Maratha Military Landscapes
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Overview
The Maratha Military Landscapes are a group of twelve forts built or adapted by the Marathas from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. They were inscribed as a cultural World Heritage Site in 2025.
Eleven are in Maharashtra, including Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Shivneri, Salher, Lohagad, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg and Khanderi, and one, Gingee, is in Tamil Nadu.
They include hill forts, coastal forts and island forts, showing how the Marathas used terrain for defence.
Geography and key facts
- Cultural World Heritage Site (2025)
- 12 forts: 11 in Maharashtra, Gingee in Tamil Nadu
- Hill, coastal and island forts
- 17th–19th centuries
Why it matters for UPSC
India's newest World Heritage Site; know a few component forts and Shivaji's link with Raigad and Shivneri.
Note for UPSC
Cultural World Heritage Site, inscribed 2025 · Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu.
UPSC asks about the state, the dynasty or period, and whether a site is cultural or natural.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Maratha Military Landscapes yet.
Key facts
- Type
- World Heritage Site
- State / UT
- Maharashtra
- Heritage type
- Cultural
- Inscribed (UNESCO)
- 2025
- Coordinates
- 20.723°N, 73.942°E
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- Indian Architecture and Temple Styles (map lesson)
- Performing Arts, Paintings and Heritage (map lesson)
- Hindu Temple Architecture: Nagara, Dravida and Vesara (map lesson)
- Indo-Islamic, Mughal and Colonial Architecture (map lesson)
- Mughal Culture: Architecture, Painting, Literature and Music (map lesson)
More world heritage sites nearby
Other places in Maharashtra
All world heritage sites · Revision list · Most asked in PYQs