Day 7 Prelims 20+: Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage

In today’s Prelims 20+, we explore Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage—two facets through which civilizations express identity, values, and continuity. Tangible heritage includes monuments, sites, and artifacts like temples, forts, and inscriptions that reflect architectural, artistic, and technological excellence. Intangible heritage, recognised by UNESCO, comprises traditions, rituals, oral expressions, performing arts, and knowledge systems like Yoga, Kumbh Mela, and Vedic chanting.

Tangible Cultural Heritage

A World Heritage site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). World Heritage sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance. The sites are judged to contain “cultural and natural heritage around the world considered being of outstanding value to humanity (OUV)”.

India has been blessed with a rich history and natural diversity, which is exemplified by its 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (as of May 13, 2025). These include 35 Cultural sites, 7 Natural sites and 1 mixed site recognised for their outstanding universal value to humanity.

CULTURAL SITES (35 Sites)

Agra Fort (Uttar Pradesh)

• It is also known as “Agra Quila”, located in Agra, India.
• It was designed and built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the year 1565 A.D.
• This fort is built alongside Yamuna River.
• It comprises many palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas etc.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Ajanta Caves

• Located in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India.
• These are about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which were constructed from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE.
• These paintings are magnum opus of Buddhist religious art, with figures of the Buddha and depictions of the Jataka tales (stories related to the life of Lord Buddha).
• The Ajanta Caves were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Ellora Caves

• It is an archaeological site 29 km north-west of the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, built by Kalachuri, Chalukya and Rashtrakuta dynasties during the 6th and 9th centuries.
• The 34 “caves” are actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills.
• These caves are dedicated to Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions.
• The Ellora Caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The Taj Mahal

• It is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden that encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh.
• It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal with construction starting in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

• This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel Coast in the 7th and 8th centuries.
• It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous ‘Descent of the Ganges’, and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.                                           

Churches and Convents of Goa

• They owe their existence to Portuguese rule in this part of the western coast of India.
• The most comprehensive group of churches and cathedrals built during 16th to 17th century AD at Old Goa comprise the following: Se’ Cathedral, Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi, Chapel of St. Catherine, Basilica of Bom Jesus; Church of Lady of Rosary; Church of St. Augustine.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Fatehpur Sikhri

• It was built during the second half of the 16th century by Emperor Akbar.
• Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years.
• Akbar shifted his residence and court from Agra to Sikri to honour the Sufi Saint Sheikh Salim Chishti, who resided here.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Group of Monuments at Hampi

• The site of Hampi comprises mainly the remnants of the Capital City of Vijayanagara Empire (14th-16th Cent CE), the last great Hindu Kingdom.
• The property is located in the Tungabhadra basin in Central Karnataka, Bellary District.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Khajuraho Group of Monuments (Madhya Pradesh)

• Khajuraho Temples in Madhya Pradesh are among the most beautiful medieval monuments in the country.
• These temples were built by the Chandella rulers between AD 900 and 1130.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Elephanta Caves( Maharashtra)

• They are natively known as Gharapurichi Leni, basically Gharapuri.
• They are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally “the city of caves”) in (Mumbai) Maharashtra.
• The island, located in the lap of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves –
  • the first is a large group of five Hindu caves
  • the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Great Living Chola Temples (Tamil Nadu)

• These temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire, which stretched over all of south India and the neighbouring islands.
• The site includes three great 11 and 12th-century Temples:
  • the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur
  • the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram
  • the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. 

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (Karnataka)

• Pattadakal, in Karnataka, represents the high point of an eclectic art which, in the 7th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty, achieved a harmonious blend of architectural forms from northern and southern India.
• An impressive series of nine Hindu temples, as well as a Jain sanctuary, can be seen there.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh)

• Sanchi is a hot spot for Buddhist tourist in India.
• It is situated at Sanchi in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh.
• The Great Stupa at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India and was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.
• The stupa is located on a hill whose height is 91m
• It was tagged as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1989.

Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

• It is the first of the grand dynastic mausoleums that were to become synonyms of Mughal architecture with the architectural style reaching its zenith 80 years later at the later Taj Mahal.
• It stands within a complex of 21.60 ha. that includes other contemporary, 16th century Mughal garden-tombs such as Nila Gumbad, Isa Khan, Bu Halima, Afsarwala, Barber’s Tomb and the complex where the craftsmen employed for the Building of Humayun’s Tomb stayed, the Arab Serai.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi

• Qutb Minar was built in the early 13th century a few kilometres south of Delhi.
• The red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5 m high.
•  Its surroundings contain the Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311).
• Its construction was started by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1193 and finished by Iltutmish.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Mountain Railways of India

• It consists of three railways:
  • Darjeeling Himalayan Railway located in the foothills of the Himalayas in West Bengal (Northeast India),
  • Nilgiri Mountain Railways located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu (South India)
  • Kalka Shimla Railway located in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh (Northwest India).
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (Bihar)

• It is the first temple built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th–6th centuries.
• It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, still standing, from the late Gupta period and it is considered to have had significant influence in the development of brick architecture over the centuries.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh)

• It is a group of “five clusters of rock shelters“.
• The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains on the southern edge of the central Indian plateau.
• Within massive sandstone outcrops, above comparatively dense forest, are five clusters of natural rock shelters, displaying paintings that appear to date from the Mesolithic Period right through to the historical period.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (Gujarat)

• A concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage properties stand in an impressive landscape which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16th-century capital of the state of Gujarat.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (Mumbai, Maharashtra)

• It is located in Mumbai on the Western Part of India touching the shores of the Arabian Sea.
• The building is designed by F.W. Stevens became the symbol of the ‘Gothic City’.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

The Red Fort Complex (Delhi)

• In 1638, Shahjahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and laid the foundations of Shahjahanabad, the seventh city of Delhi.
• It is enclosed by a rubble stone wall, with bastions, gates and wickets at intervals.
• Red Fort has fourteen gates, with Lahori Gate as its main gate.
• Its construction started on 13 May 1638 in the sacred month of Muharam and was completed in the next nine years.
• It was tagged a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2007.

The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

• It is an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century.
• It includes a set of some 20 main fixed instruments.
• Designed for the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye, they embody several architectural and instrumental innovations.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

Hill forts of Rajasthan

• The serial site includes six majestic forts in Chittorgarh; Kumbhalgarh; SawaiMadhopur; Jhalawar; Jaipur, and Jaisalmer.
• The eclectic architecture of the forts, some up to 20 kilometres in circumference, bears testimony to the power of the Rajput princely states that flourished in the region from the 8th to the 18th centuries.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat

• It is located on the banks of the Saraswati River.
• It was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century AD.
• Stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

Historic City of Ahmadabad (Gujarat)

• It was founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in the 15th century, on the eastern bank of the Sabarmati river.
• It presents a rich architectural heritage from the sultanate period, notably the Bhadra citadel, the walls and gates of the Fort city and numerous mosques and tombs as well as important Hindu and Jain temples of later periods.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.

Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai

• Having become a global trading centre, the city of Mumbai implemented an ambitious urban planning project in the second half of the 19th century.
• It led to the construction of ensembles of public buildings bordering the Oval Maidan open space, first in the Victorian Neo-Gothic style and then, in the early 20th century, in the Art Deco idiom.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.

Jaipur City, Rajasthan

• The walled city of Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II.
• Unlike other cities in the region located in hilly terrain, Jaipur was established on the plain and built according to a grid plan interpreted in the light of Vedic architecture.
• The streets feature continuous colonnaded businesses that intersect in the centre, creating large public squares called chaupars.
• Markets, shops, residences and temples built along the main streets have uniform facades.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.

Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana

• Rudreshwara, popularly known as Ramappa Temple, is located in the village of Palampet approximately 200 km northeast of Hyderabad, in the State of Telangana.
• It is the main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kakatiyan period (1123–1323 CE) under rulers Rudradeva and Recharla Rudra.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

The Nalanda Mahavihara (Bihar)

• It comprises the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE.
• It includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone and metal.
• Nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the Indian Subcontinent.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.

Sun Temple (Odisha)

• The temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya’s chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses.
• Built in the 13th century, it is one of India’s most famous Brahman sanctuaries.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Chandigarh)

• The collection of 17 sites comprising this transnational serial property are spread over seven countries and are a testimonial to the invention of a new architectural language that made a break with the past.
• The notable sites include the Chandigarh Capital Complex in India.
• They were built over a period of a half-century, in the course of what Le Corbusier described as “patient research”.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.

