March 28, 2019
World Heritage sites are managed by UNESCO. The International World Heritage programme recognizes sites of cultural importance such as forests, mountains, islands, deserts, monument, building, complex or a city as Heritage Sites for the preservation of cultural heritage. These sites will be maintained under the supervision of UNESCO. The criteria for selecting a site as Heritage site is that it should represent outstanding universal significance in terms of cultural contributions. The sites will be listed by each country and then, the International committee decides after examination of the prominence of such sites.
India has many World
Heritage sites. Let us focus upon Maharashtra state. Four sites have
been listed under the World Heritage Sites program in Maharashtra.
To visit and explore these places you will need a well travel plan and for this either you can go by railway or can think of hiring a cab because that would be a insightful travel experience for you as it will pick up you from your location and drives you to each site which offers unique and fascinating experience.
To visit and explore these places you will need a well travel plan and for this either you can go by railway or can think of hiring a cab because that would be a insightful travel experience for you as it will pick up you from your location and drives you to each site which offers unique and fascinating experience.
Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus:
It is popularly known
as CST, which was under terrorist attack. The railway terminus is
built in the Victorian Gothic style comprising beautiful carvings. It
became a World Heritage Monument in 2004.
Ajanta:
Situated about 100 km from the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra these rock cut caves are well known for paintings. These caves were discovered by British officers in the 19th century. These caves date back to 100 B.C. All are Buddhist Caves. |
| image credit:kamat.com |
Ajanta caves can be
approached by road. Hire taxis or take the MTDC tourist buses to
reach Ajanta from Aurangabad city. Ajanta caves are protected by
Eco-Conservation program. So, public vehicles are not allowed inside
the premises. Public or private vehicles would drop you at the
T-point and from there the tourists will be taken in an Eco-friendly
bus. It takes about 5 minute to reach the cave site from the T-point.
Ellora:
Ellora rock cut caves are situated at about 27 km from Aurangabad city. There are 34 caves in total belonging to Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions. They were built in various periods spanning from 5th to 11th centuries. Kailas Nath Temple, which is known for its magnificence is a single rock cut temple. |
| image credit:siddharthtravels.com |
Ellora can be reached
by road. Aurangabad is the nearest destination for accommodation and
transportation. You can visit the Daulatabad Fort on the way.
Elephanta Caves:
 |
| Image credit: Christian Haugen |
These 7th century caves are located on an island in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai Coast. Elephanta caves are located at about 9 nautical miles from the Gateway of India. You can reach the site by ferries. Regular ferries are available near the Gateway of India.
Western Ghats :
In 2012 UNESCO gave world heritage site status to 39 sites of the western ghat. The mountains cover an area of about 160,000 sq km (61,776 sq miles) stretching from the country's southern tip to Gujarat in the north to a place near Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Western Ghats forests are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish species.
Wester ghat is recognised as one of the world's eight "hottest biological diversity hotspots"
Some of popular tourist places to visit in western ghat:
Mahabaleshwar[Maharashtra], Thekkady[Kerala], Mollem[Goa], Chorla Ghat [Goa],
Mollem, Agumbe [Karnataka], Coonoor[Tamil Nadu], Dandeli [Karnataka], Kalpatta Wayanad [Kerala], Valparai [Tamil Nadu], Madikeri, Coorg [Karnataka].
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