New Delhi: In India, there are thousands of forts. Forts connect history with today’s time. Humans realised the importance of building fortresses to protect themselves during wars over land, honour, and pride.
Some of the forts in India have the UNESCO World Heritage Sites tag. In this article, let us look at some of the forts with the UNESCO tag and when they were given the tag, from Delhi’s Red Fort to Rajasthan’s Hill of Forts.
Forts in India with UNESCO World Heritage Site Tag
Red Fort
Agra Fort
Hill Forts (Amber Fort, Chittorgarh Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Ranthambore Fort and Gagron Fort)
Red Fort, Delhi: A Mughal Masterpiece
In 2007, the Red Fort Complex was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Red Fort, also called Lal Qila, is a historic fort in Delhi that was the main home of the Mughal emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan started building the fort on May 12, 1639, after he moved the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi. The fort was originally decorated in red and white, and its design is credited to Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also designed the Taj Mahal. The Red Fort shows the best of Mughal architecture during Shah Jahan’s rule, mixing Persian styles with local Indian designs.
Agra Fort: A Symbol of Mughal Power
In 1983, the Agra Fort was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its significance during Mughal rule. The Agra Fort, also known as Agra’s Red Fort, is located in the city of Agra. Mughal emperor Humayun was crowned here in 1530. Later, Mughal emperor Akbar renovated the fort starting in 1565, and the current structure was finished in 1573. It served as the main home for the Mughal rulers until 1638, when the capital moved to Delhi. The fort was also called “Lal-Qila” or “Qila-i-Akbari.” Before the British took control, the last Indian rulers to occupy it were the Marathas. The fort is about 2.5 kilometres northwest of the Taj Mahal. It is better described as a walled city. Shah Jahan later made renovations to the fort.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan: Majestic Mountain Strongholds
The Hill Forts of Rajasthan are six forts located in Rajasthan. They are grouped and have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2013. The hill forts series include
Chittor Fort at Chittorgarh
Kumbhalgarh Fort at Rajsamand
Ranthambore Fort at Sawai Madhopur
Gagron Fort at Jhalawar
Amer or Amber Fort at Jaipur
Jaisalmer Fort at Jaisalmer
The “Hill Forts of Rajasthan” are a group of five forts in the Aravalli Range that were submitted to UNESCO for recognition as heritage sites. These forts were built and expanded by different Rajput kings between the 5th and 18th centuries CE. Some of these forts have defensive walls up to 20 km long. They still have active urban areas and functioning water harvesting systems.
India boasts several UNESCO World Heritage-listed forts, showcasing rich history and architectural marvels. This article explores iconic structures like the Red Fort in Delhi, the Agra Fort, and the majestic Hill Forts of Rajasthan. Discover when these forts became a part of UNESCO. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
