Maharashtra's 12 Maratha Forts Receive UNESCO World Heritage Certificate

• Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar formally received the UNESCO World Heritage certificate for 12 forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Paris.
• The forts were inscribed last year as ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ during the 47th UNESCO session on July 11, 2025.
• The recognized forts include Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohgad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
• This recognition places India’s indigenous fort architecture on the global heritage map and is expected to boost conservation and responsible tourism.
• Minister Shelar also paid tribute to B. R. Ambedkar at UNESCO, whose bust was installed by Maharashtra on Constitution Day last year.