In a significant development for India's cultural and natural heritage, six sites have been added to the country's tentative list by UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre. The announcement was made by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The newly added sites include the Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs in Telangana and the palace-fortresses of the Bundelas in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Other sites making it to the list are Kanger Valley National Park in Chhattisgarh, Ashokan Edict Sites along the Mauryan Routes (multiple states), Chausath Yogini temples (multiple states), and Gupta temples in North India (multiple states).

The announcement came in response to a suggestion by BJP MP Sambit Patra, who proposed that the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra be included in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Shekhawat acknowledged Patra's suggestion as a commendable initiative.

The inclusion of these six sites was officially recorded on March 7, as per a statement by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO. Adding a site to the World Heritage Centre’s tentative list is a necessary preliminary step before it can be formally nominated for the World Heritage List in the future.

India’s Growing Presence in UNESCO’s Heritage List

With these new additions, India now has 62 sites on the tentative list, which serves as an inventory of properties that the country intends to nominate for UNESCO inscription. Currently, India boasts 43 sites on the official World Heritage List, categorized as 35 cultural sites, seven natural sites, and one mixed-category site.

Among recent significant recognitions, India hosted the World Heritage Committee meeting for the first time in 2024. During this session, the Moidams, the mound-burial system of the Ahom Dynasty in Assam, was granted the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage status.

The inclusion of these new sites underscores India's rich and diverse heritage, further strengthening its position on the global cultural and environmental map. The government continues its efforts to preserve and promote the nation's historical and ecological treasures, ensuring their recognition on the international stage.