UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India – II

The UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972, recognises sites of outstanding cultural and natural importance across the world. With the latest additions to the list, India now has 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it the country with the sixth largest number of World Heritage Sites globally. These sites reflect India’s rich natural diversity and ecological heritage.

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated on the gentle slopes of the Himalayan foothills, where wooded hills transition into alluvial grasslands and tropical forests, the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

The sanctuary is home to several rare and endangered species, including the Pygmy Hog, Golden Langur, Hispid Hare, and the Assam Roofed Turtle, making it one of India’s most significant wildlife conservation areas.

Great Himalayan National Park

Located in Himachal Pradesh, the Great Himalayan National Park was established in 1984 and spans an area of 1,171 square kilometres, ranging in altitude from 1,500 to 6,000 metres. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in June 2014.

The park conserves over 800 plant species, including many medicinal herbs, along with 31 mammal species and 209 bird species, besides reptiles, amphibians and insects. Trekking through its valleys leads to high-altitude habitats of iconic species such as the Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Brown Bear, Himalayan Tahr, and Musk Deer, with the best wildlife sightings during autumn (September–November).

Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Parks

The Nanda Devi National Park, established in 1982, is located around the Nanda Devi peak (7,816 metres) in Uttarakhand. Along with the Valley of Flowers National Park, it forms a unique ecological transition zone between the Zanskar and Great Himalayan ranges. Together, they were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Nanda Devi National Park is rich in biodiversity, with 312 floral species, including 17 rare species. Its fauna includes Himalayan Musk Deer, Mainland Serow, Himalayan Tahr, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, and possibly the Brown Bear.

The Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its vibrant alpine meadows and scenic beauty. According to legend, it is the place from where Hanuman collected Sanjeevani Booti to revive Lakshman. Declared a national park in 1982, it is celebrated for its floral pastures, flowing streams and dramatic mountain backdrop.

Western Ghats

The Western Ghats, also known as Sahyadri (Benevolent Mountains), are a massive mountain range that covers an area of 1,40,000 square kilometres parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, traversing the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight “hottest hot-spots” of biological diversity in the world. According to UNESCO, the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer.

The area has over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insect species and 290 freshwater fish species. It is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. At least 325 globally threatened species exist in the Western Ghats.

Major river systems such as the Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Thamiraparani, and Tungabhadra originate in the Western Ghats, sustaining millions of lives across the subcontinent.

Commemorative Postage Stamps

The Department of Posts is pleased to release a set of five Commemorative Postage Stamps and a Miniature Sheet on Natural Sites under UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India – II. These stamps celebrate India’s exceptional natural heritage and highlight the nation’s commitment to environmental conservation and global heritage preservation.