927 IN - Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath (2026)

Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath

The serial property contains the architectural and archaeological remains of Sarnath, the sacred site where the Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon in the 6th century BCE and met his earliest disciples. Identified by the Buddha himself as one of the four principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Sarnath grew over many centuries through royal, monastic, and lay patronage, resulting in the construction of numerous stupas, temples, and viharas. After flourishing as a major Buddhist centre, Sarnath declined in the 12th century CE and fell into obscurity until its rediscovery in the 18th century. Today preserved as two archaeological zones, it remains both an important tourist destination and a revived pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide.

鹿野苑古佛教遗址

该系列遗产包含鹿野苑（Sarnath）的建筑和考古遗存，被认为是佛陀于公元前6世纪首次讲法并接引最早弟子的圣地。佛陀本人将鹿野苑列为佛教四大圣地之一。此后数百年间，在王室、僧团和信众的共同资助下，这里不断发展，兴建了众多佛塔、寺庙和精舍，成为重要的佛教中心。公元12世纪鹿野苑逐渐衰落，最终湮没无闻，直至18世纪被重新发现。如今，该遗址分为2处考古保护区，既是重要的旅游目的地，也是世界各地佛教徒心中复兴的朝圣地。

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/927

Courtesy of tirthatanay from postcrossing forum

1739 IN - Maratha Military Landscapes of India (2025)

 Maratha Military Landscapes of India

The property includes twelve major fortifications, mostly in Maharashtra State, with one in Tamil Nadu. These forts, such as Raigad, Shivneri, and Sindhudurg, were built, adapted, or expanded by the Marathas between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. Strategically located on coastal and mountainous terrain, they formed a complex defence system supporting Maratha military dominance, trade protection, and territorial control. This network played a key role in the Marathas’ rise as a major political and military force.

印度马拉塔军事景观

该遗产包括12座重要防御工事，其中多数位于马哈拉施特拉邦，只有1处位于泰米尔纳德邦。赖加德（Raigad）、希夫内里（Shivneri）、辛杜杜尔格（Sindhudurg）等堡垒由马拉塔人（Maratha）自17世纪末至19世纪初建造、改造或扩建。它们分布于海岸与山地等战略要冲，构成复杂的防御体系，支持马拉塔人的军事扩张、贸易保护与领土控制。该网络在马拉塔政权作为政治和军事强国崛起的历程中发挥了关键作用。

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1739

• 1739-001 Salher Fort
• 1739-002 Shivneri Fort
• 1739-003 Lohagad
• 1739-004 Khanderi Fort
• 1739-005 Raigad
• 1739-006 Rajgad
• 1739-007 Pratapgad
• 1739-008 Suvarnadurg
• 1739-009 Panhala Fort
• 1739-010 Vijaydurg
• 1739-011 Sindhudurg
• 1739-012 Gingee Fort

Courtesy of Sriramrang from postcrossing forum

1739-012 Gingee Fort

1711 IN - Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty (2024)

 Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty

Set in the foothills of the Patkai Ranges in eastern Assam, the property contains the royal necropolis of the Tai-Ahom. For 600 years, the Tai-Ahom created moidams (burial mounds) accentuating the natural topography of hills, forests and water, thus forming a sacred geography. Banyan trees and the trees used for coffins and bark manuscripts were planted and water bodies created. Ninety moidams – hollow vaults built of brick, stone or earth – of different sizes are found within the site. They contain the remains of kings and other royals together with grave goods such as food, horses and elephants, and sometimes queens and servants. The Tai-Ahom rituals of “Me-Dam-Me-Phi” and “Tarpan” are practiced at the Charaideo necropolis. While moidams are found in other areas within the Brahmaputra Valley, those found at the property are regarded as exceptional.

阿洪姆王朝的土丘墓葬系统（印度）

该遗产地是阿洪姆（Ahom）王朝的皇陵，位于阿萨姆邦东部的巴特开山麓。在600年时间里，阿洪姆人利用山丘、森林、水域等自然地形建造土丘墓穴“马伊达姆”（moidam），赋予该地神圣的色彩。这里种植着榕树以及用于制作棺木和树皮手稿的树木，并筑有蓄水设施。遗址内分布着90座大小不一的马伊达姆，它们由砖、石、土砌成拱顶，内部为空心结构。墓穴中存放着国王和其他王室成员的遗骸，以及食物、马匹、大象等随葬品，有些还包括王后和仆人的遗骸。阿洪姆人的梅达梅菲和塔尔潘仪式至今仍在查莱第奥区的墓地举行。尽管这一墓葬系统也见于贾木纳河谷的其他地区，但该遗产地尤为突出。

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1711

Courtesy of Sriramrang from postcrossing forum

1375 IN - Santiniketan (2023)

Santiniketan

Established in rural West Bengal in 1901 by the renowned poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore, Santiniketan was a residential school and centre for art based on ancient Indian traditions and a vision of the unity of humanity transcending religious and cultural boundaries. A ‘world university’ was established at Santiniketan in 1921, recognizing the unity of humanity or “Visva Bharati”. Distinct from the prevailing British colonial architectural orientations of the early 20th century and of European modernism, Santiniketan represents approaches toward a pan-Asian modernity, drawing on ancient, medieval and folk traditions from across the region.

