UNESCO Tentative List of India 2026: Quick Answer
India has 81 properties on the UNESCO Tentative List as of 7 November 2026. Twelve entries carry 2026 submission dates: four submitted in May–June, five announced on 29 September 2026 and three announced on 20 October 2026. Madhya Pradesh has the most entries (14). A Tentative List place is not a World Heritage Site — it is the waiting list before nomination. India has 45 inscribed World Heritage Sites, after Sarnath became the 45th in July 2026.
🔥 Key Exam Takeaway: Total = 81 (as of 7 November 2026). 2026 submissions = 12: 4 in May–June (Rangpur-Sivasagar, Shekhawati, Nicobarese, Penal Settlement), 5 on 29 September (Bagh, Ginnorgarh, Chambal Valley, Udaigiri, Satyagraha), 3 on 20 October (Sirpur, Baratang, Subduction Volcanoes). Rule = at least 1 year on the Tentative List before nomination. Sarnath waited 28 years (1998–2026).
Why do websites show 69 or 78? The list moved fast: 69 at the end of 2025, 78 after the 29 September 2026 announcement, 81 in October 2026. The count also fell by one when the Maratha Military Landscapes left the list after inscription in July 2025.
What Is the UNESCO Tentative List? (Basics)
The Tentative List is the inventory of properties a country intends to consider for nomination to the World Heritage List, under the 1972 World Heritage Convention. India ratified it on 14 November 1977; its first four inscriptions — Ajanta, Ellora, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal — came in 1983.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | An inventory of possible future nominations, prepared by each State Party |
| What it is not | World Heritage status — inclusion guarantees nothing |
| The 1-year rule | A property must be on the list for at least 1 year before nomination (Operational Guidelines) |
| One nomination per cycle | India may submit one nomination per cycle — Sarnath was its sole 2025–26 nomination |
| Who prepares entries | The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) handles cultural entries; the Environment Ministry handles natural entries |
| Categories | Cultural, Natural and Mixed (both cultural and natural significance) |
| India's inscribed total | 45 (37 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed — Khangchendzonga National Park, 2016) |
| India's global rank | 6th in the world, 2nd in Asia-Pacific (behind China) |
For the inscribed sites, see UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India 2026: Full List of 45. This note covers only the Tentative List — the pipeline behind that list.
Latest Additions to the Tentative List in 2026 (with Dates)
| Site | State / UT | Submitted to UNESCO |
|---|---|---|
| Nicobarese Cultural Continuity, Central Nicobar Islands | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 22 May 2026 |
| Colonial Penal Settlement of Andaman Islands | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 22 May 2026 |
| Painted Haveli Towns of Shekhawati | Rajasthan | 1 June 2026 |
| Rangpur-Sivasagar Historic Ensemble | Assam | 19 June 2026 |
| Bagh Cave paintings | Madhya Pradesh | 8 July 2026 |
| Ginnorgarh fort | Madhya Pradesh | 8 July 2026 |
| Chambal Valley Temples (Bateshwar, Padavali, Kakarmath) | Madhya Pradesh | 8 July 2026 |
| Udaigiri Caves | Madhya Pradesh | 8 July 2026 |
| The Sites of Satyagraha | Multiple states + South Africa | 3 September 2026 |
| Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape | Chhattisgarh | 28 September 2026 |
| Karst-mud-volcano Complex of Baratang | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 28 September 2026 |
| Andaman Subduction Volcanoes | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 28 September 2026 |
The five July–September submissions were announced by the Union Culture Minister on 29 September 2026; the three September submissions by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO on 20 October 2026. The four May–June submissions joined the list without a press announcement. The Sites of Satyagraha is India's first transnational serial proposal: 7 components in India (Sabarmati Ashram, Mani Bhavan, Sevagram Ashram, Aga Khan Palace, Gandhi Smriti, Harijan Sevak Sangh, Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha Smarak) and 2 in South Africa (Pietermaritzburg station, Phoenix Settlement).
