Unesco Heritage Building

Experts push to restore Syria's war-torn heritage sites, including Palmyra

Experts are returning to Syria's war-ravaged heritage sites, hoping to lay the groundwork for restoring them and reviving tourism, which they say could provide a much-needed boost to the country's decimated economy after nearly 14 years of war. Once-thriving landmarks like the ancient city of Palmyra and the medieval Crusader castle of Crac des Chevaliers remain scarred by years of conflict, but local tourists are returning to the sites, and conservationists hope their historical and cultural significance will eventually draw international visitors back. Palmyra One of Syria's six UNESCO World Heritage sites, Palmyra was once a key hub to the ancient Silk Road network linking the Roman and Parthian empires to Asia. Located in the Syrian desert, it is renowned for its 2,000-year-old Roman-era ruins. It is now marked by shattered columns and damaged temples. Before the Syrian uprising that began in 2011 and soon escalated into a brutal civil war, Palmyra was Syria's main tourist ...

AI could spread false, misleading info on Holocaust, Unesco report warns

A United Nations agency is warning that developments in artificial intelligence could spawn a new surge in Holocaust denial. A report published on Tuesday by UNESCO concludes that AI could result in false and misleading claims about the Holocaust spreading online, either because of flaws in the programmes or because hate groups and Holocaust deniers will intentionally use AI programmes to generate content that falsely calls into question the murder of Jews and other groups by the Nazis. One of the biggest concerns is that AI could be used to create so-called deepfakes of the Holocaust realistic images or videos that could be used to suggest the Holocaust didn't happen or was exaggerated. That could lead to greater antisemitism and a lack of understanding of a key moment in 20th-century history. The report noted that some AI-assisted programmes allow users to interact with simulated historical figures, including prominent Nazis like Adolf Hitler. If we allow the horrific facts of th

Rambagh Gate, Ramparts in Punjab win Unesco's Asia-Pacific Awards

The resilient urban revitalisation of Rambagh Gate and Ramparts in Punjab, and heritage conservation projects related to Haryana's Church of Epiphany and Delhi's Bikaner House won UNESCO awards on Thursday. Twelve projects from China, India, and Nepal were acknowledged by the awards jury in this year's UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. "With people, heritage and creativity at its core, the resilient urban revitalisation of the Rambagh Gate and Ramparts in Punjab, India, has garnered the highest honour, 'Award of Excellence,'" UNESCO Bangkok said in a statement. The project was lauded by the jury for ensuring the continuity of the site's existing uses, while enhancing inclusivity and access to the broader community, it said. Three projects -- the Fanling Golf Course in Hong Kong SAR, China; Dongguan Garden Residences in Yangzhou, China; and Karnikara Mandapam at Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple, Kerala, India -- garnered an 'Award of Distinction' each. An

Spiritual leader Dalai Lama offers prayers at Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama offered prayers at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya on Saturday. The Dalai Lama used a battery-driven automatic car to commute from the Tibetan monastery where he is staying to the Mahabodhi temple, a UNESCO world heritage site. The temple is situated at a place where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment more than 2,000 years ago. The Nobel laureate was greeted by a large number of Buddhist monks and devotees en route, and upon reaching the temple was escorted to the sanctum sanctorum by priests. The Dalai Lama arrived at Bodh Gaya amid tight security on Friday. From the airport, he travelled to Bodh Gaya under heavy security cover. A large number of people stood on either side of the road to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama, as he drove to the Tibetan monastery at Bodh Gaya. According to the information provided by the district administration, the Dalai Lama will inaugurate the three-day International Sangha Forum 2023. The Forum

Santiniketan chronicles: Unesco heritage status adorns the idyllic haven

A functioning educational institute, it will have to navigate the challenges the heritage label presents

41 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India 2023: All you need to know

There are 41 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. Santiniketan, the cultural and educational center established by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, has earned a spot on UNESCO's World Heritage lis

Understanding UNESCO World Heritage List, selection and global impact

With the addition of Santiniketan, India now has 41 official world heritage sites. Italy has the highest number of heritage sites at 58

World Heritage Day 2023: Theme, History, Importance, Celebrations

World Heritage Day or International Day for Monuments and Sites is celebrated yearly on April 18th to create awareness of the relevance of saving ethnic heritage

Dhordo-Dholavira road will encourage tourism in region: Tourism secy

The construction of a road from Dhordo village to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dholavira in Gujarat will give an economic boost to the region and encourage tourism in the area, a senior official said on Saturday. Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh, during an interaction with the media here, also said that all the five key priority areas set for the deliberations during the first G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in the Runn of Kutch were "endorsed by all member countries, invitee countries and international organisations". Over 100 G20 delegates from India and abroad attended the event in the pristine Runn of Kutch from February 7-9. On February 9, they also visited the Harappa-era Dholavira site. The secretary said that another positive impact of the event is the construction of a road from Dhordo village to Dholavira heritage site which will give an economic boost to the region and encourage more tourism in that area. During the G20 event, there was a consensus among the .

Italy backs Appian Way's candidacy for UNESCO World Heritage site

Italy's Ministry of Culture has backed the Appian Way's candidacy to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first time such a bid has had national support in the country.

Bali's water crisis threatens local culture, food production, UNESCO sites

Far from Bali's beaches and hotels, farmer I Ketut Jata stands on a mountainside, staring at terraced land that is too dry to grow the rice his family has long relied on for food and income. It is no longer possible to work in the fields as a farmer," he says. Bali's water crisis is worsening from tourism development, population growth and water mismanagement, experts and environmental groups warn. Water shortages already are affecting UNESCO sites, wells, food production and Balinese culture and experts say the situation will deteriorate further if existing water control policies are not enforced across the island. A tropical, volcanic island in the center of Indonesia's archipelago, Bali relies on water from three main sources: crater lakes, rivers and shallow groundwater. A unique traditional irrigation system, called the subak, distributes water through a network of canals, dams and tunnels. The subak, made a UNESCO site in 2012, is central to Balinese culture, representing the

Taj Mahal most ticketed ASI site for domestic tourists in FY22: Report

The Taj Mahal, a UNESCO world heritage site, was among the 10 most popular centrally-protected ticketed monuments for domestic visitors in 2021-22, according to a new report released by the Union Ministry of Tourism. While the Mughal-era mausoleum ranked first, the Red Fort and the Qutub Minar -- both UNESCO-recognised sites in Delhi -- were the second and third most visited sites, respectively, for the period. The over 280-page report titled 'India Tourism Statistics 2022' was released on Tuesday by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on World Tourism Day at an event here. The report said due to restrictions related to COVID-19, "the number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India during 2021 decreased to 1.52 million as compared to 2.74 million in 2020, registering a negative growth of 44.5 per cent". Sharing data about the footfall at various sites under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the report said the Taj Mahal was the most popular centrally-protected ticketed monum

UNESCO to publish Hindi descriptions of India's heritage sites on website

On the occasion of World Hindi Day on January 10, UNESCO informed that its World Heritage Centre has agreed to publish Hindi descriptions of India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites on WHC website

Nizamuddin Basti project wins two UNESCO heritage awards

Nine projects from six countries Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand have been honoured by a jury of heritage experts