Twelve forts built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. The government of Maharashtra will announce a 10-year conservation plan for these forts. The plan will include preserving historic elements, managing waste, and deploying staff across the sites.
The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums under the Department of Cultural Affairs proposed the inclusion of these forts. Eleven of the forts are in Maharashtra, and one is in Tamil Nadu.
The list includes Raigad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohgad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, and Khanderi in Maharashtra, and Gingee in Tamil Nadu.
As per a report by FPJ, the conservation plan will involve many departments. The work will begin at tourist-heavy areas of the forts, like gates and fortifications. Each fort will be studied individually, as a common plan will not be suitable.
The report also suggested that local areas where people live will be designed in a way that respects the heritage. Later, work will begin on places that are currently hard to reach. These will be made safe and open to tourists.
The nomination was made under the theme “Maratha Military Landscape of India.” A delegation led by Cultural Affairs and IT Minister Ashish Shelar went to Paris in February to present the case to UNESCO.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar congratulated the people of Maharashtra. He said that these forts were part of Shivaji Maharaj’s vision for “Hindavi Swarajya.” He also said that these forts brought people of different castes and communities together. He called the recognition a proud moment.
The recognition came after a long discussion during the World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris. Despite concerns from ICOMOS, more than twelve countries supported India’s request. The “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” has now become India’s 44th World Heritage Site.
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