World Heritage Day: Stunning pics of heritage sites across the world

World Heritage Day, also known as The International Day for Monuments and Sites, is celebrated across the world on April 18 each year. People around the globe come together to commemorate the day by organising activities in and around the monuments, cultural centres and heritage sites across countries. India too, is known for its rich history, medieval architecture and also, the beautiful monuments and heritage sites it is home to. Here is a lowdown of 35 heritage sites across the world, along with stunning pictures of the beautiful locales and monuments.

KULANGSU: A HISTORIC INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT, CHINA : A tiny island located on the estuary of the Chiu-lung River, Kulangsu faces the city of Xiamen. Kulangsu is a fascinating example of cultural amalgation. Even the architectural styles here near testimony to different styles. There is Traditional Southern Fujian Style, Western Classical Revival Style and Veranda Colonial Style. (Source: Qian Yi/UNESCO)

KUJATAA GREENLAND: NORSE AND INUIT FARMING AT THE EDGE OF THE ICE CAP, DENMARK : A sub-arctic farming landscape, Kujataa is located in the southern region of Greenland. It bears testimony to different cultural histories. It is a witness to the Norse hunters-gatherers who started arriving from Iceland in the 10th century and of the Norse farmers, Inuit hunters and Inuit farming communities that developed from the end of the 18th century. Though apparently different, all of them created a cultural landscape based on farming, grazing and marine mammal hunting. (Source: Christian K. Madsen/ UNESCO)

TAPUTAPUATEA, FRANCE: Situated on Ra’iatea Island, Taputapuatea is situated at the centre of the “Polynesian Triangle,” a vast portion of the Pacific Ocean, dotted with islands, and the last part of the globe to be settled by humans. It includes two forested valleys, a part of lagoon and coral reef and a strip of open ocean. At its heart lies the the Taputapuatea marae complex, a political, ceremonial and funerary centre. (Source: PF Amar/UNESCO)

KHOMANI CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, SOUTH AFRICA: Located at the border with Botswana and Namibia in the northern part of the country, coinciding with the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (KGNP), Khomani Cultural Landscape bears testimony to the human occupation from the Stone Age to the present. The large expanse of sand is also associated with the culture of the formally nomad Khomani San people and the ways deduced by them to adapt to harsh desert conditions. The Khomani Cultural Landscape also bear evidence to the way of life that existed in the region and shaped the site over thousands of years. (Source: Francois Odendaal Productions)

TEMPLE ZONE OF SAMBOR PREI KUK, ARCHAELOGICAL SITE OF ANCIENT ISHANAPURA, CAMBODIA : The archaeological site of Sambor Prei Kuk, “the temple in the richness of the forest” in the Khmer language, has been identified as Ishanapura, the capital of the Chenla Empire. It flourished in the late 6th and early 7th centuries CE. The remnants of the city occupy an area of 25 square kilometres and include a walled city centre, and numerous temples - ten of which are octagonal, unique specimens of their genre in southeast Asia. (Source: So Sokun Theary/ UNESCO)

THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND: Located in northwest England, the English Lake District is a mountainous area. Glaciers have modelled its valleys in the Ice Age, and consequently it has been shaped by an agro-pastoral land-use system characterized by fields enclosed by walls. The contribution of both nature and human activity have created a hamonious landscape as the mountains mirror in the lakes. (Source: Val Corbett/UNESCO)

VENETIAN WORKS OF DEFENCE BETWEEN 15th and 17th CENTURIES: STATO DA TERRA – WESTERN STATO DA MAR CROATIA, ITALY, MONTENEGRO: It consists of 15 components of defence works in Italy,Croatia and Montenegro, and spans more than 1,000 kilometres between the Lombard region of Italy and the eastern Adriatic Coast. The defences throughout the Stato da Terraprotected the Republic of Venice from other European powers to the northwest and those of the Stato da Mar protected the sea routes and ports in the Adriatic Sea to the Levant. (Source: Ambroz Tudor/UNESCO)

VALONGO WHARF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE BRAZIL: Located in central Rio de Janeiro, Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site encompasses the entirety of Jornal do Comércio Square. It is situated in the former harbour area of Rio de Janeiro in which an old stone wharf was built, that assistaed in the landing of the enslaved Africans who reached the South American continent from 1811 onwards. Approximately around 9,00,000 Africand arrived in South America through Valongo. This heritage site consists of several archaelogical layers the lowest of which consists of floor pavings in pé de moleque style, attributed to the original Valongo Wharf. (Source: João Maurício Bragança/UNESCO)

TARNOWSKIE GORY LEAD-SILVER-ZINC MINE AND ITS UNDERGROUND WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, POLAND : It is located in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland and is one of the main mining areas of central Europe. The site comprises of an entire underground mine with adits, shafts, galleries and water management system. Most of it is situated underground while the surface mining topography features the remains of the 19th century steam water pumping station. Tarnowskie Góry represents a significant contribution to the global production of lead and zinc. (Source: Brygida Melcer- Kwiecinska/UNESCO)

