The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently added three new locations to its tentative list of World Heritage Sites. These are Gujarat’s Vadnagar town and the iconic Sun Temple at Modhera, as well as the Rock-cut Sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura.
Vadnagar: A City with Deep Historical Roots
Vadnagar is situated in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. Also known as Chamatkarpur, Anandpur, Snehpur, and Vimalpur, this city has a rich history, with references found in ancient Puranas. Notable features include a pair of 12th-century Solanki-era columns, built to commemorate a military victory. In 640 AD, Chinese Buddhist traveler Hiuen Tsang mentioned visiting Vadnagar in his travelogue. Archaeologists also discovered the ruins of a Buddhist monastery here in 2008-09. The city houses the Tanariri Performing Arts College, named in honor of two sisters, Tana and Riri.
Modhera Sun Temple: A Marvel in Sandstone
The Sun Temple at Modhera resides on the left bank of the river Pushpavati, a tributary of the Rupan river. Built with bright yellow sandstone, the temple faces east and showcases the Maru-gurjara architectural style. The complex includes the main temple shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an outer or assembly hall (Sabhamandapa or rangamandapa) and a sacred pool (Surya Kunda), now known as Ramakunda. At the time of the equinoxes each year, sunlight directly illuminates the temple’s central shrine.
Rock-cut Sculptures of Unakoti: A Shaivite Pilgrimage Site
The Rock-cut Sculptures of Unakoti are an ancient Shaivite pilgrimage site dating back to the 7th or 9th century. Unakoti, meaning one less than a crore, reflects the abundance of rock carvings found here. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva cursed the gods and goddesses who failed to wake up before sunrise, turning them into stone images. The site features various rock-carved figures and stone images, including notable depictions of Shiva, Ganesha, Durga, and Nandi Bull. Every April, a large fair known as ‘Ashokastami Mela’ attracts thousands of visitors.
Understanding UNESCO’s Tentative List
UNESCO’s tentative list comprises properties which each state party is considering for nomination. As per the Operational Guidelines 2019 of UNESCO, it is essential to place any monument or site on the tentative list for one year before submitting it for final nomination. Once nominated, the proposal goes to the World Heritage Centre (WHC). India currently has 52 sites on the tentative list.
The Significance of a World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site refers to areas or objects inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. These sites embody “outstanding universal value” under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972. They represent a framework for international cooperation in preserving and protecting global cultural treasures and natural areas. There are three types of sites: Cultural, Natural, and Mixed. India boasts 40 world heritage sites, comprising 32 cultural properties, 7 natural properties, and 1 mixed site. The latest additions are the Harappan city of Dholavira and Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple.
Reviewing Previous Year Questions of UPSC Civil Services Examination
In the 2021 examination, the question about the location of Ajanta Caves in relation to the Waghora river was asked. The correct answer was that Ajanta is situated on the bank of this river. Similarly, in the 2019 examination, questions on the correlation between famous places and rivers were presented. For instance, Pandharpur correctly correlates with the Chandrabhaga river, Tiruchirappalli with the Cauvery river, and Hampi incorrectly correlates with the Malaprabha river, as it’s actually on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River.
