India is well known for forts from different eras and royal dynasties, from the majestic Gwalior Fort to the stunning Jaisalmer Fort. Several imposing forts were built by the Marathas. Now the Ministry of Culture will nominate them under 'Maratha Military Landscapes' for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle. There will be a total of 12 components included in this nomination. According to an official statement from the Culture Ministry, the 'Maratha Military Landscapes' showcase an incredible fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha kings, showcasing India's diverse history. The 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India', which developed between 17th and 19th centuries, "represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers," the statement said.
This nomination's twelve components are Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohagad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad and Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu, according to a statement. These twelve components are dispersed across various geographical and physiographic regions and showcase the strategic military powers of Maratha control in ancient India. UNESCO World Heritage sites around the globe are considered to be locations possessing outstanding universal value that has either natural or cultural significance.
"This extraordinary network of forts, varying in hierarchies, scales and typological features, is a result of integrating the landscape, terrain and physiographic characteristics distinctive to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau and the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula," the statement said.
The historical forts constructed in the Maratha military architecture style belong to the era of Shivaji and are under the theme of Marathi military architecture. Here are a few that are on the list.
Raigad Fort: Originally called Rairi, it is wedged on a large chunk of the Sahyadri hill, and detached from the main range by a canyon. It was the capital fort of the Maratha Empire and was rebuilt during the coronation of Shivaji.
Rajgad Fort: This used to be the capital of the Maratha Empire in Pune district before it moved to the Raigad Fort. The hillfort was under the protection of Shivaji for almost 26 years.
Shivneri Fort: Built near Junnar in the Pune district, this is a marvellous example of Bahamani/ Nizamshahi architecture. The fort is the birthplace of Shivaji and provides a backstory to the army's guerrilla warfare techniques.
Lohagad Fort: Built in the 14th century, this is an excellent example of Maratha hill fort architecture in the Peshwa period. It is close to Lonavala and has the backdrop of the picturesque valley.
Suvarnadurg Fort: This is an island fort which was repaired and reinforced by Shivaji in 1660.
In 2021, the Maharashtra government submitted a tentative 'serial' nomination for these 17th century sites. A serial nomination list passed by the Archaeological Survey of India was forwarded through the Ministry of Culture to UNESCO. The nomination list has also been accepted by UNESCO in the Tentative Lists of its World Heritage Sites. A tentative list is an 'inventory' of properties of a place that a country believes deserves to be tagged as a World Heritage Site as underlined in the operational guidelines of the World Heritage Convention.