World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS), is celebrated on April 18 every year. Its goal is to encourage individuals and local communities to cherish their cultural heritage. In addition to monument preservation, the day seeks to raise public awareness of the diversity and fragility of cultural assets.
The theme for World Heritage Day 2025 is "Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 Years of ICOMOS Actions”.
As of October 2024, there are 1,223 World Heritage Sites across 196 countries (952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed).
India has 43 World Heritage Sites, with Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Ajanta, and Ellora Caves among the first listed in 1983.
S.No | Name of Sites | Year | Location |
1 | Ajanta Caves | 1983 | Maharashtra |
2 | Ellora Caves | 1983 | Maharashtra |
3 | Agra Fort | 1983 | Agra |
4 | Taj Mahal | 1983 | Agra |
5 | Sun Temple | 1984 | Orissa |
6 | Mahabalipuram Monuments | 1984 | Tamil Nadu |
7 | Kaziranga National Park | 1985 | Assam |
8 | Keoladeo National Park | 1985 | Rajasthan |
9 | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary | 1985 | Assam |
10 | Churches and Convents of Goa | 1986 | Goa |
11 | Monuments of Khajuraho | 1986 | Madhya Pradesh |
12 | Monuments of Hampi | 1986 | Karnataka |
13 | Fatehpur Sikri | 1986 | Agra |
14 | Elephanta Caves | 1987 | Maharashtra |
15 | Great Living Chola Temples | 1987 | Tamil Nadu |
16 | Pattadakal Monuments | 1987 | Karnataka |
17 | Sundarbans National Park | 1987 | West Bengal |
18 | Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Park | 1988 | Uttarakhand |
19 | Monuments of Buddha | 1989 | Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh |
20 | Humayun’s Tomb | 1993 | Delhi |
21 | Qutub Minar and its Monuments | 1993 | Delhi |
22 | Mountain Railways of Darjeeling, Kalka Shimla & Nilgiri | 1999 | Darjeeling |
23 | Mahabodhi Temple | 2002 | Bihar |
24 | Bhimbetka Rock Shelters | 2003 | Madhya Pradesh |
25 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus | 2004 | Maharashtra |
26 | ChampanerPavagadh Archaeological Park | 2004 | Gujarat |
27 | Red Fort | 2007 | Delhi |
28 | Jantar Mantar | 2010 | Delhi |
29 | Western Ghats | 2012 | Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra |
30 | Hill Forts | 2013 | Rajasthan |
31 | Rani Ki Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) | 2014 | Gujarat |
32 | Great Himalayan National Park | 2014 | Himachal Pradesh |
33 | Nalanda | 2016 | Bihar |
34 | Khangchendzonga National Park | 2016 | Sikkim |
35 | Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Capitol Complex) | 2016 | Chandigarh |
36 | The Historic City | 2017 | Ahmedabad |
37 | Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles | 2018 | Mumbai |
38 | The Pink City | 2019 | Jaipur |
39 | Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple | 2021 | Telangana |
40 | Dholavira | 2021 | Gujarat |
41 | Santiniketan | 2023 | West Bengal |
42 | Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid and Somananthpura | 2023 | Karnataka |
43 | Modiams | 2024 | Assam |