Niran Kumar Reward Points : 3900 Member Since : Thursday, March 19, 2009
What are the world heritage monuments in India? On what basis these are selected? Is there any world heritage monument in Kolkata?
Posted On : 4/9/2009 4:03:39 AM
Indravadan Modi Reward Points : 23300 Member Since : Saturday, January 10, 2009
In 1972, the General Conference of UNESCO adopted a resolution with overwhelming enthusiasm creating thereby a Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage . The main objectives of the convention were to define the World Heritage in both cultural and natural aspects to enlist Sites and Monuments from the member countries which are of exceptional interest and universal value, the protection of which is the concern of all mankind and to promote co-operation among all Nations and people to contribute for the protection of these universal treasures intact for future generations. The recorded sites on the World Heritage list now stands at 830 which includes both cultural and natural sites, .and endowment that is shared by all mankind and the protection of which is our primal concern: India is an active member State on the World Heritage from 1977 and has been working in close co-operation with other International agencies. Agra Fort, Ajanta Caves , Ellora Caves, Taj Mahal, Mahabalipuram Group of Monuments , Sun Temple, Group of Monuments at Hampi, Churches and Convents of Goa , Fatehpur Sikri, Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Elephanta Caves , Great Living Chola Temples, Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi , Humayun s Tomb New Delhi, Qutb Complex, New Delhi are some of the world heritage monuments.
Posted On : 4/9/2009 11:12:59 PM
Kiran Kabiraj Reward Points : 26500 Member Since : Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The World Heritage sites are declared by the UNESCO. These sites receive special attention from UNESCO so that they can be maintained properly for their cultural, traditional and environmental values. India is a beautiful land with numerous monuments, temples and national parks. Hence there are several places throughout the sub-continent which are included in the list of World Heritage sites in India. These sites comprise both cultural and natural properties and are scattered in East, West, North and South regions of India. The World Heritage sites in India consist of religious places, historical monuments, national parks and sanctuaries. While the ancient ruins of Hampi, Bhimbhetka and others reflect the splendid Indian architecture, the Sun Temple of Konark, Mahabodhi Temple and other such religious places are also part of the UNESCO recognised World Heritage Sites in India. The magnificent architecture of the Indian monuments, the antiquity of the place and the cultural importance are some of the reasons why these have been included in this prestigious list. Certain Indian national parks, such as, Kaziranga and Sunderbans, are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
Splendid monuments, such as the Taj Mahal, are part of the World Heritage Sites in North India. Tourists from across the globe drop in to witness the glory of this memorial of love. Besides, there are historical sites like the Red Fort in Delhi. Khajuraho Group of temples, located in Chhatarpur District of Madhya Pradesh were declared World Heritage sites in 1986, recalling back the inimitable sculptural work of masons in telling stories of love, lust and eroticism. The seat of Chandella rulers, this monumental creation is a rare amalgamation of Hindu and Jain religious Gods and Goddesses. The Buddhist monuments in Sanchi were to come next in the prestigious line-up of World Heritage monuments in Central India. Sanchi has, since Mauryan times, been considered the peak of Buddhist religious spreading and popularity. Located in Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi Buddhist monuments were chosen world heritage sites by UNESCO in 1989. The Great Stupa and its Ashokan Pillar in this pretty humble village deserves special mention in World Heritage concern, all of which have been meticulously built, holding in almost every kind unusualness in architectural exuberance.
Posted On : 4/14/2009 5:04:11 AM
Maniam PS [Guru] Reward Points : 137200 Member Since : Wednesday, March 18, 2009
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city that is on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 state parties which are elected by their General Assembly for a four-year term. A world heritage site is a place of either cultural or physical significance. The programme catalogues, names, and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. Under certain conditions, listed sites can obtain funds from the World Heritage Fund. The programme was founded with the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on November 16, 1972. Since then, 185 state parties have ratified the convention. As of 2008, 878 sites are listed: 678 cultural, 174 natural, and 26 mixed properties, in 145 .UNESCO references each World Heritage Site with an identification number but new inscriptions often include previous sites now listed as part of larger descriptions. As a result, the identification numbers exceed 1200 even though there are fewer on the list. Each World Heritage Site is the property of the state on whose territory the site is located, but it is considered in the interest of the international community to preserve each site The United States initiated the idea of combining cultural conservation with nature conservation. A White House conference in 1965 called for a World Heritage Trust to preserve the world s superb natural and scenic areas and historic sites for the present and the future of the entire world citizenry. The International Union for Conservation of Nature developed similar proposals in 1968, and they were presented in 1972 to the United Nations conference on Human Environment in Stockholm. A single text was agreed on by all parties, and the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972. Nominating process: A country must first take an inventory of its significant cultural and natural properties. This is called the Tentative List, and is important because a country may not nominate properties that have not already been included on the Tentative List. Next, it can select a property from this list to place into a Nomination File. The World Heritage Centre offers advice and help in preparing this file. At this point, the file is evaluated by the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the World Conservation Union. These bodies then make their recommendations to the World Heritage Committee. The Committee meets once per year to determine whether or not to inscribe each nominated property on the World Heritage List, and sometimes defers the decision to request more information from the country who nominated the site. There are ten selection criteria - a site must meet at least one of them to be included on the list. Until the end of 2004, there were six criteria for cultural heritage and four criteria for natural heritage. In 2005, this was modified so that there is only one set of ten criteria. Nominated sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one of the ten criteria. 7 Cultural criteria: I. to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius II. 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 III. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared IV. 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 V. 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 VI. 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. The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria. Natural criteria: VII. to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance VIII. 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 IX. 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 X. to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-site conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
Indian Monuments
