The Nalanda University ruins have been declared as the world heritage site by the UNESCO on Friday during its ongoing 40th session held in Turkey.
The ancient university in Patliputra (Patna) comprises the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution from the third century BC to the 13th century CE. It includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and important art works in stone and metal. “It is the most ancient university of the Indian subcontinent. Nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the Indian Subcontinent,” UNESCO said.
Besides Nalanda, Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (China) The Persian Qanat (Iran) and Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Federated States of Micronesia) are among other inscribed sites.
Here’s a list of other world heritage sites in India:
Agra Fort (1983)
Ajanta Caves (1983)
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)
Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
Elephanta Caves (1987)
Ellora Caves (1983)
Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
Great Living Chola Temples (1987)
Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)
Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)
Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
Mountain Railways of India (1999)
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
Red Fort Complex (2007)
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
Sun Temple, Konârak (1984)
Taj Mahal (1983)
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)
Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)
Kaziranga National Park (1985)
Keoladeo National Park (1985)
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988)
Sundarbans National Park (1987)
Western Ghats (2012)
To be included on the world heritage list, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. India has several cultural and natural sites on the tentative list.
Here are the sites which are under the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites:
Temples at Bishnupur, West Bengal (1998)
Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala (1998)
Group of Monuments at Mandu, Madhya Pradesh (1998)
Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (1998)
Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab (2004)
River Island of Majuli in midstream of Brahmaputra River in Assam (2004)
Namdapha National Park (2006)
Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch (2006)
Kangchendzonga National Park (2006)
Urban and Architectural Work of Le Corbusier in Chandigarh (2006)
Excavated Remains at Nalanda (2009)
Bhitarkanika Conservation Area (2009)
Neora Valley National Park (2009)
Desert National Park (2009)
Silk Road Sites in India (2010)
Santiniketan (2010)
The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar (2010)
Mughal Gardens in Kashmir (2010)
Historic city of Ahmadabad (2011)
The Victorian & Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (2012)
Delhi - A Heritage City (2012)
Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate (2014)
Cellular Jail, Andaman Islands (2014)
The Glorious Kakatiya Temples and Gateways (2014)
Iconic Saree Weaving Clusters of India (2014)
Dholavira: A Harappan City (2014)
Apatani Cultural Landscape (2014)
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam (2014)
Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town (2014)
Chilika Lake (2014)
Padmanabhapuram Palace (2014)
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala (2014)
Sites of Saytagrah, India’s non-violent freedom movement (2014)
Thembang Fortified Village (2014)
Narcondam Island (2014)
Moidams – the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty (2014)
Ekamra Kshetra – The Temple City, Bhubaneswar (2014)
The Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom (2014)
Archaeological remains of a Harappa Port-Town, Lothal (2014)
Mountain Railways of India (Extension) (2014)
Chettinad, Village Clusters of the Tamil Merchants (2014)
Bahá'í House of Worship at New Delhi (2014)
Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole-Badami- Pattadakal (2015)
Jaipur city, Rajasthan India (2015)
Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India (2015)
Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road (2015)
