MARATHA MILITARY LANDSCAPES – UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

Current Context: UNESCO recently added 12 Maratha forts in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to its World Heritage list, making it India’s 44th site—placing India 6^th globally and 2nd in the Asia-Pacific region.

About :

• These forts, built between the 17^th–19th centuries, show smart military planning, strong architecture, and smart use of the land .
• Forts Included (12): Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg (all in Maharashtra), plus Gingee in Tamil Nadu .
• Area Covered: Total site covers ~1,578 ha, with a buffer zone of ~96,500
• Future Plans: For forts near Salher, a 10-year conservation plan will fix roads, add sanitation, safety features, and maintain local buffer zones.