Maratha Military Landscape: UNESCO World Heritage Status Timely Reminder Of India's Strategic Brilliance

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The UNESCO recognition is a tribute to the most valorous warriors and brilliant strategic minds of Bharat, whose courage and ingenuity will continue to inspire generations
At its 47th Meeting, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO inscribed the Maratha Military Landscape as a World Heritage Site. A network of twelve forts built across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the Maratha Military Landscape offers a unique vantage point for understanding the brilliant planning and governance that hallmarked the Maratha rule.
At a time when India is being recognised for its resilience and innovation in the defence sector, this inscription also comes as a reminder of the tradition of ingenuity in defence and strategic foresight that shaped the course of Indian history in profound ways. Army veteran and author of two award-winning books on Maratha military history, Maj Gen Shashikant Pitre, calls this international recognition a 'tribute to the will power and conviction of an extraordinary military icon, Chhatrapati Shivaji, after about four centuries".
Constructed between the 17th and 19th centuries, twelve forts are collectively known as the Maratha Military Landscape and stand as an enduring legacy of the Maratha heritage. At its peak, the Maratha empire spanned from Tamil Nadu in the south to Peshawar in the north and Odisha in the east. Ensuring the protection of this vast territory was of paramount importance. 'The empire was originally defended by approximately 300 forts with very meagre contingents in each," informs Maj Gen Pitre. 'Shivaji Maharaj constructed a few others to weave a strong defence network. As a consequence, Aurangzeb, who spent the last twenty-five years of his life in the Deccan with his humongous forces, could not defeat the agile Marathas."
allowed greater control over the maritime trade network, thus ensuring economic prosperity. Lohagad, categorised as a hill fort, served as a treasury where caves were converted into storage units. Khanderi, an island fort, allowed coastal surveillance and monitoring of European naval fleets. These twelve forts exemplify the highest levels of local adaptation and innovation in India's fortification tradition. They protected not only military and geopolitical interests but also the economic lifelines of the era.
They are also the custodians of stories of the brave Marathas that have inspired generations. The Pratapgadh fort was witness to the legendary encounter between Shivaji and Afzal Khan, the general of the Bijapur Sultanate. Raigad served as the administrative capital of the Marathas, where Shivaji and his successors were coronated as well. Vijayadurg reflects the indomitable spirit of the Marathas as it successfully withstood multiple attacks by the European powers until its eventual fall in the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
These forts chronicle the Marathas' resistance to invaders and their unwavering commitment to Swaraj. As some of the most well-preserved and authentic architectural remnants, the Maratha Military Landscape represents the largest such concentration integrated within a cultural landscape, noted a report presented to UNESCO. These forts continue to retain their strategic importance even today.
'Shivaji was the master of hill warfare. 'Ganimi Kawa', a tactic of subterfuge for a weaker force to defeat a much stronger enemy, is his gift to military warfare. Both Shivaji and Bajirao Peshwa fought with meagre forces and negligible resources, deploying ingenious tactics and superior strategy to achieve miraculous results. Though the ecosystems of combat have undergone phenomenal transformations, the Maratha military legacy is a beacon for Atmanirbharta in the present times," says Maj Gen Pitre.
The UNESCO recognition indeed comes at an opportune moment, as India's indigenous defence capabilities and systems are once again gaining global attention and opening avenues for greater international cooperation. The inscription of the Maratha Military Landscape is a reminder of our military heritage, geopolitical dominance, and effective governance that can offer incredible learning to policymakers even today. More importantly, it is a tribute to the most valorous warriors and brilliant strategic minds of Bharat, whose courage and ingenuity will continue to inspire generations.
Arunima Gupta is a scholar of soft power and cultural economy. She is a research fellow under the Viksit Bharat Fellowship programme. She posts on X @ArunimaGupta03. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
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First Published:
July 13, 2025, 06:01 IST
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