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At the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO inscribed twelve fortified hilltop sites of the Maratha kingdom on the World Heritage List, recognising them as India’s 44th World Heritage property.
Key features of the Maratha military landscapes
- Fortified hills: The sites include forts such as Rajgad, Raigad, Torna, Salher and Shivneri in Maharashtra; Gingee in Tamil Nadu; and Lohagad, reducing vulnerabilities with natural escarpments and water reservoirs.
- Unique design: Built between the 17th and 19th centuries by Chhatrapati Shivaji and his successors, these forts used the hill’s topography, rock‑cut cisterns and integrated settlement planning to withstand long sieges.
- Historical significance: They represent the Maratha empire’s guerrilla warfare strategies and decentralised military administration that challenged Mughal authority.
- UNESCO criteria: The sites were selected for illustrating “mountain‑fort landscape” heritage (criterion (iii)) and demonstrating exceptional testimony to Maratha cultural traditions.
- Conservation: Managed jointly by the Archaeological Survey of India and state departments, the inscription places responsibility on governments to ensure sustainable tourism, community involvement and climate‑resilient preservation.