The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) lists and maintains

the international World Heritage Programme. A UNESCO World Heritage Site can be any place such
as a forest, lake, building, island, mountain, monument, desert, complex or a city; which has a
special physical or cultural significance. It was in the year 1972 that a resolution was adopted by the
General Conference of the UNESCO with a 'Convention concerning the protection of the World
Cultural and Natural Heritage'. The main objective of this resolution was to define the cultural and
natural aspects of these sites. Out of the total sites in the world, 32 are present in India. Of these, 25
sites have cultural importance while seven other are known for their natural splendour.

Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam: It was established in the year 1908 and was declared as
the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam: This Assam-based sanctuary was recognised for its rich
biodiversity in 1985.

Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar: The centuries old temple was declared a World Heritage Site in 2002.

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi: The tomb, which gained recognition in 1993, holds great cultural
significance as it was the first garden-tomb in the subcontinent. Qutb Minar and its Monuments,
Delhi: The red sandstone tower built in the 13th century was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list
in 1993.

Red Fort: Mughal Emperor Shahjahan built Red Fort and its complex as a part of his new capital,
Shahjahanabad in the 17th century. It gained recognition in 2007 as a part of the list of World
Heritage Site.

Churches and Convents of Goa: The churches and convents of Goa are known for their splendid
architecture and sculptures. In 1986, these churches were distinguished as heritage sites.

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat: This cultural site was inscribed in 2004 as

the World Heritage Site. It is known for its cultural significance.

Group of Monuments at Hampi: The group of temples, palaces and other monuments make
Hampi an austere site. It was declared in 1986 as a World Heritage Site.

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal: It was included in the list as a heritage site in 1987 and is
known for its temples and Jain sanctuary.

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh: The group of Buddhist monuments built

between 200 and 100 BC was named as a World Heritage Site in 1989.

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh: It is a group of "five clusters of rock shelters" and
it was recognised in 2003 as a World Heritage Site.

Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh: These monuments with Hindu and Jain
religious beliefs were declared as a heritage site in 1986.

Ajanta Caves: These Buddhist caves were listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site in 1983.

Ellora Caves: In 1983, the Ellora Complex which is an amalgamation of the religious art of
Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, was declared a world heritage site.

Elephanta Caves: The caves are located in Elephanta Island and are two groups of caves - Hindu
caves and Buddhist caves. It was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus): The headquarters of the Central

Railways; this railway station is a fine example of the Gothic revival architecture in India. Hence, in
2004 it was declared a World Heritage Site.

Sun Temple, Konarak: It was recognised in 1984 as a Heritage Site and is a monumental
representation of the sun god's chariot.

Keoladeo National Park: A reserve for numerous local and migratory birds, UNESCO recognised it
as a heritage site in 1985.

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur: Built during the 18th century, the collection of these architectural
astronomical instruments became a part of the list of heritage sites in 2004.

Great Living Chola Temples: The temples, which date back to the 11th and 12th centuries, were
inscribed in 2004 as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram: The temple town has about 40 monuments and the
temples are in shapes of chariots or mandapas and were inscribed in 1984 as UNESCO World
Heritage Site.

Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh: Also known as the Red Fort of Agra, it became a part of the UNESCO's
list in 1983.

Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh: The capital of the Mughal Empire, Fatehpur Sikri was built by
Mughal Emperor Akbar. In 1986, it was inscribed as a World heritage Site.

Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh: One of the Seven Wonders of the World, UNESCO included it in the list
of World Heritage Sites in 1983.Mountain Railways of India: It includes three railways - Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka-Shimla Railway. They were inscribed as
World Heritage Sites in 1999, 2005 and 2008 respectively.

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks: Known for their natural beauty and indigenous
flowers, the sites were recognised in 1988 and then got extension in 2005.

Sundarbans National Park: It has the world's largest mangrove forest and in 1987 was declared as
World Heritage Site.

Western Ghats: Designated in 2012 as World Heritage Site, the Western Ghats are the nature's
paradise in India.

Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Ranthambore), (Amber Sub-Cluster), (Jaisalmer), (Gagron): The

majestic forts of Rajasthan recently got recognition as World Heritage Site.

Rani ki Vav, Gujarat: It is a stepwell and a distinctive form of water storage system. In 2014, it was
added to the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Site.

Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh: The high alpine peaks, riverine forests and
alpine meadows are a part of this national park. In 2014, it was included in the list of UNESCO'S
World Heritage Site

National Museum, Delhi

Established in 1949, the National Museum of India in New Delhi is home to an

impressive collection of displays and exhibits. The displays chronicle the history of
India right from the days of the Mohenjodaro and Harappan civilizations to
modern times. On display are relics dating back to the Vedic civilization, the
personal effects of Gautama Buddha, arms and weapons used by Indian kings over
the centuries (including an elephant’s armour), art work, woodcarvings, textiles,
musical instruments, and sculptures. A tour of the museum promises to be a
fantastic experience. This is also one of the most visited museums in the country.
Indian Museum, Kolkata

The Indian Museum was established in 1814 by the Asiatic Society. At the time,
Calcutta was the capital of British India and remained the seat of political and
cultural development for a century. No wonder, the Indian Museum is the oldest
museum in south-east Asia and the largest in the country. The is divided into six
sections with a total of thirty five galleries. The artifacts and displays are classified
into Archaeology, Art, Anthropology, Botany, Geology, and Zoology. The
archaeology section is one of the most fascinating sections of the museum with
splendid displays including an Egyptian mummy. The coins gallery, musical
instrument gallery, Mughal painting gallery, mask gallery, and the Palaeo-
anthropology gallery remain favorites with the visitors.
Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad

The Salar Jung Museum of Hyderabad is probably one of the best-known in the

country. The museum was established in 1951 at the palace of Nawab Mir Yousuf
Khan, popularly known as Salar Jung III. The museum houses a collection of over
1.1 million artefacts and art pieces – all personally collected by Salar Jung III
himself. One of the best collections here is the Clock Room – a gallery of clocks and
timekeeping devices from across the world from historical times. The Quran
Collection here is also impressive. Do not miss out on the antiques from the
Mughal period. Aurangzeb’s daggers, Tipu Sultan’s wardrobe, Mughal sculptures
and art work, and the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma are part of the astounding
collection of Salar Jung.
Government Museum, Chennai

The Government Museum of Chennai, often called the Egmore Museum due to its
location in Egmore, is housed in the Pantheon Complex — a beautiful colonial
building. This museum showcases one of the most impressive exhibits from south
Indian history – the bronze sculpture collection. This gallery has on display bronze
sculptures dating back to the 7th century Pallava times, but some of the best pieces
come from the Chola empire from between the 9th and 11th centuries. It also
contains some excellent Buddhist relics and coins from ancient south India.
National Rail Museum, Delhi

The National Railway Museum  located in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi is a great

favorite with children and rail enthusiasts. Spread over an area of about 11
acres, the museum showcases the evolution railways in India. Apart from a
collection of steam engines and locomotive carriages, it also features special
carriages such as the former Viceregal Dining Car, and the Maharaja of
Mysore’s rolling salon. The Fairy Queen locomotive is also part of the display
here. The indoor display includes a great collection of old photographs of trains
from bygone times.

CALICO MUSEUM OF TEXTILES, AHMEDABAD

Fabrics and textiles have formed an important part of Indian trade and
heritage. Showcasing the splendour of Indian looms and textiles is the Calico
Museum of Textile in Ahmedabad. Not only does the museum display ancient
textiles and clothes made in India during the Mughal era, it also chronicles
the progress of the textile industry in different parts of the country. Don’t
miss out on the display of fine Kashmiri pashminas and rugs and the Ikat
handlooms. Children under the age of 10 are not permitted here, though.
NAPIER MUSEUM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Named after Sir John Napier, the former Governor General of Madras, the
Napier Museum is located in a beautiful Indo-Saracenic structure right in the
heart of Thiruvananthapuram. The museum is home to a stunning variety of
displays from across south India. Special emphasis, however, is on the wood,
bronze, and ivory carvings and artefacts from Kerala. The museum has a
special collection of Hindu god idols from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Do not miss
the Ramayana and Mahabharata exhibits which have been fashioned out of
Japanese leather dolls.

