Nitin Singhania Test: UNESCO's List Of Tangible World Heritage Sites In India - UPSC MCQ

• Article 53 of Geneva Convention treaty promulgates PROTECTION OF CULTURAL OBJECTS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP: Without prejudice to the provisions of the 'Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 14 May 1954' and other relevant international instruments, it is prohibited: To commit any act of hostility directed against the historic monuments, works of art or places of worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of people; To use such objects in support of the military effort; To make such objects the object of reprisal.

• Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

• They are on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves"), in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Mumbai in the Indian state of Mahārāshtra.

• About 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, consists of five Hindu caves and a few Buddhist stupa mounds that date back to the 2nd century BCE, as well as a small group of two Buddhist caves with water tanks.

Rani ki Vav or Ranki vav is a stepwell situated in the town of Patan in the Gujarat state of India. It is located on the banks of the Saraswati river.

Airavatesvara Temple is a Hindu temple of Dravidian architecture located in Darasuram, near Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

• Location: Valley of Flowers is located in Uttarakhand.


• State: It is situated in the state of Uttarakhand, India.


• Altitude: The valley is located at an altitude of around 3,600 meters above sea level.


• Accessibility: The nearest town to Valley of Flowers is Joshimath, which is well connected by road to other major cities in Uttarakhand.


• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Valley of Flowers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse flora and fauna.


• Trekking Destination: It is a popular trekking destination for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.

Benefits of the World Heritage Site Status:

• Brings international attention to the need to preserve and conserve the site.

• Brings tourism to the site ensuring economic benefits.

• UNESCO can provide funds for restoration, preservation, and training if required. Promotes close ties with the United Nations system and the prestige and support it provides.

• Enables access to global project management resources.

• Facilitates creating partnerships between government, the private sector, and NGOs to achieve conservation goals.

• The site becomes protected under the Geneva Convention against destruction or misuse during wartime.

• The Historic City of Ahmadabad or Old Ahmedabad, the walled city of Ahmedabad in India, was founded by Ahmad Shah I of Gujarat Sultanate in 1411. It remained the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate and later important political and commercial centre of Gujarat.

• Today, despite having become extremely crowded and dilapidated, it still serves as metropolitan Ahmedabad's symbolic heart. It was inscribed as the World Heritage City by UNESCO in July 2017.

The Mahabodhi Temple (literally: "Great Awakening Temple"), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, but much rebuilt and restored, a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya (in Gaya district) is about 96 km (60 mi) from Patna, Bihar state, India.

Cultural (29)

• Agra Fort (1983) 

• Ajanta Caves (1983) 

• Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)

• 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 (1987,2004) 

• Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986) 

• Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)

• Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987) 

• Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013) 

• Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017)

• Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993) 

• Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986) 

• Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)

• Mountain Railways of India(l999,2005,2008) 

• 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, Konarak (1984)

• Taj Mahal (1983) 

• The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modem Movement (2016) 

• The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010) 

• Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)

Natural (7)

• 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, 2005) 

• Sundarbans National Park (1987) 

• Western Ghats (2012)

Mixed (1)

• Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)