The 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, 11 in Maharashtra, and one in Tamil Nadu will be listed a World Heritage. The proposal to include the forts in the World Heritage list has been submitted by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
These forts are not only architectural marvels but also historical heritage structures. The list has names of Salher, Shivaneri, Lohgadh, Raigadh, Suvernadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhurdurg, Khanderi, Rajgadh, Pratpgadh and one Jinji Fort in Tamil Nadu.
Shinde thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Archaeological Survey of India for selecting the forts for inclusion as the World Heritage built during Shivaji Maharaj’s period. The Maharashtra Government is striving to rejuvenate these forts.
Maharashtra Minister for Cultural Affairs Sudhir Mungantiwar, Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Chairman of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, and UNESCO Representatives in India were present during the discussion on the issue. Chief Secretaries of the Chief Minister’s Office, Cultural Affairs Ministry, Additional Director General of ASI, Director of Museums, and other officers were also present.