Maratha Military Landscapes will be India’s nomination for recognition as UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2024-25.
About Maratha Military Landscapes
It was included in Tentative List of World Heritage sites in 2021.
Represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers.
It is nominated in the category of cultural criteria.
The inception of the Maratha Military ideology dates back to 17th Century during the reign of the Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
It continued through subsequent rules until Peshwa rule till 1818 CE.
It covers forts from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
It is a result of integrating the landscape, terrain and physiographic characteristics distinctive to the
Sahyadri mountain ranges,
the Konkan Coast,
Deccan Plateau and
the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula.
Other World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra
Cultural- Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), and Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai.
Natural- Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, and Gujarat. is serial property in natural category (2012).
Key Features of Forts in Maratha Military Landscapes
Hill forts
Salher
Witnessed an important battle in 1672 fought between the Marathas and the Mughals.
Shivneri fort
Birth place of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Lohgad
Located near the Buddhist caves at Bhaje.
Raigad
Selected by Chhatrapati Shivaji for his permanent capital.
Rajgad
Recognized as the first political base of ‘Hindavi Swarajya'; Rajgad, formerly known as Murumdev (name based on the mountain Murumbadev, on which it was built).
Capital of the Maratha Empire.
It was one of the 17 forts that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj kept when he signed the Treaty of Purandar in 1665.
Gingee Fort (Tamil Nadu)
It has three distinct hilltop citadels and a massive boundary of thick walls and cliffs
Island forts
Sindhudurg
Occupies an islet in the Arabian Sea.
Suvarnadurg
Presumably built by the rulers of Bijapur in the 16th century A. D.
Khanderi fort
Built during the reign of the Maratha king Shivaji in 1679 CE to keep a check on the Siddhis at Murud-Janjira fort
Hill-forest fort
Pratapgad
Major fight with Afzal Khan took place near this fort.
Hill-plateau fort
Panhala Fort
Became Maratha state capital under Tarabai.
Coastal fort
Vijay durg
Shivaji captured this fort from Adil Shah of Bijapur and renamed it as “Vijay Durg.
It was called the “Eastern Gibraltar”.
Maratha Empire at a Glance
Foundation
The Maratha Empire formally began with the rise of Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1674.
It dominated a large portion of India during the 17th and 18th century.
Capitals
Raigad Fort, Gingee, Satara, and Pune
Reigned
At its peak, the Maratha Empire extended from Peshawar in the north to Thanjavur in the south.
Administration
An administrative system known as ‘Ashtapradhan’ was formed by Shivaji.
It consisted of a council of eight ministers.
The eight ministers were Peshwa (Prime Minister), Amatya (Finance Minister), ‘Sachiv’ (Secretary), Mantri (Interior Minister), ‘Senapati’ (Commander-in-Chief), Sumant(Foreign Minister), Nyayadhyaksh (Chief Justice), and Panditrao (High Priest).
Revenue Policy
Sardeshmukhi (exaction of 10 % imposed upon the revenues of the entire Maratha kingdom) and Chauth (i.e. 1/4th of the total revenue) were important taxes.
Chauth was claimed from the neighbouring chieftains whose territories did not form part of their Maratha Empire.
Peshwa’s Domination and Decline
After the death of Shahu I ji Maharaj, in 1749, the Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao became the virtual ruler of Maratha Empire.
With the defeat of third Battle of Panipat (with Ahmad Shāh Abdali,1761) the decline of Peshwa started.
Finally, Maratha Empire was taken over the British.
Conclusion
Maratha Empire emerged as strong power at time when Mughal power was at its peak. With the help of their mighty forts and tactics they were able to defeat their opponents expand their empire. Addition of forts in the UNESCO Heritage List will promote preservation of forts.
About World Heritage Sites (WHS)
It is any of the areas or objects inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
These sites are designated as having outstanding universal value under the World Heritage Convention of 1972.
Sites are selected under three categories i.e., cultural, natural, and mixed.
There are 42 World Heritage Sites in India. Out of these, 34 are cultural, 7 are natural, and one is of mixed type.
WHS are nominated on the basis of the tentative list submitted the members.
For inclusion in World Heritage List, a site must meet one of the ten selection criteria.
