New Delhi: India has achieved another milestone in its heritage journey, with seven natural heritage sites being added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. This inclusion increases India’s tally on the list from 62 to 69 sites, showcasing the country’s rich and diverse natural legacy.
Currently, India’s tentative list includes 49 cultural, 17 natural, and 3 mixed heritage properties, highlighting its wide-ranging contributions to world heritage. Placement on the tentative list is a crucial step before a site can be officially nominated for the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Seven Newly Added Natural Heritage Sites
- Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra – Among the world’s best-preserved lava flows, located in the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, already recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Geological Heritage of St. Mary’s Island Cluster, Karnataka – Famous for its unique columnar basaltic rock formations from the Late Cretaceous period, dating back 85 million years.
- Meghalayan Age Caves, Meghalaya – Including the renowned Mawmluh Cave, the global reference point for the Meghalayan Age of the Holocene Epoch.
- Naga Hill Ophiolite, Nagaland – A rare exposure of ophiolite rocks, representing fragments of oceanic crust uplifted onto land, offering insights into tectonic processes.
- Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Hills), Andhra Pradesh – Striking red sand formations near Visakhapatnam that reveal Earth’s paleo-climatic and geomorphological history.
- Natural Heritage of Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh – Featuring the Eparchaean Unconformity and the natural rock arch Silathoranam, representing over 1.5 billion years of Earth’s geological history.
- Varkala Cliffs, Kerala – Picturesque cliffs along Kerala’s coast, exposing the Warkalli Formation (Mio-Pliocene age) with natural springs and erosional landscapes.
India’s Commitment to Global Heritage
This achievement reflects India’s commitment to conservation and global heritage recognition. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) played a pivotal role in preparing and submitting these nominations, with support from India’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO in Paris.
India recently hosted the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi (July 2024), which brought together over 2,000 delegates and experts from more than 140 countries.
The inclusion of these sites not only strengthens India’s global heritage presence but also opens new opportunities for tourism, research, and international collaboration in conservation.