Maharashtra Forms Dedicated Committees to Preserve Shivaji’s UNESCO-Honored Forts!

Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar announced Saturday that dedicated committees will be formed for each of the 11 Shivaji-era forts in the state, recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes,’ alongside Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. The decision, finalized at the 47th World Heritage Committee session in Paris, recognizes the strategic and architectural brilliance of the Maratha rulers from the 17th to 19th centuries.

The forts—Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee in Tamil Nadu—represent the Maratha Empire’s military prowess. Shelar, responding to MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s call to protect these sites, said state-level and district-level committees under the chief secretary and collectors are already monitoring preservation efforts. Thackeray urged demolishing unauthorized constructions on the forts, a concern Shelar addressed by noting ongoing encroachment removal, with a survey completed by January 31, 2025.

Shelar emphasized the rigorous UNESCO selection process, which evaluates legal protection, funding, and long-term conservation plans. Eight forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, while Salher, Rajgad, Khanderi, and Pratapgad fall under Maharashtra’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. “A scientific conservation plan is in place for each fort,” Shelar said, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing Maharashtra’s proposal and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for relentless follow-up.

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The UNESCO listing, India’s 44th, underscores the forts’ universal cultural value, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

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