Kailash Mansarovar in Tentative List of World Heritage Sites | 02 Jul 2019

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State of Culture and Tourism clarified that proposal for ‘Sacred Mountain Landscape and Heritage Routes’ (Indian side of Kailash Mansarovar) has been included in Tentative List of World Heritage Sites of India

  • It was proposed as a Mixed site in April 2019.
  • As per UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines 2017, a site must be on the tentative list of UNESCO at least for a period of one year before proposing it for final nomination.
  • Once the nomination is done, it is sent to the World Heritage Centre (WHC) by the stipulated deadline of 01 February of a calendar year.
  • Accordingly, the decision of permanent inclusion of any site in the World Heritage list is taken by the members of the World Heritage Committee.

World Heritage site

  • World Heritage site, any of various areas or objects inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
  • The sites are designated as having “outstanding universal value” under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972.
  • It provides a framework for international cooperation in preserving and protecting cultural treasures and natural areas throughout the world.
  • There are three types of sites: Cultural, Natural, and Mixed.
    • Cultural heritage sites include hundreds of historic buildings and town sites, important archaeological sites, and works of monumental sculpture or painting.
    • Natural heritage sites are restricted to those natural areas that:
      • Furnish outstanding examples of Earth’s record of life or its geologic processes
      • Provide excellent examples of ongoing ecological and biological evolutionary processes.
      • Contain natural phenomena that are rare, unique, superlative, or of outstanding beauty,
      • Furnish habitats for rare or endangered animals or plants or are sites of exceptional biodiversity.
    • Mixed heritage sites contain elements of both natural and cultural significance.
UNESCO's World Heritage of India
Tangible Heritage Intangible Cultural Heritage
Cultural Natural Mixed Indian Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
  • Taj Mahal, Agra
  • Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
  • Hampi, Karnataka
  • Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
  • Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
  • Bodh Gaya, Bihar
  • Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha
  • Red Fort Complex, Delhi
  • Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
  • Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu
  • Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
  • Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi
  • Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan
  • Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh
  • Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
  • Rani Ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat
  • Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka
  • Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
  • Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University), Bihar
  • Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Maharashtra
  • Mountain Railways of India
  • Qutub Minar and its Monuments, New Delhi
  • Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat
  • Hill Forts of Rajasthan
  • Churches and Convents of Goa
  • Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh
  • Capitol Complex, Chandigarh
  • The Historic City of Ahmedabad
  • The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai
  • Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
  • Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
  • Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan
  • Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
  • Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Uttarakhand
  • Western Ghats
  • Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
  • Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim
  • The tradition of Vedic chanting
  • Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana
  • Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre
  • Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India
  • Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
  • Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
  • Chhau dance
  • Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India
  • Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur
  • Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India
  • Yoga
  • Navroz
  • Kumbh Mela