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.

Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex Included In World Heritage Sites

Chandigarh's Capitol Complex is now a World Heritage site, according to the World Heritage Committee's latest decision of including 12 new sites in the World Heritage list. 

The World Heritage Committee on Sunday evening agreed to put 12 new sites on the World Heritage List before ending its 40th session in Turkey's Istanbul city.

Chandigarh's famed Capitol Complex was also added to the UNESCO's World Heritage list, an official said.

Chandigarh's home secretary, Anurag Aggarwal said, "This is a great achievement for the administration, another feather in the cap as we bring home a heritage status, I congratulate everyone on the success."

The session placed a total of 21 out of 27 nominations for this year on the prestigious list, Xinhua news agency reported.

With the 21 newly added--12 cultural sites, six natural and three mixed ones--the heritage list has now 1,052 sites in 165 countries.

The state of conservation of 155 properties was examined as well during the session, with five in Libya making it to the List of World Heritage in Danger, along with one in Uzbekistan and another in Mali.

Meanwhile, one site in Georgia was removed from the list of endangered sites, while the site of Nan Madol, or the Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia, was simultaneously inscribed on the World Heritage List and on the list of World Heritage in Danger.

The 40th session started on July 10 and was cut short by four days due to the outbreak of a coup attempt in Turkey on Friday night.

The 41st session is slated for July 2017 in Krakow, Poland.

Get A Splendid Travel Experience In October To Wayanad In Kerala

OCTOBER MONTH TRAVEL 

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WAYANAD

Replete with  enchanting  waterfalls,  historical  caves,  comfortable  resorts and home stays, this popular town is famous for its spice plantations and wildlife. 

Among the prettiest areas of Kerala, Wayanad has a huge number of options for its visitors. Part of a forest reserve, Wayanad is located on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The entire region is completely green with hilly ranges and wildlife including Tholpetty in the North, Muthanga in the east bordering with Tamil Nadu, Kalpetta in the south, Mananthvadi in the north-west and Sultan Bathery (Sultan Battery) in the east.

Walking through the sprawling spice plantations, taking that trek into the pre-historic caves and experiencing a resort holiday are one of the many thing you can do to get a taste of Wayanad. A great place to spot wild elephants, cool breeze, beautiful scenery, Wayanad is guaranteed to please your travel senses. Overall, a perfect weekend idea from cities of South India.

A blend of influences from Arab, Brahmin, Zamorin, and Chirakkal food cultures makes Wayanad a flavorsome hot-pot. The North of Wayanad is also popular for its Konkani fares. Some of the must try dishes here are Dum Biryani, Malabar paratha, Pathiri or rice bread, and ghee and saffron rice.

You will also find popular items such as Ghee Roast Dosa, Appams and Idlisas well as Toddy, a locally fermented alcohol beverage made from palm tree and coconut palms.

Pick homestays and resorts for a comfortable night-cap, and a luxurious in-house frolic.

Autos and taxis are the best way to travel. The hotels and resorts also arrange for car rentals complete with guide and maps.

Kozhikode has the nearest airport and railhead 90 kms away. Good roadways also allow for a long drive or a bus trip from Kozhikode or a any other South Indian city. Numerous taxis take off the travel anxiety.