbill etc. - Includes KBAs & IBAs.- Important for plate tectonics studies. |
| Geological Heritage of St. Mary's Island Cluster (Tentative List – 2025) | Malpe, Udupi, Karnataka, India | - Natural Heritage under Criterion (viii).- Famous for columnar rhyolite lava joints. - Linked with India–Madagascar separation (≈88 Ma). - National Geological Monument (1978). - Four islands: Coconut, North, South & Darya Bahadurgarh. - Rare rhyolitic volcanic formation globally. - Important for plate tectonics. |
| Deccan Traps at Panchgani & Mahabaleshwar (Tentative List – 2025) | Satara District, Maharashtra, India | - Natural Heritage under Criteria (viii), (x). - World's largest Flood Basalt Province (~66 Ma). - Linked to K–Pg Mass Extinction. - Located in Western Ghats & Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. - Rivers: Krishna, Koyna & Venna originate here. - Asia's largest laterite plateau at Panchgani. - Rich endemic biodiversity. |
| Erra Matti Dibbalu (Tentative List – 2025) | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India | - Natural Heritage under Criterion (viii). - Famous Red Sand Hills (Late Pleistocene). - National Geo-Heritage Monument (2016). - Coastal geomorphology showing sea-level & climate change. - Bay of Bengal coast. - Aeolian & fluvial deposits. - Important Quaternary geological archive. |
| Natural Heritage of Tirumala Hills (Tentative List – 2025) | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India | - Natural Heritage under Criteria (vii), (viii), (x). - Located in Eastern Ghats (Seshachalam Range). - Includes Silathoranam Natural Arch & Eparchaean Unconformity. - Sri Venkateswara National Park & Biosphere Reserve. - Famous for Red Sandalwood and endemic biodiversity. -Strong Brahmanical/Hindu connection (Lord Venkateswara Temple). - National Geo-Heritage Monument (GSI). |
| Meghalayan Age Caves (Tentative List – 2025) | East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India | - Natural Heritage under Criteria (vii), (viii), (ix). - Includes Mawmluh, Arwah, Mawsmai & Krem Puri caves. - Mawmluh Cave defines the Meghalayan Age (Holocene) through GSSP. - Famous for karst landforms, stalactites & stalagmites. - Important palaeoclimate archive (4.2 ka event). - Rich cave biodiversity. - Geological Heritage Site (GSI). |
| UNESCO Site (Tentative & Year) | Location (City, State, Country) | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Kanger Valley National Park (Tentative – 2025) | Bastar, Chhattisgarh, India | - Natural Site. - Limestone caves. - Kutumsar Cave. - Dandak forest region. - Tirathgarh Waterfall. - Rich biodiversity. - Kanger River. |
| Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs (Tentative – 2025) | Narayanpet, Telangana, India | - Megalithic culture. - Iron Age. - Stone Menhirs. - Burial tradition. - Archaeological significance. - Protohistoric site. - Cultural landscape. |
| Ashokan Edict Sites along Mauryan Routes (Tentative – 2025) | Multiple States, India | - Mauryan Empire. - Emperor Ashoka. - Major & Minor Rock Edicts. - Pillar Edicts. - Buddhist connection. - Spread of Dhamma. - Includes Rampurva & Lauriya Nandangarh (Bihar), Dhauli, Girnar, Jaugada etc. |
| Gupta Temples in North India (Tentative – 2025) | Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh & other states | - Gupta Period. - Classical temple architecture. - Early Nagara style. - Hindu temples. - Gupta art. - Brahmanical tradition. - Golden Age of India. |
| Chausath Yogini Temples (Tentative – 2025) | MP, Odisha & UP, India | - Tantric tradition. - Circular temple architecture. - Yogini worship. - Shakta tradition. - Medieval period. - Open-air shrines. - Chandela & Kalachuri influence. |
| Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas (Tentative – 2025) | Orchha (MP), Jhansi region (UP), India | - Bundela dynasty. - Rajput architecture. - Betwa River. - Fort-palace complex. - Medieval history. - Mughal interaction. - Heritage architecture. |
| Deccan Traps (Tentative – 2025) | Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani, Maharashtra, India | - Flood basalt. - Volcanic province. - Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction linkage. - Western Ghats. - Geological heritage. - Plateau formation. - Natural site. |
| St Mary's Island Cluster (Tentative – 2025) | Udupi, Karnataka, India | - Columnar basalt. - Geological heritage. - Arabian Sea coast. - National Geoheritage Monument. - Volcanic origin. - Coastal geomorphology. - Vasco da Gama connection. |
| Meghalayan Age Caves (Tentative – 2025) | Meghalaya, India | - Limestone caves. - Geological age reference. - Speleothems. - Karst landscape. - Natural heritage. - Cave ecosystem. - Hydrology. |
| Naga Hill Ophiolite (Tentative – 2025) | Nagaland, India | - Ophiolite sequence. - Plate tectonics. - Oceanic crust exposure. - Geological heritage. - Indo-Myanmar belt. - Natural site. - Earth history. |
| Erra Matti Dibbalu (Tentative – 2025) | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India | - Red sand dunes. - Coastal geomorphology. - National Geoheritage Monument. - Bay of Bengal coast. - Sedimentary deposits. - Natural site. - Geological significance. |
| Natural Heritage of Tirumala Hills (Tentative – 2025) | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India | - Eastern Ghats. - Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve. - Sri Venkateswara National Park. - Silathoranam Natural Arch. - Eparchaean Unconformity. - Red Sandalwood. - National Geoheritage Monument. |
| Varkala Cliffs (Tentative – 2025) | Varkala, Kerala, India | - Arabian Sea cliffs. - Coastal geomorphology. - Laterite formation. - Geological heritage. - Beach ecosystem. - Tourism significance. - Natural site. |
| Ashokan Pillars of Rampurva & Lauriya Nandangarh (Part of Serial Tentative Nomination – 2025) | West Champaran, Bihar, India | - Mauryan Empire. - Ashokan Pillars. - Polished sandstone. - Buddhist Dhamma. - Edict tradition. - Ancient Bihar heritage. - Associated with Mauryan routes. |
| Salkhan Fossils Park (Tentative – 2025) | Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, India | - 1.4-billion-year-old stromatolites. - One of world's oldest fossil sites. - Precambrian geology. - Birbal Sahni Institute research. - Palaeontology. - Geological heritage. - Fossil park. |
| Lakkundi Temples (Proposed/Tentative Process – 2025) | Gadag District, Karnataka, India | - Western Chalukya dynasty. - Vesara architecture. - Brahma Jinalaya. - Temple & stepwell complex. - Jain and Hindu heritage. - 10th–12th century CE. - Architectural ensemble. |
| UNESCO Site (Status & Year) | Location (City, State, Country) | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Maratha Military Landscapes of India (Approved – 2025) | Maharashtra & Gingee (Tamil Nadu), India | - India's 44th UNESCO World Heritage Site. - 12 forts representing Maratha military architecture. - Built mainly during 17th–19th centuries CE. - Associated with the Maratha Empire and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. - Includes hill, coastal, island and plateau forts. - Inscribed under Criteria (iv) & (vi). - ASI is the nodal conservation agency. |
| Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO WNBR – 2025) (Not a World Heritage Site) | Lahaul–Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India | - UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. - India's 13th UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. - Pin Valley National Park. - Snow Leopard habitat. - Chandratal Wetland. - High-altitude Trans-Himalayan ecosystem. - UNESCO MAB Programme. |
| UNESCO Site (Approved & Year) | Location (City, State/Country) | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Khangchendzonga National Park (Approved – 2016) | Sikkim, India | - India's first Mixed World Heritage Site. - Mount Khangchendzonga (8,586 m), world's 3rd highest peak. - Teesta & Rangeet river catchments. - Sacred to Lepcha & Tibetan Buddhists (Mayel Lyang/Beyul). - Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Himalayan Tahr. - Also Biosphere Reserve. - Rated "Good" in IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025. |
| Western Ghats (Approved – 2012) | Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, India | - UNESCO Natural Site. - Older than Himalayas. - Biodiversity Hotspot. - 325 globally threatened species. - Source of Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery and many west-flowing rivers. - IUCN Outlook 2025: Significant Concern. - High endemism. |
| Great Barrier Reef (Approved – 1981) | Queensland, Australia | - World's largest coral reef system. - UNESCO Marine World Heritage Site. - Fourth global coral bleaching event affected reef. - Climate change & marine heatwaves major threats. - Coral Reef Watch monitoring. - Largest reef ecosystem. - Rich marine biodiversity. |
| Babylon (Approved – 2019) | Babylon, Iraq | - Ancient Mesopotamian civilisation. - Capital of Babylonian Empire. - Euphrates River. - Ishtar Gate. - Hanging Gardens tradition. - Threatened by climate change & salinity. - UNESCO Cultural Site. |
| Ur Archaeological Site (Approved – 2016) | Dhi Qar, Iraq | - Ancient Sumerian city. - Ziggurat of Ur dedicated to Moon God Nanna. - Third Dynasty of Ur. - Cradle of Civilization. - Mud-brick architecture. - Threatened by soil salinity. - Near Tigris–Euphrates basin. |
| Rapa Nui National Park (Approved – 1995) | Easter Island, Chile | - Famous Moai statues. - Polynesian civilisation. - Volcanic landscape. - Climate change threat. - Coastal erosion. - Archaeological heritage. - UNESCO Cultural Site. |
| UNESCO Site (Tentative/Nominated & Year) | Location (City, State/Country) | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Faya Palaeolandscape (Nominated – UAE) | Sharjah, UAE | - Human occupation over 210,000 years. - Middle Palaeolithic to Neolithic sequence. - Out-of-Africa migration evidence. - Flint tool industry. - Ancient Arabia–India trade links. - Indus Valley & Mesopotamia connections. - Desert adaptation evidence. |
| UNESCO Programme | Location | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Bhagavad Gita – Memory of the World Register (2025) | India | - UNESCO Memory Register. - Documentary Heritage. - April 2025 inscription. - Global recognition of Indian philosophy. - Associated with Kurukshetra. - Cultural diplomacy. - Different from World Heritage List. |
| AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) | UNESCO–MeitY | - UNESCO AI Ethics Framework. - Recommendation on Ethics of AI (2021). - AI governance. - Responsible AI. - IndiaAI Mission. - Safe & Trusted AI. - Policy assessment tool. |
UNESCO World Heritage Nomination Process (Point-wise)