UNESCO Heritage Sites in Maharashtra

Ellora Caves

• Situated in Aurangabad district, the Ellora Caves are just awe-inspiring.
• The complex features 34 caves, of which 17 are Hindu caves, 12 are Buddhist caves, and 5 are Jain caves.
• This is also the place where the renowned Kailasa Temple exists, and is full of intricate rock carvings.
• The primary attraction of Ellora is Kailash Temple (cave16) is the most remarkable, and is one of the main attractions that lure visitors to Ellora Caves.
• The caves were granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1983

Elephanta Caves

• This is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra, which is a must-visit and highlights the peace and ideology reflected by Buddhism.
• These caves are a network of sculpted caves, and is the oldest historic site
• The Portuguese colonists first discovered the caves and named them Elephanta Caves after spotting elephant statues on the caves.
• There are a total of seven caves that date back between the 5th and 8th centuries, and were listed as heritage sites in 1987.

Ajanta Caves

• It comprises a group of 30 rock-cut caves, and are also known for their murals.
• Home to famous Buddhist religious art, this site serves as a great example of ancient Indian art.
• There are a total of 29 caves here, which are all divided into periods, denoting the time when they were built.
• If reports are to go by, they were carved between the 2nd century BCE through CE 650, and feature various stories from the Jataka tales.
• It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

• Earlier, it was known as the Victoria Terminus, and was completed in 1888.
• Its construction started in 1878 while its Victorian Gothic Revival architecture stands out amid the hustle bustle of Mumbai.
• Spread across a 2.85 hectare area, this place remains extremely busy almost all the time.
• It’s a historic railway station, which was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2004.
• This 133-year-old heritage building is not only one of the biggest, but also one of the busiest railway stations in India.

Victorian Gothic & Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai

• The Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Bombay will offer you a collection of 19th century Victorian neo-Gothic public buildings and 20th century art deco buildings in the Fort area of Mumbai.
• The large edifices serve as relics from a different time, which are so spectacular that they will leave you awed.
• You can find these buildings around the Oval Maidan.

Sources: TOI

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Which one of the following statements is correct? (2021)

1. Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora river.
2. Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of Chambal river.
3. Pandu-lena Cave shrines lie in the gorge of Narmada river.
4. Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of Godavari river.