Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar accepts UNESCO World Heritage certificate for 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Pays tribute to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s statue at UNESCO headquarters

Mumbai, Feb 2026 : Twelve forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj have been inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. The official certificate from UNESCO was formally accepted by Maharashtra’s Minister for Cultural Affairs and Information Technology, Ashish Shelar, during his visit to UNESCO’s office in France.

At the UNESCO headquarters, Minister Shelar also offered floral tributes to the statue of Bharat Ratna Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, which has been installed by the Government of Maharashtra through its Department of Cultural Affairs.

After an extensive process spanning nearly one and a half years, the 12 forts from the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were included in the World Heritage List under the title “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” at UNESCO’s 47th session held on July 11, 2025. The official World Heritage certificate was accepted in Paris by a delegation led by Minister Ashish Shelar.

The chain of forts created by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to defend Hindavi Swarajya, ensure secure governance, and promote public welfare while resisting foreign invasions is regarded as a unique example of military strategy and statecraft in Indian history.

The group of 12 forts—Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohgad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi, and Gingee in Tamil Nadu—has now been presented to the world as a single “World Heritage Site.”

In February 2025, a four-member delegation of the Government of Maharashtra, led by Minister Ashish Shelar, had visited Paris to make a detailed technical and strategic presentation before UNESCO, advocating for the inclusion of these forts. The delegation has now formally received the World Heritage recognition certificate.

Expressing his pride on the occasion, Minister Shelar said that accepting global recognition for the valor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the legacy of the Maratha Empire was a deeply emotional moment. He thanked Narendra Modi, Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Sunetra Pawar for their guidance and contributions throughout the process. He also expressed gratitude, on behalf of Maharashtra, to India’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Vishal Sharma, for his dedicated efforts. Minister Shelar described the recognition as a moment of pride for Maharashtra, the nation, and admirers of Shivaji Maharaj worldwide.

On the occasion of 75 years of the Indian Constitution, the Government of Maharashtra has gifted a bust of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar to UNESCO. The statue was installed at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on November 26, 2025, Constitution Day. Dr. Ambedkar’s ideals of social justice, equality, fraternity, and empowerment through education align closely with UNESCO’s core mission. Minister Shelar paid his respects at this memorial during his visit.

Senior officials, including Vishal Sharma, Department Secretary Dr. Kiran Kulkarni, Assistant Director of the Archaeology Department Hemant Dalvi, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.