Twelve forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, part of the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’, have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat celebrated the decision, calling it a proud day for Maharashtra and India’s cultural legacy.
Pictures of Maharashtra forts included in UNESCO list. Pic/X (Gajendra singh Shekhawat)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism expressed sheer happiness after the inclusion of 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The inclusion of these sites has been welcomed by all quarters, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis calling it a "proud and glorious moment" for the state.
The decision to include these 12 forts in the UNESCO World Heritage List was taken during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in Paris.
'Maratha Military Landscapes' in the UNESCO World Heritage List comprises the forts of Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijay Durg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
Expressing gratitude towards UNESCO, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on social media platform X, "Maharashtra Govt offers salutations to our beloved Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj!! Heartiest congratulations to all the citizens and ShivBhakts of Maharashtra," Fadnavis said in a post on X.
Indeed, it’s an amazing moment for Maharashtra and India !
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) July 11, 2025
Thank you Sir for all your efforts and support to make this possible!@gssjodhpur #unescoworldheritage https://t.co/WNkssWAkXP
"I am extremely happy to share that the 12 forts of our greatest king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List."
CM Fadnavis added that “Shivaji Maharaj built these forts for ‘Swarajya’ (sovereign state).”
Apart from the Maharashtra Chief Minister, the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also took to social media platform X. While praising the beauty of Maharashtra forts and celebrating the inclusion of these forts on the World Heritage Site list, Shekawat stated, “Truly a proud day for Bharat’s cultural heritage. With immense pride, I announce that UNESCO has inscribed the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’—12 iconic forts of the Maratha Empire—into the World Heritage List.”
He further added, ‘My heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji for his visionary leadership in preserving and celebrating India’s glorious past. This is India’s 44th UNESCO World Heritage Site—a testament to our rich civilisational legacy, indigenous military engineering, and architectural brilliance.”
NCP leader Ajit Pawar also appreciated the efforts of the state's Department of Cultural Affairs in meticulously preparing the proposal and said the recognition highlights Maharashtra's historical and architectural glory.
He also urged the people of Maharashtra to take a renewed pledge for the protection and conservation of all forts across the state.
Ajit Pawar stated, “These forts, which include the Ginjee fort in Tamil Nadu, bear witness to the valour, sacrifice, and vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha warriors, and now their legacy will gain global visibility and respect,” as cited by news agency PTI.
Maharashtra's mountaineers said the inclusion of these forts in the UNESCO World Heritage List will boost efforts to conserve these structures, which played a key role in Shivaji Maharaj's guerilla warfare tactics.
Hrishikesh Yadav, executive president of the association, also addressed the media, saying, "The most important aspect of the inclusion in the list is that now the (UNESCO-prescribed) rules that govern the upkeep of such sites will apply to these forts. It will help in conservation efforts," as per PTI.
Yadav said, “The AMGM had presented scale models of the forts during a meeting of the heritage panel, which helped them understand the historical significance of these structures, the surrounding challenging terrain, and their architecture.”
(With PTI Inputs)
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