The Ministry of Culture has announced India's nomination of the 'Maratha Military Landscape' for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle. This nomination comprises a total of 12 components.
According to the official statement from the Culture Ministry, the 'Maratha Military Landscapes' symbolize an exceptional fortification and military system conceptualized by the Maratha rulers, offering insight into India's rich history.
The nomination includes twelve components: Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohgad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu, as stated by officials from the ministry.
These components are spread across varied geographical and physiographic regions, showcasing the strategic military prowess of the Maratha rulers in ancient India.
The 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India', which developed between 17th and 19th centuries, "represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers", the statement said.
The statement further said, "This extraordinary network of forts, varying in hierarchies, scales and typological features, is 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."