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UNESCO World Heritage

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are landmarks with protection under an international treaty administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). These sites are considered to be of outstanding value to humanity as they hold significant cultural and historical importance. Bombay is home to 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Victoria Terminus

The Victoria Terminus was designed by a British architectural engineer, Frederick William Stevens, in an exuberant Italian Gothic style with influences from Romanesque and classical Indian architecture. It was completed in 1887 and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. In 2017 the station was renamed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. It has undergone several expansions and improvements to accommodate growing passenger numbers and is one of the busiest railway stations in India.

Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Buildings

In the second half of the 19th century, the local administration implemented an urban planning project that led to the construction of the Bombay High Court, Bombay University, Elphinstone College and many other buildings on the east of the Oval Maidan which were all built in the Victorian Neo-Gothic style. In the early 20th century, after the Backbay reclamation that led to the creation of the Marine Drive, several residential, commercial and entertainment buildings were built in the Art Deco style on the west of the Oval Maidan. In all over 400 buildings were built and 94 of these were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.

Elephanta Caves

Hewn from solid basalt rock, the Elephanta Caves are a collection of 5 Hindu cave temples that house rock-cut sculptures, carvings and scriptures of the Hindu god Shiva. The largest of these sculptures is 23 feet tall and was sculpted in the 5th century. There are also 2 Buddhist caves and a Buddhist Stupa dating back to the 2nd century. These caves are located on Gharapuri Island commonly known as Elephanta Island and were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.