Overview
- India’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO announced the addition of three properties to its Tentative List, a formal first step toward possible World Heritage nomination.
- The cultural entry, Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape in Chhattisgarh, is noted for its 5th–12th century urban remains and mixed Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments centered on the 7th‑century Lakshmana Temple.
- Two natural nominations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands focus on rare geology: the Baratang karst‑mud‑volcano complex with limestone caves and active mud vents, and the Andaman Subduction Volcanoes covering Barren and Narcondam islands.
- The Andaman proposals highlight scientific value and tight protections: Barren Island is India’s only confirmed active volcano and was made a GSI geoheritage site in 2025, Narcondam hosts an endemic hornbill, and access is restricted by reserve and landing rules to protect tribes and wildlife.
- Next steps require the Archaeological Survey of India, SSADA and other agencies to compile full nomination dossiers for UNESCO assessment, a process that includes external technical review and can take several years while conservation and access rules remain in force.