List of World Heritage Sites in Southern Asia

The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has designated 65 World Heritage Sites in six countries (also called "state parties") of Southern Asia: Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Bhutan and Maldives, which are also located within the region, do not have any World Heritage Sites.

In this region, India is home to the most inscribed sites (sixth globally) with 42 sites. Besides India, the first sites from the Country Nepal were the Sagarmatha National Park and Kathmandu Valley. Nepal has a total of four sites. Sri Lanka has eight sites and Bangladesh has three sites. Pakistan has six sites. Two sites are located in Afghanistan, both of which are enlisted as endangered. Each year, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee may inscribe new sites on the list or delist sites that no longer meet the criteria. Selection is based on ten criteria: six for cultural heritage (i–vi) and four for natural heritage (vii–x). Some sites, designated "mixed sites", represent both cultural and natural heritage. In Southern Asia, there are 48 cultural, 12 natural, and 1 mixed site.

The World Heritage Committee may also specify that a site is endangered, citing "conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List." Two sites in this region are currently listed as endangered.

Legend

Site; named after the World Heritage Committee's official designation
Location; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates
Criteria; as defined by the World Heritage Committee
Area; in hectares and acres. If available, the size of the buffer zone has been noted as well. A value of zero implies that no data has been published by UNESCO
Year; during which the site was inscribed to the World Heritage List
Description; brief information about the site, including reasons for qualifying as an endangered site, if applicable

World Heritage Sites

  † In danger
  * Trans-border site
Site Image Location Criteria Area
ha (acre) 		Year Description Refs
Agra Fort
Decorated gate to a fortress of red stone.
 Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
27°11′0″N 78°2′0″E 		Cultural:
(iii)
—
 1983
Ajanta Caves A line of caves, some with columns on the outside, along a rock face. Aurangabad District, Maharashtra, India
20°33′12″N 75°42′0″E 		Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (vi)
—
 1983
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa Upper part of a reclining Buddha. Polonnaruwa District, North Central Province, Sri Lanka
7°54′57″N 81°0′2″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (vi)
—
 1982
Ancient City of Sigiriya Matale District, Central Province, Sri Lanka
7°57′0″N 80°45′0″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (iv)
—
 1982
Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro Sindh, Pakistan
27°19′45″N 68°8′20″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iii) 		240 (590) 1980
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar Nalanda District, Bihar, India
25°8′12″N 85°26′38″E 		Cultural:
(iv), (vi) 		23 (57); buffer zone 57.88 (143.0) 2016
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh, India
23°28′46″N 77°44′23″E 		Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)
—
 1989
Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
34°19′15″N 71°56′45″E 		Cultural:
(iv)
—
 1980
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
7°27′9″N 80°48′8″E 		Natural:
(ix), (x) 		56,844 (140,460); buffer zone 72,645 (179,510) 2010 Composed by three sites;
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park Panchmahal district, Gujarat, India
22°29′0″N 73°32′0″E 		Cultural:
(iii), (iv), (v), (vi) 		1,329 (3,280); buffer zone 2,912 (7,200) 2004
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) Large building of reddish stone with columns, cupolas and turrets. The main cupola is topped by a human sculpture. Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
18°56′24″N 72°50′10″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iv) 		2.85 (7.0) 2004
Chitwan National Park A lake with tree trunks in the water. Chitwan District, Narayani Zone, Nepal
27°30′0″N 84°20′0″E 		Natural:
(vii), (ix), (x) 		93,200 (230,000) 1984
Churches and Convents of Goa
A stone church.
 Goa, India
15°30′8″N 73°54′42″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iv), (vi)
—
 1986
Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley†
A large niche in a rock with the outline of a human figure.
 Bamyan, Afghanistan
34°49′55″N 67°49′36″E 		Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) 		159 (390) 2003
Dholavira: a Harappan City Kutch district, Gujarat, India
23°53′18.27″N 70°12′47.89″E 		Cultural:
(iii), (iv) 		103 (250) 2021
Elephanta Caves
Sculpture of a three-headed figure.
 Elephanta Island, Raigad district, Maharashtra, India
18°58′0″N 72°56′9″E 		Cultural:
(i), (iii)
—
 1987
Ellora Caves Heavily decorated religious structure cut from dark rock. Verul, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra, India
20°1′35″N 75°10′45″E 		Cultural:
(i), (iii), (vi)
—
 1983
Fatehpur Sikri Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, India
27°5′40″N 77°39′51″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (iv)
—
 1986
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore Entrance gate to a fort flanked by two large towers. Punjab, Pakistan
31°35′25″N 74°18′35″E 		Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii)
—
 1981 The site has been listed as endangered since 2000 because of the destruction of historic water tanks in 1999 to widen a road and deteriorating perimeter walls of the Garden, listed on request of the Pakistan government
Golden Temple of Dambulla Stupa and statues of bodhisattvas inside a cave. Matale District, Central Province, Sri Lanka
7°51′24″N 80°38′57″E 		Cultural:
(i), (vi)
—
 1991
Great Himalayan National Park Kullu region, Himachal Pradesh,India
31°44′N 77°33′E 		Natural:
(x) 		117,100 (289,000) 2014
Great Living Chola Temples Tamil Nadu, India
10°46′59″N 79°7′57″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iii) 		22 (54); buffer zone 17 (42) 1987 Composed by three sites:
Group of Monuments at Hampi
Ruins of a large decorated building.
 Bellary district, Karnataka, India
15°18′52″N 76°28′18″E 		Cultural:
(i), (iii), (iv)
—
 1986
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Ruins of a sandstone building with columns.
 Chingleput district, Tamil Nadu, India
12°37′0″N 80°11′30″E 		Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (vi)
—
 1984
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal Badami, Bijapur district, Karnataka, India
15°56′54″N 75°49′0″E 		Cultural:
(iii), (iv) 		5.56 (13.7); buffer zone 113 (280) 1987
Hill Forts of Rajasthan Rajasthan, India
24°53′00″N 74°38′46″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iii)
—
 2013 Composed by six sites:
Historic City of Ahmadabad Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad District, Gujarat, India
23°08′06″N 72°21′06″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (v) 		535.7 (1323); buffer zone 395 (976) 2017
Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta Ruins of an octagonal building crowned by a cupola. Sindh, Pakistan
24°46′0″N 67°54′0″E 		Cultural:
(iii)
—
 1981
Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat
Building of red bricks with a roof consisting of many white domes. There are small round towers on the corners of the building each crowned by a white cupola.
 Bagerhat District, Khulna Division, Bangladesh
22°40′0″N 89°48′0″E 		Cultural:
(iv)
—
 1985
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi Delhi, India
28°35′36″N 77°15′2″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iv)
—
 1993
Jaipur City Hawa Mahal Jaipur, India
26°55′27.4″N 75°49′18.7″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iv), (vi)
—
 2019
Kathmandu Valley Streetscene with various characteristically shaped temple buildings. Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
27°42′14″N 85°18′31″E 		Cultural:
(iii), (iv), (vi) 		167 (410); buffer zone 70 (170) 1979 The site has been listed as endangered 2003–2007 due to the partial or substantial loss of the traditional elements of six out of seven monument zones and resulting general loss of authenticity and integrity of the whole property.
Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana Mulugu district, Telangana, India
18°15′32.88″N 79°56′35.54″E 		Cultural:
(i), (iii) 		593 (1,470); buffer zone 6,627 (16,380) 2021
Kaziranga National Park Assam, India
26°40′N 93°25′E 		Natural:
(ix), (x) 		42,996 (106,250) 1985
Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan, India
27°9′32″N 77°30′31″E 		Natural:
(x) 		2,873 (7,100) 1985
Khajuraho Group of Monuments Madhya Pradesh, India
24°51′8″N 79°55′20″E 		Cultural:
(i), (iii)
—
 1986
Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim, India
27°45′53″N 88°22′38″E 		Mixed:
(iii), (vi), (vii), (x) 		178,400 (440.8); buffer zone 114,712 (283.459) 2016
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha A large tree next to a water filled pool. Rupandehi District, Lumbini Zone, Nepal
27°28′8″N 83°16′34″E 		Cultural:
(iii), (vi) 		1.95 (4.8); buffer zone 23 (57) 1997
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya Bihar, India
24°41′43″N 84°59′38″E 		Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) 		4.86 (12.0) 2002
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Assam, India
26°43′30″N 91°1′50″E 		Natural:
(vii), (ix), (x) 		39,100 (97,000) 1985
Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam† A tall minaret in a river valley. At the top of the nearby mountains there are other, smaller structures. Ghōr, Afghanistan
34°23′48″N 64°30′58″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (iv) 		70 (170) 2002 The site has been listed as endangered since its inscription due to lack of legal protection, lack of protection measure or management plan and the generally poor condition of the site.
Mountain Railways of India
A small steam locomotive with three blue carriages.
 India
11°30′37″N 76°56′9″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iv) 		89 (220); buffer zone 645 (1,590) 1999 Composed by three lines:

