India’s “Maratha Military Landscapes”have officially been inscribed on theUNESCO World Heritage List, marking a significant recognition of the country’shistoric defensive architectureand its unique military legacy. The announcement was made during theextended 45th session of the World Heritage Committeecurrently underway inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Comprising12 fortsspread across theSahyadri mountain ranges in Maharashtra, the Maratha Military Landscapes represent an exceptional example of 17th to 19th-century military planningunder the Maratha Empire,particularly during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. These sites includeRajgad, Shivneri, Lohagad, and Sindhudurg, and were designed usingnatural hill contours, integrated water systems, and robust architectural ingenuity suited forguerrilla warfare.
According toIndia’s Ministry of Culture, the inscription underscores the forts’cultural, strategic, and historical significance. The nomination was first submitted by theArchaeological Survey of India (ASI)and supported by detailed documentation highlighting the adaptive use of terrain andindigenous engineering techniques. The ministry emphasized that the recognition will helppreserve and promoteIndia’s rich heritage on the global stage.
Officials involved in the process praised thecommunity stewardshipandcontinued conservationat many of the forts, which still holddeep cultural resonance in Maharashtra.TheUNESCO committee notedthe forts’ outstanding universal value, describing them as rare examples of amilitary landscape deeply rooted in local topography, resisting conventionalEuropean-style fortifications.
Experts say the inscription brings not just international prestige, but also the potential forincreased heritage tourism, economic opportunities forlocal communities, and more robust frameworks forconservation funding. The success is seen as a result of India’s recent efforts to elevateregional heritage narrativesto international platforms. This is the41st UNESCO World Heritage Site in India, reaffirming the country’s standing as one of the world’smost culturally diverseand historically layered nations. Heritage advocates hope the momentum will inspirefurther nominationsfrom underrepresented regions and periods of Indian history, ensuring thatshared cultural assetsare protected forfuture generations.
