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Every year, the United Nations marks April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, in many countries also celebrated as World Heritage Day

Details

• The theme for this year is is “Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures”.
• Globally, the day is promoted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
• India is home to 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, out of the 1121 such spots identified around the world.
• So far, only China, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France have more locations on the list than India.

Why World Heritage Day is celebrated?

• ICOMOS in 1982 had decided to celebrate April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites or World Heritage Day.
• Approved by UNESCO in 1983 during its 22nd General Conference, the day is dedicated to recognising sites of historical importance, raising awareness regarding them, and stressing the need to restore and preserve them.
• The day, thus, promotes cultural importance, while also highlighting the many impediments in doing so.

World Heritage Sites in India

• Currently, there are 38 World Heritage Sites located in India. Of these, 30 are ‘cultural’, such as the Ajanta Caves, Fatehpur Sikri, Hampi monuments and the Mountain Railways of India, and 7 are ‘Natural’, including Kaziranga, Manas and Nanda Devi National Parks.
• One is classified as ‘Mixed’, the Khangchendzonga National Park.
• In 2019, ‘Jaipur City’ became the 38th addition to the India list under Culture.

Source: Indian Express