Maharashtra’s cultural ambassador, Minister Ashish Shelar, is set for Paris from February 11-16 to secure the coveted UNESCO World Heritage certification for 12 forts embodying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s vision of Hindavi Swarajya. This follows UNESCO’s landmark decision at its 47th session on July 11, 2025.
Dubbed ‘India’s Maratha Military Landscapes,’ these forts highlight Shivaji’s masterful blend of military prowess and administrative innovation against colonial threats.
Key sites include Maharashtra’s Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohagad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi, and Tamil Nadu’s Gingee— a network now eternally listed.
The formal handover at UNESCO will be a highlight, coupled with respects at Ambedkar’s memorial bust. Echoing their detailed February 2025 submission, Shelar’s agenda includes high-level talks on additional heritage pushes.
From Konkan rock engravings to maritime defenses, spiritual treks like Pandharpur Wari, festive spectacles of Ganeshotsav and Dahi Handi, Maharashtra aims big. Museum tours in Paris will inform the state-of-the-art Maharashtra Museum rising in Mumbai’s Bandra, borrowing best practices in operations and digital storytelling.
This voyage immortalizes Shivaji’s legacy, fortifying Maharashtra’s global cultural footprint.