India Proposes ‘Maratha Military Landscape’ for UNESCO Recognition

In a recent development, the Ministry of Culture has formally proposed the inclusion of the ‘Maratha Military Landscape’ in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle. This nomination encompasses a comprehensive submission of 12 components, which includes renowned forts like Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohagad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijay Durg, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.

This initiative is a continuation of India’s efforts to secure UNESCO recognition for significant cultural and historical sites. The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ hold historical significance, showcasing the strategic military prowess of the Maratha rule during the 17th to 19th centuries.

Included in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2021, this nomination represents a unique cultural property. The selected forts, chosen from over 390 forts in Maharashtra, display a diversity of hierarchies, scales, and typological features. Notably, eight of these forts are under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), emphasizing their historical importance.

The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ cover various categories of forts, such as hill forts like Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohagad, Raigad, Rajgad, and Gingee fort, a hill-forest fort like Pratapgad, a hill-plateau fort like Panhala, a coastal fort like Vijaydurg, and island forts like Khanderi fort, Suvarnadurg, and Sindhudurg.

The military ideology of the Marathas traces its roots back to the 17th century during the reign of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1670. This ideology continued through subsequent rules until Peshwa rule until 1818. The nominated landscape aligns with three UNESCO criteria, highlighting its exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition, its outstanding example of architectural and historical ensembles, and its direct association with events, traditions, and beliefs of universal significance.

India, with its rich cultural heritage, currently boasts 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, comprising 34 cultural sites, seven natural sites, and one mixed site. Maharashtra, in particular, has six recognized sites, including Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, and the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

The proposal for the ‘Maratha Military Landscape’ underscores India’s commitment to preserving and promoting its cultural and historical legacy. If included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, it will contribute to global acknowledgment and appreciation of India’s diverse and significant heritage. The decision is eagerly awaited, and success in this nomination would further enhance India’s standing in the realm of world heritage conservation.