Foreword

I am pleased to endorse this panoramic publication on India’s thirty-eight World Heritage Sites. These thirty-eight jewels reflect the extraordinary vision, planning and characteristics of various cultures and our ancient Indian civilisations. Recognised for their Outstanding Universal Value, each World Heritage Site is a unique icon.

NITI Aayog has initiated a nationwide effort to understand the current challenges for heritage management in India and to provide a future roadmap along with an appropriate branding of India’s invaluable archaeological and built heritage. We are also ensuring guidance to the concerned heritage custodians of these World Heritage Sites, including the nodal agency, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), to further enhance, conserve and promote these locations for local communities as well as visitors.

India has played a key role as a member of the World Heritage Committee for three terms, since its ratification in 1977. We are concerned with the significant role of safeguarding these World Heritage Sites for posterity and deeply encourage intercultural exchanges with other countries for this purpose. We recognise the need for capacity-building and the use of technology in this sphere of World Heritage. The UNESCO Category 2 Centre for Natural Heritage at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, is already functioning to provide guidance and training for the entire Asia-Pacific Region. A parallel initiative for establishing a cultural Category 2 Centre of UNESCO at Asia-Pacific level is in progress with the ASI.

With the diversity of thirty cultural, seven natural and one mixed site from India on the World Heritage List, we understand the wide range of typologies, terrains and cultures that need to be addressed. While India’s heritage custodians are striving hard to protect, conserve, enhance and interpret the existing World Heritage Sites, we are also working towards a larger representation on the List to aim at a more Balanced, Credible and Representative Listing in harmony with our neighbouring countries and the World Heritage Convention.

There is a serious need for communicating the values of India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites to the larger public and this publication is an excellent step in this direction. This visually rich publication is a unique attempt to reach out to the people and make them aware of these invaluable treasures of India.

Amitabh Kant

CEO, NITI Aayog, Government of India