“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and the great-grandmother of tradition.”

– Mark Twain

Every morning, I look forward for the sun to appear, the cool breeze to blow, and the sweet chirpy call of the birds, that makes my mind linger on thoughts of India’s marvelous cultural heritage and its beauty. The thought on the essence of our cultural heritage has a constant presence in my life. Never could I be able to stop wondering about the importance of our culture, heritage and surroundings. I pondered over these sites quite often, my mind wondering about the actual role of UNESCO in preservation of heritage sites throughout world. After an extensive research, I found out that one of the main roles of UNESCO is to encourage countries to protect and preserve their natural, historical and cultural heritage. UNESCO also works to safeguard our planet’s future for the coming generations. Heritage conservation is important for identifying, recording and protecting heritage and cultural resources. It not only provides a sense of identity, but also provides continuity in a fast changing world for the future generations.

Amongst the 40 Indian World Heritage sites inscribed by UNESCO that make up the magnificent marvels of our country, one of the most prominent inscribed heritages is the group of monuments at Mahabalipuram. The group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. The site is a collection of religious monuments situated in one of the oldest cities, Mahabalipuram, in Tamil Nadu, India. Today, it is known for its great monuments, cave sanctuaries and sculptures. Mahabalipuram is also famous for its vast beach, monoliths, stone carvings and temples. The monuments found here were built during the reign of the Pallava Kings in the 7th and 8th centuries C.E. These monuments are excellent examples of the Dravidian architecture and Pallava Art forms.

This Illustration is taken from my 8th book, ‘Magnificent Marvels’ which is forwarded and patronaged by UNESCO & published in UNESCO Digital Library.
Link: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381781?posInSet=2&queryId=a9a036bb-641a-4f73-8aa7-946f61f6f844