India nominates 12 forts of Marathas for UNESCO World Heritage List

• India has nominated the “Maratha Military Landscapes”, for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list for 2024-25.
• It is a network of forts that showcase the strategic military powers of Maratha rule,

Key Highlights

• The 12 components of this nomination are :
  • The forts of Salher
  • Shivneri, Lohagad
  • Khanderi, Raigad
  • Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.

Extraordinary fortification

• The “Maratha Military Landscapes”, which developed between the 17th and 19th centuries.
  • Represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers.
• Eight of these are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
  • while four are protected by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.

From Shivaji’s times

• The inception of the Maratha military ideology dates back to 17th century during the reign of the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from 1670 CE
  • And continued through subsequent rules until the Peshwa rule till 1818 CE.
• The nomination is in the category of cultural property
• At present in India, there are 42 World Heritage sites out of which 34 are cultural sites, seven are natural sites and one is a mixed site.
• The “Maratha Military Landscapes” is the sixth cultural property nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List from Maharashtra
  • It had been earlier included in the Tentative List of World Heritage sites in 2021.

Prelims Takeaway

• Maratha
• World Heritage sites