Dholavira now a world heritage site

GUJARAT NOW HAS FOUR WORLD HERITAGE SITES — DHOLAVIRA, CHAMPANER NEAR PAVAGADH, RANI KI VAV IN PATAN AND AHMEDABAD.

NEW DELHI: Dholavira, a Harappan-era city in Gujarat, was inscribed on the World Heritage list by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on Tuesday, making it the 40th Indian site on the list.

Gujarat now has four world heritage sites — Dholavira, Champaner near Pavagadh, Rani ki Vav in Patan and the historic city of Ahmedabad. “Dholavira: A Harappan City, in India, just inscribed on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List. Congratulations!” Unesco tweeted on

Tuesday. Earlier on Sunday, the 13th century Ramappa temple in Telangana’s Warangal was included in the list during the 44th session of Unesco’s World Heritage Committee. “Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple received its inscription as a World Heritage Site on 25 July and Dholavira: A Harrapan City was inscribed on the World Heritage List today, 27 July, bringing India’s number of World Heritage sites to 40,” Unesco said in a statement. World heritage sites are protected under international convention and selected for their unique cultural significance by Unesco, which also provides “emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger”. Newly appointed Union minister for culture G Kishan Reddy said India has now become a member of the “Super-40 club”. “It gives immense pride to share with my fellow Indians that #Dholavira is now the 40th treasure in India to be given @UNESCO’s World Heritage Inscription. Another feather in India’s cap as we now enter the Super-40 club for World Heritage Site inscriptions,” he tweeted. “Since 2014, India has added 10 new World Heritage sites - one fourth of our total sites. This shows PM @arendramodi’s steadfast commitment in promoting Indian culture, heritage and the Indian way of life,” the minister said. PM Narendra Modi said he was “absolutely delighted”, adding that Dholavira was an important urban centre and an important linkage with the country’s past.