UNIT - II UNESCO • The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO; is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, the sciences, and culture. • It has 193 member states and 11 associate members, as well as partners in the nongovernmental, intergovernmental, and private sector • Headquartered in Paris, France ASI • The Archaeological Survey of India is an Indian government agency attached to the Ministry of Culture that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country. • It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General. • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. INTACH • The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage is a non-profit charitable organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. • In 2007, the United Nations awarded INTACH a special consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council. • The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was founded in 1984 in New Delhi with the vision to spearhead heritage awareness and conservation in India. • Today INTACH is recognized as one of the world’s largest heritage organizations, with over 190 Chapters across the Country. In the past 31 years INTACH has pioneered the conservation and preservation of not just our natural and built heritage but intangible heritage as well. • Headquartered in New Delhi. List Of Indian Heritage Sites In India, There Are 30 Cultural Sites And 7 Natural Sites and 1 Mixed criteria site • Cultural • Qutb Minar And Its Monuments,Delhi • Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) At • Agra Fort Patan,Gujarat • Ajanta Caves • Red Fort Complex • Buddhist Monuments At Sanchi • Rock Shelters Of Bhimbetka • Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park • Sun Temple , Konarak • Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria terminus) • Taj Mahal • Churches And Convents Of Goa • The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur • Elephanta Caves • Ellora Caves • Fatehpur Sikri • Natural • Great Living Chola Temples • Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area • Group of Monuments at Hampi • Kaziranga National Park • Group Of Monuments at Mahabalipuram • Keoladeo National Park • Group of Monuments At Pattadakai • Manas Wildlife Sanctuary • Hills Forts Of Rajasthan • Nanda Devi And Valley Of Flowers National • Humayun’s Tomb ,Delhi Parks • Khajuraho Group Of Monuments • Sundarbans National Park • Mahabodhi Temple Complex At Bodh Gaya • Western Ghats • Mountain Railways Of India Cultural heritage ➢ Monuments: architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings and combinations of features, which are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science; ➢ Groups of buildings: groups of separate or connected buildings which, because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science; ➢ Sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and of man, and areas including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological points of view. Natural Heritage ➢ Natural features consisting of physical and biological formations or groups of such formations, which are of outstanding universal value from the aesthetic or scientific point of view; ➢ Geological and physiographical formations and precisely delineated areas which constitute the habitat of threatened species of animals and plants of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation; ➢ Natural sites or precisely delineated natural areas of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty. Criteria for World Heritage Site For a property to be included on the world heritage list, the world heritage committee must find that it meets one or more of the following criteria: 1. To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius; 2. To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design; 3. To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared; 4. To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; 5. To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change; 6. To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. 7. To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance; 8. To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; 9. To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals; 10. To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. DECLARED AS WORLD HERITAGE SITE- 1983 These were built from 16th century onwards till early 18th century, starting with Emperor Akbar's reign in the 16th century to that of Aurangzeb in the early part of the 18th century, including the contributions made during the reign of Jahangir and Shahjahan of the Mughal Rule in India; • the impressive structures built within the precincts of the fort are the Khas Mahal, the Shish Mahal, Muhamman Burje (an octagonal tower), Diwan-e-Khas (1637), Diwan-E-Am, white marble mosque or the Pearl Mosque (built during 1646–1653) and the Nagina Masjid (1658–1707). • These monuments are remarkable for the fusion of Persian art of the Timurid and the Indian art form. It is very close to the famous Taj Mahal with a buffer zone separating the two monuments AJANTA CAVES AJANTA CAVES • The Ajanta Caves are approximately 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India. • The caves, cut into the face of a mountain, form a horseshoe shape around the Wangorah River. • The Ajanta Caves have five chaityas, which are basically prayer halls. • Other caves are known as Viharas, which are monasteries with residents. • Caves 8,9,10,12, 13, and some bits of 15 are early Buddhist caves. • The caves were first discovered in 1819, when Jon Smith, a British official accidentally stumbled upon the horse-shoe shaped rock while hunting a tiger. • They are an example of one of Indian's unique artistic traditions known as rock cut temples. • Ajanta consists of thirty caves, each dedicated to the life of the Buddha. • Each cave is filled with sculpture, wall murals, and ceiling paintings. • They are universally regarded as masterpieces of Buddhist religious art. • The Buddhist theme of the Ajanta paintings recounts the life of Lord Buddha and tales of his previous experiences. • Declared as a UNESCO World heritage site DECLARED AS WORLD HERITAGE SITE- 1989 On a hill overlooking the plain and about 40 km from Bhopal, the site of Sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments (monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in different states of conservation most of which date back to the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. • History tells that when Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism in 250 BC, he erected the Great Stupa here after redistribution of mortal remains of Lord Buddha for erecting several stupas all over the country in order to spread Buddhism. • He built his first “stupa” at Sanchi and later several more, as well as other religious structures. • These monolithic monuments were engraved with edicts and teachings of Lord Buddha. This Great Stupa served as a nucleus to the large Buddhist establishment during the later period. • Emperor Ashoka was drawn to the teachings of Buddha that they spread, particularly those of social justice. • To help spread the message of Buddhism around the Indian subcontinent, Ashoka erected stupas and other monuments with inscriptions. • The second largest stupa, the Sanchi Stupa, is a major monument constructed to portray the life and journey of Lord Buddha. • The relics of Lord Buddha are wonderfully engraved on the columns and pillars of the stupas. • Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi are Stupas, monolithic Ashoka pillar, temples, monasteries DECLARED AS WORLD HERITAGE SITE- 2004 The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria