NEW DELHI, October 17 — The Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officially submitted India's comprehensive nomination dossier for the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the cycle 2026–27 on Saturday.
The transnational nomination encompasses 12 strategic components across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu that embody the revolutionary military vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The nominated forts include Salher, Shivneri (birthplace), Raigad (capital and coronation seat), Torna, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, Lohagad, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu, representing a harmonious integration of hill, coastal, and offshore marine fortification.
ASI highlighted that the Maratha fortifications developed between the 17th and 19th centuries utilized the rugged topography of the Sahyadri Western Ghats to formulate guerilla warfare tactics (Ganimi Kava), establishing an enduring physical testimony to indigenous naval architecture and military engineering.
The operational guidelines of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention 1972, India's existing World Heritage inventory (42 recognized sites), the foundation of ASI (1861 under Alexander Cunningham), the Ashta Pradhan administrative council under Shivaji Maharaj, and medieval Deccan history are essential study modules across UPSC Civil Services (GS Paper I).