Maratha Military Landscape: India’s 44th UNESCO World Heritage Site and Its Strategic Cultural Legacy

Relevance: GS I History

With the Maratha Military Landscape being added as the 44th item to the UNESCO World Heritage List, India’s rich cultural legacy has once again gained international recognition. These twelve forts, which are spread throughout Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, are a combination of 17th- to 19th-century architectural genius, military inventiveness, and local adaptation. Their inclusion is predicated on showcasing technological innovation, historical continuity, and living cultural traditions in military architecture. 

India’s 44th UNESCO World Heritage Site

They are included because they exhibit a vibrant cultural tradition, have distinctive technology and architecture, and have close ties to significant historical occurrences and customs.

• They have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as India’s 44th site.
• The Archaeological Survey of India is the primary agency for all World Heritage-related issues in the nation; it ranks second in the Asia Pacific Region and sixth internationally in terms of the number of World Heritage Sites.

About the Maratha Military Environment 

The network of twelve forts is an example of innovative architecture, strategic military vision, and regional adaptation.

• These forts demonstrate both strategic defense planning and a grasp of topography.
• Throughout Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra states. The places that were chosen include Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu and Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. They are spread across a variety of different terrains, from mountaintop fortresses to coastal outposts.

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Selection Criteria for World Heritage Sites: In order to be listed on the World Heritage List, a site must meet at least one of ten selection criteria and have exceptional universal importance.

• Only nations that have ratified the World Heritage Convention are eligible to nominate locations on their soil for inclusion.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) independently assess the proposed location. The World Heritage Committee, of which India is a member from 2021 to 2025, makes the final decision for its inscription.

Mains:

Question: The inclusion of the Maratha Military Landscape in the UNESCO World Heritage List reflects the global recognition of India’s regional architectural and cultural diversity. Discuss the significance of this inclusion in the context of India’s cultural diplomacy and conservation of military heritage.

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MCQs

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Question: With reference to the Maratha Military Landscape, recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, consider the following statements:

1. It consists of a network of twelve forts located across the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
2. The forts demonstrate a combination of strategic military planning, technological innovation, and adaptation to diverse geographical terrains.
3. The inclusion of these forts was based on showcasing living cultural traditions and historical continuity in military architecture.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

MCQs PYQs

Question: Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO:

1. Shantiniketan
2. Rani-ki-Vav
3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023?

a. Only one

b. Only two

c. Only three

d. All four

Answer. b

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