HAL HERITAGE CENTRE AND AEROSPACE

MUSEUM, BENGALURU

One of the most interesting museums across the country is the HAL Heritage
Centre and Aerospace Museum. The museum was established in 2001 by
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to showcase the aviation history and
developments across the years. The museum has a wonderful display of models
of aero engines. There are some real engines on display too. These belong to
Dornier, Jaguar, and Kiran aircrafts. The museum also has flight simulators and
a mock Air Traffic Control Tower for aviation enthusiasts to try their hands at
flying and aircraft control.

ALLAHABAD MUSEUM

Vivid depictions of India’s distant and recent past await visitors at the

Allahabad Museum. Around 72,000 artefacts are on display here, ranging
from the times of antiquity to modern history. The 16 galleries here are an
attempt to weave for visitors a rich tapestry of cultural, historical,
anthropological and contemporary knowledge, which they can easily and
eagerly understand and pass on to others.
The galleries lead to different directions in the main building, each dedicated
to a specific theme. As one enters the building, one is greeted with the star
attraction: the pistol used by the late freedom fighter, Chandrashekhar Tiwari
“Azad”, whose last stand against British oppression needs no mention.

Other galleries focus on themes such as the Natural History gallery, Gandhi
gallery, etc. Artefacts of natural history dating back from 40,000 to 1.5 lakh
years ago form some of the oldest items on display. Paintings, sketches,
ancient sculptures and weaponry from different eras adorn this museum.
Much more than being a house of wonders, however, the museum also
regularly conducts workshops on such topics as artefact conservation,
documentaries, etc. Seminars, panel discussions and other activities are also
conducted in the notable Pandit Brijmohan Vyas Auditorium.
Category
Multi - Purpose
Established
1931

The Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata

The Victoria Memorial Hall exhibits some of the finest collections of

paintings from the colonial era. From portraits of eminent colonial
administrators to paintings of Indians princes and rulers, the collection
exhibits a diverse range of themes and mediums. Paintings by Tilly Kettle,
Johan Zofanny, and Indian landscape paintings by Thomas and William
Daniell are major attractions. It also houses rare photographs of India that
were captured by the British to document the country, its people, monuments,
and the developing landscape. There is a small, but rare collection of
manuscripts from the Buddhist and Sanskrit texts.

At present, the museum collection has 28,394 artefacts displayed in nine

galleries that encapsulate the history of the South Asian subcontinent over the
past three and a half centuries. The collection includes paintings in oil and
watercolour, sketches and drawings, aquatints, lithographs, photographs, rare
books and manuscripts, stamps and postal stationery, coins and medals, arms
and armour, sculptures, costumes, personal relics and other miscellaneous
archival documents. Other important and interesting artefacts in the
collection of the Memorial include historic illustrated Persian manuscripts
like the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s hand-written Quran, the Persian
translation of the tale of Nala and Damayanti by Abul Faiz Faizi, Dara
Shikoh’s translation of the Upanishads, a manuscript copy of the Ain-i-
Akbari, Kalighat paintings, Iranian paintings of the Qajar school, Tipu
Sultan’s personal war diary, cannons and cannon balls used in the battle of
Plassey, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s personal sword, and Tantiya Tope’s
overcoat.
Category
Arts and Crafts
Established
1921

CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ VASTU SANGRAHALAYA

One of the more popular museums in Mumbai, the Chhatrapati Shivaji

Maharaj Vastu Sangralaya houses a varied range of artefacts, covering
natural history, sculptures, textiles, pre- and proto- historic art, decorative art,
Indian miniature paintings, European paintings, Chinese and Japanese
antiquities, numismatics, and prints. The museum also organizes regular
exhibitions from other museums on various artists, eras, and communities.
The lattice carved ivory jewellery from the Mughal period, personal armour
of Akbar, coins from the times of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and from that
of Chandragupta II from the 4th century A.D., and snuff bottles from the
Chinese Art collection are some of the exhibits to not be missed at this
museum. 
Category
Arts and Crafts, Archaeological
Established
1922

The Sardar Patel National Museum

The Sardar Patel National Museum, located in Bardoli, showcases some rare
photographs and dioramas from the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Spread
over 20 rooms, the collection chronicles the various periods of his life.

