All of them together took up the task of preserving important cultural buildings located in different countries for future generations and named their organization UNESCO. Let us tell you that about 10,000 members from more than 150 countries around the world are part of it. World Heritage Day to be celebrated on 18th April was declared in 1982 and was recognized by the UNESCO General Assembly only a year later in 1983 to raise awareness among people about the importance of cultural heritage and to promote the heritage of peoples. Your responsibilities were gone. The first World Heritage Day was celebrated in Tunisia on 18 April in 1982 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites. The three lists of World Heritage Sites included by UNESCO are as follows: 1. Natural Heritage Sites, 2. Cultural Heritage Sites, 3. Mixed Heritage Sites. UNESCO has included 1157 sites around the world as World Heritage Sites by the year 2023. These places have been given World Heritage status by UNESCO. Among all these sites, there are 900 cultural sites, 218 natural sites and 39 mixed sites. The above types of heritage sites have been listed by UNESCO in various countries. Italy has the highest number of 58 World Heritage Sites in the world. Apart from this, 56 such places in China, 49 in Spain, 41 in France, 51 in Germany, 35 in Mexico and 40 in India have been included in the World Heritage List. These include 32 cultural sites and 7 natural sites. India has got centuries old heritage of spiritual life philosophy, literature, fine arts, culture, language etc. Indian philosophy, spirituality, religious tolerance, unity in diversity and historical heritage are some of the unique legacies of our country of which every Indian is proud.
Today, people following all religions like Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Jew live in India. The Constitution of India has also adopted the idea of secularism by keeping the nation separate from religion. There are 40 such buildings, caves, cities and places in our country which have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage. There are a total of 40 World Heritage Sites in India in 2023.
On July 27, 2021, Dholavira, the famous site of the Indus Valley Civilization located in Gujarat, was declared the 40th World Heritage Site of India. Agra Fort, Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Maharashtra (1983), Taj Mahal, Mahabalipuram Sun Temple, Churches and Convents of Konark Goa, Fatehpur Sikri, Hampi Group of Monuments at Khujraho, Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra (1987), Great Chola temples, Tamil Nadu (1987), Pattadakal, Karnataka (1987), Buddhist monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh (1989), Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993), Qutub Minar and its monuments, Delhi, Hill Railway of India (Darjeeling/ Nilgiris/Shimla), West Bengal/Tamil Nadu/Himachal Pradesh, Mahabodhi, Bodhgaya Temple Complex in Bihar, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh, Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007), Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Hill Forts of Rajasthan, Rani Ki Vav, Patan Nalanda, Architecture by Le Corbusier Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Victorian Gothic and Art Deco, Jaipur, Kakatiya Rudreshwar (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (2021) ), Dholavira: Harappan city, Gujarat (2021). Natural sites are – Kaziranga National Park, Assam (1985), Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan (1985), Manus Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam (1985), Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand (1988), Sundarban National Park, West Bengal (1987), Western Ghats, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala (2012), Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh (2014). Mixed sites are: Khangendjoga (Kanchenjunga) National Park, Sikkim (2016).
Many important places associated with history are part of India's heritage such as Nalanda, Rajgir, Bodhgaya and Vaishali places associated with Gautam Buddha. Similarly, all the historical places of India like Kurukshetra, Mathura, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Haridwar, Sarnath, Ayodhya, Khujraho, Sanchi, Ajanta, Ellora, Puri etc. are the capital of our heritage. Millions of foreign tourists come to India to see the religious and historical sites of India. Mughal architecture and fine arts have their own unique identity in the world, which include Taj Mahal of Agra, Red Fort of Delhi, Qutub Minar etc. Many government schemes are working at important places like Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra, Nalanda in Bihar and Puri in Odisha. The revival of India's spiritual city of Kashi is a milestone in preserving India's heritage. Preservation of cultural monuments serves as an inspiration for future generations.