桑地尼克坦

桑地尼克坦（Santiniketan）由著名诗人、哲学家罗宾德拉纳特·泰戈尔于1901年建立，位于印度西孟加拉邦乡村。它是一所寄宿学校兼艺术中心，以古老的印度传统和超越宗教和文化界限的人类团结愿景为基础。1921年，这里建起一所 “世界大学”以彰显“人类的团结”（Visva Bharati）。与当地20世纪初盛行的英国殖民主义建筑风格和欧洲现代主义不同，桑地尼克坦汲取整个地区的古代、中世纪和民间传统，成为泛亚洲现代主义的典范。

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1375

Courtesy of Sriramrang from postcrossing forum

1645 IN - Dholavira: a Harappan City (2021)

 Dholavira: a Harappan City

The ancient city of Dholavira, the southern centre of the Harappan Civilization, is sited on the arid island of Khadir in the State of Gujarat. Occupied between ca. 3000-1500 BCE, the archaeological site, one of the best preserved urban settlements from the period in Southeast Asia, comprises a fortified city and a cemetery. Two seasonal streams provided water, a scarce resource in the region, to the walled city which comprises a heavily fortified castle and ceremonial ground as well as streets and houses of different proportion quality which testify to a stratified social order. A sophisticated water management system demonstrates the ingenuity of the Dholavira people in their struggle to survive and thrive in a harsh environment. The site includes a large cemetery with cenotaphs of six types testifying to the Harappan’s unique view of death. Bead processing workshops and artifacts of various kinds such as copper, shell, stone, jewellery of semi-precious stones, terracotta, gold, ivory and other materials have been found during archaeological excavations of the site, exhibiting the culture’s artistic and technological achievements. Evidence for inter-regional trade with other Harappan cities, as well as with cities in the Mesopotamia region and the Oman peninsula have also been discovered. 

多拉维拉：哈拉帕文明古城

多拉维拉古城是哈拉帕文明的南部中心，位于古吉拉特邦干旱的卡迪尔岛上。该考古遗址在大约公元前3000-1500年间为人类定居点，由一座设防的城市和一片墓地组成，是这一时期保存最完好的东南亚城镇定居点之一。两条季节性溪流为这座带有城墙保护的古城提供了该地区稀缺的水资源。古城包括戒备森严的城堡、仪式场地，以及不同级别的街道和房屋，呈现出等级分明的社会秩序。复杂的用水管理系统展示了多拉维拉人在恶劣环境中生存和发展的聪明才智。该遗址还包括一个大型墓地，6种类型的墓碑诠释了哈拉帕文明对死亡的独特见解。考古工作者发掘出珠子加工作坊及由铜、贝壳、石头、半宝石首饰、陶土、黄金、象牙等材料制成的各种文物，展示了该文明的艺术和技艺成就。他们还发现了此地与其他哈拉帕文明城市以及美索不达米亚地区、阿曼半岛的城市进行区域间贸易的证据。

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1645

Courtesy of kraghavendrabhat from postcrossing forum

1570 IN - Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (2021)

 Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana

Rudreshwara, popularly known as Ramappa Temple, is located in the village of Palampet approximately 200km north-east of Hyderabad, in the State of Telangana. It is the main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kakatiyan period (1123–1323 CE) under rulers Rudradeva and Recharla Rudra. Construction of the sandstone temple began in 1213 CE and is believed to have continued over some 40 years. The building features decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite with a distinctive and pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower) made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called ‘floating bricks’, which reduced the weight of the roof structures. The temple’s sculptures of high artistic quality illustrate regional dance customs and Kakatiyan culture. Located at the foothills of a forested area and amidst agricultural fields, close to the shores of the Ramappa Cheruvu, a Kakatiya-built water reservoir, the choice of setting for the edifice followed the ideology and practice sanctioned in dharmic texts that temples are to be constructed to form an integral part of a natural setting, including hills, forests, springs, streams, lakes, catchment areas, and agricultural lands.

