List of World Heritage Sites in Southern Asia

The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has designated 61 World Heritage Sites in six countries (also called "state parties") 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.[1][2]

In this region, India is home to the most inscribed sites (sixth globally) with 38 sites.[3] Besides India, the first sites from the Country Nepal were the Sagarmatha National Park and Kathmandu Valley.[4] 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 (i–vi) and four for natural heritage (vii–x).[5] Some sites, designated "mixed sites," represent both cultural and natural heritage. In Southern Asia, there are 48 cultural, 12 natural, and 1 mixed site.[6]

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.[7]

Legend
Site; named after the World Heritage Committee's official designation[3]
Location; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates
Criteria; as defined by the World Heritage Committee[5]
Area; in hectares and acres. If available, the size of the buffer zone has been noted as well. A value of zero implies that no data has been published by UNESCO
Year; during which the site was inscribed to the World Heritage List
Description; brief information about the site, including reasons for qualifying as an endangered site, if applicable

World Heritage Sites
  † In danger
Site Image Location Criteria Area
ha (acre)		 Year Description Refs
Agra Fort
Agra, Uttar Pradesh,  India
27°11′0″N 78°2′0″E		 Cultural:
(iii)
—
 1983 [8]
Ajanta Caves Aurangabad District, Maharashtra,  India
20°33′12″N 75°42′0″E		 Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (vi)
—
 1983 [9]
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa Polonnaruwa District, North Central Province,  Sri Lanka
7°54′57″N 81°0′2″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (vi)
—
 1982 [10]
Ancient City of Sigiriya Matale District, Central Province,  Sri Lanka
7°57′0″N 80°45′0″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (iv)
—
 1982 [11]
Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro Sindh,  Pakistan
27°19′45″N 68°8′20″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iii)		 240 (590) 1980 [12]
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar Nalanda District, Bihar,  India
25°8′12″N 85°26′38″E		 Cultural:
(iv), (vi)		 23 (57); buffer zone 57.88 (143.0) 2016 [13]
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh,  India
23°28′46″N 77°44′23″E		 Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)
—
 1989 [14]
Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,  Pakistan
34°19′15″N 71°56′45″E		 Cultural:
(iv)
—
 1980 [15]
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka  Sri Lanka
7°27′9″N 80°48′8″E		 Natural:
(ix), (x)		 56,844 (140,460); buffer zone 72,645 (179,510) 2010 [16]
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park Panchmahal district, Gujarat,  India
22°29′0″N 73°32′0″E		 Cultural:
(iii), (iv), (v), (vi)		 1,329 (3,280); buffer zone 2,912 (7,200) 2004 [17]
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) Mumbai, Maharashtra,  India
18°56′24″N 72°50′10″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iv)		 2.85 (7.0) 2004 [18]
Chitwan National Park Chitwan District, Narayani Zone,    Nepal
27°30′0″N 84°20′0″E		 Natural:
(vii), (ix), (x)		 93,200 (230,000) 1984 [19]
Churches and Convents of Goa
Goa,  India
15°30′8″N 73°54′42″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iv), (vi)
—
 1986 [20]
Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley
Bamyan,  Afghanistan
34°49′55″N 67°49′36″E		 Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)		 159 (390) 2003 [21]
[22]
Elephanta Caves
Elephanta Island, Raigad district, Maharashtra,  India
18°58′0″N 72°56′9″E		 Cultural:
(i), (iii)
—
 1987 [23]
Ellora Caves Verul, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra,  India
20°1′35″N 75°10′45″E		 Cultural:
(i), (iii), (vi)
—
 1983 [24]
Fatehpur Sikri Agra district, Uttar Pradesh,  India
27°5′40″N 77°39′51″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (iv)
—
 1986 [25]
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore Punjab,  Pakistan
31°35′25″N 74°18′35″E		 Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii)
—
 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 [26]
[27]
Golden Temple of Dambulla Matale District, Central Province,  Sri Lanka
7°51′24″N 80°38′57″E		 Cultural:
(i), (vi)
—
 1991 [28]
Great Himalayan National Park Kullu region, Himachal Pradesh, India
31°44′N 77°33′E		 Natural:
(x)		 117,100 (289,000) 2014 [29]
Great Living Chola Temples Tamil Nadu,  India
10°46′59″N 79°7′57″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iii)		 22 (54); buffer zone 17 (42) 1987[nb 1] Composed by three sites: [30]
Group of Monuments at Hampi
Bellary district, Karnataka,  India
15°18′52″N 76°28′18″E		 Cultural:
(i), (iii), (iv)
—
 1986 [31]
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Chingleput district, Tamil Nadu,  India
12°37′0″N 80°11′30″E		 Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (vi)
—
 1984 [32]
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal Badami, Bijapur district, Karnataka,  India
15°56′54″N 75°49′0″E		 Cultural:
(iii), (iv)		 5.56 (13.7); buffer zone 113 (280) 1987 [33]
Hill Forts of Rajasthan Rajasthan,  India
24°53′00″N 74°38′46″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iii)
