India Nominates Maratha Military Landscapes for UNESCO World Heritage

India has put forward the Maratha Military Landscapes, showcasing the remarkable fortification and military system of the Maratha rulers, as its nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle.

The Ministry of Culture announced that Maratha Military Landscapes, representing the extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers, will be India's nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle. This nomination showcases the strategic military prowess of the Maratha rule and encompasses twelve components distributed across diverse geographical and physiographic regions.

Components of the Nomination

The twelve components of the Maratha Military Landscapes nomination include Salher fort, Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Khanderi fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijay durg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee fort in Tamil Nadu. These forts, varying in hierarchies, scales, and typological features, are a result of integrating the landscape, terrain, and physiographic characteristics distinctive to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau, and the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula.

Historical Significance

The Maratha Military Landscapes of India developed between the 17th and 19th centuries and represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers. The inception of the Maratha military ideology dates back to the 17th century during the reign of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and continued through subsequent rules until Peshwa rule till 1818.

Protection and Management

Out of the more than 390 forts in Maharashtra, only 12 forts are selected under the Maratha Military Landscapes of India. Eight of these forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), including Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, and Gingee fort. The remaining four forts, Salher fort, Rajgad, Khanderi fort, and Pratapgarh, are protected by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.

Nomination Criteria

The Maratha Military Landscapes nomination falls under the category of cultural property. It is nominated under criterion iii, which recognizes unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or civilization, criterion iv, which highlights outstanding examples of architectural or technological ensembles that illustrate significant stages in human history, and criterion vi, which associates the landscapes with events, living traditions, ideas, beliefs, or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

With this nomination, India aims to showcase the exceptional military architecture and strategic prowess of the Maratha rulers. The Maratha Military Landscapes of India, with its diverse components and rich historical significance, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the Maratha civilization. Its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List will not only recognize its global importance but also contribute to the preservation and promotion of this remarkable cultural heritage.