List of World Heritage Sites in Southern Asia
The UNESCO has designated 61 World Heritage Sites in six countries of Southern Asia: Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Bhutan and Maldives, which are also located within the region, do not have any World Heritage Sites.
In this region, India is home to the most inscribed sites with 38 sites. Besides India, the first sites from the Country Nepal were the Sagarmatha National Park and Kathmandu Valley. Nepal has a total of four sites. Sri Lanka has eight sites and Bangladesh has three sites. Pakistan has six sites. Two sites are located in Afghanistan, both of which are enlisted as endangered. Each year, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee may inscribe new sites on the list or delist sites that no longer meet the criteria. Selection is based on ten criteria: six for cultural heritage and four for natural heritage. Some sites, designated "mixed sites," represent both cultural and natural heritage. In Southern Asia, there are 48 cultural, 12 natural, and 1 mixed site.
The World Heritage Committee may also specify that a site is endangered, citing "conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List." Two sites in this region are currently listed as endangered.
Legend
World Heritage Sites
Site | Image | Location | Criteria | Area ha | Year | Description | Refs |
Agra Fort | Cultural: | — | 1983 | ||||
Ajanta Caves | Cultural: ,,, | — | 1983 | ||||
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa | Cultural: ,, | — | 1982 | ||||
Ancient City of Sigiriya | Cultural: ,, | — | 1982 | ||||
Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro | Cultural: , | 1980 | |||||
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar | Cultural: , | ; buffer zone | 2016 | ||||
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi | Cultural: ,,,, | — | 1989 | ||||
Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol | Cultural: | — | 1980 | ||||
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka | Natural: , | ; buffer zone | 2010 | ||||
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Cultural: ,,, | ; buffer zone | 2004 | ||||
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus | Cultural: , | 2004 | |||||
Chitwan National Park | Natural: ,, | 1984 | |||||
Churches and Convents of Goa | Cultural: ,, | — | 1986 | ||||
Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley | Cultural: ,,,, | 2003 | |||||
Elephanta Caves | Cultural: , | — | 1987 | ||||
Ellora Caves | Cultural: ,, | — | 1983 | ||||
Fatehpur Sikri | Cultural: ,, | — | 1986 | ||||
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore | Cultural: ,, | — | 1981 | The site has been listed as endangered since 2000 because of the destruction of historic water tanks in 1999 to widen a road and deteriorating perimeter walls of the Garden, listed on request of the Pakistan government | |||
Golden Temple of Dambulla | Cultural: , | — | 1991 | ||||
Great Himalayan National Park | Natural: | 2014 | |||||
Great Living Chola Temples | Tamil Nadu, | Cultural: , | ; buffer zone | 1987 | Composed by three sites: | ||
Group of Monuments at Hampi | Cultural:,, | — | 1986 | ||||
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram | Cultural: ,,, | — | 1984 | ||||
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal | Cultural: , | ; buffer zone | 1987 | ||||
Hill Forts of Rajasthan | Cultural: , | — | 2013 | ||||
Historic City of Ahmadabad | Cultural: , | 535.7 ; buffer zone 395 | 2017 | ||||
Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta | Cultural: | — | 1981 | ||||
Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat | Cultural: | — | 1985 | ||||
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi | Cultural: , | — | 1993 | ||||
Jaipur City | Cultural: ,, | — | 2019 | ||||
Kathmandu Valley | Cultural: ,, | ; buffer zone | 1979 | The site has been listed as endangered 2003–2007 due to the partial or substantial loss of the traditional elements of six out of seven monument zones and resulting general loss of authenticity and integrity of the whole property. | |||
Kaziranga National Park | Natural: , | 1985 | |||||
Keoladeo National Park | Natural: | 1985 | |||||
Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Cultural: , | — | 1986 | ||||
Khangchendzonga National Park | Mixed: ,,, | 178,400 ; buffer zone 114,712 | 2016 | ||||
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha | Cultural: , | ; buffer zone | 1997 | ||||
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya | Cultural: ,,,, | 2002 | |||||
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary | Natural: ,, | 1985 | |||||
Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam | Cultural: ,, | 2002 | The site has been listed as endangered since its inscription due to lack of legal protection, lack of protection measure or management plan and the generally poor condition of the site. | ||||
Mountain Railways of India | Cultural: , | ; buffer zone | 1999 | Composed by three lines: | |||
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks | Natural: , | ; buffer zone | 1988 | ||||
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications | Cultural: | — | 1988 | ||||
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi | Cultural: | — | 1993 | ||||
Rani-ki-Vav at Patan, Gujarat | Cultural: | 4.68 ha | 2014 | ||||
Red Fort Complex | Cultural: ,, | ; buffer zone | 2007 | ||||
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka | Cultural: , | ; buffer zone | 2003 | ||||
Rohtas Fort | Cultural: , | — | 1997 | ||||
Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur | Cultural: ,, | — | 1985 | ||||
Sacred City of Anuradhapura | Cultural: ,, | — | 1982 | ||||
Sacred City of Kandy | Cultural: , | — | 1988 | ||||
Sagarmatha National Park | Natural: | 1979 | |||||
Sinharaja Forest Reserve | Natural: , | 1988 | |||||
Sundarbans National Park | Natural: , | 1987 | |||||
Sun Temple, Konârak | Cultural: ,, | 1984 | |||||
Taj Mahal | Cultural: | — | 1983 | ||||
Taxila | Cultural: , | — | 1980 | ||||
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement | Cultural: | — | 2016 | ||||
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur | Cultural: , | ; buffer zone | 2010 | ||||
The Sundarbans | Natural: , | 1997 | |||||
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai | Cultural: , | 66.34; buffer zone 378.78 | 2018 | ||||
Western Ghats | Natural: , | 2012 |
UNESCO sites for South Asia compared to other Asian regions
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