International Day For Monuments And Sites:
Every year, the United Nations marks April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, in many countries also celebrated as World Heritage Day. The theme for this year is “Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures”.
- Globally, the day is promoted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
- ICOMOS in 1982 had decided to celebrate April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites or World Heritage Day.
- Approved by UNESCO in 1983 during its 22nd General Conference, the day is dedicated to recognizing sites of historical importance, raising awareness regarding them, and stressing the need to restore and preserve them.
World Heritage Sites in India:
- Currently, there are 38 World Heritage Sites located in India.
- Of these, 30 are ‘cultural’, such as the Ajanta Caves, Fatehpur Sikri, Hampi monuments, and the Mountain Railways of India, and 7 are ‘Natural’, including Kaziranga, Manas, and Nanda Devi National Parks.
- One is classified as ‘Mixed’, the Khangchendzonga National Park.
- In 2019, ‘Jaipur City’ became the 38th addition to the India list under Culture.
