Three cheers! Quite literally.
At the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee at Istanbul this weekend, three new sites from India were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The three include Nalanda Mahavira, the Capitol Complex of Chandigarh as well as the Khangchendzonga National Park of Sikkim.
It is a matter of great pride for Indians as this is the first time that three sites from any country have been accepted on the prestigious list in a single session!
The Nalanda Mahavira is located 50 km from Bihar Sharif in the state of Bihar. It was a very important centre for education - Buddhist and otherwise - and saw the presence of all noted philosophers and teachers between the fifth and the twelfth century CE.
The Capitol Complex was set up by Le Corbusier when he designed Chandigarh. It is a marvel when it comes to maximized use of available natural resources. The Open Hand monument has become the symbol of the Chandigarh government and an iconic symbol from the city.
Revered by the people and the playground of numerous legends, the Khangchendzonga National Park of Sikkim is home to several rare species of plants and animal life. The red panda, snow leopard, Tibetan fox and the Tahr are among some of the elusive life forms that have found sanctuary in its fold. The efforts to conserve the way of the life in these parts will mean a greater chance of survival of these rare species.
The bigger source of joy for all of us at Alpaviram is that this is the best season to visit all three new sites! Quick, drop us a line here, to join us as we head for our next adventure!
--- The author is Priya Tripathy. You can connect with her here.
