Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Arikamedu

The best-preserved Roman site in India.

Vaidya Upahar Gruha

This legendary restaurant from 1912 continues to delight patrons with its soul-satisfying dishes.

Feroz Shah Kotla

The ruins of a medieval citadel believed to be haunted by a ministry of wish-granting djinns.

Keshava Temple

An astounding 13th-century architectural and historical achievement

Karla Caves

A complex of ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves with a large, well preserved prayer hall.

The Molai Forest

An Indian forest is being single-handedly planted after its creator was inspired by a slither of dead snakes.

Mahakal Mandir

At this unique temple in Darjeeling, Hindu and Buddhist practices co-exist harmoniously.

Shri Dev Vetoba Temple

A peculiar idol to the Hindu King of Ghosts demands fine leather footwear in exchange for warding off evil.

Jatinga Bird Deaths

A small village in India bears witness to the end of birds' lives every September.

Ramanujan Museum

One-room museum dedicated to India's most enigmatic mathematician.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 261 ii
To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. 480 iii
To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. 514 iv
To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. 642 ix
To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. 137 v
To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. 172 vi
To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria). 256 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 151 viii
To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. 98 x
To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. 168

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