UNESCO SITES
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located. UNESCO has recognized 42 places in India as being of outstanding universal value, worthy of protection for future generations. This makes India the sixth country in the world with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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For UNESCO to award the status of a World Heritage Sites to a site, it must fulfil at least one of the following criteria: Be something of human creative genius, encourage the interchange of values, be a testimony to cultural tradition, be of significance in human history, a traditional human settlement, be of heritage associated with events of universal significance, represent natural penomena or beauty, be a testimony to major stages of the Earth's history, be of significant ecological and biological process or be a significant natural habitat for biodiversity.
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In addition, India boasts one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7-8 million visitors a year. JWN includes several UNESCO sites on many of it's journeys.