India has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites β 6th most in the world, 3rd in Asia.
Showing 42 of 42 sites
Uttar Pradesh
Mughal fortress on the Yamuna; seat of the Mughal Empire under Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Built of red sandstone. Akbar began construction in 1565. Contains Jahangir's Palace, Khas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, and Diwan-i-Khas.
Maharashtra
30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments (2nd century BCEβ5th century CE). Famous for murals and paintings depicting Jataka tales and life of the Buddha. Located in Aurangabad district.
100 caves (34 accessible) representing Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religions (600β1000 CE). The Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), carved from a single rock, is the largest monolithic rock excavation in the world. Located near Aurangabad.
White marble mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal (died 1631). Construction: 1632β1653. Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahori. One of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Tamil Nadu
Pallava dynasty (7thβ8th c CE) stone temples, rathas, mandapas, and bas-reliefs. The Shore Temple is the only structural temple. The Pancha Rathas (5 chariots) are monolithic. Arjuna's Penance is one of the world's largest bas-reliefs (27m Γ 9m).
Odisha
13th-century temple dedicated to the sun god Surya, built by King Narasimhadeva I. Shaped like a giant chariot with 24 intricately carved wheels (sundials), pulled by 7 horses. Called "Black Pagoda" by sailors.
Assam
Home to two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinoceroses. Also has large populations of elephants, water buffaloes, and tigers. Situated on the floodplains of the Brahmaputra.
Rajasthan
Former duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Bharatpur. Now a premier bird sanctuary with 370+ bird species. Major wintering site for migratory birds including Siberian Crane (now rare). Also called Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
Biosphere reserve, elephant reserve, and Tiger Reserve. Home to many rare and endangered species including Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur, and pygmy hog. Located on India-Bhutan border. On the Manas River.
Goa
Illustrates the evangelization of Asia. Includes Basilica of Bom Jesus (contains relics of St. Francis Xavier), Se Cathedral (largest church in Asia), and Church of St. Cajetan. All in Old Goa (Velha Goa).
Mughal Emperor Akbar's capital city (1571β1585), abandoned due to water scarcity. Contains Buland Darwaza (highest gateway in India, 54m), Jama Masjid, Panch Mahal, Ibadat Khana (house of worship for interfaith dialogue), and Tomb of Salim Chishti.
Karnataka
Capital of the Vijayanagara Empire (14thβ16th c). Contains 1,600+ surviving remains β temples, palaces, stables, watchtowers. Famous for Vittala Temple with its musical pillars and stone chariot. Tungabhadra River flows nearby.
Madhya Pradesh
Built by the Chandela dynasty (950β1050 CE). Originally 85 temples, only 25 remain. Famous for erotic sculptures on the outer walls β believed to ward off lightning or depict Tantra philosophy. Western group (UNESCO protected) includes Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.
Rock-cut cave temples on Elephanta Island (Gharapuri) in Mumbai Harbour. Mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva. The famous Trimurti (3-faced Shiva sculpture, 6m tall) is the central attraction. Portuguese named the island after a large stone elephant found there.
Three Chola dynasty temples: Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur (11th c, by Raja Raja Chola I), Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram (by Rajendra Chola I), and Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. Still active places of worship.
Chalukya dynasty temples (7thβ8th c CE). Combines North Indian (Nagara) and South Indian (Dravida) temple architecture styles. Virupaksha Temple is the largest. UNESCO selected it as a "synthesis of architectural forms from northern and southern India."
West Bengal
World's largest mangrove forest (10,000 sq km). Home to the Royal Bengal Tiger (known for swimming). At the delta of Ganga and Brahmaputra. Also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Shared with Bangladesh.
Uttarakhand
Nanda Devi National Park (around India's 2nd highest peak, Nanda Devi, 7,816m) and Valley of Flowers (UNESCO added 2005) β alpine meadow with 300+ Himalayan flower species. UNESCO extended in 2005.
Emperor Ashoka built the original stupa at Sanchi in the 3rd century BCE. Stupa 1 (Great Stupa) contains relics of the Buddha. Famous for 4 elaborately carved gateways (Toranas). Sanchi was a major Buddhist pilgrimage site.
Delhi
First garden-tomb (char bagh style) in India. Built in 1570 by Hamida Banu Begum for Humayun (Mughal Emperor). Inspired the design of the Taj Mahal. Contains tombs of several Mughal rulers. Designed by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas.
Qutb Minar (72.5m tall) is the world's tallest brick minaret. Built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak (begun 1193) and completed by Iltutmish. Complex includes Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque (first mosque in India), Iron Pillar (4thβ5th c CE, 99.7% pure iron, non-rusting for 1,600+ years).
