THESE Historical Sites of M.P Added To UNESCO’s Tentative Heritage List: Check Details

Ashokan edict sites, Chausath Yogini temples, Gupta period temples,  Bundela palace fortresses.

Synopsis

Madhya Pradesh takes pride as four historic sites enter UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list. These include Ashokan edict sites with ancient inscriptions, Chausath Yogini temples known for spiritual significance, Gupta period temples showcasing early Indian architecture, and Bundela palace fortresses blending Rajput-Mughal styles. 

Four Old Places in Madhya Pradesh Now on UNESCO’s Special List

Key Highlights

• Ashokan Edict Sites: A long time ago, there was a great king named Ashoka. He loved peace and kindness. He wrote inspiring notes on big rocks and pillars to teach people to be good. You can still see these writings in Madhya Pradesh!

• Chausath Yogini Temples: The name CHAUSATH means 64 because there are 64 statues of powerful goddess forms inside. The temples look magical and are round

• Gupta Period Temples were built when the Gupta kings ruled India. They are very special as they tell stories from old times and show beautiful carvings of gods.

• Bundela Palace Fortresses: A brave royal family called the Bundelas built big forts and palaces. These places had high walls, secret paths, and beautiful rooms. Kings and queens lived here long ago!

Great Pride for Madhya Pradesh! Four Old Places in Now on UNESCO’s Special List

Four very old and special places in Madhya Pradesh are now on UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)  tentative list of World Heritage Sites. These places are: Ashokan edict sites, Chausath Yogini temples, Gupta period temples, and the Bundela palace fortresses.

Elevating its pride, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said this is a very happy and proud moment for Madhya Pradesh. He said these places show how special and old our history is.

The Ashokan edict sites have messages written on big rocks and pillars by Emperor Ashoka more than 2,200 years ago. These messages talk about Buddhism, good rules, and kindness.

900 to 1,200 years ago, the Chausath Yogini temples were made. They are round and open from the top. Keeping beautiful stone carvings and they are high in spiritual traditions. These temples are in Khajuraho,  Jabalpur, Morena, Mandsaur, Shahdol, and some other places.

The Gupta period temples were made a very long time ago and show how temple-making changed in India. These temples mix Buddhist and Hindu styles and have tall temple towers with beautiful carvings. Some of these temples are in Sanchi, Udaigiri, Nachna, Tigawa, Bhumara, Sakor, Deori, and Pawaya.

The Bundela palace fortresses were built by the Bundela kings. Some of these big palaces are Garhkundar, Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Datia Palace, and Dhubela Palace. These places show how the Rajput and Mughal styles were mixed. They were made to look beautiful and strong at the same time.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India - Timeline

• In 2023 September, the Hoysala Temples in Karnataka were added to the World Heritage list of UNESCO.
• Same as in September 2023, Santiniketan in West Bengal was added to a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• On 2021 July 27,  an ancient Harappan city in Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch, DHOLAVIRA became India’s 40th World Heritage Site of UNESCO. 
• On 2011 July 25,  in Telangana,   Ramappa Temple, known as Rudreswara Temple was added to the list.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India:

 

In 2023, two places got this name:

 

1. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas, Karnataka
2. Santiniketan (West Bengal)

 

In 2021, two more places were added:

 

1. Dholavira, Gujarat
2. Ramappa Temple, Telangana

 

In 2020, Jaipur City, Rajasthan, was added.

 

In 2017, Ahmedabad City, Gujarat was added.

 

In 2016, two places were added

1. Le Corbusier’s Buildings, Chandigarh
2. Nalanda University, Bihar

Some very old places were also named as World Heritage Sites:

• Taj Mahal in 1983
• Agra Fort in 1983
• Ajanta Caves in 1983
• Ellora Caves in 1983
• Sun Temple, Odisha, in 1984
• Khajuraho Temples in 1986
• Hampi Monuments in 1986
• Mahabalipuram Monuments in 1984
• Fatehpur Sikri in 1986 

Names of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India are as follows:-

• Agra Fort
• Ajanta Caves
• Nalanda Mahavihara
• Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
• Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
• Churches and Convents of Goa
• Elephanta Caves
• Ellora Caves
• Fatehpur Sikri
• Great Living Chola Temples
• Group of Monuments at Hampi
• Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
• Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
• Hill Forts of Rajasthan
• Historic City of Ahmedabad
• Humayun’s Tomb
• Jaipur City
• Khajuraho Temples
• Mahabodhi Temple Complex
• Mountain Railways of India
• Qutb Minar and its Monuments
• Rani-ki-Vav (Queen’s Stepwell)
• Red Fort Complex
• Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
• Sun Temple, Konark
• Taj Mahal
• The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier
• The Jantar Mantar
• Great Himalayan National Park
• Kaziranga National Park
• Keoladeo National Park
• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
• Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Parks
• Sundarbans National Park
• Western Ghats
• Khangchendzonga National Park
• Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple
• Dholavira
• Santiniketan
• Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas

FAQs  related to UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India  

Q1: Which new place in India is very, very special?

A place called Dholavira in Gujarat is now on a super special list! It is from a very, very old time called the Indus Valley Civilization. It got this special title in July 2021 

Q2: How many super special places are there in India in 2024?

• There are 42 special places in India 
• 34 are made by people (like big forts and temples)
• 7 are nature’s magic (like big forests and mountains)
• 1 is a mix of both

 Q3: What are India’s special traditions and fun things?

 India has more than 100 special traditions. 

UNESCO picked 13 of them as extra special. These are things like dances, songs, and festivals that make India unique!

 Q4: Which was the first place in India to get this special title?

 The Agra Fort was the first! It is also called Laal Quila (Red Fort). It became special in 1983. It is very close to the Taj Mahal!

 Q5: Which country has the most special places?

 The countries China and Italy have the most special places! They both have 55 of them.

 Q6: Which state in India has the most special places?

The state of Maharashtra has the most.

It has 5 special places like:

• Ajanta Caves
• Ellora Caves
• Elephanta Caves
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
• Victorian and Art Deco buildings in Mumbai

The UNESCO World Heritage Site keeps its uniqueness in the world. Whether it is a building, a forest, a mountain, or something very old and important. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a big group that helps take care of these places so people can enjoy them forever. In 1972, it made an ongoing effort from time to time to protect these special places and keep them safe.