This will be India's 42nd UNESCO World Heritage Site. The agency in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee is being held until 25 September, announced the move.
At the start of 2022, India submitted the nomination dossier for the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas to the World Heritage Centre.
As per the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the location has been on UNESCO's preliminary list since 2014. The Hoysala Temples are shrines to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu that were constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries by the Hoysala monarchs.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate Indians, saying: “More pride for India! The magnificent Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas have been inscribed on the @UNESCO World Heritage List”.
"The timeless beauty and intricate details of the Hoysala temples are a testament to India's rich cultural heritage and the exceptional craftsmanship of our ancestors", he added.
Federal Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his gratitude and talked of how the finest sites of cultural legacies have been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. “My heartfelt congratulations to the citizens on this momentous occasion”.
The three temples consist of the Hoysaleswara Temple on the banks of Dwarasamudra Tank in Halebidu (Hassan district), a town with numerous protected and unprotected temples, archaeological ruins, and mounds, the Chennakeshava Temple at Belur (Hassan district), and the Keshava Temple at the centre of Somanathapura village (Mysore district).
Responding to UNESCO’s post, Karnataka state chief Siddaramaiah shared his sense of delight and pride over the Hoysala Temples, while highlighting his government’s efforts to provide Karnataka with world-class infrastructure and safety for all.
“Welcome to Karnataka, the cradle of historical places and shrines”, the state chief added.
These magnificent sculptures from the 12th and 13th centuries, made of soapstone and chloritic schist, honour the Hoysala dynasty's architectural genius and the splendour of nature.