Sarnath recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site

Published 27 July 2026 · local

Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has become a UNESCO World Heritage site, as announced by the UN grouping in Busan, South Korea, as part of the

Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has become a UNESCO World Heritage site, as announced by the UN grouping in Busan, South Korea, as part of the the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea on July 25, 2026. India’s Ministry of Culture, in a press release, said that “this global accolade celebrates India’s enduring cultural legacy, showcasing its diverse traditions of architectural brilliance, regional identity, and historical continuity” and highlighted the importance of the Buddhist site. India’s other UNESCO world heritage sites The country now has 45 World Heritage Sites according to the UNESCO website. The last addition or ‘inscription’ was in 2024, with the Maratha Military Landscapes located Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Here’s the full list UNESCO World Heritage Site Year of inclusion in list Location Agra Fort 1983 Agra, Uttar Pradesh Ajanta Caves 1983 Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra Ellora Caves 1983 Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra Taj Mahal 1983 Agra, Uttar Pradesh Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram 1984 Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu Sun Temple, Konârak 1984 Puri district, Odisha Kaziranga Park 1985 Golaghat and Nagaon districts, Assam Keoladeo Park 1985 Bharatpur, Rajasthan Manas Wildlife Sanctuary 1985 Assam Churches and Convents of Goa 1986 Velha Goa, Goa Fatehpur Sikri 1986 Agra district, Uttar Pradesh Group of Monuments at Hampi 1986 Vijayanagara district, Karnataka Khajuraho Group of Monuments 1986 Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh Elephanta Caves 1987 Gharapuri (Mumbai Harbour), Maharashtra Great Living Chola Temples 1987 Thanjavur, Darasuram & Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu Group of Monuments at Pattadakal 1987 Bagalkot district, Karnataka Sundarbans Park 1987 South 24 Parganas, West Bengal Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers Parks 1988 Chamoli district, Uttarakhand Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi 1989 Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh Humayun's Tomb, Delhi 1993 New Delhi, Delhi Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi 1993 New Delhi, Delhi Mountain Railways of India 1999 Darjeeling (West Bengal), Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu), Kalka-Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya 2002 Gaya district, Bihar Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka 2003 Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park 2004 Panchmahal district, Gujarat Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus 2004 Mumbai, Maharashtra Red Fort Complex 2007 Old Delhi, Delhi The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur 2010 Jaipur, Rajasthan Western Ghats 2012 Spread across Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu Hill Forts of Rajasthan 2013 Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Jaipur & Jaisalmer, Rajasthan Great Himalayan Park Conservation Area 2014 Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat 2014 Patan, Gujarat Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara 2016 Nalanda district, Bihar Khangchendzonga Park 2016 Sikkim The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement 2016 Corbusier Chandigarh Historic City of Ahmadabad 2017 Ahmedabad, Gujarat Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai 2018 Mumbai, Maharashtra Jaipur City, Rajasthan 2019 Jaipur, Rajasthan Dholavira: a Harappan City 2021 Kutch district, Gujarat Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana 2021 Mulugu district, Telangana Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas 2023 Belur, Halebidu & Somnathapura, Karnataka Santiniketan 2023 Birbhum district, West Bengal Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty 2024 Charaideo district, Assam Maratha Military Landscapes of India 2025 Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath 2026 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh UNESCO World Heritage List: Criteria for inclusion To be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, a property must demonstrate ‘outstanding universal value’ and meet at least one of these ten criterias 1.