Vadnagar, Sun Temple of Modhera and Unakoti: Three more sites added to tentative list of UNESCO

Source: The post is based on the article “Three more sites added to tentative list of UNESCO” published in The Hindu on 20th December 2022

What is the News?

Gujarat’s Vadnagar town, the iconic Sun Temple at Modhera and the rock cut sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Which are the three sites added to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

Sun Temple of Modhera

The Sun Temple of Modhera is located in Gujarat. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya.

River: It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati.

Built by: It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty(Solanki dynasty).

Features: The temple complex is built in Māru-Gurjara style (Solanki style).The temple consists of the main temple shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an outer hall or assembly hall (rangamandapa) and a sacred pool (Kunda) which is now called Ramakunda. This east-facing temple is built with bright yellow sandstone.

Significance: The temple is the Monument of National Importance and is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India.

Vadnagar 

It is a municipality under Mehsana district of Gujarat. The history of Vadnagar stretches back to nearly 8th century BCE.

The town has evolved with time and has an early historic fortified settlement, hinterland port, centre for industries of shells and beads, late medieval town, religious centre/temple town, a significant junction on trade routes and mercantile town.

Vadnagar was visited by a Chinese traveler named Hiuen Tsang, who wrote about the township in his travelogue 1400 years ago.

Unakoti

It is located in the northeastern region of Tripura. It is known as an ancient holy place associated with Shaiva worship. 

The site is a massive gallery set in a forested area displaying a number of towering low relief images in a unique style, making it a masterpiece of human creative genius.