Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur

country. Bangladesh

year of inscription. 1985

criteria. Cultural

The Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur WHS is located in the Rajshahi Divison. The Somapura Mahavira (or, Great Monastery) was first built here by Dharmapala Vikramshila (770 – 810CE), the king of Varendi-Magadha. It is evident of the rise of this region as an important centre of Mahayana Buddhism from the 7th to the 12th century CE.

Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta

country. Pakistan

year of inscription. 1981

criteria. Cultural

Between the 14th and 18th century CE, Thatta, located in today’s Sindh province, was the capital of three successive dynasties and then under the rule of the Mughal Empire. Amongst the city’s legacy is that of Makli Necropolis, whose lavish scale and constructions is testament to the history of Thatta as a centre of Islamic culture and architectural art of the region.

Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore

country. Pakistan

year of inscription. 1981

criteria. Cultural

This WHS, located in the province of Punjab, is composed of two royal complexes. The first is the Lahore Fort, which was built over 13th – 15 century CE by several Mughal emperors, including Shah Jahan, which contains within its grounds twenty-one monuments, as well as Shalamar Gardens (1641 – 42CE), a prime exemplar of Mughal gardens. Together, they manifest the brilliance of the Mughal Empire, which reached its height under Shah Jahan (1592 – 1666CE, reigned: 1628 – 58CE).

Taxila

country. Pakistan

year of inscription. 1980

criteria. Cultural

From the ancient Neolithic tumulus of Saraikala to the ramparts of Sirkap (2nd century B.C.) and the city of Sirsukh (1st century A.D.), Taxila illustrates the different stages in the development of a city on the Indus that was alternately influenced by Persia, Greece and Central Asia and which, from the 5th century B.C. to the 2nd century A.D., was an important Buddhist centre of learning.

Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro

country. Pakistan

year of inscription. 1980

criteria. Cultural

Moenjodaro was a huge city dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE. It was built entirely of unbaked bricks, and the ruins are evidence of a well-planned city of great importance of the Indus Valley (or, Harappan) Civilisation.

Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae

country. Egypt

year of inscription. 1979 

criteria. Cultural

The Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae WHS is located in the governorate of Aswan. It comprises monuments from the Nubian civilisation, which was closely intertwined with ancient Egyptian civilisation. These monuments include places of worship such as the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel and the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae.

In 1954, Egypt firmed up plans to build a new dam across the Nile at Aswan. Known as the Aswan High Dam, construction was to begin in 1960, and the resultant reservoir formed would submerge many Nubian monuments constructed in the locale, Hence, in 1959, Egypt and Sudan requested for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to help them save the monuments. In 1960, UNESCO launched an international fundraising project in support of these efforts. With the aid of an international team, many of the monuments were relocated to higher grounds, safe from the flood waters. The campaign ended in 1980 and was declared a success. The success of this campaign inspired others, for saving sites such as Venice and its lagoons in Italy, the Moenjodaro in Pakistan, and the Borobudur in Indonesia.

Consequently, between 1965 and 1972, the UNESCO, working together with other heritage convention proposals by the International Convention on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the United States government, drafted a convention to protect cultural and natural heritage in other parts of the world; it was signed in 1972 and effected in 1975. In 1978, the first twelve World Heritage Sites were inscribed.

Venice and its Lagoon

country. Italy

year of inscription. 1987

criteria. Cultural

Venice, located in the Veneto region, was founded in 5th century CE and located over 118 small islands. The initial settlement by humans on the small islands developed into a unique urban-scape of hydraulic and architectural interactions with the natural landscape. Venice grew to become a major maritime power in the 10th century CE. Concurrent with that rise, its buildings developed architectural masterpieces containing artwork by famed artists.