India Adds 5 More Heritage Sites To UNESCO Tentative List, Taking Total To 78

India has added five new heritage sites to the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage, expanding the country’s list to 78 sites and bringing a diverse mix of ancient architecture, Buddhist art, regional history and the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi into the spotlight.

The latest additions include Udaigiri Caves, Bagh Cave Paintings, Ginnorgarh, the Group of Temples of the Chambal Valley and a proposed India-South Africa transnational nomination titled Sites of Satyagraha, according to the Ministry of Culture.

The Udaigiri Caves in Madhya Pradesh comprise a rock-cut sacred complex developed mainly under Gupta patronage between the late fourth and early fifth centuries. The site has 20 excavated caves, sculptures, inscriptions, pathways and other features that together form an integrated ritual landscape.

The Bagh Caves, located along the Baghni river in western Madhya Pradesh, are a group of nine Buddhist rock-cut caves known particularly for their mural paintings. Their location on sandstone amid an otherwise predominantly basaltic landscape played an important role in shaping the caves and influencing the preservation of their artwork.

Also included is Ginnorgarh Fort, which served as the principal fortified capital of the erstwhile Raj Gond rulers in central India. The Group of Temples of the Chambal Valley covers the Bateshwar, Padavali and Kakarmath temple complexes.

The fifth addition is particularly significant for its international scope. The proposed Sites of Satyagraha nomination traces the evolution of Gandhi’s philosophy from its beginnings in South Africa to its development into a mass movement in India.

The proposed serial transnational property comprises nine components — two in South Africa and seven in India. They include Pietermaritzburg Station and Phoenix Settlement in South Africa, and the Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha Smarak, Sabarmati Ashram, Mani Bhavan, Harijan Sevak Sangh, Sevagram Ashram, Aga Khan Palace and Gandhi Smriti in India.

UNESCO’s Tentative List is an important preliminary stage: a site generally needs to be included on it before a country can pursue its nomination for the World Heritage List.