Maratha military landscapes were added to the World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on Friday.

The military landscapes comprise 12 major forts: Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee.

While 11 of them are in Maharashtra, Gingee is in Tamil Nadu.

The forts were built, adapted or expanded by the Marathas between the late 17th century and the early 19th century.

“Strategically located on coastal and mountainous terrain, they formed a complex defence system supporting Maratha military dominance, trade protection and territorial control,” said UNESCO in its listing. “This network played a key role in the Marathas’ rise as a major political and military force.”

UNESCO is a body of the United Nations body that promotes world peace through international cooperation in culture, arts, education and sciences.

With this, 44 properties in India are on the World Heritage Site list.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that “every Indian is elated” about the inclusion of the Maratha military landscape to the World Heritage Site list.

In 2024, the Moidams in Assam, or the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty, were added to the list.