7 Amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra

India, a nation abundant in culture and diversity, is recognized as one of the oldest civilizations in the world, containing numerous ancient marvels that are distributed throughout the country. Among these, the world heritage sites play a crucial role in India tour packages, as they provide exceptional value to the international community. Maharashtra boasts the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India, showcasing seven remarkable cultural, natural, and architectural wonders. These internationally acknowledged treasures include ancient rock-cut cave temples and colonial-era urban ensembles, allowing for an in-depth exploration of the state’s rich history as part of the Maharashtra tour packages. In addition to their historical and cultural importance, these sites also hold scientific and educational significance. Continue reading to discover the heritage sites of Maharashtra recognized by UNESCO.

Ellora Caves

The Ellora Cave Complex comprises of 34 caves that were hewn out of solid rocks of the Charanandri hills between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. Overlooking the Waghur River, it is the most visited heritage monument in India, and among the famous places to visit near Pune. Of the 39 caves, 12 are Buddhist caves, 17 are Hindu Caves and 5 are Jain Caves. The coexistence of structures from three different religions serves as a splendid visual representation of the prevalent religious tolerance of India. The main attraction of Ellora is Kailash Temple (Cave16), which is the most remarkable, and one of the top places to visit as part of the Ellora tour packages. Ellora Caves was granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status in the year 1983 due to its stupendous architecture, interesting spatial effects, and grand sculptures.

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Ajanta Caves

An epitome of fabulous cave architecture in India, Ajanta Caves are a group of 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments belongs to the era between the 2nd century BCE and 650 CE. The caves at Ajanta are one of the renowned Buddhist monuments in India, and among the most visited heritage sites near Mumbai. Along with Ellora, Ajanta Caves were declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Representing both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the rock-cut caves have magnificent paintings depicting the rebirths of Buddha and many Jataka Tales. Cave 1, 2, 16, 17, 19, and 26 are the must include places in Ajanta Caves tour packages.

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Elephanta Caves

Another historic place in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra is Elephanta Caves which highlights the peace and ideology reflected by Buddhism. Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located around 15 kilometers away from the coast of Mumbai on Elephanta Island or Gharapuri. It is the oldest historic site as well as one of the best places to visit as part of the Mumbai tour packages. The caves were discovered by the Portuguese colonizers, who named the caves Elephanta caves after finding the elephant statues in the caves. There are a total of seven caves, dated between the 5th and 8th centuries, and they were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The five caves situated on the western hills of the Island are associated with the cult worship of Lord Shiva, and are home to some marvellous sculptures, including Ravana holding up the Kailash, Shiva-Parvati on Kailash, Ardhanarishvara, Trimurti, Wedding of Shiva, Nataraja, Kartikeya, Yogishvara, and Matrikas. However, other two caves host various Buddhist sculptures depicting numerous pictures of Gautama Buddha and Jataka Tales.

                     Also Read: Top Places to Visit Near Mumbai

Victorian Gothic & Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai

The Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Bombay is a collection of 19th-century Victorian neo-Gothic public buildings and 20th century Art Deco buildings in the Fort area of Mumbai. The Victorian ensemble includes Indian elements suited to the climate, including balconies and verandas while the Art Deco edifices, with their cinemas and residential buildings, blend Indian design with Art Deco imagery, creating a unique style that has been described as Indo-Deco. These two ensembles bear testimony to the phases of modernization that Mumbai has undergone in the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. Declared as UNESCO World Heritage sites on 30th June 2018 during the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee at Manama, Bahrain, this site is a collection of 94 buildings that include the Bombay High Court, Rajabai Clock Tower, Eros Cinema and Convocation Hall, University of Mumbai, Watson’s Hotel, David Sassoon Library, and the Elphinstone College, among the top places to visit in Mumbai. Set around the Oval Maidan, these large edifices stand as relics from a different time, which are all too glamorous, even in the face of new posh buildings that are built in Mumbai.

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Chhatrapathi Shivaji Terminus

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) is the most extravagant and historic railway station located in the heart of Mumbai. Formerly known as Victoria Terminus (VT), it was built in 1888 and is a magnificent Gothic revival structure that was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2004. This 133-year-old heritage building is one of the biggest and busiest railway stations in India apart from being one of the most magnificent and historic landmarks. Designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens, its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are close to traditional Indian palace architecture. Also, it is the second most photographed monument of the country after the Taj Mahal. The monument looks stunning while lit up in colorful lights during the night, which draws a large number of visitors as part of our Mumbai heritage packages.

                         Must Visit: Historic Caves in Maharashtra

Western Ghats

Also known as the Sahyadri Mountains, the Western Ghats is a mountain range that covers an area of 160,000 sq. km in a stretch of 1,600 km parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, traversing the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee inscribed the Western Ghats of India as a world heritage site on 1st July 2012. It comprises a total of 39 properties, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserve forests– twenty in the state of Kerala, ten in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu, and four in Maharashtra. Kaas Plateau, Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandoli National Park, and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary are the four protected areas in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. Older than the Himalayas, the mountain chain of the Western Ghats influences Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the southwest during late summer. Besides, it is one of the ten hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world as it has over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insects’ species, and 290 freshwater fish species. The Western Ghats are home to at least 325 globally threatened species.

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Maratha Military Landscapes of India

The Maratha Military Landscape is recognized as one of the cultural heritage sites in Maharashtra, which was included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites during the 47th session of the World Heritage Convention held in July 2025. This site comprises a group of 12 forts that were constructed and developed by the Maratha rulers between the 17th and 19th centuries. These forts are located across the diverse landscapes of the Sahyadri Range, Deccan Plateau, Konkan Coast, and the Eastern Ghats. The forts that are part of this collection include Raigad, Rajgad, Shivneri, Pratapgarh, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Lohagad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Khanderi (Maharashtra), and Gingee (Tamil Nadu). These forts exemplify the military strategy, architectural prowess, territorial dominance, trade safeguarding, and the design of naval and hill forts employed by the Marathas. They are regarded as some of the most significant heritage sites near Pune.

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