These Ten Heritage Destinations May Include On The World Heritage Site Lists.

SARNATH

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UTTAR PRADESH

UNESCO's tentative list has 46 Indian heritage sites. Which ones do you think should be included on the main list?

India's vibrant past and cultural richness are evident from the unique heritage sites located in almost every part of the country. Many of them deserve a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which catalogues and conserves sites of importance. Currently, 32 Indian sites of natural and cultural importance are included in the list. It is likely that this number will swell as there are 46 sites on UNESCO's tentative list. Let's take a look at some of them.

Temples at Bishnupur, West Bengal

The beautiful terracotta temples in this place were built by the Vaishnavite Malla Kings during the 17th and 18th centuries, from local laterite stones. The dominant architectural style is the Bengali Eka-Ratna, with a single tower set upon a sloping roof and a square cell, with a porch on each site. Among the few remaining terracotta temples, the detailed terracotta work found in the area has a distinct flavour of its own and cannot be found elsewhere.

Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala

Gifted to the Portuguese by the Raja of Cochin in 1555, the Mattancherry Palace is home to some of the most stunning mythological murals in the country, painted in rich hues. The earliest paintings are found in the king's bedchamber, which is covered with 48 paintings illustrating the Ramayana.

Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh

It is actually quite surprising that this isn't already a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located a few kilometres away from Varanasi, Sarnath is where Buddha gave his first teachings after attaining enlightenment. Today, the deer park, stupas, temples and the Ashokan Pillar in Sarnath are visited by both Buddhist pilgrims and travellers.

Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab

Popularly known as the Golden Temple, this is the holiest Gurdwara of the Sikhs. It was founded by the fourth Sikh guru in 1574 and was completed in 1604. Over 1,00,000 people visit the Gurdwara complex every day .

Santiniketan, West Bengal

Established by Rabindranath Tagore, Santiniketan has now turned into a university town. In 1863, Tagore had founded an ashram here with the vision of bringing together people from all walks of life. He also started Patha Bhavana, the school of his ideals, with the idea of imparting education in a natural environment as it was believed to be more enjoyable and fruitful. This became the Visva-Bharati University in 1921.

Mughal Gardens, Kashmir

Immaculately manicured green, pools and gardens make the Mughal Gardens a gorgeous location for leisurely strolls and rendezvous. Built by the Mughals, these gardens were heavily influenced by the Persian garden style. Some of the famous ones in Kashmir include Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Chashma Shahi and Pari Mahal.

Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar

Commonly known as Kala Paani, this colonial prison was used by the authorities to exile political prisoners. An important site in the history of the Indian freedom struggle, Cellular Jail now serves as a national memorial monument. Famous people incinerated here include Veer Savarkar, Batukeshwar Dutt and Yogendra Shukla.

Qutb Shahi Tombs, Hyderabad

With a distinctive style that blends Persian, Pashtun and Hindu architectures, the tombs of the seven Qutub Shai rulers lie in the Ibrahim Bagh, close to the Golkonda fort. The tombs have finely carved stonework and are surrounded by landscaped gardens.

Excavated remains, Nalanda, Bihar

Known as India's first university, these ruins once flourished as a Buddhist monastery, and a centre of culture and learning, with scholars flocking in from all over the world. Excavations in 1915 unearthed 11 monasteries and brick temples which were a part of the ancient Nalanda complex.

Kakatiya Temples, Telangana

Believed to be constructed by the Kakatiya dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries, this group of temples in Warangal representa the distinct architectural style of the period with detailed stone carving, rock cut elephants, pillars and perforated screens. The most famous temple here is Rudreshwara Swamy Temple or the thousand pillar temple, which is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya.