Stunning world heritage sites in South Asia

As a savvy traveler, you will be very familiar with UNESCO World Heritage status – a special designation given by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization for a place of physical or cultural significance. These sites are distributed around the world and are absolutely stunning to visit, including countless special locations in South Asia.

Kathmandu Valley – the original South Asian UNESCO site

The first world heritage site in South Asia is Kathmandu Valley, inscribed by UNESCO in 1979. It lies in Nepal at the crossroads of several civilizations of ancient Asia and has over 130 important monuments. It is an absolute mecca for travelers, with seemingly limitless sights and activities. Traditional Nepali food is an excellent choice for health-conscious travelers, with a variety of vegetarian options – the local religions of Hindi and Buddhism are very focused on healthy living.

Most of the important sights in Kathmandu Valley are concentrated in two areas – Bhaktapur District and Kathmandu District. Bhaktapur has two UNESCO sites, including Bhaktapur Durbar Square and the Changu Narayan temple, which is situated on a hill and dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu. The temple is a fully functional museum with a visitor center and there are regular fairs and festivals throughout the year. However, the Kathmandu District has an even greater collection of important temples and squares in fairly close proximity, and is definitely worth a visit.

Sadly, the entire Kathmandu Valley is currently listed as endangered, underlining why UNESCO status is so important in the first place – and it should serve as motivation for you to support efforts to preserve this important valley and its cultural heritage.

Next stop: Pakistan

Several sites in Pakistan gained UNESCO status not long after the Kathmandu Valley, and were amongst the first sites in South Asia. The archaeological ruins at Mohenjo-daro was listed in 1980, matching UNESCO’s criteria for a cultural site of great significance. Mohenjo-daro is one of the oldest cities of the world, built around 2,600 BCE in the bronze age. It is a vast complex of scattered remains but it is truly stunning to visit. There is an airport located close by with regular flights from Karachi, and the site has a visitor center and museum charging a minimal entrance fee. Restaurant facilities are relatively minimal, so you may want to bring your own food – though water and tea are available to keep you hydrated and healthy.

Also, worth keeping an eye out for are the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi, an ancient site dating from the first century BCE that has extensive ruins located about 10 miles outside of Mardan in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province. Listed for its cultural heritage is the town of Taxila as well, located in Punjab just 20 miles from Islamabad – it contains ruins dating from the Achaemenid Empire, circa 6^th century BCE.

Wonders of Bangladesh

There are three UNESCO sites in the nation of Bangladesh, including the historic mosque city of Bagerhat – a formerly lost city with over 50 Islamic monuments which were discovered when the vegetation cover of the site was systematically cleared. Its Sixty Pillar Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the country and was used for prayers, as an assembly hall, and a madrasa. The site is currently well kept and visitor friendly.

Though Bangladesh has only three sites currently listed, several additional sites are under consideration as tentative sites. One of these is Lalbagh Fort, an incomplete 17^th century fort complex of Mughal descent that is a combination of three old buildings. It is easily accessible from a range of Dhaka vacation apartment and holiday rentals, and the tomb of Bibi Pari, who was the daughter of Shaista Khan, is another important on-site attraction often visited by tourists spending time in Dhaka.

The many sites of India

With almost too many world heritage sites to list, at a total of 35 and counting, India is an excellent candidate for tourists looking to take in top UNESCO sites while also offering much for the health-conscious traveler. Possibly the most well-known UNESCO site in India is the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum for the wife of Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan – covering a large complex with a mosque, guest house, and formal gardens. These are all easy to visit and essential on a trip to India.

The Taj Mahal was designated by UNESCO in 1983, along with Agra Fort, and the Ajanta and Ellora caves. In 2016, the 35^th Indian site was designated: Nalanda, a large Buddhist monastery in operation from the 7^th century BCE to around 1200 CE. The entire excavation covers 14 hectares and has extensive walking routes and facilities for tourists.