UNESCO Tentative List of India: Complete State-wise List (All 81)
Year added = year UNESCO records the submission. Categories follow UNESCO's classification of each property (Cultural / Natural / Mixed); the two Mixed entries — Garo Hills and Keibul Lamjao — are verified on their individual UNESCO pages. Serial nominations spanning several states are grouped at the end. "Saytagrah" is UNESCO's own spelling of the 2014 entry.
| Site | State / UT | Category | Year added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karst-mud-volcano Complex of Baratang | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Natural | 2026 |
| Andaman Subduction Volcanoes | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Natural | 2026 |
| Nicobarese Cultural Continuity, Central Nicobar Islands | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Cultural | 2026 |
| Colonial Penal Settlement of Andaman Islands | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Cultural | 2026 |
| Cellular Jail, Andaman Islands | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Cultural | 2014 |
| Narcondam Island | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Natural | 2014 |
| Erra Matti Dibbalu | Andhra Pradesh | Natural | 2025 |
| Tirumala Hills | Andhra Pradesh | Natural | 2025 |
| Veerabhadra Temple and Monolithic Bull, Lepakshi | Andhra Pradesh | Cultural | 2022 |
| Apatani Cultural Landscape | Arunachal Pradesh | Cultural | 2014 |
| Thembang Fortified Village | Arunachal Pradesh | Cultural | 2014 |
| Namdapha National Park | Arunachal Pradesh | Natural | 2006 |
| Rangpur-Sivasagar Historic Ensemble | Assam | Cultural | 2026 |
| River Island of Majuli | Assam | Cultural | 2004 |
| Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape | Chhattisgarh | Cultural | 2026 |
| Kanger Valley National Park | Chhattisgarh | Natural | 2025 |
| Bahá'í House of Worship, New Delhi | Delhi | Cultural | 2014 |
| Delhi - A Heritage City | Delhi | Cultural | 2012 |
| Sun Temple, Modhera | Gujarat | Cultural | 2022 |
| Vadnagar | Gujarat | Cultural | 2022 |
| Lothal, Harappa Port-Town | Gujarat | Cultural | 2014 |
| Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch | Gujarat | Natural | 2006 |
| Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom | Jammu and Kashmir | Cultural | 2014 |
| Mughal Gardens in Kashmir | Jammu and Kashmir | Cultural | 2010 |
| St Mary's Island Cluster | Karnataka | Natural | 2025 |
| Hire Benkal, Megalithic Site | Karnataka | Cultural | 2021 |
| Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal Temple Architecture | Karnataka | Cultural | 2015 |
| Srirangapatna Island Town | Karnataka | Cultural | 2014 |
| Varkala | Kerala | Natural | 2025 |
| Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam | Kerala | Cultural | 1998 |
| Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India | Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh | Cultural | 2015 |
| Bagh Cave paintings | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2026 |
| Ginnorgarh fort | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2026 |
| Chambal Valley Temples (Bateshwar, Padavali, Kakarmath) | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2026 |
| Udaigiri Caves | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2026 |
| Gwalior Fort | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2024 |
| Khooni Bhandara, Burhanpur | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2024 |
| Rock Art Sites of the Chambal Valley | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2024 |
| Bhojeshwar Mahadev Temple, Bhojpur | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2024 |
| Gond Monuments of Ramnagar, Mandla | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2024 |
| Historic Ensemble of Dhamnar | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2024 |
| Bhedaghat-Lametaghat in Narmada Valley | Madhya Pradesh | Natural | 2021 |
| Satpura Tiger Reserve | Madhya Pradesh | Natural | 2021 |
| Historic Ensemble of Orchha | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 2019 |
| Group of Monuments at Mandu | Madhya Pradesh | Cultural | 1998 |
| Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar | Maharashtra | Natural | 2025 |
| Coastal Fortifications along the Konkan Coast | Maharashtra | Cultural | 2024 |
| Geoglyphs of Konkan Region of India | Maharashtra, Goa | Cultural | 2022 |
| Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area | Manipur | Mixed | 2016 |
| Meghalayan Age Caves | Meghalaya | Natural | 2025 |
| Jingkieng jri: Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes | Meghalaya | Cultural | 2022 |
| Garo Hills Conservation Area (GHCA) | Meghalaya | Mixed | 2018 |
| Naga Hill Ophiolite | Nagaland | Natural | 2025 |
| Buddhist Triangle Sites of Odisha | Odisha | Cultural | 2025 |
| Chilika Lake | Odisha | Natural | 2014 |
| Ekamra Kshetra, Bhubaneswar | Odisha | Cultural | 2014 |
| Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar | Punjab | Cultural | 2004 |
| Painted Haveli Towns of Shekhawati | Rajasthan | Cultural | 2026 |
| Desert National Park | Rajasthan | Natural | 2009 |
| Temples of Kanchipuram | Tamil Nadu | Cultural | 2021 |
| Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam | Tamil Nadu | Cultural | 2014 |
| Chettinad Village Clusters | Tamil Nadu | Cultural | 2014 |
| Padmanabhapuram Palace | Tamil Nadu | Cultural | 2014 |
| Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs | Telangana | Cultural | 2025 |
| Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad | Telangana | Cultural | 2010 |
| Rock-cut Sculptures and Reliefs of Unakoti | Tripura | Cultural | 2022 |
| Salkhan Fossil Park, Sonbhadra | Uttar Pradesh | Natural | 2025 |
| Iconic Riverfront of the Historic City of Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | Cultural | 2021 |
| Neora Valley National Park | West Bengal | Natural | 2009 |
| Temples at Bishnupur | West Bengal | Cultural | 1998 |
| The Sites of Satyagraha | Multiple states + South Africa | Cultural | 2026 |
| Ashokan Edict Sites along the Mauryan Routes | Multiple states | Cultural | 2025 |
| Chausath Yogini Temples | Multiple states | Cultural | 2025 |
| Gupta Temples in North India | Multiple states | Cultural | 2025 |
| Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh | Cultural | 2025 |
| Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road | Multiple states | Cultural | 2015 |
| Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate | Karnataka, Telangana | Cultural | 2014 |
| Saree Weaving Clusters of India | Multiple states | Cultural | 2014 |
| Sites of Saytagrah | Multiple states | Cultural | 2014 |
| Mountain Railways of India (Extension) | Multiple states | Cultural | 2014 |
| Silk Road Sites in India | Multiple states | Cultural | 2010 |
| Total | 28 states and UTs + serial entries | — | 81 sites |
Which State Has the Most Tentative List Sites? (Top States 2026)
| Rank | State / UT | Sites |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madhya Pradesh | 14 |
| 2 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 6 |
| 3 (tie) | Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu | 4 each |
| 6 (tie) | Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha | 3 each |
| 10 (tie) | Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal | 2 each |
Madhya Pradesh's lead is recent: 6 entries in 2024, 4 more in 2026. Thirteen multi-state entries span several states and are counted separately, including the Mauryan Ashokan edict sites and the Gupta temples.
Tentative List Records and Firsts
| Record | Answer |
|---|---|
| Longest wait before inscription | Sarnath — on the list since 1998, inscribed 25 July 2026 (28 years); criteria (iii) and (vi) |
| Oldest entries still on the list | Mandu, Mattanchery Palace, Bishnupur temples — all 3 July 1998 |
| Largest single revision | 15 April 2014 — 17 entries in one day |
| First transnational serial proposal | The Sites of Satyagraha (2026) — India and South Africa, 9 components |
| Most entries: state / UT | Madhya Pradesh (14) / Andaman and Nicobar Islands (6) |
| Mixed properties on the list | 2 — Garo Hills (Meghalaya) and Keibul Lamjao (Manipur) |
| Most recent graduation | Sarnath — inscribed 25 July 2026 as India's 45th World Heritage Site |
- Chilika Lake (Odisha): India's largest brackish-water lagoon and largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl; also a Ramsar site since 1981.
- Keibul Lamjao (Manipur): the world's only floating national park, on Loktak Lake's phumdis; home of the sangai deer.
- Baratang (Andaman and Nicobar Islands): limestone caves and mud volcanoes; the companion entry covers Barren Island, India's only active volcano.
Common Mistakes on the Tentative List
- "Tentative List site" does not mean "World Heritage Site." It is only an intention to nominate.
- Old totals. 69 at the end of 2025, 78 after the 29 September 2026 announcement. The current total is 81 — check the "as of" date.
- Sarnath is no longer on the Tentative List. It was inscribed on 25 July 2026 as India's 45th World Heritage Site.
- Two different Satyagraha entries. "Sites of Saytagrah" (2014) and "The Sites of Satyagraha" (2026) are separate entries; both count toward the 81.
- Chilika is Natural, not Mixed. India's only Mixed inscribed site is Khangchendzonga National Park — a different list.
- Delhi is not a World Heritage City. "Delhi - A Heritage City" is only a Tentative List entry (2012).
How to Remember the Tentative List (Study Method)
- Learn the count timeline: 69 (end of 2025) → 78 (29 September 2026) → 81 (October 2026).
- Learn the 2026 twelve as "4 + 5 + 3": four in May–June, five announced 29 September (4 in Madhya Pradesh + Satyagraha), three announced 20 October (Sirpur + 2 in the Andamans).
- Learn Madhya Pradesh = 14: 6 in 2024, 4 in 2026, plus Bhedaghat, Satpura, Orchha and Mandu.
