UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites

UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites includes proposed cultural and natural landmarks under consideration for future recognition as World Heritage Sites.

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Context: The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added six new sites from India to its Tentative List.

What is UNESCO’s Tentative List?

The Tentative List is an inventory of properties a country intends to consider for nomination to the World Heritage List.
Inclusion in the tentative list is mandatory before a site is formally nominated.
It helps UNESCO assess the site’s potential Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).
India now has 62 sites on the Tentative List.

6 Heritage Sites Added in UNESCO’s Tentative List From India

Name of Site	Key Features
Kanger Valley National Park	Location: Bastar District (Chhattisgarh). It draws its name from the Kanger river. Tirthagarh waterfalls. Home to limestone caves (Kotumsar, Kailash, Dandak) and rare blind cave fish. Dense forests with Dandakaranaya, linked to Ramayana.
Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs	They are located near the banks of Krishna River, Telangana. They are estimated to be 3500-4000 years old. A menhir is a standing or an upright stone, which is usually tapered at the top. It is one of India’s largest and best-preserved megalithic astronomical observatories. It is the only South Asian site featuring celestial representations on stone.
Ashokan Edict Sites along the Mauryan Routes.	Edicts of Emperor Ashoka (3rd Century BCE) spread across India. Inscribed on rocks, pillars, and caves in Prakrit using Brahmi script. They depict the moral and administrative policies of Ashoka and spread of Buddhism.
Chausath Yogini Temples	Circular temples dedicated to 64 Yoginis (Tantric goddesses). Located in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Built between 8th–12th centuries, early inspiration for Parliament House design.
Gupta Temples in North India	Gupta period (4th–6th century CE) temples showcasing Nagara-style architecture. E.g. Dashavatara Temple (Deogarh), Bhitargaon Temple (UP), Eran Temple (MP). Their architectural design combines elements of both Buddhist and Hindu styles. Most of the Gupta temples are made of sun-dried bricks and terracotta, with some made in sandstone. The temples had a basic square plan and flat roof with a circumambulatory path, a low height shikhara & doorways were mainly T-shaped with decorative bands.
Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas	Built by Bundela Rajputs (16th–19th century). Six forts: Garhkundar Fort, Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Datia Palace, Jhansi Fort & Dhubela Palace. A blend of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles.

UNESCO

A specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), UNESCO aims to promote world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.
It was founded in 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations’ International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
UNESCO aims to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values.

UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites

UNESCO tentative list is an inventory of those properties or sites which each State Party intends to consider for nomination in future.
Even though adding a site to the tentative list is a necessary prerequisite for any site to make it to the UNESCO World Heritage List, it does not guarantee a place on the final list.
International experts review the nomination and determine whether inclusion is necessary. The World Heritage Committee meets once a year to finally vote on the nominees.