Rooms 1 to 5 shows photographs from his childhood, such as events from his
education and him mocking Gandhiji at the Gujarat Club in 1909.  Rooms 6
to 14 show rare photographs of the Bardoli movement, including stills from
Patel's tour to mobilise farmers, and satyagrahis being arrested. A
chronological table and a map of village cants further document the
movement. There are also oil-painted portraits of the activists.
Photographs in room 15 to 17 depict the work done by Patel post-
Independence. His contribution in the fields of education, agriculture, dairy,
khadi and village development, etc., are covered here. There are also copies
of cartoons and caricatures of Patel's activities published in the newspapers.
In the last section, there are dioramas of important events in Patel's life. 

Bardoli was a laboratory for the non-violent struggle for freedom, and
continues to inspire visitors to this day. It is also where Patel earned the
spontaneous and popular title of 'Sardar'.
Category
Personalia
Established
1974

National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, NEW DELHI

National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum was set up over a period of 30

years starting in the 1950s and 60s by the efforts of the renowned freedom
fighter Late Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. This was when the area was
envisaged as an ethnographic space where craftsmen from various parts of
India would come in to work towards the preservation of various traditional
arts and crafts.

Today the museum holds over 35,000 rare and distinctive pieces reflecting
the continuing traditions of Indian craftsmen through paintings, embroidery,
textiles, and various crafts of clay, stone and wood, all housed in a building
designed between 1975 and 1990 by the architect Charles Correa.
The various galleries within the museum include the Tribal and Rural Craft
Gallery, Gallery of Courtly Crafts, Textile Gallery, Gallery of Popular
Culture etc. The museum also houses a village complex spread over 5-acres,
with 15 structures representing village dwellings, courtyards and shrines from
different states of India, with items of day-to-day life displayed. The entire
village complex is a remnant of a temporary exhibition on the theme of rural
India, held in 1972.

The highlights at this museum are occasional performances of folk art and
dance, a village complex, 250-300-year-old Bhoota collection from
Karnataka, rare Kashmiri 300-year-old dushalas, and handkerchiefs from
Chamba known for their unique embroidery.
Category
Arts and Crafts
Established
1956

National Agricultural Science Museum (NASM) New Delhi

National Agricultural Science Museum (NASM), situated in the National

Agricultural Science Centre campus of ICAR in New Delhi, is the first of its
kind in the country. The museum traces the development of agriculture in
India from prehistoric times to the present technology of agriculture in our
country, with a futuristic projection.  The museum has 150 exhibits which are
displayed in 10 major sections viz. Six Pillars of Agriculture, Agriculture in
Prehistoric Era, Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic & Post Vedic Era, Sultanate
& Mughal Era, Advent of the British, Advancement of Agricultural Sciences
in Independent India, Global Issues related to Agriculture, Towards a Food-
Secure Future, and Children's Section. 
Category
Science

National Museum of Indian Cinema

The recently inaugurated National Museum of Indian Cinema is the first of

its kind. Housed in two buildings in the Films Division complex, it has a
public space for visitors to relax and sit in. Gulshan Mahal, a beautifully
restored nineteenth-century heritage building, has nine sections and take
visitors through 100 years of Indian cinema. It's collection consists of several
documents, posters, models/dioramas, multimedia kiosks and artefacts.
Spread across two floors, the nine sections include: The Origin of Cinema,
Cinema Comes to India, Indian Silent Film, Advent of Sound, The Studio
Era, The Impact of World War II, Creative Resonance, New Wave and
Beyond and Regional Cinema. However, the building isn’t disability friendly,
as one has to climb wooden stairs to get to the first floor.
 
The New Museum Building has four fully air-conditioned exhibition halls
spread across four floors (accessible through escalators and lifts). These
include—Level 1: Gandhi and Cinema; Level 2: Children’s Film Studio;
Level 3: Technology, Creativity and Indian Cinema; Level 4: Cinema across
India. The children’s film studio is a must visit for young audiences and
school groups as they provide children with an immersive experience, using
interactive elements like a stop-motion animation studio, a sound effects and
mixing studio, a photo studio and more. Instead of a tour guide, the museum
has digital kiosks with old telephone receivers for certain exhibits, which one
can pick up and listen to in three different languages. There are also
timelines, wherever necessary, that place India on the world map. (Do not
miss the section on Satyajit Ray and his cameras!).
Category
Arts and Crafts, Film
Established
2019