—
 2013 [34]
Historic City of Ahmadabad Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad District, Gujarat,  India
23°08′06″N 72°21′06″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (v)		 535.7 (1323); buffer zone 395 (976) 2017 [35]
Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta Sindh,  Pakistan
24°46′0″N 67°54′0″E		 Cultural:
(iii)
—
 1981 [36]
Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat
Bagerhat District, Khulna Division,  Bangladesh
22°40′0″N 89°48′0″E		 Cultural:
(iv)
—
 1985 [37]
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi Delhi,  India
28°35′36″N 77°15′2″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iv)
—
 1993 [38]
Jaipur City Jaipur,  India
26°55′27.4″N 75°49′18.7″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iv), (vi)
—
 2019 [39]
Kathmandu Valley Kathmandu Valley,    Nepal
27°42′14″N 85°18′31″E		 Cultural:
(iii), (iv), (vi)		 167 (410); buffer zone 70 (170) 1979[nb 2] 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. [40]
Kaziranga National Park Assam,  India
26°40′N 93°25′E		 Natural:
(ix), (x)		 42,996 (106,250) 1985 [41]
Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan,  India
27°9′32″N 77°30′31″E		 Natural:
(x)		 2,873 (7,100) 1985 [42]
Khajuraho Group of Monuments Madhya Pradesh,  India
24°51′8″N 79°55′20″E		 Cultural:
(i), (iii)
—
 1986 [43]
Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim,  India
27°45′53″N 88°22′38″E		 Mixed:
(iii), (vi), (vii), (x)		 178,400 (440.8); buffer zone 114,712 (283.459) 2016 [44]
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha Rupandehi District, Lumbini Zone,    Nepal
27°28′8″N 83°16′34″E		 Cultural:
(iii), (vi)		 1.95 (4.8); buffer zone 23 (57) 1997 [45]
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya Bihar,  India
24°41′43″N 84°59′38″E		 Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)		 4.86 (12.0) 2002 [46]
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Assam,  India
26°43′30″N 91°1′50″E		 Natural:
(vii), (ix), (x)		 39,100 (97,000) 1985 [47]
Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam Ghōr,  Afghanistan
34°23′48″N 64°30′58″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (iv)		 70 (170) 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. [48]
[49]
Mountain Railways of India
 India
11°30′37″N 76°56′9″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iv)		 89 (220); buffer zone 645 (1,590) 1999[nb 3] Composed by three lines: [50]
[51]
[52]
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks Uttarakhand,  India
30°43′N 79°40′E		 Natural:
(vii), (x)		 71,783 (177,380); buffer zone 514,286 (1,270,830) 1988[nb 4] [53]
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications Galle, Southern Province,  Sri Lanka
6°1′17″N 80°13′7″E		 Cultural:
(iv)
—
 1988 [54]
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi Delhi,  India
28°31′33″N 77°11′7″E		 Cultural:
(iv)
—
 1993 [55]
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat Patan, Gujarat,  India
23°51′32″N 72°06′06″E		 Cultural:
(i)(iv)		 4.68 ha 2014 [56]
Red Fort Complex Delhi,  India
28°39′20″N 77°14′27″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (vi)		 98 (240); buffer zone 100 (250) 2007 [57]
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka Madhya Pradesh,  India
22°55′40″N 77°35′0″E		 Cultural:
(iii), (v)		 1,893 (4,680); buffer zone 10,280 (25,400) 2003 [58]
Rohtas Fort Jhelum, Punjab,  Pakistan
32°57′45″N 73°35′20″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iv)
—
 1997 [59]
Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
Naogaon District, Rajshahi Division,  Bangladesh
25°2′0″N 88°59′0″E		 Cultural:
(i), (ii), (vi)
—
 1985 [60]
Sacred City of Anuradhapura Anuradhapura District, North Central Province,  Sri Lanka
8°20′0″N 80°23′0″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (vi)
—
 1982 [61]
Sacred City of Kandy Central Province,  Sri Lanka
7°17′37″N 80°38′25″E		 Cultural:
(iv), (vi)
—
 1988 [62]
Sagarmatha National Park Solukhumbu District, Sagarmatha Zone,    Nepal
27°57′55″N 86°54′47″E		 Natural:
(vii)		 124,400 (307,000) 1979 [63]
Sinharaja Forest Reserve Sabaragamuwa and Southern Province,  Sri Lanka
6°25′N 80°30′E		 Natural:
(ix), (x)		 8,864 (21,900) 1988 [64]
Sundarbans National Park West Bengal,  India
21°56′42″N 88°53′45″E		 Natural:
(ix), (x)		 133,010 (328,700) 1987 [65]
Sun Temple, Konârak Puri district, Odisha,  India
19°53′15″N 86°5′41″E		 Cultural:
(i), (iii), (vi)		 11 (27) 1984 [66]
Taj Mahal Agra, Uttar Pradesh,  India
27°10′27″N 78°2′32″E		 Cultural:
(i)
—
 1983 [67]
Taxila Punjab,  Pakistan
33°46′45″N 72°53′15″E		 Cultural:
(iii), (vi)
—
 1980 [68]
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement Chandigarh,  India
30°45′32″N 76°48′18″E		 Cultural:
(i)(ii)(vi)
—
 2016 [69]
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur Jaipur, Rajasthan,  India
26°55′29″N 75°49′30″E		 Cultural:
(iii), (iv)		 1.87 (4.6); buffer zone 15 (37) 2010 [70]
The Sundarbans
Khulna Division,  Bangladesh
21°57′0″N 89°11′0″E		 Natural:
(ix), (x)		 139,500 (345,000) 1997 [71]
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
Mumbai, Maharashtra,  India
18°55′47.3″N 72°49′48.3″E		 Cultural:
(ii), (iv)		 66.34; buffer zone 378.78 2018 [72]
Western Ghats
 India
8°31′47″N 77°14′59″E		 Natural:
(ix), (x)		 16,000,000 (40,000,000) 2012 [73]

