India has put forth the “Maratha Military Landscapes” as its nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024-25, according to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Culture on Monday. This selection acknowledges the historical and cultural significance of the Maratha military heritage, showcasing a diverse array of forts, citadels, and strategic military structures associated with the Maratha Empire across different regions of India.
“The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ will be India’s nomination for recognition as UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2024-25,” the ministry said.
“Maratha Military Landscapes of India” will be India’s nomination for recognition as UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2024-25
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All You Need To Know About ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’:
The Maratha Military Landscapes, comprising landmarks such as Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohagad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu, highlight the rich historical tapestry of India. These components include hill forts, coastal forts, and island forts, distributed across various geographical regions, symbolising the strategic military prowess of the Maratha rulers.
Developing between the 17th and 19th centuries, this extraordinary fortification and military system showcases the integration of landscape, terrain, and physiographic characteristics unique to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, the Deccan Plateau, and the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula.
The Maratha Military ideology, originating during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century and continuing through subsequent rules until the Peshwa rule in 1818 CE, led to the establishment of more than 390 forts in Maharashtra. However, only 12 forts have been selected under the Maratha Military Landscapes of India, with eight protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and four by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.
Nomination under the cultural criteria of UNESCO’s World Heritage List is based on three criteria:
- Criterion (iii): Bearing a unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or civilization, whether living or disappeared.
- Criterion (iv): Being an outstanding example of a building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape illustrating significant stages in human history.
- Criterion (vi): Directly or tangibly associated with events, living traditions, ideas, beliefs, or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
India currently boasts 42 World Heritage sites, with Maharashtra contributing six, including Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, and the Western Ghats. The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ of India, included in the Tentative List of World Heritage sites in 2021, marks the sixth cultural property nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List from Maharashtra.