Seven natural heritage sites — including the Deccan Traps (Maharashtra), Meghalaya’s cave systems, and Varkala cliffs (Kerala) — have been added to UNESCO’s Tentative List, raising India’s tally to 69 sites. With this, India now has 49 cultural, 17 natural, and 3 mixed properties under UNESCO’s consideration.
Other newly listed sites include St Mary’s Island (Karnataka), Naga Hill Ophiolite (Nagaland), Erra Matti Dibbalu (Andhra Pradesh), and Tirumala Hills (Andhra Pradesh). The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted the nominations. Entry into the tentative list is the first step toward securing full World Heritage Site status.