UNESCO sites for South Asia compared against other Asian regions

The number of UNESCO sites of South Asia is contrasted by the number of sites Southeast and East Asia. South Asian countries are noted with 'SA'.

See also

Notes
  1. Extended in 2004 to include the Brihadisvara Temple Complex in Gangaikondacholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple Complex in Darasuram and name change from Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur to the present name.
  2. Minor modification of boundaries in 2006.
  3. Extended in 2005 to include the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and in 2008 to include the Kalka–Shimla Railway. Name change in 2005 from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to the present name.
  4. Extended in 2005???

References
General
  • "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-fourth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  • "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-seventh session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
Notes
  1. "Number of World Heritage Properties by region". UNESCO. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  2. "Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings". Geographical region and composition of each region. United Nations Statistics Division. 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  3. "World Heritage List". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  4. "Number of World Heritage properties inscribed each Year". UNESCO. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  5. "The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  6. "World Heritage List Nominations". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  7. "World Heritage in Danger". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  8. "Agra Fort". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  9. "Ajanta Caves". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  10. "Ancient City of Polonnaruwa". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  11. "Ancient City of Sigiriya". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  12. "Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  13. "Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar". UNESCO. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  14. "Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  15. "Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  16. "Central Highlands of Sri Lanka". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  17. "Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  18. "Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  19. "Chitwan National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  20. "Churches and Convents of Goa". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  21. "Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  22. 27th session 2003, pp. 122–123
  23. "Elephanta Caves". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  24. "Ellora Caves". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  25. "Fatehpur Sikri". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  26. "Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore". UNESCO. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  27. 24th session 2000, p. 26
  28. "Golden Temple of Dambulla". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  29. "Six new sites inscribed on World Heritage List". UNESCO. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  30. "Great Living Chola Temples". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  31. "Group of Monuments at Hampi". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  32. "Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  33. "Group of Monuments at Pattadakal". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  34. "Hill Forts of Rajasthan". UNESCO. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  35. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Historic City of Ahmadabad". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  36. "Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  37. "Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  38. "Humayun's Tomb, Delhi". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  39. "Jaipur City" (PDF). UNESCO. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  40. "Kathmandu Valley". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  41. "Kaziranga National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  42. "Keoladeo National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  43. "Khajuraho Group of Monuments". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  44. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Khangchendzonga National Park". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  45. "Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  46. "Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  47. "Manas Wildlife Sanctuary". UNESCO. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  48. "Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  49. "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-sixth session" (PDF). UNESCO. p. 55. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  50. "Mountain Railways of India". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  51. "Decision - 29COM 8B.31 - Extension of Properties Inscribed on World Heritage List (Mountain Railways of India)". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  52. "Decision - 32COM 8B.28 - Examination of nomination of natural, mixed and cultural proprerties to the World Heritage List - Kalka Shimla Railway, Extension of Mountain Railways of India (INDIA)". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  53. "Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  54. "Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  55. "Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  56. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat". unesco.org.
  57. "Red Fort Complex". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  58. "Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  59. "Rohtas Fort". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  60. "Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  61. "Sacred City of Anuradhapura". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  62. "Sacred City of Kandy". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  63. "Sagarmatha National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  64. "Sinharaja Forest Reserve". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  65. "Sundarbans National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  66. "Sun Temple, Konârak". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  67. "Taj Mahal". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  68. "Taxila". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  69. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  70. "The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  71. "The Sundarbans". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  72. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  73. "Western Ghats". Retrieved 3 July 2012.
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