World Heritage Sites

I was looking at the World Heritage Sites list at the UNESCO site. I was curious to see how many India has, how many I have seen, etc.

Well, here is the India list (reproduced from UNESCO site, I have only changed the bullet points to bullet numbers)

1. Agra Fort (1983)
2. Ajanta Caves (1983)
3. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
4. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)
5. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)
6. Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
7. Elephanta Caves (1987)
8. Ellora Caves (1983)
9. Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
10. Great Living Chola Temples (1987)
11. Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
12. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
13. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)
14. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)
15. Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
16. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
17. Mountain Railways of India (1999)
18. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
19. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
20. Sun Temple, Konârak (1984)
21. Taj Mahal (1983)
22. Kaziranga National Park (1985)
23. Keoladeo National Park (1985)
24. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
25. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988)
26. Sundarbans National Park (1987)
    

I have seen seven of these sites (nos 1, 5, 9, 14, 18, 21, 23) but the way we maintain some of the monuments on the list!

Graffiti at the Taj Mahal

I am amazed at the kind of Graffiti I have seen at Agra Fort! In small amounts you can even find it at the Taj Mahal. But at Agra Fort it is unbelievable.

Graffiti at the Agra Fort and it is a World Heritage Site too!

Finally, here is the file from where I calculated that we are at number seven (jointly with Mexico) in terms of the number of the World Heritage Monuments in the world. According to my calculation this is the standing-

1. Italy 41
2. Spain 39
3. China 33
4. Germany 32
5. France 30
6. UK 27
7. India 26, Mexico 26

I can never ever see all the heritage sites around the world but I can surely try to see all in India. I wonder if some tour operator will offer a grand tour of all the sites in India some day (or are they already offering it?) but then I am going to see all of these on my own.

World%20Heritage%20blog.doc

PS. I hope I am not violating any copyrights by playing around with the UNESCO documents.