India adds Sirpur and Andaman sites to UNESCO Tentative List

Three new Indian sites have been added to UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List, marking a preliminary step toward formal World Heritage status. The newly included locations include the Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape in Chhattisgarh and the Karst-mud-volcano Complex of Baratang and Andaman Subduction Volcanoes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Sirpur site, located in the Mahasamund district along the Mahanadi River, was a significant religious and trade center during the Somavamshi dynasty. It features diverse archaeological remains, including Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples such as the Laxman Temple, and evidence of Jainism.

The Andaman sites are recognized for their unique geological and ecological landscapes, including limestone caves and mud volcanoes. The Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO noted that inclusion on the Tentative List is a prerequisite for any property to be nominated for official inscription on the World Heritage List.