Dholavira gets UNESCO World Heritage Site tag; here's list of all 40 Indian sites

On Tuesday, July 27, UNESCO declared the ancient city of Dholavira, the southern center of the Harappan Civilization in India as a World Heritage Site. With this addition, India’s total number of World Heritage sites has raised to 40. Following the announcement, UNESCO had informed that Dholavira’s water management system, multi-layered defensive mechanisms, extensive use of stone in construction, and special burial structures set the ancient city apart from other cultural sites.

The UN cultural agency said in a statement, “The ancient city of Dholavira is one of the most remarkable and well-preserved urban settlements in South Asia dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE (Before Common Era)". 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to share this information and wrote, "Absolutely delighted by this news. Dholavira was an important urban center and is one of our most important linkages with our past. It is a must-visit, especially for those interested in history, culture, and archaeology". 

Earlier, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO had given India a new world heritage site in the form of the Rudreswara/Ramappa Temple in Telangana, which dates back to the 13th century.

The 40 World Heritage Sites in India

1. Dholavira, Gujarat
2. Ramappa Temple, Telangana
3. Taj Mahal, Agra
4. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
5. Hampi, Karnataka
6. Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
7. Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
8. Bodh Gaya, Bihar
9. Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha
10. Red Fort Complex, Delhi
11. Buddhist monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
12. Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu
13. Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
14. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
15. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
16. Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi
17. Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan
18. Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh
19. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka
20. Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
21. Mountain Railways of India
22. Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University), Bihar
23. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Maharashtra
24. Qutub Minar and its Monuments, New Delhi
25. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat
26. Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
27. Hill Forts of Rajasthan
28. Churches and Convents of Goa
29. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh
30. Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
31. Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
32. Rani Ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat
33. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan
34. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Uttarakhand
35. Western Ghats
36. Kanchenjunga National Park, Sikkim
37. Capitol Complex, Chandigarh
38. The Historic City of Ahmedabad
39. The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai
40. The Pink City - Jaipur

(Image credit: TWITTER/NARENDRAMODI)