特伦甘纳邦的卡卡提亚王朝卢德什瓦拉（拉玛帕）神庙

卢德什瓦拉，俗称拉玛帕神庙，位于特伦甘纳邦海得拉巴市东北约200公里处的帕拉姆佩特村。它是一个由围墙围绕的建筑群中的主要湿婆神庙，建于卡卡提亚王朝(公元1123-1323年)鲁德拉德瓦（Rudradeva）和鲁德拉（Recharla Rudra）统治时期。这座砂岩神庙始建于公元1213年，据信施工持续了约40年。其特点是由花岗岩和大理岩雕刻而成的梁柱，和一个独特的、金字塔形状的屋顶塔（水平阶梯塔）。塔由被称为“浮砖”的轻质多孔砖搭建而成，从而减轻了屋顶结构的重量。拉玛帕神庙的雕塑具有很高艺术水准，形象地展示了当地的舞蹈习俗及卡卡提亚文化。神庙位于林木茂盛的山丘和农田之中，靠近拉玛帕湖（卡卡提亚时期建造的水库）， 建筑环境的选择遵循达摩经文中的思想和实践，即神庙的建造应成为包括山丘、森林、泉水、溪流、湖泊、集水区和农田在内的自然环境的组成部分。

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1570

Courtesy of kraghavendrabhat from postcrossing forum

247 IN - Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)

Brief Description

"The serial site, situated in the state of Rajastahan, includes six majestic forts in Chittorgarh; Kumbhalgarh; Sawai Madhopur; Jhalawar; Jaipur, and Jaisalmer. The ecclectic architecture of the forts, some up to 20 kilometres in circumference, bears testimony to the power of the Rajput princely states that flourished in the region from the 8th to the 18th centuries. Enclosed within defensive walls are major urban centres, palaces, trading centres and other buildings including temples that often predate the fortifications within which developed an elaborate courtly culture that supported learning, music and the arts. Some of the urban centres enclosed in the fortifications have survived, as have many of the site's temples and other sacred buildings. The forts use the natural defenses offered by the landscape: hills, deserts, rivers, and dense forests. They also feature extensive water harvesting structures, largely still in use today."

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/247

247rev-001     Chittorgarh Fort
247rev-002     Kumbhalgarh Fort
247rev-003     Ranthambore Fort
247rev-004     Gagron Fort
247rev-005     Amber Fort
247rev-006     Jaisalmer Fort

 

247-01 Chittorgarh Fort

Courtesy of Sriramrang from postcrossing forum

247-01 Chittorgarh Fort

247rev-002     Kumbhalgarh Fort

247rev-003     Ranthambore Fort

247rev-004     Gagron Fort

247-05 Amber Fort

247-05 Amber Fort - Ganesh Pol

247rev-006     Jaisalmer Fort

1670 IN - Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (2023)

This serial property encompasses the three most representative examples of Hoysala-style temple complexes in southern India, dating from the 12th to 13th centuries. The Hoysala style was created through careful selection of contemporary temple features and those from the past to create a different identity from neighbouring kingdoms. The shrines are characterized by hyper-real sculptures and stone carvings that cover the entire architectural surface, a circumambulatory platform, a large-scale sculptural gallery, a multi-tiered frieze, and sculptures of the Sala legend. The excellence of the sculptural art underpins the artistic achievement of these temple complexes, which represent a significant stage in the historical development of Hindu temple architecture.

曷萨拉王朝神庙群

这一系列遗产包括南印度最具代表性的三个曷萨拉（Hoysala）王朝风格寺庙建筑群，其建造年代可以追溯到12-13世纪。曷萨拉王朝精心选择、融合当时与古代寺庙的特点，塑造出有别于邻近王国的独特身份。这些庙宇的特征包括超逼真的雕塑、表面全覆盖的石雕、环绕式平台、大型雕塑廊道、多层次檐壁饰带，以及展现萨拉传说的雕塑。卓越的雕塑艺术提升了建筑群的艺术成就，这些寺庙建筑群代表了印度教寺庙建筑发展历史中的一个重要阶段。

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1670

• 1670-001 Channakeshava Temple
• 1670-002 Hoysalesvara Temple
• 1670-003 Keshava Temple

Courtesy of sriramrang from Postcrossing Forum

1670-001 Channakeshava Temple

Courtesy of sriramrang from Postcrossing Forum

1670-002 Hoysalesvara Temple

335 IN - Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988)

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks

"Nestled high in West Himalaya, India’s Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. The gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park. Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya, praised by mountaineers and botanists for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer."

