Three new Indian sites having cultural significance have been included in the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2022 taking the total to 49 on the tentative list.
A tentative list is an inventory of properties which are deemed to be cultural or natural heritage of outstanding universal value by a state party.
It is only a way for planning and advocacy of a nation’s outstanding natural and cultural heritage, and helps the World Heritage Committee to evaluate the context from which a country’s particular nominations are made.
The new sites include Meghalaya’s Jingkieng Jri or living root bridges, Maharashtra’s Geoglyphs of Konkan region, and Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Veerabhadra Temple and Monolithic Bull (Nandi).
Jingkieng Bridges
Jingkieng bridges, made by human beings, are the perfect example of human-environment symbiotic relationship, and at the same time show their pioneering use for connectivity and resilience, and the need to adopt sustainable measures to balance economy and ecology. These bridges highlight the socio-cultural as well as socio-botanical links between people and the nature. At present, there are some 100 known living root bridges in Meghalaya.
It is a type of simple suspension bridge, formed by the method of tree shaping to form living plant roots across a stream or river. The roots are then allowed to grow and strengthen over time. Once mature, some bridges can even bear 50 persons walking on them and can last for more than 150 years. They are very common in the southern part of Meghalaya where people from the Khasi and Jaintia tribes grow them by training the ficus elastica (rubber fig) tree on both sides of water bodies over a period of about 10–15 years where the roots form the bridge. These bridges can be found within the dense subtropical moist broadleaf forest eco-region of Meghalaya.
Though the exact beginning of the tradition of creating living root bridges is not known, the earliest known written record of Cherrapunji’s bridges can be found in the 1844 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
These bridges have performed in extreme climatic conditions for centuries. They facilitate connectivity and disaster resilience in over 75 remote villages in and near the wettest region on the planet (Meghalaya).
There are several double living-root bridges also in Meghalaya—the double-decker root bridge of Nongriat village being the most famous. Located in East Khasi Hills, it is unique because of its multi-level formation.
Features indicating outstanding universal value Having withstood extreme rainfall-related disaster events for centuries and presenting a breakthrough in nature-based engineering in terms of bridge design and construction, these bridges also contribute to the ecology through the forest and riparian restoration besides playing an essential socio-economic role.
The inter-generational growth process of living root bridges, having its foundation in a cooperative approach of the entire community, form a, living cultural traditional of Meghalaya.
Being an important attribute of Khasi society, living root bridges involve a harmonious relationship between humans and the environment.
Geoglyphs of the Konkan Region
Geoglyphs are rock art produced on the surface of earth either by positioning rocks, rock fragments or by reduction technique, i.e., carving out or removing part of a rock surface to form a design in a structured pattern to create lines or space that contrast with the surrounding terrain. They are the only evidence of human settlement in the Konkan region.
The large concentration of geoglyphs on the laterite plateaus (Sada) of the Konkan region (south-western Maharashtra to Southern Karnataka) is the most remarkable open-air ensemble of prehistoric human expression of rock art from the Mesolithic (10Kya) to the Early Historic (1.7Kya.) These are unique pictorial representations of marine and riverine, mammals, reptiles, amphibian, and avian life which have vanished from the region several centuries ago. They are the main proof that there existed certain kinds of faunal lifeforms that are no longer present in the region.
There is a high concentrated cluster of geoglyphs in the Konkan region. Of these, around 600 figurines clusters in Kasheli, Rundhe Tali, Devache Gothane, Barsu, Devi Hasol, Jambharun, Kudopi, and Ukshi in southern Maharashtra and Pansaymol in Goa are most distinct, evolved, and comprehensively demonstrate all unique features of the different types of geoglyphs in Konkan. Each site shows unique composition, primarily depicting faunal life, whereas later geoglyphs show increasing depiction of abstract shapes and anthropogenic figures.
In terms of size and scale, geoglyphs are unique typology in human creative art. They exist worldwide and are important cultural expressions since the Palaeolithic times.
Features indicating outstanding universal value Geoglyphs show the knowledge of the landscape and material properties, outstanding technological skill, and mastery over applying carving tools that were fundamental for survival and stone artistic expressions which indicate human creativity and evolution of rock artistic tradition in the Konkan region.
Geoglyphs are outstanding and most well-preserved significant examples of rock art that evidence critical transitional phases of human history from the Stone Age to Early Historical Period in Konkan.
