Geography & BiodiversityImportant2025-07-14

Maratha Military Landscapes Inscribed as World Heritage Site

Why focus: GS1 Art & Culture — UNESCO tag. Prime setup for Match-the-Following format pairing the 12 fortifications with their respective States/regions.

In News

What Happened

On July 14, 2025, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed India's 'Maratha Military Landscapes' onto the World Heritage List during its 47th session in Paris. The serial property comprises 12 historic fortifications, with 11 located across Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu. These structures collectively highlight the strategic military architecture developed during the Maratha rule.

Why It Matters

This inscription brings global recognition to the Maratha Empire's unique guerrilla warfare strategies and their masterful use of the Indian subcontinent's varied terrain. It also marks India's 44th World Heritage Site, enhancing international tourism potential and securing better conservation frameworks.

Background

History & Context

The Maratha Military Landscapes were pitched by India as its official nomination for the 2024-2025 UNESCO cycle. The dossier emphasized an extraordinary military network of hill, island, and coastal forts established between the 17th and 19th centuries. The final approval occurred at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris following thorough evaluations of the sites' outstanding universal value.

What Changed

▶
BEFORE: The 12 Maratha forts were maintained primarily as separate national or state-protected monuments with limited international visibility. NOW: They are unified under a single serial UNESCO World Heritage designation, mandating adherence to international conservation guidelines.
▶
BEFORE: India's recognized UNESCO World Heritage list contained 43 properties. NOW: The addition of the Maratha Military Landscapes elevates India's total to 44 World Heritage Sites.
▶
BEFORE: Global recognition of Indian military architecture was historically skewed toward Rajputana and Mughal forts. NOW: The distinct Maratha style, characterized by its integration with the rugged Sahyadri mountains and Konkan coastline, has achieved equal global prominence.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This development links directly to Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography Chapter 2 - Structure and Physiography. The Maratha forts serve as a practical application of how regional physiography, particularly the steep escarpments of the Western Ghats and the indented Konkan coast, dictated historical military planning and defense strategies.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maratha Military Landscapes recently inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site? 1. The property is a serial nomination comprising forts located exclusively in the state of Maharashtra. 2. The fortifications demonstrate military architecture adapted to both the Sahyadri mountain ranges and the Konkan coastline.

Up next