Maratha
Military Landscapes (Forts) Find a Place on the World Stage — But the Journey
to Global Heritage Has Just Begun.
The World Heritage
Committee, in its 47th session held at Paris on 11 July 2025, approved
‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’, India’s official nomination for the year 2024-25 cycle, for inscription
in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This welcome announcement has brought cheers
across the country. This is all the more important, since this nomination was made
last year, 2024, which marks the 350th
anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who was crowned
King of the Marathas on June 6, 1674, at Raigad Fort. This event, known as
Shivrajyabhishek Day, marks the formal beginning of the Maratha Empire and is
considered a significant milestone in Indian history. It is therefore befitting
that the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’, that includes the Raigad Fort,
where Shivaji Maharaj was coroneted, has been permanently etched in the annals
of world history inscribed as World Heritage Site, 44th for India.
Maratha Military
Landscapes of India includes 12 forts: 11 from
Maharashtra and 1 from Tamil Nadu (Gingee Fort). Raigad Fort, as the capital of
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's empire, where Shivaji was coronated, is a
prominent fort in this group. The others in the group include; Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad
Even as the nation
celebrates its 44tn entry into this world’s elite list of the UNESCO World Heritage
list, yet, this proud recognition also begs a deeper question: Why has India, a
cradle of five thousand plus years of recorded Civilisation, secured relatively
fewer UNESCO World Heritage recognitions compared to its potential? This is
evidenced from the maiden speech of Mrs Sudha Murthy in the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Murty in her maiden speech at Rajya Sabha on July 2, 2024, highlighted
the need for greater recognition of India's archaeological sites and their
potential for boosting tourism. She advocated for greater attention to
promote domestic tourism and appreciate India's rich cultural heritage. She
cited examples like the Bahubali statue at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, the
Lingaraja Temple, the Unakoti rock carvings in Tripura, and the Shivaji forts
in Maharashtra (recognised this year) as worthy contenders for World Heritage
status.
Going back in history, the World Heritage Convention was adopted by
UNESCO in 1972, establishing a framework for identifying and preserving
cultural and natural sites of outstanding universal value. The World Heritage
Committee, formed by member states, meets annually to evaluate nominations from
countries and to inscribe qualifying sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The
first World Heritage Sites were inscribed in the year 1978 and the sites included
Galápagos Islands (Ecuador of Darwin fame), Yellowstone (USA), and Aachen
Cathedral (Germany), among others. India made its debut in the year 1983 with
four of its entries Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Taj Mahal, and Agra Fort made
it to this list. Since then, India has steadily added sites, reflecting its
rich cultural, historical, and natural diversity. But then as Sudha Murthy
pointed out in her maiden speech in Rajya Sabha is this pace adequate?
India has only 44 World
Heritage Sites including the Maratha Forts (added this year), which is impressive,
but modest in relation to its staggering breadth of history, architecture, and
civilisational achievements. Unfortunately, there has not been priority attached
to the World Heritage nominations from India. For decades, heritage nominations
have not been duly recognized perhaps due to poorly compiled dossiers, lack of
inter-departmental coordination, and an overall apathy toward global cultural
diplomacy. The elaborate documentation, research and comparative analysis, and
management frameworks that UNESCO demands for probable sites to be inscribed in
the World Heritage Site, were not prepared with seriousness.
Fortunately, that tide has begun to turn — notably in the past decade, ever since
there has been a discernible acceleration in India's efforts to secure heritage
recognitions. While this may be seen as a welcome awakening, it also reflects a
shift in how heritage is being positioned — increasingly as a soft power asset,
a tool of nation branding, and occasionally, as a means to score electoral
brownie points.
The recognition of the Maratha Forts is a case study in how things can be done
right when intent meets planning. The objective was to get a World Heritage
Listing inscription for the Maratha Forts to commemorate 350th year
of Coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja which has been admirably
achieved. This nomination involved deep historical research, GIS-based
documentation, careful selection of representative fort types (island,
promontory, riverine, and headland), and a cohesive narrative linking India’s
maritime past to global trade networks.
