India · Theme guide
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
Every place here is part of a property inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Several are single components of a larger inscription — the Hampi temples, the Khajuraho group, the Hill Forts of Rajasthan — so you will see more than one entry for some sites.
Quick answer
The best UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India are the Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, the Vittala Temple, the Red Fort and Agra Fort. Tamil Nadu has the most (10 of 47). Visit between October and March, and book ASI tickets online to skip the queue.
Updated · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · Ranked on our published criteria
47
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
12
states & territories
23
free to enter
Oct–Mar
best months
Top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
Ranked by our editors on the same criteria as every Traveliac guide: what you see for your time and money, how well it’s kept, and how easy it is to visit.
- 1
Taj MahalMausoleum · Agra, Uttar Pradesh · UNESCOShah Jahan’s white-marble mausoleum₹50 Indian2.5 hrs - 2
Amber Fort & PalaceFort · Jaipur, Rajasthan · UNESCOPart of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan₹100 Indian3 hrs - 3
Vittala TempleTemple · Hampi, Karnataka · UNESCOVijayanagara temple with the stone chariot₹40 Indian2 hrs - 4
Red FortFort · New Delhi, Delhi · UNESCOShah Jahan’s Mughal citadel in Old Delhi₹35 Indian2.5 hrs - 5
Agra FortFort · Agra, Uttar Pradesh · UNESCOMughal red-sandstone fort with Taj Mahal views₹50 Indian2.5 hrs - 6
Qutub MinarMonument · New Delhi, Delhi · UNESCOStone minaret begun around 1200, over 70 m tall₹40 Indian1.5 hrs - 7
Jaisalmer FortFort · Jaisalmer, Rajasthan · UNESCOA living sandstone fort in the Thar desert₹50 Indian3 hrs - 8
Fatehpur SikriTemple · Agra, Uttar Pradesh · UNESCOAkbar’s abandoned red-sandstone capital₹40 Indian2.5 hrs - 9
Elephanta CavesHeritage · Mumbai, MaharashtraRock-cut Shiva cave temples on an island off Mumbai₹40 Indian2.5 hrs - 10
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj TerminusMonument · Mumbai, MaharashtraVictorian Gothic railway terminus, still in daily useFree45 min
All 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites by state
Showing all 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Tamil Nadu10 places
Tamil NaduUNESCOShore Temple
Temple · Mahabalipuram
₹40 Indian1 hr
Tamil NaduUNESCOFive Rathas
Heritage · Mahabalipuram
₹40 Indian1 hr
Tamil NaduUNESCONilgiri Mountain Railway
Heritage · Ooty
₹60 Indian1 hr
Tamil NaduFree entryUNESCOArjuna's Penance
Heritage · Mahabalipuram
Free30 min
Tamil NaduFree entryUNESCOKrishna Mandapam
Temple · Mahabalipuram
Free20 min
Tamil NaduFree entryUNESCOGanesha Ratha
Temple · Mahabalipuram
Free20 min
Tamil NaduFree entryUNESCOKrishna's Butter Ball
Heritage · Mahabalipuram
Free15 min
Tamil NaduFree entryUNESCOVaraha Cave Temple
Temple · Mahabalipuram
Free30 min
Tamil NaduFree entryUNESCOMahishasuramardini Cave Temple
Temple · Mahabalipuram
Free20 min
Tamil NaduFree entryUNESCOTiger Cave
Temple · Mahabalipuram
Free45 min
Madhya Pradesh9 places
Madhya PradeshKandariya Mahadeva Temple
Temple · Khajuraho
₹40 Indian1.5 hrs
Madhya PradeshLakshmana Temple
Temple · Khajuraho
₹40 Indian1 hr
Madhya PradeshVishvanatha Temple
Temple · Khajuraho
₹40 Indian45 min
Madhya PradeshDevi Jagadambi Temple
Temple · Khajuraho
₹40 Indian45 min
Madhya PradeshChitragupta Temple
Temple · Khajuraho
₹40 Indian40 min
Madhya PradeshFree entryParsvanatha Temple
Jain temple · Khajuraho
Free45 min
Madhya PradeshFree entryChausath Yogini Temple
Temple · Khajuraho
Free30 min
Madhya PradeshFree entryDuladeo Temple
Temple · Khajuraho
Free45 min
Madhya PradeshFree entryJavari Temple
Temple · Khajuraho
Free30 min
Karnataka8 places
- KarnatakaUNESCO
Vittala Temple
Temple · Hampi
₹40 Indian2 hrs
KarnatakaFree entryUNESCOVirupaksha Temple
Temple · Hampi
Free1 hr
KarnatakaFree entryUNESCORoyal Enclosure & Mahanavami Dibba
Heritage · Hampi
Free1.5 hrs
KarnatakaUNESCOLotus Mahal
Palace · Hampi
₹40 Indian30 min