- Learn the 1998 trio: Mandu, Mattanchery Palace, Bishnupur temples — the three oldest entries.
- Learn the two Mixed entries: Garo Hills (Meghalaya) and Keibul Lamjao (Manipur) — both in the north-east.
UNESCO Tentative List of India MCQs with Answers
Q1. How many properties are on India's Tentative List as of 7 November 2026? (a) 69 (b) 73 (c) 78 (d) 81 Answer: (d) 81 — up from 78 after the three October 2026 additions.
Q2. Which three sites were added with submission date 28 September 2026? (a) Bagh, Ginnorgarh, Udaigiri (b) Sirpur, Baratang, Subduction Volcanoes (c) Salkhan, Kanger, Mudumal (d) Rangpur, Shekhawati, Nicobarese Answer: (b) — announced 20 October 2026.
Q3. How many of the five additions announced on 29 September 2026 are in Madhya Pradesh? (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 Answer: (c) 4. The fifth is the Sites of Satyagraha.
Q4. The Sites of Satyagraha proposal links India with which country? (a) Nepal (b) Bangladesh (c) South Africa (d) Sri Lanka Answer: (c) South Africa — 7 components in India, 2 there.
Q5. Which state has the most entries on India's Tentative List? (a) Maharashtra (b) Madhya Pradesh (c) Karnataka (d) Tamil Nadu Answer: (b) Madhya Pradesh (14).
Q6. For how long must a property stay on the Tentative List before it can be nominated? (a) 6 months (b) 1 year (c) 2 years (d) 5 years Answer: (b) At least 1 year, under UNESCO's Operational Guidelines.
Q7. Sarnath, on the Tentative List since 1998, was inscribed as the 45th World Heritage Site in: (a) 2024 (b) 2025 (c) 2026 (d) 2023 Answer: (c) 2026 — 25 July 2026, Busan.
Q8. Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area, a Mixed property on the Tentative List, is in: (a) Meghalaya (b) Manipur (c) Assam (d) Nagaland Answer: (b) Manipur — the world's only floating national park.
Q9. Chilika Lake appears on the Tentative List as which category of property? (a) Cultural (b) Natural (c) Mixed (d) It is not on the list Answer: (b) Natural.
Q10. Which is one of the three oldest entries still on the Tentative List (added 3 July 1998)? (a) Gwalior Fort (b) Group of Monuments at Mandu (c) Sun Temple, Modhera (d) Vadnagar Answer: (b) Mandu. The others are Mattanchery Palace and the Temples at Bishnupur.
UNESCO Tentative List of India FAQs
How many sites are on India's UNESCO Tentative List in 2026?
81 sites as of 7 November 2026, per UNESCO's Tentative List page for India (last revision 28 September 2026). The total was 69 at the end of 2025 and 78 after the 29 September 2026 announcement.
Is a Tentative List site a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
No. It is an inventory of properties a country may nominate in future. Inscription needs a nomination dossier, expert evaluation and a decision by the World Heritage Committee.
Which are the latest additions to India's Tentative List?
Twelve entries carry 2026 submission dates: four in May–June (Rangpur-Sivasagar, Shekhawati, Nicobarese, Colonial Penal Settlement); five announced 29 September 2026 (Bagh, Ginnorgarh, Chambal Valley temples, Udaigiri, Sites of Satyagraha); three announced 20 October 2026 (Sirpur, Baratang, Andaman Subduction Volcanoes).
Which state has the most Tentative List sites in India?
Madhya Pradesh, with 14 entries — 4 added in 2026 and 6 in 2024. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands follow with 6.
How long must a site stay on the Tentative List before nomination?
At least one year, under UNESCO's Operational Guidelines. Sarnath waited 28 years, from 1998 to its inscription in 2026.
Why do some websites say India has 69 or 78 Tentative List sites?
Those were correct at earlier dates: 78 was the total after the 29 September 2026 announcement, before the three October submissions. The list also lost one entry when the Maratha Military Landscapes were inscribed in July 2025. The current total is 81.
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Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Tentative Lists for India (81 sites, last revision 28 September 2026) and the individual pages for Chilika Lake, Keibul Lamjao, Garo Hills, Bhedaghat-Lametaghat and Cold Desert; UNESCO on Sarnath (25 July 2026); PIB Culture (29 September 2026); Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO (20 October 2026); Drishti IAS and GKToday for the 1-year rule. As of 7 November 2026.