Context:

Recently, the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism stated that the ‘Maratha Military Landscape of India’ has been submitted for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site for 2024-25. 

The Maratha Military Landscapes of India

The Maratha military landscapes represent an exceptional fortification and military system created by the Maratha rulers.

This nomination includes 12 key forts:

• Hill Forts: Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad, Gingee.
• Hill-Forest Fort: Pratapgad.
• Hill-Plateau Fort: Panhala.
• Coastal Fort: Vijaydurg.
• Island Forts: Khanderi, Suvarnadurg, Sindhudurg.

These fortifications are spread across different geographical regions, showcasing the Maratha rulers' strategic military capability.

The military landscape began during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1670CE) and continued under subsequent rulers until 1818CE.

Significance 

Strategic Use of Terrain: The Marathas used the natural landscape to develop guerrilla warfare strategies, countering the Mughal Empire on land and European powers on the coast.

• The Maratha warfare strategy stands out as a distinctive example of military ingenuity in India’s history.

UNESCO World Heritage Nomination Criteria

According to UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines 2023, only one property—either cultural, natural, or mixed—can be proposed for inclusion in the World Heritage List each year. 

There are two categories of nomination- cultural and natural criteria.

The Maratha Military Landscapes fall under the Cultural Criteria category for World Heritage inclusion. 

There are six criteria (i to vi) for cultural sites and four criteria (vii to x) for natural sites for inclusion in the World Heritage List.

The Maratha Military Landscapes are nominated under three specific cultural criteria: 

• Criterion (iii): Represents a unique or exceptionally important example of a cultural tradition or civilization, whether still existing or extinct.
• Criterion (iv): An outstanding example of a specific type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape that highlights significant stages in human history.
• Criterion (vi): Directly or tangibly connected to events, living traditions, ideas, beliefs, or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal importance.

World Heritage Sites of India 

• At present, India has 43 World Heritage sites, out of which 35 are cultural sites, seven are natural sites, and one is mixed site. 
• The first sites to be listed were the Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Agra Fort, and Taj Mahal, all of which were inscribed in 1983. 
• The most recent site listed is the “Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” from Assam which was listed in July 2024.
• India continues to be ranked sixth in the world in terms of the number of heritage sites after Italy (60), China (59), Germany (54), France (53), and Spain (50).