NEW DELHI, Jul 29: UNESCO has expanded its prestigious World Heritage List with the addition of 25 remarkable cultural and natural properties from across the globe, including India’s ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh. The announcement was made during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, South Korea, from July 19 to July 29.
Sarnath, one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in the world, secured its place on the global heritage register on July 25. The historic site is widely recognised as the location where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, making it one of Buddhism’s most significant spiritual landmarks.
The latest additions reflect UNESCO’s continued efforts to preserve locations that possess exceptional cultural, historical and environmental value. The newly recognised properties include 19 cultural sites, five natural sites and one mixed site, representing diverse traditions, ecosystems and architectural achievements from different parts of the world.
Apart from India, notable entries include Iran’s Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications, Jordan’s Aqaba Marine Reserve, Japan’s Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara, Uzbekistan’s Tashkent Modernist Architecture, Greece’s expanded Mount Olympus heritage area and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in the United States.
The Okefenokee site, spread across southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida, protects one of the world’s largest intact freshwater peatland ecosystems and serves as a vital biodiversity hotspot within North America’s Coastal Plain.
UNESCO highlighted that the latest inscriptions also marked a historic milestone for Africa. For the first time, Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, and South Sudan secured places on the World Heritage List, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to achieving better regional representation and recognising heritage from previously underrepresented nations.
With these additions, the total number of World Heritage properties worldwide has reached 1,273 across 173 countries. The newly listed sites will now receive international recognition, stronger conservation support and enhanced opportunities for sustainable tourism and cultural preservation.
Alongside celebrating new additions, the committee also addressed concerns over vulnerable heritage locations. Six properties were added to the List of World Heritage in Danger, a designation aimed at mobilising global attention and resources for sites facing serious threats due to conflict, environmental degradation, climate change or uncontrolled development.
UNESCO said the endangered status is intended not as a penalty but as a conservation mechanism that enables international cooperation to protect irreplaceable heritage before irreversible damage occurs.
The committee also approved extensions to two existing World Heritage properties, including South Korea’s Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats (Phase II), strengthening protection for ecologically important coastal wetlands.
Another significant decision involved the renomination of Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Following a fresh evaluation, UNESCO acknowledged additional outstanding universal values that justified reconsideration of the site’s heritage criteria.
In another major development, the Historic Centre of Vienna in Austria was officially removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger after authorities implemented effective conservation measures addressing earlier concerns over urban development and preservation.
UNESCO also continued promoting its “Sites of Memory” initiative, introduced in 2023 to recognise places associated with historic events that symbolise remembrance, reconciliation and peace. During this year’s session, the Beaches of the D-Day Landings in Normandy, France, were inscribed under this category, commemorating the Allied invasion of June 6, 1944, during the Second World War.
The World Heritage Committee noted that every inscription during the Busan session was adopted through consensus among member states, highlighting the collaborative spirit that has guided the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention for more than five decades.
Experts believe the recognition of new heritage sites not only strengthens preservation efforts but also creates economic opportunities through responsible tourism, research and international partnerships while encouraging governments to invest in long-term conservation.
For India, Sarnath’s inclusion further reinforces the country’s position as one of the world’s richest repositories of cultural heritage. The recognition is expected to boost global tourism, academic research and international awareness of the country’s Buddhist legacy.
The next session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, in 2027, where member states will once again evaluate nominations from around the world for inclusion on the prestigious heritage register.