The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh was granted the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site on 23^rd June 2014.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site Committee granted the status to the park under the criteria of “exceptional natural beauty and conversation of biological diversity” at 

its 38th session held in Doha, Qatar.

GHNP is now among 32 World Heritage Site sites from India and it is among the 7 natural heritage sites.

About The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP)

The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is the newest addition to India's national parks, located in Kullu region in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

The park was built in 1984 and it was declared a National Park under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 by the Himachal Pradesh government in 1999.

The park is spread over an area of 1,171 km² that lies between altitudes of 1500 to 6000m.

The Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat to numerous flora and more than 375 fauna species that comprises nearly around 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects. They are protected under strict guidelines of Wildlife 

Protection Act of 1972 , hence any sort of hunting is not permitted.

In total there are 832 plants species in GHNP representing 128 families and 427 genera, which covers 26 per cent of the total flora of Himachal Pradesh.

GHNP is habitat to vulnerable and endangered species like

• Snow Leopard.
• Himalayan Black Bear.
• Royle’s Vole.
• Himalayan tahr.
• Himalayan serow.
• Himalayan goral.
• Himalayan musk deer.
• Western tragopan.
• Cheer pheasant.

List of World Heritage Sites in India

There are 32 World Heritage Sites in India that are recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as of 2014.

These are places of importance of cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.

The Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted on 17 November 1997 following the General Conference of the UNESCO held from 17 October 1972 to 21 November 1972.

India’s first two sites inscribed on the list at the Seventh Session of the World Heritage held in 1983 were the Agra Fort and the Ajanta Caves.

Of these 32 sites, 25 are cultural sites and the other 7 are natural sites.

A tentative list of further sites/properties submitted by India for recognition includes 33 sites.

Heritage Sites in India

Cultural

1. Agra Fort (1983)
2. Ajanta Caves (1983)
3. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
4. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)
5. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)
6. Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
7. Elephanta Caves (1987)
8. Ellora Caves (1983)
9. Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
10. Great Living Chola Temples (1987)
11. Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
12. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
13. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)
14. Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)
15. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)
16. Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
17. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
18. Mountain Railways of India (1999)
19. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
20. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
21. Red Fort Complex (2007)
22. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
23. Sun Temple, Konârak (1984)
24. Taj Mahal (1983)
25. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)

Natural

1. Great Himalayan National Park (2014)
2. Kaziranga National Park (1985)
3. Keoladeo National Park (1985)
4. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
5. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988)
6. Sundarbans National Park (1987)
7. Western Ghats (2012)