Sri Veerabhadra Temple and Monolithic Bull (Nandi)
Sri Veerabhadra temple is also known as Lepakshi temple and is situated in Lepakshi, the Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra—the incarnation of Lord Shiva. The temple is famous for its sculptures and archaeological magnificence, shaped by the artists of Vijayanagara Empire. The temple is divided into three sections ‘Mukhamandapa’, ‘Arthamandapa’ and ‘Garbhagriha’, and the ‘Kalyanamandapa’. A ten-day long festival is also celebrated at the temple, attended by Shiva devotees.
Temple complex The temple complex along with its concentric enclosure walls or prakara is situated on a low granite tortoise shaped hill known as Kurma Saila. The structures were built at three different levels or contours of the hill; each group was enclosed by three prakaras, i.e, inner, middle, and the outer prakara built during three different phases. It is believed that there were seven enclosure walls similar to that of Hampi, capital of Vijayanagara, since the number is considered as sacred in Indian civilisation.
The temple is built in trikuta style, initially with two shrines—Veerabhadra and Papanaseswara sharing a common platform and a pillared Maha-mandapa. The third shrine was added on the west of the same platform, which together forms a part of inner prakara, dedicated to Raghunatha. A huge granite boulder has been incorporated within the enclosure wall. Natyamandapa is attached to the Mahamandapa, common to these three shrines. This is the most ornate structure of the temple. Its roof is painted with panels of murals depicting scenes from the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and other Pauranic legends. The second prakara encloses Kalyanamandapa, Balipitha, Vahanamandapa, and Homamandapa. This enclosure covers almost the eighth times of the area covered by the innermost prakara and has two entrances, one on the north and another on the south. To the south of the main shrine within the inner prakara there is a huge monolithic sculpture of Ganesa linga worshipped by spider and an elephant in a small mandapa with two pillars known as Ganesh Mandapa.
The temple complex was further extended by the construction of water cistern, Somavaramandapa, Yagamandapa, Uyalamandapa which is enclosed by the third prakara. This third enclosure covers two and a half times the area covered by the second prakara. The third prakara has three entrances, one on the north, second on the east, and the third on the west.
Monolithic bull (Nandi) The gigantic bull is a sculpture carved out of a huge granitic rock. This monolithic sculpture is a unique example of its kind. It faces west and is looking towards the Nagalinga located at Sri Veerabhadra temple. On the eastern face of a granite boulder in second enclosure is a basaltic sivalinga canopied by a monolithic sculpture of seven-hooded Naga.
Sculpture work with different themes from Hindu mythology, pauranic beliefs and traditions, and flora and fauna engraved on the different components of the temple such as pillars, ceiling of mandapas, and naturally existing granite boulders contribute to the aesthetic value of the temple. Exquisite examples of monolithic sculptures like Naga-siva-linga, Ganesa and the massive stone engraved footprint (believed to be of Sita) represent the artistic brilliance of that time. Other notable features include fresco paintings on the walls and ceilings of mandapas and pradakshinapada, and inscriptions engraved on prakara walls.
Features indicating outstanding universal value Sri Veerabhadra temple stands as a model of art, architecture, and culture of mid-Vijayanagara Period. The temple preserves important examples of Vijayanagara sculptures and paintings, and is a unique example of continuity of traditions, creative idea and knowledge of Chalukyas, Hoyasalas, and Kakatiyas combined with local customs.
Criteria for Inclusion in World Heritage List
In order to be enlisted on the World Heritage List, a site must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria mentioned in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
The criteria are regularly revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.
There used to be six cultural and four natural criteria for selecting world heritage sites till 2004. With the adoption of the revised Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, only one set of ten criteria is there.
Following are the selection criteria:
(i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
(ii) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
(iii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
(iv) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
(v) to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
(vi) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);
(vii) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
(viii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
(ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
(x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
Tentative List Process
States parties are encouraged to submit their own Tentative List of properties which they consider to be cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value, and therefore, are suitable to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. Nominations to the World Heritage List will not be considered unless the nominated property has already been included on the State’s own tentative list.
States have to prepare their tentative lists with the participation of a wide variety of stakeholders, such as site managers, local and regional governments, local communities, NGOs, etc.
States should submit their lists, which should not be considered exhaustive, to the World Heritage Centre, at least one year prior to the submission of any nomination. States parties are encouraged to re-examine and re-submit their list at least every ten years.
Submission of state lists should be made using a Tentative List Submission Format, in English or French, containing the name of the properties, their geographical location, a brief description of the properties, and justification of their outstanding universal value.
Once inscribed on the World Heritage List, properties are removed from the State’s tentative lists.
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