40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

Heritage sites in India are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. From the Taj Mahal to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, there is no shortage of places to explore.

But with so many heritage sites to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together a list of  heritage sites in India, to help you plan your next adventure.

1. Agra Fort (1983)

Agra Fort is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a cultural heritage declared by UNESCO. It was inscribed by UNESCO in its list in 1983. This fort is situated 2.5 km north-west of the world heritage Taj Mahal. It was rebuilt by Akbar.

2. Ajanta Caves (1983)

The Ajanta Caves are located near Ajanta village, 107 km from Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra. It was listed by UNESCO in 1983. These caves have been made by cutting mountains. The Ajanta Caves are mainly Buddhist caves which contain art works of Buddhist culture.

3. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)

It was the main education center of ancient India located in the state of Bihar. In which students from abroad used to come for study. The credit for the establishment of this university goes to the Gupta ruler Kumaragupta I.It has been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2016.

4. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)

Sanchi is a small village on the banks of river Betwa in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, which is known worldwide for its Buddhist stupas. It has been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1989. The construction period of these stupas is believed to be from about the 3rd century BC to the twelfth century. The stupas of Sanchi were built by Emperor Ashoka.

5. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is located in Panchmahal district of Gujarat state, India. In the year 2004 it was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built by the Sultan of Gujarat Mahmud Begda near the city of Champaner.

6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal was formerly named Victoria Terminal. In 1966 its name was changed from Victoria Terminal to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal. Due to its Victorian Gothic style and traditional Indian architectural style, this station was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. 

7. Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)

Churches and convents located in the Indian state of Goa was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. They were built between the 16th and 17th centuries. These include the Basilica of Bom Jesus, St. Cathedral, the Church and Hermitage of St. Francis Assisi, the Church of the Lady of the Rosary, the Church of St., Augustine and St. Catherine’s Chapel.

8. Dholavira: a Harappan City (2021)

Dholavira of Gujarat was included in the UNESCO World Heritage in 2021. It is one of the five major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. It is the 40th World Heritage Site of India.

9. Elephanta Caves (1987)

These caves are located on an island in Gharapuri, about 11 km from Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra. It was included by UNESCO in its World Heritage List in 1987. Out of 7 caves of Elephanta, 5 caves are of Hindus and 2 caves are of Buddhist. The name Elephanta was given by the Portuguese.

10. Ellora Caves (1983)

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Aurangabad district which was included in the UNESCO list in 1983. This cave is one of the largest rock-cut monastic-temple cave complexes in the world which deals with Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. There are 34 caves, in which 12 are Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 are Jain caves.

11. Fatehpur Sikri (1986)

Mughal Emperor Mo. Jalaluddin Akbar established Fatehpur Sikri in 1571. It was the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585. UNESCO included it World Heritage site in 1886. In Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Khwabgah, Jaudha Bai’s palace, Aankh Micholi, Diwan-e-Khas, Dargah of the son of Sheikh Salim Chishti, Shahi Masjid, Anoop Talab are the main monuments.

12.Great Living Chola Temples (1987)

A Great Living Chola Temples located in Tamil Nadu, India were built by the kings of the Chola Empire. This World Heritage Site is made up of three great 11th and 12th century Chola temples: the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. Brihadisvara Temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram was added to this list in 2004. This place has now been named ‘Great Living Chola Temple’.

13. Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)

Hampi is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the Indian state of Karnataka. It was the capital of the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar Empire. There are innumerable buildings in Hampi like temples, palaces, basements, water-ruins, platforms etc. It was included by UNESCO in its World Heritage List in 1986.

14. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)

The Mahabalipuram Monument is located in the Kancheepuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu. They were built by the Pallava dynasty between 630 AD to 728 AD. These monuments were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984.

15. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)

Pattadakal Memorial Group is located in Bagalkot district of Karnataka state. Which was included by UNESCO in its World Heritage List in 1987. These temple groups were built by the Chalukya dynasty between the 7th century AD to the 8th century AD. The Pattadakal group of monuments includes more than 150 temples. The major temples in these group of monuments are Kadasudhesvara Temple, Jambulingeshwara Temple, Galaganatha Temple, Chandasekhar Temple etc.

16. Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)

Six hill forts of the state of Rajasthan which are kept in the form of a chain By UNESCO, It has been designated as a World Heritage Site in 2013. The six forts of the UNESCO series are Chittorgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Amer Fort, Ranthambore Fort, Jaisalmer Fort and Gagron Fort.

17. Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017)

Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat is the first city in India to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO included it in its list in 2017. Ahmedabad has been declared as a World Heritage City due to the great architecture of the people of Hindu, Islamic and Jain religions living together.

18. Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (1993)

Humayun’s Tomb is located in Nizamuddin East of Delhi near Purana Qila, established by the Mughal ruler Humayun. This tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and since then this tomb is famous all over the world. It also houses the tombs of many other princely people including Humayun’s tomb. This tomb was built in 1562 on the orders of Humayun’s widow Begum Hamida Banu Begum.

19.Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)

The city of Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan, is also known as the Pink City. This beautiful city was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the king of Amber, in 1727 with the help of an architect from Bengal, Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. It is the first city in India that was built according to Vastu Shastra. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019

20. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (2021)

The temple was built in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire. Its architect was Ramappa who worked for the temple for 40 years. Seeing the work of Ramappa, the architect of the temple, Maharaja Ganapati Dev named the temple after Ramappa as Kakatiya Rudreshwar Ramappa Temple. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2021.

21. Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)

Located in Chhatarpur province of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the Khajuraho group of monuments is known all over the world for its artwork, architectural style and history. The Khajuraho temples were built by the Chandela rulers between 970 AD and 1030 AD. Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of monuments of Hinduism and Jainism. This great group of monuments was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 1986.

22. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)

The Mahabodhi temple complex is located in Bodh Gaya in the state of Bihar. This is the same place where Mahatma Buddha attained supreme knowledge sitting under the Bodhi tree. The Mahabodhi temple complex is one of the four sacred places related to the life of Lord Buddha. The first temple at the site of the Bodhi tree was built by Emperor Ashoka. In 2002 it was given the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

23. Mountain Railways of India (1999,2005,2008)

The site consists of three railroads, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Hills Railway, and the Kalka-Shimla Railway. They were granted the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, 2005 and 2008 respectively.

24. Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)

Qutub Minar is the world’s tallest brick minaret, located in the Mehrauli part of South Delhi city in India.UNESCO has declared this tallest stone tower in India as a World Heritage in 1993. Qutb-ud-din Aibak of the Ghulam dynasty laid the foundation of the minaret in AD 1199. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311), and two mosques, including the Quwwatu’l-Islam, the oldest in northern India, built of materials reused from some 20 Brahman temples.

25. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)

Rani ki Vav is a famous stepwell located in Patan in the state of Gujarat, India. Most of the carvings on the walls and pillars of the Vav are dedicated to Lord Vishnu in various avatars like Rama, Vamana, Mahishasurmardini, Kalkiya etc. In 2014, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. Rani ki Vav (Bawdi) was built in the year 1063 in the memory of King Bhimdev I of Solanki rule by his wife Rani Udayamati.

26. Red Fort Complex (2007)

UNESCO selected this historic fort as a World Heritage Site in the year 2007. Red fort Built by the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1648, when he decided to move his capital from Agra to Delhi, The Red Fort is an important building group in Delhi, which encompasses Indian history and its arts.

27. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)

Bhimbetka  is a Palaeolithic residential site located in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The Bhimbetka site comprises seven hills: Vinayaka, Bhonravali, Bhimbetka, Lakha Juar (East and West), Jhondra and Muni Babaki Hill. The cave of Bhimbetka is situated on the southern edge of the Vindhya hills. Famous for the rock paintings and rock shelters made by humans, the oldest paintings present at this place are believed to be about 30,000 years old from today. Dr. Vishnu Sridhar Wakankar discovered it in the year 1957-1958. This site became World Heritage Site in the year 2003.

28. Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)

This grand temple is dedicated to the Sun God. This temple is built in the shape of a chariot of the Sun God. King Narasimhadeva built the Sun Temple at Konark, Orissain in the 13th century. In 1984, UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site.

29. Taj Mahal (1983)

It is a World Heritage Tomb located in the city of Agra, India. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built it in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, this grand and magnificent building was built by about 20 thousand laborers under the leadership of Mughal craftsman Ustad Ahmad Lahari. In 1983, UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site.

30. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution  to the Modern Movement

31. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)

Jantar Mantar is a historical monument located in Jaipur, which is the largest of the five astronomical observatories in India. Raja Savoi Jai Singh built it between 1724 and 1734. Jantar Mantar in Jaipur got the status of World Heritage in 2010. The number of major instruments in the observatory of Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is 14, which is helpful in knowing the activities of the solar system, such as predicting eclipses, knowing the speed and position of a star.

32. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)

In 2018, UNESCO named Mumbai’s The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble as a World Heritage Site. These public buildings include the Bombay High Court, Watson’s Hotel, the Elphinstone College, the Old Secretariat , University Library and Convention Hall,  the Public Works Department Office,  David Sasoon Library, etc.

33. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)

It is located in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. This park was declared a national park in 1999. It is home to more than 25 types of forests, 800 types of plants and more than 180 bird species. The World Heritage Committee has included the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area in the World Heritage List in 2014.