Multiple States
Three narrow-gauge mountain railways: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1881, West Bengal), Nilgiri Mountain Railway (1908, Tamil Nadu), and Kalka-Shimla Railway (1903, Himachal Pradesh). UNESCO added Darjeeling (1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka-Shimla (2008).
Bihar
The place where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. The current temple dates to 5thβ6th c CE. The Bodhi Tree is a direct descendant of the original tree. One of four most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
Rock shelters showing the earliest traces of human life in India (100,000 BCE). Contains over 700 shelters with prehistoric cave paintings depicting hunts, dances, music, and animals. Paintings span from the Stone Age to early historic period. Near Bhopal, MP.
Victorian Gothic railway station (formerly Victoria Terminus) built in 1887 for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Designed by British architect F.W. Stevens. Still the busiest railway station in Asia. Blends Victorian and Indian architectural elements.
Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648. Main residence of Mughal Emperors for 200 years. Red sandstone walls, 2.4 km long. India's Prime Minister hoists the national flag here every Independence Day (15 August).
Astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur (1727β1734). Contains the world's largest stone sundial (Samrat Yantra, 27m high β accurate to 2 seconds). 19 geometric instruments. India's only UNESCO astronomical heritage site.
Karnataka/Kerala/Maharashtra/Tamil Nadu/Goa
Mountain range running 1,600 km along western India. One of the world's 8 "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity. Contains over 5,000 plant species, 139 mammals, 508 birds, 179 amphibians. Covers 6 states. Older than the Himalayas.
Six majestic hill forts: Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Gagron, Amer, and Jaisalmer. Represent Rajput military and palace architecture. Chittorgarh is the largest fort in India.
Gujarat
Stepwell built in 11th century CE by Queen Udayamati (widow of Solanki King Bhimdev I) at Patan, Gujarat. Has 7 levels of stairs with over 500 sculptures. Submerged for centuries under Saraswati river silt; excavated in 1940s. Image on βΉ100 note.
Himachal Pradesh
Home to over 375 fauna species (including snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, blue sheep). Rich alpine biodiversity. Located in Kullu district. UNESCO designated in 2014.
Site of Nalanda University β the world's first residential university (5thβ12th century CE). Attracted scholars from China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193. UNESCO 2016.
Sikkim
India's first and only "Mixed" UNESCO World Heritage Site (both cultural and natural significance). Contains Mt. Khangchendzonga (8,586m) β 3rd highest peak in the world. Sacred in Sikkimese and Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1411 CE. India's FIRST CITY to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Features walled city with traditional wooden pols (residential clusters), mosques, temples, and stepwells.
Two urban ensembles: Victorian precinct (Oval Maidan area with Bombay High Court, University of Mumbai, State Library) and Art Deco precinct along Marine Drive. Exceptional blend of Victorian and Indian styles, followed by Art Deco movement (1930sβ40s).
Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh II. India's first planned city. Famous "Pink City" β painted pink in 1876 to welcome Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). Grid-pattern streets divided into rectangular blocks. Contains Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar.
One of the five largest Harappan cities and the largest in India. Located on Khadir Island in the Rann of Kutch. Inhabited for 1,500 years (3rd millennium BCE). Famous for sophisticated water conservation system and a "signboard" (10 large signs β possibly the world's first signboard).
Telangana
Built between 1213 and 1239 CE under the Kakatiya dynasty (Ganapati Deva). Dedicated to Lord Shiva. Called Ramappa after the chief sculptor Ramappa. Uses "floating bricks" (lightweight bricks that float on water). Named Ramappa by PM Modi during UNESCO submission.
Three Hoysala temples: Belur (Chennakeshava Temple, 1117 CE), Halebid (Hoysaleshwara Temple, 12th c), and Somnathpura (Keshava Temple, 1268 CE). Famous for intricate soapstone (schist) sculptures. Hoysala style: star-shaped platforms, detailed friezes.
Founded by Rabindranath Tagore as an experimental school in 1901. Brahmacharya ashram became Visva-Bharati University in 1921 (now a central university). UNESCO site recognises it as "an outstanding example of new architecture and educational philosophy."
Burial mounds (moidams) of the Ahom kings in Charaideo district, Assam. The Ahom kingdom ruled Assam for 600 years (1228β1826). Moidams contain burial chambers with items for afterlife. India's 43rd UNESCO site (2024).
Maharashtra / Tamil Nadu
A serial nomination of 12 Maratha-era hill forts spanning Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, recognised for their outstanding Maratha military architecture and strategic use of terrain. Key forts: Raigad (Shivaji's capital), Rajgad (Shivaji's first capital), Pratapgad (site of Afzal Khan battle), Shivneri (Shivaji's birthplace), Panhala, Lohagad, Khanderi, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Salher, and Gingee Fort (Tamil Nadu). Inscribed at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Sofia, Bulgaria (JulyβAugust 2025).