23 June - Gujarat’s ‘Rani Ki Vav’ and Himachal’s ‘Great Himalayan National Park’ were included in the World Heritage List.

 

Rani Ki Vav, also known as the Queen's Stepwell, is a magnificent stepwell located in the town of Patan in Gujarat, India. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on June 23, 2014. Rani Ki Vav is renowned for its intricate and elaborate architecture, which features intricate carvings depicting mythological scenes, deities, and other cultural motifs. It is considered a significant cultural and architectural marvel in India.

 

The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is a national park in India, located in Kullu region in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of 1171 km2; elevations within the park range between 1500 and 6000 m. The Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat to numerous flora and more than 375 fauna species, including approximately 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects. They are protected under the strict guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972; hence any sort of hunting is not permitted.

In June 2014, the Great Himalayan National Park was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites,under the criterion of "outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation".