Context:
Maratha Military Landscapes of India will be India’s nomination for recognition as UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2024-25
Maratha Military Landscapes of India:
- Maratha Military Landscapes of India – Regions showcasing the strategic military powers of the Maratha rule.
- Timeperiod – 17th and 19th centuries
- Significance – Nominated for inclusion in Cultural category of UNESCO’s World Heritage List
- Area – Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau and the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula.
- Includes –
- Salher fort, Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad and Gingee fort (Tamil Nadu) – Hill Forts
- Pratapgad – Hill-forest fort
- Panhala – Hill-plateau fort
- Vijaydurg – Coastal fort
- Khanderi fort, Suvarnadurg and Sindhudurg – Island forts.
Major forts:
- Raigad – Coronation (Shivrajyaabhishek) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was conducted here.
- He made it his capital in 1674 AD.
- Shivneri – Birthplace of Shivaji but never ruled the fort.
- Sindhudurg – Built on an island in Konkan region during Shivaji’s reign.
- Pratapgarh – Famous for the encounter between Shivaji and Afzal Khan.
Maratha Empire:
- Timeperiod – 1674 to 1818 (decline of Mughals)
- Area – Deccan region
- Important rulers – Chhatrapati Shivaji, Sambhaji, Tarabai, Peshwa Baji Rao, Nana Sahib
- Famous for – Naval power
- Important reforms – Sardeshmukhi, Chauth
- Major events – Anglo Maratha Wars
- Declined with – 3rd Battle of Panipat
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India:
- Total – 42
- Cultural – 34
- Natural – 7
- Mixed – 1
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?
1. Both were built in the same period
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination
3. Both have rock-cut monuments
Select the correct answer using the code given below
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) None of the statements
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect. The Ajanta Caves is in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, with about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE. Mahabalipuram, an epitome of Hindu architecture has a group of sanctuaries, which was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries.
