On this World Heritage Day on 18th April, let’s celebrate, preserve, promote & protect our rich heritage.
Maharashtra hosts five out of the 38 UNESCO world heritage sites, making it the state with the highest number of UNESCO-recognized sites. Each of these sites is a repository of history and culture and an architectural marvel. Each site has a tale to tell.
“The State of Maharashtra presents a unique ensemble of World Heritage sites – from Rock-cut architecture, classic masterpieces of painted art, sculptural monuments like Kailash dating back to the 2nd century BC to Victorian Architecture and Art Deco buildings in Mumbai. Further, it has potential for more world heritage nominations in Maratha Forts, Lonar Lake, Petroglyphs of Konkan, among others. So come and experience the world-class rich heritage of Maharashtra.”- Dr. Tejas Garge Director Archaeology and Museums.
Here are the UNESCO Recognised World Heritage Sites in the State:
Ajanta Caves
Located in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra state, the Ajanta Caves are approximately 32 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments. The first cave monuments among the Ajanta caves date back to the 2nd and 1st BC, and during the Gupta Period (5th and 6th AD), the second – 25 monasteries were added. The Ajanta caves are renowned for their paintings and sculptures and are a vital tourism spot in Maharashtra. Additionally, the paintings and sculptures found in the Ajanta Caves are considered the masterpieces of Buddhist religious art and have had a considerable artistic influence.
Spreading over an expanse of 8,242 hectares (and a buffer zone of 78,676 hectares), the Ajanta caves form one of the most significant cave structures of the country. They have also been mentioned in several memoirs of Chinese-Buddhist travellers from the medieval era and the accounts of a Mughal-era official from Akbar’s reign in the early 17th century. Interestingly, the caves were covered by the jungle until they were accidentally discovered by a British colonial officer in the year 1819. The Ajanta caves were designated as a UNESCO recognized World Heritage site in the year 1983.
The Ajanta caves are approximately 430 kilometers away from Mumbai and 335 kilometers away from Pune.
How to Reach: People can travel to Ajanta Caves by Road, State Transport, or Railways. Jalgaon city, about 60 kilometers from Ajanta Caves is the nearest railhead.
Chhratrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
(Formerly known as Victoria Terminus)
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Station, formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, in Mumbai is a splendid example of the Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India, with a blend of themes derived from traditional Indian architecture. British architect F. W. Stevens designed the building of this World Heritage site. Over time, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus station has become the symbol of Mumbai is the ‘Gothic City’ and an important mercantile port of India.
According to a High Victorian Gothic design, built over ten years (started in 1878,) the terminal was constructed based on late medieval Italian models. The stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan showcase a striking resemblance to Indian Palace architecture. It is a remarkable example of the meeting of two cultures, as it was worked upon by British architects who worked with Indian artisans to include Indian architectural tradition, thus forging a unique and new style to Mumbai. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Railway Station is the headquarter of the Indian Central Railways and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in the year 2004.
How to Reach: It is 160 kilometers away from Pune. People can travel to this UNESCO recognized world heritage site by Road, State Transport, or Railways.
Elephanta Caves
Also known as the ‘City of Caves, the Elephanta Caves are a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Shiva, located on an island in the Sea of Oman close to Mumbai. It is home to one of the perfect expressions of Indian art, particularly the monumental high reliefs in the main cave structure. Additionally, the main cave’s orientation and the relative location of the other caves are in a Mandala pattern. The carvings of the caves are narrations of Hindu Mythology, with large monolithic 20 feet Trimurti Sadashiva (Three-faced Shiva), Nataraja (the Lord of Dance), and Yogishvara (the God of Yoga) being the most celebrated works.
The caves were discovered by colonial Portuguese, who renamed and initially titled Elefante Caves to Elephanta Caves after finding elephant statues on the caves. The main cave used to be a Hindu place of worship until the Portuguese arrived and established a base on the island.
The soldiers of the Portuguese base caused most of the sculpture and cave damage. British India officials started the earliest attempts to restore and prevent further damage to the site in 1909. The monuments were then restored by 1970 and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
The Elephanta Caves are situated approximately 25.5 kilometers away from Mumbai and 161 kilometers away from Pune. People can travel to the Elephanta Caves via Road, State Transport, or Water Ferries.
Ellora Caves
Extending for more than 2 kilometers, the Ellora Caves comprise 34 monasteries and temples dug side-by-side in the wall of a high basalt cliff. The Ellora caves are situated in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state and are only 100 kilometers away from the Ajanta Caves located in the same district. With its sequence of monuments ranging from 600 AD to 1000 AD, the Ellora Caves bring the civilization of ancient India to life.
The ensemble of 34 caves at Ellora showcases the spirit of co-existence and religious tolerance through the outstanding architectural activities carried out by followers of three prominent religions – Buddhism, Brahmanism, and Jainism. The earliest caves excavated between the 5th and 8th centuries reflect the Buddhist philosophy of the Mahayana culture prevalent in the region during those times. The caves that showcased the Brahmanical Ideology, including the Kailasa Temple, were excavated between the 7th and 10th centuries. The last phase of excavations carried out between the 9th and 12th centuries witnessed the excavation of a group of caves that reflected the Jain ideologies. Like Ajanta Caves, the Ellora Caves were also designated as a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage site in 1983.
Ellora caves are located approximately 340.5 kilometers away from Mumbai and 257 kilometers away from Pune. People can use Road Transport, State Transport, or Railways to visit this UNESCO Heritage site. Aurangabad Railway Station is the nearest railhead and is around 30 km from the Ellora.
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
In the second half of the 19th century, Mumbai implemented one of the rather ambitious urban planning projects, which led to an ensemble of the public building bordering the Oval Maidan in open space. They were first adopted in the Victorian Gothic and Neo-Gothic styles of architecture and then in the Art-Deco idiom in the early 20th century. The Victorian Neo-Gothic ensemble includes the Indian elements suited to the climate, including balconies and verandas. While the Art-Deco edifices with their cinemas and residential buildings that blend Indian design with Art-Deco imagery. The unique blend has been described as Indo-Deco.
The two waves of urban development in Mumbai that took place during the late 19th and early 20th centuries transformed the city from a fortified trading outpost to the first city of India. Today, the Oval Maidan offers a spectacular ensemble of Victorian Gothic buildings on the eastern side. At the same time, another impressive ensemble of the Art-Deco building sits on the western side of the Oval Maidan. They also provide a testimony to the modernization phases that the city went through, leading to a modern independent India in 1947. The Victorian Gothic and Art-Deco Ensemble of Mumbai was the latest addition to UNESCO’s recognized World Heritage sites in Maharashtra and were designated the same in 2018.
The Victorian Gothic and Art-Deco Ensemble of Mumbai is situated approximately 22 kilometers away from the outskirts of Mumbai City and about 161 kilometers from Pune. People can visit this heritage site via Road Transport, State Transport, or Railways.
