Maratha Military Landscapes of India, developed between the 17th and 19th centuries, represent fortification and the military system by the Maratha rulers has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage 2024-25. 

The twelve component parts of this nomination include Salher fort, Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Khanderi fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijay durg, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. Distributed across diverse geographical and physiographic regions, these showcase the strategic military powers of the Maratha rule.

The Maratha Military Landscapes of India is a result of integrating the landscape, terrain and physiographic characteristics distinctive to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau and the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula.

There are more than 390 forts in Maharashtra out of which only 12 forts are selected under the Maratha Military Landscapes of India, of these eight forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). These include Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee fort whereas Salher fort, Rajgad, Khanderi fort and Pratapgarh are protected by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra. 

In the Maratha Military Landscapes of India Salher fort, Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad and Gingee fort are hill forts, Pratapgad is hill-forest fort, Panhala is hill-plateau fort, Vijaydurg is coastal fort whereas Khanderi fort, Suvarnadurg and Sindhudurg are island forts.

The inception of the Maratha Military ideology dates back to the 17th century during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by 1670 CE and continued through subsequent rules until Peshwa rule till 1818 CE.

There are two categories of nomination: cultural and natural criteria, the Maratha Military landscapes are nominated in the category of cultural criteria. 

Further, it is nominated under three separate criteria- III, IV, and VI

-To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization that in living or which has disappeared 

-To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape that illustrates significant stage(s) in human history

-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.

In Maharashtra there are six World Heritage Sites, five cultural and one natural these are, Ajanta Caves (1983), Ellora Caves (1983), Elephanta Caves (1987), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004), Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018) and western Ghats of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala is serial property in natural category (2012). 

(Source: Press Information Bureau) 

-Edited for style 

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