🛡️ UNESCO Adds the Maratha Military Landscape to the World Heritage List—Here’s Why It Matters
Last week in Paris, UNESCO formally inscribed the “Maratha Military Landscape” on its World Heritage List, elevating 12 strategically inter‑linked forts that epitomise India’s indigenous military engineering and coastal defense prowess.
1️⃣ From Nomination to Inscription
Nomination Dossier ➜ submitted by India.
Tentative List ➜ accepted in 2023.
World Heritage Committee 2025 ➜ inscription granted, moving the sites to the Representative List.
2️⃣ The 12 Forts at a Glance
| Category | Forts |
| Hill Forts | Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Raigad, Rajgad, Gingee (Tamil Nadu) |
| Hill‑Forest Fort | Pratapgad |
| Hill‑Plateau Fort | Panhala |
| Coastal Fort | Vijaydurg |
| Island Forts | Khanderi (Underi), Suvarnadurg, Sindhudurg |
3️⃣ Why the Landscape Is Unique
360° Defence Logic: Sea‑facing bastions, concealed hill passes, and layered ramparts created an early‑modern defence network feared by European navies.
Adaptive Architecture: Laterite, basalt and lime‑mortar techniques vary across coast, plateau and forest terrains, showcasing local innovation over Mughal norms.
Naval Heritage: Island forts such as Suvarnadurg and Khanderi served as anchorages for the Maratha fleet commanded by Kanhoji Angre—India’s first blue‑water strategist.
4️⃣ Implications for India
Heritage & Tourism: Opens fresh circuits for cultural tourism along the Konkan and Sahyadri belt, driving local livelihoods.
Conservation Funding: Unlocks international expertise and UNESCO grants for both ASI‑managed and state‑managed sites.
Academic Value: Offers a living laboratory for military historians, architects and conservation technologists.
5️⃣ What to Watch Next
Integrated management plan under ASI & Govt. of Maharashtra
Capacity‑building for community guides and eco‑sensitive visitor facilities
Potential inclusion of Maratha naval artefacts in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register
Let’s celebrate and safeguard this testament to India’s strategic ingenuity—because preserving history is, in many ways, safeguarding the blueprint for future resilience.
#UNESCO #WorldHeritage #MarathaForts #MarathaMilitaryLandscape #CulturalHeritage #IndianHistory #IncredibleIndia #HeritageConservation #Sahyadri #UPSC #ArtAndCulture
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