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UNESCO World Heritage Sites of India

All 44 sites — 36 Cultural · 7 Natural · 1 Mixed — with state, year inscribed, and exam notes. Updated to July 2025 (44th site: Maratha Military Landscapes).

Current count: 44 sites (as of July 2025). India is ranked 6th globally by total WHS count. Breakdown: 36 Cultural + 7 Natural + 1 Mixed. The 44th site — Maratha Military Landscapes of India — was inscribed at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris (11 July 2025).

📌 Key Facts at a Glance

FactDetail
Total sites44 (as of July 2025)
Cultural sites36
Natural sites7
Mixed sites1 — Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim (2016) — India's only mixed WHS
Global rank6th in the world by total site count
First sites (1983)Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Agra Fort, Taj Mahal — all four inscribed at the same 1983 WHC session
43rd site (2024)Moidams — Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty, Assam
44th site (2025)Maratha Military Landscapes of India (Maharashtra + Gingee Fort, Tamil Nadu) — 12 forts total
First World Heritage CityHistoric City of Ahmedabad, Gujarat (2017)
Tentative List60+ sites on India's tentative list

🏛️ Cultural World Heritage Sites (36)

# Site State Year
1Ajanta CavesMaharashtra1983
2Ellora CavesMaharashtra1983
3Agra FortUttar Pradesh1983
4Taj MahalUttar Pradesh1983
5Sun Temple, KonarkOdisha1984
6Group of Monuments at MahabalipuramTamil Nadu1984
7Churches and Convents of GoaGoa1986
8Fatehpur SikriUttar Pradesh1986
9HampiKarnataka1986
10Khajuraho Group of MonumentsMadhya Pradesh1986
11Elephanta CavesMaharashtra1987
12Great Living Chola TemplesTamil Nadu1987
13Pattadakal MonumentsKarnataka1987
14Buddhist Monuments at SanchiMadhya Pradesh1989
15Humayun's TombDelhi1993
16Qutb Minar and its MonumentsDelhi1993
17Mountain Railways of IndiaWest Bengal / Tamil Nadu / Himachal Pradesh1999
18Mahabodhi Temple Complex, Bodh GayaBihar2002
19Rock Shelters of BhimbetkaMadhya Pradesh2003
20Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)Maharashtra2004
21Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological ParkGujarat2004
22Red Fort ComplexDelhi2007
23Jantar Mantar, JaipurRajasthan2010
24Hill Forts of RajasthanRajasthan2013
25Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen's Stepwell), PatanGujarat2014
26Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University)Bihar2016
27The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Chandigarh Capitol Complex)Chandigarh (UT)2016
28Historic City of AhmedabadGujarat2017
29Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of MumbaiMaharashtra2018
30Jaipur City, RajasthanRajasthan2019
31Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) TempleTelangana2021
32Dholavira: a Harappan CityGujarat2021
33SantiniketanWest Bengal2023
34Sacred Ensembles of the HoysalasKarnataka2023
35Moidams — Mound-Burial System of the Ahom DynastyAssam2024 (43rd site)
36Maratha Military Landscapes of IndiaMaharashtra + Tamil Nadu (Gingee Fort)2025 (44th site)

🌿 Natural World Heritage Sites (7)

#SiteStateYearKey Note
1Kaziranga National ParkAssam1985Greater one-horned rhinoceros; also has tigers and elephants
2Keoladeo National ParkRajasthan1985Bird sanctuary; also a Ramsar site
3Manas Wildlife SanctuaryAssam1985Listed as Endangered WHS (1992–2011); delisted after recovery
4Sundarbans National ParkWest Bengal1987World's largest mangrove forest; Bengal tiger habitat; also Ramsar site
5Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National ParksUttarakhand1988Biosphere Reserve; extended in 2005 to include Valley of Flowers
6Western GhatsMaharashtra / Goa / Karnataka / Kerala / Tamil Nadu2012Biodiversity hotspot; 39 separate sites inscribed as one serial nomination
7Great Himalayan National ParkHimachal Pradesh2014Habitat of snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear; source of 4 rivers

🏔️ Mixed World Heritage Site (1)

SiteStateYearKey Note
Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim 2016 India's only Mixed WHS — inscribed under both natural and cultural criteria. Contains Mt. Khangchendzonga (3rd highest peak in world; 8,586 m). Also a Biosphere Reserve. Sacred to the Sikkimese people.

🗺️ State-wise Count (Top States)

State / UTCountSites
Maharashtra7Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, CSMT, Champaner (partial), Victorian Gothic Mumbai, Maratha Military Landscapes (partial)
Gujarat5Champaner-Pavagadh, Rani-ki-Vav, Ahmedabad (Historic City), Dholavira, Champaner (partial with Maharashtra)
Uttar Pradesh4Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Bodh Gaya (Bihar — correction: Bodh Gaya is Bihar)
Delhi3Humayun's Tomb, Qutb Minar, Red Fort
Rajasthan3Keoladeo NP, Jantar Mantar Jaipur, Hill Forts of Rajasthan, Jaipur City
Karnataka4Hampi, Pattadakal, Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas, Western Ghats (partial)
Madhya Pradesh3Khajuraho, Sanchi, Bhimbetka
Assam3Kaziranga NP, Manas WLS, Moidams
Tamil Nadu3Mahabalipuram, Great Chola Temples, Maratha Military Landscapes (Gingee Fort)

⚠️ Exam Traps

TrapCorrect Answer
Total UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India? 44 (as of July 2025). Answer was 40 before 2021; 42 before 2023; 43 before 2025. Always use the latest count.
First WHS from India? There were 4 simultaneous first inscriptions in 1983: Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Agra Fort, and Taj Mahal — all at the 7th session of WHC.
India's only Mixed World Heritage Site? Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim (2016) — inscribed under both cultural and natural criteria.
India's first UNESCO World Heritage City? Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017) — first Indian city inscribed as a whole.
Which state has the most WHS? Maharashtra — with 7 sites including Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, CSMT, Victorian Gothic Mumbai, Maratha Military Landscapes, and partial share of others.
Is the Taj Mahal a Natural or Cultural WHS? Cultural (1983). A common trick question — all Mughal monuments are Cultural, not Natural.
Dholavira was inscribed in which year? 2021 (27 July 2021, 44th session of WHC) — some older sources incorrectly cite 2020.
What are the Maratha Military Landscapes? 12 forts: 11 in Maharashtra (including Raigad, Shivneri, Rajgad, Pratapgad, etc.) + Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu — inscribed 11 July 2025 as India's 44th WHS.