From Mahabaleshwar To Varkala, 7 New Sites Added To UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List For India

India’s cultural and natural treasures are gaining a wider global spotlight as seven new sites have been added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites for India. With the total count now at 69, these new inclusions span cultural, natural, and mixed heritage categories, showcasing the country’s rich diversity—from historic towns and temples to unique landscapes.

New Sites Added To UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List For India

According to NDTV, the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO has announced that seven new sites have been added to the Tentative List of UNESCO’s World Heritage for India. They took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce this big news and mentioned that the addition of these properties highlights India’s “commitment to the preservation and conservation of its rich cultural heritage.”

The Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO is happy to announce that India’s 7 properties have been added to the Tentative List of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention. For details, please see the press release below 👇🏼 @VishalVSharma7 pic.twitter.com/WufBzxmWxn

— India at UNESCO (@IndiaatUNESCO) September 12, 2025

This brings the total number of Indian properties on the Tentative List to 69, with 49 under the ‘Cultural’ category, three under ‘Mixed’, and 17 under ‘Natural’. The tweet added, “Addition to the Tentative List is a mandatory requirement before the inscription of any property on the World Heritage List. We thank the Archaeological Survey of India for its diligent work.”

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List Of All The New Additions

The new sites added to the Tentative List of UNESCO’s World Heritage for India, under the natural category, are –

1. Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra)
2. Geological Heritage of St Mary’s Island Cluster (Udupi, Karnataka)
3. Meghalayan Age Caves (East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya)
4. Naga Hill Ophiolite (Kiphire, Nagaland)
5. Natural Heritage of Erra Matti Dibbalu (Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh)
6. Natural Heritage of Tirumala Hills (Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh)
7. Natural heritage of Varkala (Kerala)

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With the addition of these seven new sites, India continues to highlight the diversity of its landscapes, culture, and traditions on the world stage. The growing presence on UNESCO’s Tentative List not only boosts global recognition but also strengthens efforts toward conservation and sustainable tourism for future generations.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Dmitry Rukhlenko