Dholavira – A Harappan City (Gujarat)

• The ancient city of Dholavira, the southern centre of the Harappan Civilization, is sited on the arid island of Khadir in the State of Gujarat.
• Occupied between ca. 3000-1500 BCE, the archaeological site, one of the best preserved urban settlements from the period in Southeast Asia.
• It comprises a fortified city and a cemetery.
• India got Dholavira inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in the year 2021.

Santiniketan (West Bengal)

• Santiniketan is a university town in West Bengal.
• It was founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1901 as a residential school and center for art, later evolving into Visva-Bharati University in 1921.
• It is renowned for its blend of traditional Indian and Western educational philosophies and its role as a center for art.
• It was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.

The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala (Karnataka)

• The famed Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid and Somananthpura in Karnataka were constructed during the 12th and 13th centuries.
• Hoysala temples maintain a fundamental Dravidian morphology,
  • they exhibit substantial influences from the Bhumija style prevalent in Central India,
  • the Nagara traditions of northern and western India, and 
  • the Karnataka Dravida modes favoured by the Kalyani Chalukyas
• It was designated a WHS in 2023.

Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty (Assam)

• Moidams, a royal mound burial site created by the Tai-Ahom in northeastern India, is situated in the foothills of the Patkai Ranges in eastern Assam. 
• It is the unique 700-year-old mound burial system of the Ahom Kings at Charaideo, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Assam and Bharat.
• It was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024.

NATURAL SITES (7 SITES)

 Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (Himachal Pradesh)

• It is located in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, India.
•  GHNP was formally declared a National Park in 1999.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

Kaziranga National Park (Assam)

• It is located within two districts in Assam -the Kaliabor subdivision of Nagaon district and the Bokakhat subdivision of Golaghat district.
•  Kaziranga covers an area of 378 km sq. and hosts two-thirds of the world’s Great One-horned rhinoceros population.
•  It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)

• Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, it lies between two of India’s most historic cities, Agra and Jaipur.
• The park is home to over 370 species of birds and animals such as the basking python, painted storks, deer, nilgai and more.
• It was declared a national park in 1982 and later tagged as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.

Manas Wildlife Santuary (Assam)

• It is located at the base of foothills of the Bhutan-Himalayas in the state of Assam.
• It is the first reserve included in the network of tiger reserve under Project tiger in 1973.
• In 1989, Manas acquired the status of a Biosphere reserve.
• It extends over an area of 2837 Sq. Km from Sankosh River in the west to Dhansiri River in the east.
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park (Uttarakhand)

• It was established in 1982, is situated around the peak of Nanda Devi (7816 m) in the state of Uttarakhand.
• The Park was established as Sanjay Gandhi National Park by Notification in 1982 but was later renamed Nanda Devi National Park.
•  It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal)

• Sundarbans are the largest delta in the world.
• They consist of 10,200 sq km of mangrove forest, spread over India and Bangladesh.
• The part of the forest within Indian Territory is called Sundarbans National Park and is in the southern part of West Bengal.
• The Sundarbans cover an area of 38,500 sq km, of which about one-third is covered by water/marsh.
• The forest has a large number of Sundari trees.
•  It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Western Ghats

• The Western Ghats is spread across an area from the mount of the river Tapi to the cape of Kanyakumari for a distance of 1600 kms.
• Its average height is 1200 metres.
• It is a rift side in the peninsular plateau.
•  It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

Mixed Sites (Sites 1)

Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim)

• The park is also known as Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve.
• It is a national park and a biosphere reserve located in Sikkim.
• It became the first “Mixed Heritage” site of India.
• It was included in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).
• It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

Intangible Cultural Heritage of India

Intangible Cultural Heritage refers to the traditions, skills, knowledge, and expressions that are passed down through generations and are valued by communities as part of their cultural identity. It includes not just practices and customs, but also the tools, objects, and places linked to them.

UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage proposes five broad ‘domains’ in which intangible cultural heritage is manifested:

• Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage;
• Performing arts;
• Social practices, rituals and festive events;
• Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe;
• Traditional craftsmanship.

