A proposal to grant World Heritage status to 12 forts associated with Shivaji Maharaj has been submitted to UNESCO headquarters in Paris. This initiative is being led by Maharashtra’s Cultural Minister, Ashish Shelar.
According to an official statement, the Maharashtra government has submitted a proposal to UNESCO under the theme ‘Maratha Military Landscape of India’, seeking inclusion of 12 forts in the World Heritage List. The forts included in the proposal are Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohagad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
Granting these forts World Heritage status will open the way for better conservation and development of tourism. This will help in preserving cultural heritage and boosting the economy, said minister.
Shivaji Maharaj’s forts are not only a testament to his military acumen but also symbolize his strategic vision. These forts were built and restored by Shivaji Maharaj to secure and expand his empire. They played a crucial role in military defense and helped safeguard different regions of his kingdom.
Maharashtra is home to more than 390 forts. Among them, eight forts—Shivneri, Lohagad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, and Gingee—are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Meanwhile, Salher, Rajgad, Khanderi, and Pratapgad forts are under the protection of the Maharashtra government.
It is noteworthy that the Maratha military ideology started in the 17th century during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1670 AD and continued until the Peshwa rule ended in 1818 AD.
