Let's celebrate our amazing past on April 18th! It's World Heritage Day, a day when we all come together to honour our shared history as people. We celebrate the unique cultures of the world, cherish important landmarks, and promise to take care of our heritage for the future.

World Heritage Day, also known as The International Day for Monuments and Sites, recognises the hard work of groups like ICOMOS – the International Council on Monuments and Sites. This day is all about spreading awareness about our diverse cultural heritage and making sure it stays safe for generations to come. Ancient monuments and buildings are treasures for everyone around the world. But they need our help to stay treasures for years to come. That's why this day is all about teamwork on a global scale.

There are tons of incredible heritage sites and monuments worldwide, including many right here in India, that beautifully showcase Indian culture.

History of World Heritage Day

World Heritage Day, also known as The International Day for Monuments and Sites, was started in 1982 by a group called ICOMOS, which stands for the International Council for Monuments and Sites. This organisation was formed based on the ideas in the Venice Charter, made in 1964, to help take care of monuments and sites.

ICOMOS brings together experts like architects, engineers, geographers, artists, and archaeologists. Every year, these professionals work together to make sure some of the world’s most beautiful places and important cultural sites are saved for the future.

Since it began, ICOMOS has grown a lot. It now has almost 10,000 members from over 150 countries around the world. Among them are over 400 people from institutions, national groups, and international scientific groups. They all work together to keep important places safe and find new ones that need help.

In 2023, two new Indian sites were added to the World Heritage List: Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas and Santiniketan. Thanks to the hard work of ICOMOS members and leaders, these places will be taken care of for the happiness of the generations to come.

World Heritage Day 2024 Theme

Every year, World Heritage Day has a special idea to focus on. In 2024, the theme is "Discover and experience diversity." This reminds us that the different parts of our history make each culture unique and wonderful.

Schools can make World Heritage Day fun for kids by doing exciting things. They can have storytelling times, visit monuments and special places in India, draw pictures and make posters, have festivals celebrating heritage, and even watch movies that show different cultures and traditions. It's a fantastic way for kids to learn about and enjoy the many different things in our world.

How to Celebrate World Heritage Day

If you want to celebrate World Heritage Day, start by exploring the World Heritage Sites near you. Take a trip and visit them, but before you go, look up how to keep them safe and follow those rules during your visit.

Look online for events happening in your area to celebrate World Heritage Day. These events help raise awareness about protecting important buildings and monuments. Join in and show your support for these important causes. Finding local events is easy – just check your community’s Facebook group for more info.

Spread the word about World Heritage Day to your friends and family on social media. Share a post telling them about the day and invite them to join you. You can also post a picture of a famous international site you've seen or want to visit and ask your friends to share their favorites too.

Indian Monuments on the World Heritage List

India has many different cultures and a history that goes back a long time. That's why it's amazing that 42 places in India are on the World Heritage List. These places include famous ones like the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort, as well as natural places like Kaziranga and Sundarbans National Parks.

Here's a list of the 42 Indian sites on the World Heritage List, arranged by the year they were added:

1. Agra Fort (1983)

2. Ajanta Caves (1983)

3. Ellora Caves (1983)

4. Taj Mahal (1983)

5. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)

6. Sun Temple, Konârak (1984)

7. Kaziranga National Park (1985)

8. Keoladeo National Park (1985)

9. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)

10. Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)

11. Fatehpur Sikri (1986)

12. Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)

13. Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)

14. Elephanta Caves (1987)

15. Great Living Chola Temples (1987, 2004)

16. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)

17. Sundarbans National Park (1987)

18. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005)

19. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)

20. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)

21. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)

22. Mountain Railways of India (1999, 2005, 2008)

23. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)

24. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)

25. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)

26. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)

27. Red Fort Complex (2007)

28. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)

29. Western Ghats (2012)

30. Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)

31. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)

32. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)

33. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)

34. Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)

35. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016)

36. Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017)

37. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)

38. Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)

39. Dholavira: a Harappan City (2021)

40. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (2021)

41. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (2023)

42. Santiniketan (2023)