With the recent addition of Garba of Gujarat to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2023, India now has a total of 15 cultural traditions recognized on this important international list

Tradition of Vedic Chanting

• Vedas are over 3500 years old, forming a large corpus of Sanskrit poetry, dialogue, myth, and ritual.
• Transmitted orally, embodying one of the oldest surviving cultural traditions.
• Only 13 of 1000+ recitation branches survive today.
• Noted for ingenious oral preservation techniques by Brahmin priests.
• Main texts– Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda

Ramlila (North India)

• Dramatic enactment of the Ramayana, focusing on Rama’s return from exile and his battle with Ravana, incorporating song, narration, and dialogue..
• Based on Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas (16th century).
• Performed during Dussehra across northern India.
• Major centres: Ayodhya, Ramnagar, Benares, Vrindavan, Almora, Sattna, Madhubani.

Kutiyattam (Kerala)

• One of India’s oldest living theatrical traditions.
• Combines Sanskrit classicism with local Kerala traditions.
• Features neta abhinaya (eye expressions) and hasta abhinaya (gestures) to convey the main character’s emotions.
• Single act may take several days; full performance can last up to 40 days.
• Performed in Kuttampalams (temple theatres).

Ramman (Uttarakhand)

• Annual religious festival in Saloor-Dungra villages, celebrated in late April.
• Honours Bhumiyal Devta, the local deity.
• Involves rituals, epic Rama recitations, songs, and masked dances.
• Only Bhandaris (Kshatriya caste) may wear the sacred Narasimha mask.

Chhau Dance (Eastern India)

• Depicts stories from Mahabharata, Ramayana, and local folklore.
• Three regional styles: Seraikella (Jharkhand), Purulia (West Bengal), Mayurbhanj (Odisha).
• Its movement includes mock combat techniques, stylized gaits of birds and animals and movements modeled on the chores of village housewives.
• Performed at night with mohuri and shehnai.
  

Kalbelia Folk Songs and Dances (Rajasthan)

• Associated with the Kalbelia community, traditionally snake handlers.
• Women replicate serpent movements in dance, wearing tattooed and embroidered attire.
• Men play khanjari and poongi (snake-catching instruments).
• Entirely oral tradition with no written manuals.

Mudiyettu (Kerala)

• Ritual dance drama based on Kali vs. Darika myth.
• Features kalam (powder drawing) of Kali to invoke the goddess.
• Performed annually at Bhagavati temples, the temples of the goddess, in different villages along the rivers Chalakkudy Puzha, Periyar and Moovattupuzha.
• Narrative includes Narada, Shiva, and Kali’s battle with Darika.

Buddhist Chanting (Ladakh)

• In Ladakh, Buddhist lamas chant sacred texts based on Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, followed by four main sects: Nyingma, Kagyud, Shakya, and Geluk.
• Chanting includes mudras, ritual instruments, and is done indoors or in courtyards.
• Performed during rituals, life-cycle events, and Buddhist calendar days.

Sankirtana (Manipur)

• Encompasses singing, drumming, and dancing dedicated to Krishna.
• Performed by two drummers and ten singer-dancers.
• Venue: halls or courtyards, with audience participation.
• Acts as a social and spiritual glue within Manipur’s Vaishnava community.

Traditional Brass and Copper Craft (Punjab)

• Practiced by Thatheras of Jandiala Guru.
• Involves manual shaping of utensils from flattened metal plates.
• Uses hand-held bellows and earthen stoves for temperature control.
• Finished using sand and tamarind juice for polishing.

Navroz (India)

• Celebrated on 21st March by Parsis and Muslims (Shia and Sunni).
• Observed in multiple countries across Central and South Asia.
• Key ritual: Decorated table with symbolic objects and a communal meal.

Yoga

• Involves asana (poses), pranayama (breathing), dhyana (meditation).
• Aims for self-realization and liberation.
• Knowledge passed via Guru-Shishya tradition.
• Promotes spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.

Kumbh Mela

• World’s largest peaceful religious gathering.
• Held at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik every four years by rotation.
• Main ritual: bathing in sacred rivers to cleanse sins.
• Major participants: Akhadas, ashrams, and mendicants.

Durga Puja (Kolkata)

• Annual worship of Goddess Durga over 10 days in September or October.
• Begins with Mahalaya (painting eyes on idols), ends with immersion ritual.
• Celebrated for inclusive practices involving marginalized groups and women.

Garba (Gujarat)

• Devotional dance during Navratri, centred on feminine energy (Shakti).
• Performed around lit earthen pot or Amba idol.
• Dancers move in counter-clockwise circles, rhythm builds to intense pace.
• Involves singing, clapping, and synchronized movements.

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