Maratha Military Landscapes of India: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

On July 11, 2025, the Maratha Military Landscapes of India were officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India’s 44th property to achieve this prestigious international recognition. The decision was made during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, marking a major milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to preserve and celebrate its rich cultural heritage.

Developed between the 17th and 19th centuries CE, the Maratha Military Landscapes represent an extraordinary network of fortified sites, reflecting the strategic military vision, defence planning, and architectural ingenuity of the Maratha Empire. These forts symbolize a unique fusion of military function, environmental adaptation, and cultural identity, all shaped by the vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and further expanded during the Peshwa rule until 1818 CE.

The World Heritage inscription comprises twelve forts strategically located across varied geographic and physiographic regions of India. These include Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohgad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. Together, they form a serial national property that showcases the diversity of Maratha military architecture—spanning hill forts, sea forts, and plateau-based fortifications—while collectively functioning as an integrated defence network across the Indian peninsula.

Location of Nominated Property

These landscapes stand out for their ability to incorporate natural features into military strategy. Each fort was designed with a deep understanding of terrain, using hills, cliffs, coastlines, forests, and water bodies as natural defence elements. The nominated areas include the primary fortified structures, while the buffer zones represent the secondary and tertiary defence systems historically established around each site. These zones encompass check-posts (Met areas), trade routes, and broader cultural landscapes, reflecting both the macro and micro levels of military planning employed by the Marathas.

The military system these forts represent was not limited to architecture alone—it was a multi-layered strategic network, aligned with the region’s topography and socio-political needs. Forts were often supported by smaller satellite forts, outposts, and military settlements forming defensive clusters. The buffer zones surrounding each nominated site capture this expanded context, offering a fuller understanding of the Maratha military ideology, which emphasized resilience, adaptability, and community-based governance.

Notably, this landscape demonstrates how the Maratha Empire succeeded in projecting geopolitical dominance over a vast region through innovation in fort planning, siege tactics, and alliance-building, especially during periods of intense conflict. These forts also became administrative and cultural centers, reinforcing Maratha values of social inclusiveness, regional pride, and community identity.

The nomination dossier, prepared for the 2024–25 UNESCO World Heritage cycle, underwent a rigorous eighteen-month review involving technical evaluations, site assessments, and an expert mission by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The nomination was praised for its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), particularly as the largest concentration of forts globally integrated within a cultural and military landscape. The forts’ authenticity, preservation, and continued relevance were key factors in their successful inscription.

The announcement was met with widespread national pride. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated the people of India on this historic achievement, acknowledging the Maratha Military Landscapes as a shining example of the country’s architectural heritage, strategic heritage, and cultural resilience.

Today, these forts are more than historical monuments—they are living symbols of Maratha legacy, celebrated by local communities and researchers alike. They offer insight into a critical phase of Indian history, marked by the rise, expansion, and transformation of the Maratha Kingdom through bold military innovation and deep-rooted cultural vision.

The inclusion of the Maratha Military Landscapes on the UNESCO World Heritage List ensures their global recognition, long-term conservation, and interpretive development. It also positions them as models for military landscape heritage worldwide, where topography, culture, and tactical brilliance coalesce in lasting harmony.

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