UNESCO declares Nalanda Mahavihara World Heritage Site
UNESCO has declared Bihar’s much awaited ancient site – the ruins
of Nalanda Mahavihara – a World Heritage Site.
- With the inclusion of Nalanda, this would be the second UNESCO
Heritage Site in Bihar after Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya.
Key facts:
- Nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the Indian Subcontinent. It engaged in the organized transmisson of knowledge over an uninterrupted period of 800 years.
- The historical development of the site testifies to the development of Buddhism into a religion and the flourishing of monastic and educational traditions.
- It was a major Mahavihara or a large Buddhist monastery that also doubled up as an important centre of learning from the 5th to 1200 AD in the erstwhile kingdom of Magadh.
- The construction of Nalanda university began in 5th century AD and flourished under the Gupta rulers. It came to an end in the 12th century when it was destroyed in 1193 AD by the invading Turkish army led by its commander Bakhtiar Khilji.
UNESCO world heritage site:
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as of
special cultural or physical significance.
- The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly.
- Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.
- The List of recorded sites on the World Heritage now stands at 981 which include both cultural and natural wonders.
- Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites with 50 sites.
