Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Tiger Cave

Picnic on the seashore in the footsteps of ancient kings, protected by giant mythical cat beasts.

Bylakuppe

The world's largest Tibetan refugee settlement.

Antilia

World's most expensive home.

The Ashram

The abandoned site of the Beatles spiritual awakening and subsequent revolt.

Masrur Temple

15 monolithic temples emulate an eroding sand castle.

Sati Handprints

Fifteen Jodhpur queens left their handprints before going to their fiery death.

Fatehpur Sikri

An imperial fortress city that incorporated cultural elements from the entire Mughal empire, only to be abandoned the year it was finished.

Kolukkumalai Tea Estate

At 8,000 feet, the world's highest tea estate draws visitors for both its products and its panoramic views.

Karni Mata Temple

Deep in the Thar desert, a temple crawling with thousands of holy rats.

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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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