From Ajanta to Sarnath: The story of India’s Unesco World Heritage Sites

Sarnath, revered as the site where Gautama Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, has been inscribed as India’s 45th Unesco World Heritage Site.The recognition was approved by the World Heritage Committee during its 48th session, held earlier this month, placing the ancient Buddhist site on a prestigious list of Indian heritage landmarks that began with the inclusion of the Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, and Agra Fort in 1983.India now has 45 World Heritage Sites — 37 cultural, seven natural, and one mixed — the sixth-highest number of any country. Over four decades, its World Heritage portfolio has expanded from monumental architecture to historic cities, cultural landscapes and ecosystems. The birth of the World Heritage Convention The idea of a