KarnatakaUNESCOElephant Stables
Heritage · Hampi
₹40 Indian25 min
KarnatakaFree entryUNESCOAchyutaraya Temple
Temple · Hampi
Free45 min
KarnatakaFree entryUNESCOQueen's Bath
Heritage · Hampi
Free30 min
KarnatakaFree entryUNESCOHampi Bazaar
Market · Hampi
Free1 hr
Maharashtra5 places
- Maharashtra
Elephanta Caves
Heritage · Mumbai
₹40 Indian2.5 hrs
- MaharashtraFree entry
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Monument · Mumbai
Free45 min
MaharashtraFree entryUNESCOMarine Drive
Heritage · Mumbai
Free1 hr
MaharashtraUNESCOEllora Caves
Heritage · Aurangabad
₹40 Indian4 hrs
MaharashtraUNESCOAjanta Caves
Heritage · Aurangabad
₹40 Indian4 hrs
Other statesUttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Bihar, Goa, Odisha, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh · 15 places
- Uttar PradeshUNESCO
Taj Mahal
Mausoleum · Agra
₹50 Indian2.5 hrs
- RajasthanUNESCO
Amber Fort & Palace
Fort · Jaipur
₹100 Indian3 hrs
- DelhiUNESCO
Red Fort
Fort · New Delhi
₹35 Indian2.5 hrs
- Uttar PradeshUNESCO
Agra Fort
Fort · Agra
₹50 Indian2.5 hrs
- DelhiUNESCO
Qutub Minar
Monument · New Delhi
₹40 Indian1.5 hrs
- RajasthanUNESCO
Jaisalmer Fort
Fort · Jaisalmer
₹50 Indian3 hrs
- Uttar PradeshUNESCO
Fatehpur Sikri
Temple · Agra
₹40 Indian2.5 hrs
BiharFree entryMahabodhi Temple Complex
Buddhist site · Bodh Gaya
Free1.5 hrs
GoaFree entrySe Cathedral
Church · Panaji
Free45 min
OdishaKonark Sun Temple
Temple · Puri
₹40 Indian2 hrs
BiharFree entryMuchalinda Lake
Lake · Bodh Gaya
Free15 min
GujaratFree entryUNESCOSidi Saiyyed Mosque
Mosque · Ahmedabad
Free30 min
GujaratFree entryUNESCOJama Masjid, Ahmedabad
Mosque · Ahmedabad
Free45 min
RajasthanUNESCOJantar Mantar
Heritage · Jaipur
₹50 Indian1.5 hrs
Himachal PradeshUNESCOKalka-Shimla Railway (Shimla Railway Station)
Heritage · Shimla
₹65 Indian5 hrs
UNESCO World Heritage Sites compared
| Place | State | Type | Indian fee | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh | Mausoleum | ₹50 Indian | 2.5 hrs |
| Amber Fort & Palace | Rajasthan | Fort | ₹100 Indian | 3 hrs |
| Vittala Temple | Karnataka | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 2 hrs |
| Red Fort | Delhi | Fort | ₹35 Indian | 2.5 hrs |
| Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh | Fort | ₹50 Indian | 2.5 hrs |
| Qutub Minar | Delhi | Monument | ₹40 Indian | 1.5 hrs |
| Jaisalmer Fort | Rajasthan | Fort | ₹50 Indian | 3 hrs |
| Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 2.5 hrs |
| Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra | Heritage | ₹40 Indian | 2.5 hrs |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus | Maharashtra | Monument | Free | 45 min |
| Kandariya Mahadeva Temple | Madhya Pradesh | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 1.5 hrs |
| Mahabodhi Temple Complex | Bihar | Buddhist site | Free | 1.5 hrs |
| Se Cathedral | Goa | Church | Free | 45 min |
| Shore Temple | Tamil Nadu | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 1 hr |
| Five Rathas | Tamil Nadu | Heritage | ₹40 Indian | 1 hr |
| Konark Sun Temple | Odisha | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 2 hrs |
| Lakshmana Temple | Madhya Pradesh | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 1 hr |
| Muchalinda Lake | Bihar | Lake | Free | 15 min |
| Nilgiri Mountain Railway | Tamil Nadu | Heritage | ₹60 Indian | 1 hr |
| Virupaksha Temple | Karnataka | Temple | Free | 1 hr |
| Arjuna's Penance | Tamil Nadu | Heritage | Free | 30 min |
| Royal Enclosure & Mahanavami Dibba | Karnataka | Heritage | Free | 1.5 hrs |
| Sidi Saiyyed Mosque | Gujarat | Mosque | Free | 30 min |
| Vishvanatha Temple | Madhya Pradesh | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 45 min |
| Devi Jagadambi Temple | Madhya Pradesh | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 45 min |
| Jama Masjid, Ahmedabad | Gujarat | Mosque | Free | 45 min |
| Jantar Mantar | Rajasthan | Heritage | ₹50 Indian | 1.5 hrs |
| Krishna Mandapam | Tamil Nadu | Temple | Free | 20 min |
| Lotus Mahal | Karnataka | Palace | ₹40 Indian | 30 min |
| Marine Drive | Maharashtra | Heritage | Free | 1 hr |
