Only 2 Indian Cities Have UNESCO World Heritage Status: Explore Why They Made it to the List
There are only 2 Indian Cities which have been given the status of UNESCO World Heritage City. The major reason these two cities have gained the status is because of the overwhelming number of monuments and architectural wonders they hold.
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A World Heritage City is a city which is of “Outstanding Universal Value” as stated by the UNESCO and contains monuments of global significance which helps people from across the world understand history and the context of those times, they were built in.
Once UNESCO recognises a city as a World Heritage, it is the host country’s responsibility to preserve, protect and maintain these places to the best of its ability for visitors from all over the world.
A UNESCO World Heritage City can lose its status as a World Heritage Site if its host country fails to maintain the original state of the monument or site. In the beginning of 2026, one of India’s World Heritage Cities was on the brink of losing its status because of the lack of proper maintenance of these sites. Let us find out the 2 Indian cities which have been given the special status of World Heritage City.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Ahmedabad was the first Indian City to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2017. This city is located on the banks of Sabarmati river and was founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in the year 1411. Ahmedabad has a total of 28 monuments recognised by the Archaeological Survey of India and 2,696 monuments preserved by the Heritage Department at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).
The major reason behind the recognition of Ahmedabad as a World Heritage City is the blend of multiple cultures and religions like Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Buddhism and Christianity.
The most famous monuments of Ahmedabad are the Sabarmati Ashram, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Jama Masjid of Ahmedabad which is one of the largest mosques of India, Bhadra Fort, Sarkhej Roja and more.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
The Pink City of India, Jaipur is perhaps one of the most historically rich cities in the world. Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage City in the year 2019. Jaipur is home to more than 120 monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The most historically significant monuments of Jaipur are Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort. In 2026, UNESCO gave formal notice to Jaipur until 1 December 2026 to submit a report addressing illegal encroachment, demolitions of sites in order to keep its status as a UNESCO World Heritage City.
Conclusion
Ahmedabad and Jaipur are the two World Heritage Cities of India recognised by UNESCO. Jaipur is on the verge of losing its status as a World Heritage Site if the Jaipur government fails to provide proper report about the city’s issues regarding illegal demolitions of sites, encroachments and lack of preservation.
Ayukta Zisha is an education journalist with over three years of experience in digital media. A graduate of St. Xavier’s College, she holds a Master’s degree in English along with a certification in Digital Marketing from IIT Delhi. Backed by a strong academic foundation in the humanities, she specializes in creating educational and general knowledge content across history, geography, literature, and current affairs. During her tenure at Jagran Josh, she worked extensively on U.S. news and global developments, curating informative and engaging content for a diverse readership. Her subject expertise and ability to simplify complex topics enable her to make complex information accessible to a wide audience. Beyond journalism, Ayukta is an avid reader and a published author.
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