楠达戴维山国家公园和花谷国家公园
"楠达戴维国家公园和花谷国家公园是喜马拉雅山脉最引人入胜的荒原地区之一。公园的主体是高达7800多米楠达戴维山主峰。由于该地区人迹罕至，这或多或少使它得以保留原貌。一些濒危哺乳动物栖息在这里，其中特别珍贵的有雪豹、喜马拉雅山麝香鹿和岩羊。花谷国家公园以其地方特色的高山花卉草地和突出的自然美景而闻名，同时还是稀有濒危动物的栖息地，这些动物包括亚洲黑熊、雪豹、棕熊和岩羊。这些公园包括赞斯卡勒山地和大喜马拉雅之间独特的过渡区，在一个多世纪中它们得到了登山运动员和植物学家的赞美，并在更长时间里获得了印度神话的称颂。"

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/335


335-001     Nanda Devi National Park (1988)
335-002     Valley of Flowers National Park (2005)

Courtesy of Sriramrang from postcrossing forum

335-001  Nanda Devi National Park (1988)

Courtesy of Sriramrang from postcrossing forum

335-002     Valley of Flowers National Park (2005 extension)

Courtesy of prashanth from postcrossing forum

335-002     Valley of Flowers National Park (2005 extension)

 

1551 IN - Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017)

Historic City of Ahmadabad

”The walled city of Ahmadabad, founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in the 15th century, on the eastern bank of the Sabarmati river, presents a rich architectural heritage from the sultanate period, notably the Bhadra citadel, the walls and gates of the Fort city and numerous mosques and tombs as well as important Hindu and Jain temples of later periods. The urban fabric is made up of densely-packed traditional houses (pols) in gated traditional streets (puras) with characteristic features such as bird feeders, public wells and religious institutions. The city continued to flourish as the capital of the State of Gujarat for six centuries, up to the present.“

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1551

Courtesy of prashanth from postcrossing forum

1406 IN - Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)

Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area

"This National Park in the western part of the Himalayan Mountains in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is characterized by high alpine peaks, alpine meadows and riverine forests. The 90,540 ha property includes the upper mountain glacial and snow meltwater sources of several rivers, and the catchments of water supplies that are vital to millions of downstream users. The GHNPCA protects the monsoon-affected forests and alpine meadows of the Himalayan front ranges. It is part of the Himalaya biodiversity hotspot and includes twenty-five forest types along with a rich assemblage of fauna species, several of which are threatened. This gives the site outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation."

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1406

Courtesy of Sriramrang from postcrossing forum

Courtesy of prashanth from postcrossing forum

1321 BE/CH/DE/FR/IN/JP - The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016)

Brief Description

"Chosen from the work of Le Corbusier, the 17 sites comprising this transnational serial property are spread over seven countries and are a testimonial to the invention of a new architectural language that made a break with the past. They were built over a period of a half-century, in the course of what Le Corbusier described as “patient research”. The Complexe du Capitole in Chandigarh (India), the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo (Japan), the House of Dr Curutchet in La Plata (Argentina) and the Unité d’habitation in Marseille (France) reflect the solutions that the Modern Movement sought to apply during the 20th century to the challenges of inventing new architectural techniques to respond to the needs of society. These masterpieces of creative genius also attest to the internationalization of architectural practice across the planet."

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1321

1321-001     Maisons La Roche et Jeanneret     France
1321-002     Petite villa au bord du lac Léman     Switzerland
1321-003     Cité Frugès     France
1321-004     Maison Guiete     Belgium
1321-005     Maisons de la Weissenhof-Siedlung     Germany
1321-006     Villa Savoye et loge du jardiner     France
1321-007     Immeuble Clarté     Switzerland
1321-008     Immeuble locatif à la Porte Molitor     France
1321-009     Unité d’habitation Marseille     France
1321-010     La Manufacture à Saint- Dié     France
1321-011     Maison du docteur Curutchet     Argentina
1321-012     Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut de Ronchamp     France
1321-013     Cabanon de Le Corbusier     France
1321-014     Complexe du Capitole     India
1321-015     Couvent Sainte-Marie-de-la-Tourette     France
1321-016     Musée National des Beaux-Arts de l’Occident     Japan
1321-017     Maison de la Culture de Firminy     France  

Courtesy of ogait from postcrossing forum

Courtesy of dannyozzy from postcrossing forum

 1321-002     Petite villa au bord du lac Léman     Switzerland

Courtesy of dore92 from postcrossing forum

1321-003     Cité Frugès，France

Courtesy of elbe from postcrossing forum

1321-004 Maison Guiete Belgium

Courtesy of Xiaoi from postcrossing forum

1321-005     Maisons de la Weissenhof-Siedlung     Germany

1321-009     Unité d’habitation Marseille     France

1321-012     Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut de Ronchamp     France

Courtesy of kraghavendrabhat from postcrossing forum

  1321-014     Complexe du Capitole     India

 1321-016 National Museum of Western Art