UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Three new cultural sites in India, including the iconic Sun Temple at Modhera, historic Vadnagar town in Gujarat, and rock-cut relief sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura, have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites, the ASI said on Tuesday.

As per the UNESCO website, “A Tentative List is an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination.”

“States Parties are encouraged to submit their Tentative Lists, properties which they consider to be cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List,” cites the website.

“States Parties are encouraged to prepare their Tentative Lists with the participation of a wide variety of stakeholders, including site managers, local and regional governments, local communities, NGOs and other interested parties and partners,” it adds.

Sharing the news, on Tuesday, Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy tweeted to share the news and also shared images of the three sites.

“Congratulations India! India adds 3 more sites to @UNESCO’s Tentative List: 01 Vadnagar- A multi-layered Historic town, Gujarat 02 Sun Temple, Modhera and its adjoining monuments 03 Rock-cut Sculptures and Reliefs of the Unakoti, Unakoti Range, Unakoti District,” he tweeted.

Congratulations India!

India adds 3 more sites to @UNESCO’s Tentative List:

01 Vadnagar- A multi-layered Historic town, Gujarat

02 Sun Temple, Modhera and its adjoining monuments

03 Rock-cut Sculptures and Reliefs of the Unakoti, Unakoti Range, Unakoti District pic.twitter.com/CAarM4BfnE

— G Kishan Reddy (Modi Ka Parivar) (@kishanreddybjp) December 20, 2022

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also shared his tweet and added that the step will provide a big boost to India’s cultural heritage.

“Big boost to #India’s cultural heritage, as Sun Temple, Modhera & adjoining monuments, rock-cut Sculptures & Reliefs of Unakoti and Vadnagar, a multi-layered historic town, Gujarat is the 3 new sites added to Tentative List of @UNESCO #WorldHeritagesites, making the count to 52,” it tweeted.