| Chitragupta Temple | Madhya Pradesh | Temple | ₹40 Indian | 40 min |
| Elephant Stables | Karnataka | Heritage | ₹40 Indian | 25 min |
| Ganesha Ratha | Tamil Nadu | Temple | Free | 20 min |
| Ellora Caves | Maharashtra | Heritage | ₹40 Indian | 4 hrs |
| Krishna's Butter Ball | Tamil Nadu | Heritage | Free | 15 min |
| Parsvanatha Temple | Madhya Pradesh | Jain temple | Free | 45 min |
| Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra | Heritage | ₹40 Indian | 4 hrs |
| Chausath Yogini Temple | Madhya Pradesh | Temple | Free | 30 min |
| Varaha Cave Temple | Tamil Nadu | Temple | Free | 30 min |
| Achyutaraya Temple | Karnataka | Temple | Free | 45 min |
| Duladeo Temple | Madhya Pradesh | Temple | Free | 45 min |
| Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple | Tamil Nadu | Temple | Free | 20 min |
| Javari Temple | Madhya Pradesh | Temple | Free | 30 min |
| Kalka-Shimla Railway (Shimla Railway Station) | Himachal Pradesh | Heritage | ₹65 Indian | 5 hrs |
| Queen's Bath | Karnataka | Heritage | Free | 30 min |
| Hampi Bazaar | Karnataka | Market | Free | 1 hr |
| Tiger Cave | Tamil Nadu | Temple | Free | 45 min |
Fees are the Indian-visitor ticket; foreign-visitor and camera fees are on each place’s guide.
The main groups of sites
Mughal
Tombs, forts and a lost city
Agra and Delhi hold the densest cluster: two days covers the lot.
Vijayanagara
Hampi’s ruined capital
One inscription, dozens of temples and royal buildings across a boulder landscape.
Rajasthan
Hill forts and an observatory
Amber and Jaisalmer belong to the Hill Forts of Rajasthan; Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar is a separate listing.
Mumbai
Caves to Art Deco
Ancient rock-cut temples and a Victorian Gothic and Art Deco city centre.
Elephanta Caves · Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus · Marine Drive
Map of UNESCO world heritage sites in India
Numbers match the ranking; the top 10 are orange. Tap a pin for its guide. 7 places have no map position yet.
Tips for visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
Buy tickets online
Archaeological Survey of India sites sell e-tickets, usually a little cheaper than at the counter and much quicker.
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays
Plan Agra around it. Several other sites close one day a week; each guide lists the day.
Allow a full day at Hampi
The sites are spread over several kilometres. Hire a bicycle or auto-rickshaw.
Foreign visitors pay more
Rates for foreign nationals are often ten times the Indian price. SAARC and BIMSTEC citizens usually pay a middle rate.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites FAQs
Which UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India are free to visit?
On our list, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai, Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya, Se Cathedral in Panaji, Muchalinda Lake in Bodh Gaya, Virupaksha Temple in Hampi, Arjuna's Penance in Mahabalipuram, Royal Enclosure in Hampi and Sidi Saiyyed Mosque in Ahmedabad have no entry fee, along with 15 more.
Is the Taj Mahal open on Fridays?
No. The Taj Mahal is closed to visitors every Friday, when the mosque inside the complex is used for prayers. It is open sunrise to sunset on every other day.
Do foreign visitors pay more at Indian UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Often, yes. The Taj Mahal, for example, costs ₹50 for Indian visitors and ₹1,100 for foreign visitors. 22 of the 47 places on this list charge foreigners more; each guide lists both prices.
What is the best time of year to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India?
October to March suits most of them. Each guide gives the best months for that place.
Which day are UNESCO World Heritage Sites closed?
3 of the 47 places here close on Mondays. Check the closed day on each guide before you go.
How much time do you need at Taj Mahal?
Allow about 2.5 hours. Arrive at opening time for the smallest crowds.
Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records; see How we write these guides. Last updated . How we rank and check places · All themes