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks Uttarakhand, India
30°43′N 79°40′E 		Natural:
(vii), (x) 		71,783 (177,380); buffer zone 514,286 (1,270,830) 1988
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications Galle, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
6°1′17″N 80°13′7″E 		Cultural:
(iv)
—
 1988
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi Delhi, India
28°31′33″N 77°11′7″E 		Cultural:
(iv)
—
 1993
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat Patan, Gujarat, India
23°51′32″N 72°06′06″E 		Cultural:
(i)(iv) 		4.68 ha 2014
Red Fort Complex Delhi, India
28°39′20″N 77°14′27″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (vi) 		98 (240); buffer zone 100 (250) 2007
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka Madhya Pradesh, India
22°55′40″N 77°35′0″E 		Cultural:
(iii), (v) 		1,893 (4,680); buffer zone 10,280 (25,400) 2003
Rohtas Fort Ruins of the gate to a fortress. Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan
32°57′45″N 73°35′20″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iv)
—
 1997
Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
Ruins of a structure of red stone now resembling a small hill or mound.
 Naogaon District, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh
25°2′0″N 88°59′0″E 		Cultural:
(i), (ii), (vi)
—
 1985
Sacred City of Anuradhapura Anuradhapura District, North Central Province, Sri Lanka
8°20′0″N 80°23′0″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iii), (vi)
—
 1982
Sacred City of Kandy Administrative or religious building. Central Province, Sri Lanka
7°17′37″N 80°38′25″E 		Cultural:
(iv), (vi)
—
 1988
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas Karnataka, India
13°12′44.83″N 75°59′38.66″E 		Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iv) 		1,047 (2,590); buffer zone 19,587 (48,400) 2023 Composed by three sites:
Sagarmatha National Park Solukhumbu District, Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal
27°57′55″N 86°54′47″E 		Natural:
(vii) 		124,400 (307,000) 1979
Santiniketan West Bengal, India
23°40′49″N 87°41′5.9″E 		Cultural:
(iv), (vi) 		36 (89); buffer zone 53,773 (132,880) 2023
Sinharaja Forest Reserve Sabaragamuwa and Southern Province, Sri Lanka
6°25′N 80°30′E 		Natural:
(ix), (x) 		8,864 (21,900) 1988
Sundarbans National Park West Bengal, India
21°56′42″N 88°53′45″E 		Natural:
(ix), (x) 		133,010 (328,700) 1987
Sun Temple, Konârak Decorated wheel in stone relief. Puri district, Odisha, India
19°53′15″N 86°5′41″E 		Cultural:
(i), (iii), (vi) 		11 (27) 1984
Taj Mahal A white building with a big and several smaller cupolas framed by four white minarets at each corner. Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
27°10′27″N 78°2′32″E 		Cultural:
(i)
—
 1983
Taxila Punjab, Pakistan
33°46′45″N 72°53′15″E 		Cultural:
(iii), (vi)
—
 1980
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement Argentina*
Belgium*
France
Germany*
India*
Japan*
Switzerland*
30°45′32″N 76°48′18″E 		Cultural:
(i)(ii)(vi)
—
 2016
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
26°55′29″N 75°49′30″E 		Cultural:
(iii), (iv) 		1.87 (4.6); buffer zone 15 (37) 2010
The Sundarbans
Boat on a river in a densely forested plain.
 Khulna Division, Bangladesh
21°57′0″N 89°11′0″E 		Natural:
(ix), (x) 		139,500 (345,000) 1997
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
18°55′47.3″N 72°49′48.3″E 		Cultural:
(ii), (iv) 		66.34; buffer zone 378.78 2018
Western Ghats
Western Ghats at Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka.
 India
8°31′47″N 77°14′59″E 		Natural:
(ix), (x) 		795,315 (1,965,270) 2012 Composed by 39 national parks or protected areas spread between the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

UNESCO sites for South Asia compared to other Asian regions

The number of UNESCO sites of South Asia is contrasted by the number of sites Southeast and East Asia. South Asian countries are noted with 'SA' and in brown colour.

See also