World Heritage Identification Number: 1739
World Heritage since: 2025
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Buildings & Architectural Ensembles
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇮🇳 India
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Maratha Military Landscapes of India: A Testament to the Maratha Empire's Military Might
The Maratha Military Landscapes of India, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025, offer a captivating glimpse into the strategic military prowess of the Maratha Empire. Comprising twelve significant fortifications, primarily situated within Maharashtra State but extending to Tamil Nadu, this collection of historical sites serves as a tangible testament to the Marathas' rise as a formidable political and military power.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The property includes twelve major fortifications, mostly in Maharashtra State, with one in Tamil Nadu. These forts, such as Raigad, Shivneri, and Sindhudurg, were built, adapted, or expanded by the Marathas between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. Strategically located on coastal and mountainous terrain, they formed a complex defence system supporting Maratha military dominance, trade protection, and territorial control. This network played a key role in the Marathas’ rise as a major political and military force.
Encyclopedia Record: Maratha Military Landscapes of India
The Maratha Military Landscapes of India are a group of 12 forts that were occupied and developed by the Maratha rulers between the 17th and 19th-century. These include Salher, Shivneri Fort, Lohagad, Khanderi, Raigad Fort, Rajgad Fort, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijaydurg Fort, Sindhudurg Fort, all located in Maharashtra and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. Spread across various geographical terrains, these forts showcase the military prowess of Maratha rule. It was declared as a World Heritage Site in 2025.Additional Site Details
Area: 1,577.63 hectares
Number of Components: 12
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
Coordinates: 20.7225 , 73.9425
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© DRONAH. Used with permission.
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Maratha Military Landscapes of India from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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The Development and Characteristics of Forts in Maharashtra with Special Reference to Raigad
Maharashtra's forts, including Raigad, represent a significant architectural and historical landscape shaped by geography, political dynamics, and martial traditions. This study reveals that these forts evolved strategically across diverse ecological zones—coastal belts, forested highlands, and the rugged Sahyadri mountains—reflecting their adaptive design to environmental and defensive needs. Raigad Fort emerges as a pivotal case study, showcasing advanced planning, robust defensive systems, and socio-administrative structures that underpinned Maratha sovereignty under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The research categorizes forts by architectural and functional characteristics over time, demonstrating how ecological conditions influenced their construction and strategic significance.
Gaikwad, S. A. (2024). The Development and Characteristics of Forts in Maharashtra with Special Reference to Raigad. EduPub. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.17769058
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