What is a World Heritage Site?
A World Heritage Site is a place on earth having a special cultural or physical significance and
outstanding universal value to humanity.
It may be a building, a city, a complex, a desert, a forest, an island, a lake, a monument, or a
mountain.
They have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to
appreciate and enjoy.
According to the sites ranked by country, Italy is home to the greatest number of World
Heritage Sites with 51 sites, followed by China (48), Spain (44), France (41), Germany (40),
Mexico (33), and India (38).
UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in India
Sr No Name Region
1 Ajanta Caves Maharashtra
2 Ellora Caves Maharashtra
3 Agra Fort Uttar Pradesh, India
4 Taj Mahal Uttar Pradesh
,5 Sun Temple, Konârak Puri District, Odisha
6 Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Mahabalipuram
7 Kaziranga National Park Assam
8 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Assam
9 Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan
10 Churches and Convents of Goa Velha Goa (Old Goa), Goa
11 Khajuraho Group of Monuments Madhya Pradesh
12 Group of Monuments at Hampi Ballari district, Karnataka, India
13 Fatehpur Sikri Uttar Pradesh
, 14 Group of Monuments at Pattadakal Bagalkot District, Karnataka,
India
15 Elephanta Caves Maharashtra
16 Great Living Chola Temples Brihadeeswarar Temple,
Gangaikonda Cholapuram,
Tamil Nadu, India
Airavateshwarar Temple,
Darasuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Brihadeeswarar Temple,
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
17 Sundarbans National Park West Bengal
18 Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers Uttarakhand
National Parks