In Pics: 10 new sites added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list 2021

Nine cultural sites across the globe were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List during the World Heritage Committee's annual session. The 44th session was held online due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Dholavira: A Harappan-era metropolis, in Gujarat has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The ancient city of Dholavira is one of the most remarkable and well-preserved urban settlements dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BC. Discovered in 1968, the site is set apart by its unique characteristics, such as its water management system, multi-layered defensive mechanisms, extensive use of stone in construction and special burial structures. Credit: DH Photo

Ramappa Temple: The historic Rudreswara Temple, also known as the Ramappa Temple, at Palampet in Mulugu district of Telangana has been conferred the tag of UNESCO World Heritage site. The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya empire by Recharla Rudra, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and worshiped by devotees. Credit: PTI Photo

The Great Spa Towns of Europe: A group of major European spa towns was added to the highly prized World Heritage list for their

The Lighthouse of Cordouan: Battered by the wind and swell for 400 years and nicknamed the

Hima Cultural Area: One of the Arabian Peninsula’s ancient caravan routes, Hima Cultural Area is the sixth site in Saudi Arabia to be added to UNESCO's world heritage list. Hima features more than 34 separate sites including rock inscriptions and wells along the route of the ancient Arabian caravans displaying a cultural continuity of 7,000 years. Credit: UNESCO/SCTH

Paseo del Prado: Madrid's iconic Paseo del Prado has been added to UNESCO's list of the world's most precious and significant sites was in recognition of the key role the Paseo, a wide tree-lined avenue that's home to prominent buildings such as the Prado Museum, and the adjoining Buen Retiro park, a 125-hectare green space, play in Madrid's history. Credit: Reuters Photo

Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China – China’s Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China was the 56th site in China to be added in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. Credit: UNESCO/Quanzhou maritime Silk Road World heritage Nomination Center China

The Great Spa Towns of Europe: 11 towns from in seven European countries was inducted in this global site. This includes Baden bei Wien in Austria, Karlovy Vary in Czechia, Vichy in France, Baden-Baden and Bad Ems in Germany, and the city of Bath in the UK. Credit: UNESCO/Comune di Padova Settore Cultura, Turismo, Musei e Biblioteche

Trans-Iranian Railway: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has inscribed the Trans-Iranian Railway onto its World Heritage List. Built with a width of 1435mm, the train travels 1394 kilometers long covering 90 working stations. “Started in 1927 and completed in 1938, the railway was designed and executed in a successful collaboration between the Iranian government and 43 construction contractors from many countries,” UNESCO said in a statement. Credit: UNESCO/Hossein Javadi

Darmstadt Artists: Germany’s Darmstadt Artists’ Colony have been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Darmstadt Artists’ Colony on Mathildenhöhe, the highest elevation above the city of Darmstadt in west-central Germany, was established in 1897 by Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse, as a centre for emerging reform movements in architecture, arts and crafts. Credit: UNESCO/Nikolaus Heiss