Interestingly, World
Heritage Listing of some of India’s heritage sites have become integral to all
Indians. They have been printed in ink and are circulated in pockets and wallets
across the country. One of the article published recently in CSMVS Research
Journal entitled “Banking on World Heritage” traces the fascinating history of
Indian currency notes that feature World Heritage Sites. Following the
demonetisation drive of 2016, the new series of Indian currency notes — from
₹10 to ₹2000 — began showcasing India’s World Heritage landmarks: The Konark
Sun Temple (₹10), Ellora Caves (₹20), Rani ki Vav (₹100), Sanchi Stupa (₹200),
Hampi (₹50), Red Fort (₹500), and Mangalyaan (₹2000 — a nod to technological
heritage). This interesting design was not just an aesthetic choice; it was a
subtle but powerful celebration of India’s tangible heritage.
The story doesn’t end with money. India Post, too, has long played its part in
popularizing World Heritage Sites through evocative postal stamps. In doing so,
both currency and philately have done what academic journals and policy briefs
often cannot — they have made World Heritage recognitions accessible, visible,
and even aspirational to the average citizen.
What makes the Maratha Forts Inscription in to the World Heritage List truly
significant is that it is a serial nomination — a relatively recent strategy in
UNESCO terms, where multiple sites are bundled together based on a unifying
theme, geography, or cultural thread. This enables the inscription of a
“cultural landscape” rather than isolated monuments.
This consideration also resonate with forts elsewhere in India still waiting
for global attention: the Deccan strongholds of Bidar and Golconda, the forest
forts of the Northeast, the Jain hilltop fortresses in central India. These too
deserve to be stitched into a broader narrative of India’s fort heritage — but
that will only happen if the same commitment shown in the Maratha Forts
nomination is institutionalized and scaled up.
In fact, India is a civilizationally rich country with more than 5000 years of
layered cultural heritage, and archaeological sites are being unearthed even
today across the subcontinent — each with potential for global recognition. Interestingly,
in the year 2017, to mark 70 years of India’s Independence, the London Science
Museum organised a highly successful exhibition “Illuminating India: 500 Years
of Science and Innovation” acknowledging India’s rich history and yours truly
was honoured to be the Nodal Officer for this exhibition from India. There is
therefore, a scope for many more UNESCO World Heritage listing possibilities
for India.
Take, for example,
the city of Bijapur where I studied as a cadet at Sainik School from class V to
XI. Bijapur city is home to some of the best architectural marvels, which are
astounding: the famed Gol Gumbaz inspired George Wittet, the architect who went
on to design the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in
Mumbai, where I currently serve as Advisor. Or the Ibrahim Roza, a majestic
“black beauty” of Indian architecture, which predates and even surpasses the
Taj Mahal in its delicate proportions and harmonious design. There are several
other historically significant sites and monuments from the Adil Shahi period,
which collectively can perhaps make a cut.
Bijapur is but one
of many overlooked treasure troves. There are many more such sites in India
worthy of the UNESCO World Heritage tag — if only they were documented and
proposed with the seriousness they merit. Unfortunately, no consolidated
national campaign exists to survey, research, document, and submit proposals as
per the standard UNESCO format. India has the cultural wealth, but not the
machinery to fully capitalize on global heritage recognitions. It is therefore
time that a concerted effort be made to strengthen this effort collectively. Perhaps
the Ministry of Culture should earmark dedicated funds and assign a specialized
heritage research body to undertake this task — systematically, strategically,
and sustainably.
Beyond the UNESCO
tag lies the deeper issue of how India views its heritage. Are our monuments
merely tourist attractions or living cultural assets that inform our identity,
policy, and future? Recognition on a global stage should not just be a badge of
pride — it must also trigger investments in conservation, heritage education,
and sustainable tourism that empowers local economies and safeguards the sites
from over-commercialization.
If the forts of Maharashtra — long neglected, some crumbling under the weight
of the elements — can now aspire for global protection and respect, it must
give hope to every small archaeological mound, neglected palace, or silent rock
carving in India.
We have seen our past embossed on our notes, postmarked on our letters, and now
finally recognized by the world. It is time we also inscribe it — carefully,
consciously, and collaboratively — into our future.
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