SACRED ISLAND OF OKINOSHIMA AND ASSOCIATED SITES IN THE MUNAKATA REGION, JAPAN : Located 60 km off the western coast of Kyushu island, the island of Okinoshima is a fantastic example of the tradition of worship of a sacred island. The archaeological sites that are preserved on the Island have remained intact, and provide a glimpse of the chronological record of the rituals performed there, and how they changed from the 4th to the 9th centuries CE. Integrated within the Grand Shrine of Munakata, the island of Okinoshima is considered extremely sacred. (Source: IMAKI Hidekazu/UNESCO)

MBANZA KONGO, VESTIGES OF THE CAPITAL OF THE FORMER KINGDOM OF KONGO, ANGOLA : The town of Mbanza Kongo was the political and spiritual capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, one of the largest constituted states in Southern Africa from the 14th to 19th centuries. Located on a plateau at an altitude of 570 metres, in the 15th century when the Portuguese arrived, they added some buildings which were constructed as per the European methods here. More than anywhere in sub- Saharan Africa, Mbanza Kongo illustrates the changes caused by the introduction of Christianity and the arrival of the Portuguese into Central Africa. (Source: Joost De Raeymaeker/ UNESCO)

HISTORIC CITY OF YAZD, IRAN : Located in the middle of the Iranian plateau, the ciy of Yazd is situated 270 kilomtres southeast of Isfahan, and is close to the Spice and Silk Roads. It is a place where limited resources are used for survival. Water in the city is supplied through a qanat system, developed to draw underground water. The architecture of Yazd is far removed from the clutches of modernisation that has destroyed several traditional earthen towns. (Source: Mohammad Hosseini/UNESCO)

HEBRON/AL-KHALIL OLD TOWN, PALENSTINE : The construction of the old town of Hebron/ Al-Khalil was shaped by the use of local limestone. The centre of interest of the town was the site of Al mosque -Ibrahim / the tomb of the Patriarchs whose buildings are in a compound built in the 1st century CE to protect the tombs of the patriarch Abraham / Ibrahim and his family. Tbe place is hailed as a site of pilgrimage for the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. (Source: Firas AL_Hashlamoun/UNESCO)

CAVES AND ICE AGE ART IN THE SWABIAN JURA, GERMANY : When modern humans first arrived in Europe around 43,000 years ago during the ice age, Swabian Jura in southern Germany was one of the areas they had put up in.Excavated from the 1860s, the caves, six in number, reveal items dating from 43,000 to 33,000 years ago. Carved figurines of animals (including cave lions, mammoths, horses and cattle), musical instruments and items of personal adornment are some of the examples. Other figurines depict creatures that are half animal, half human and there is one statuette of a female form. These archaeological sites, featuring some of the oldest figurative art in the world, shed light on the origins of human artistic development. (Source: S. M. Heidenreich/UNESCO)

ASSUMPTION CATHEDRAL AND MONASTERY OF THE TOWN-ISLAND OF SVIYAZHSK, RUSSIAN FEDERATION : Located in the town-island of Sviyazhsk, The Assumption Cathedral is a part of the monastery of the same name. Situated at the confluence of the Volga, the Sviyaga and the Shchuka rivers, at the crossroads of the Silk and Volga routes, Sviyazhsk was founded by Ivan the Terrible in 1551. The frescos of the cathedral are considered among the rarest examples of Eastern Orthodox mural paintings. (Source: Dmitrii Karpov/UNESCO)

ASMARA: A MODERNIST CITY OF AFRICA, ERITREA : The capital of Eritrea, located at over 2000 metres above sea level, developed from the 1890’s onwards as a military outpost for the Italian colonial power. Post 1935, Asmara underwent a large scale programme of construction applying the Italian rationalist idiom of the time to governmental edifices, residential and commercial buildings, churches, mosques, synagogues, cinemas, hotels, etc. It is an fascinating example of early modernist urbanism at the beginning of the 20th century and its application in an African context. (Source: Dr. Edward Edison/UNESCO)

APHRODISIAS, TURKEY: The site, located in southwestern Turkey, in the upper valley of the Morsynus River, consists of two components: the archaeological site of Aphrodisias and the marble quarries northeast of the city. The temple of Aphrodite exists from the 3rd century BCE and the city was built one century later.The streets in the city are arranged around several large civic structures, which include temples, a theatre, an agora, and two bath complexes. (Source: Aphrodisias Museum/ UNESCO)

AHMEDABAD, INDIA : Founded by emperor Ahmed Shah, Ahmedabad has become India's first World Heritage City. The 606-year-old walled city of which was founded by emperor Ahmed Shah. Spread over 5.43 sq km, the walled city of Ahmedabad is the landmark city where Mahatma Gandhi had began India's struggle for freedom. Over the years the city has stood out as an example of Indo-Islamic architecture and Hindu Muslim art. (Source: Reuters)

Click through for more UNESCO Heritage Sites in India.

World Heritage Day: Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has endeavoured to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. India has a total of 36 world heritage sites that have been recognised by UNESCO. As we celebrate World Heritage Day, here are some of them. (Text: Whc.unesco.org)

Agra Fort: Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. (Source: Wikipedia)

The Nalanda Mahavihara site, located in Bihar, comprises the archaeological remains of a scholastic and monastic institution dating from the 3rd century BC to the 13th century AD. The most ancient university of the Indian subcontinent, the historical development of the site testifies to the development of Buddhism into a religion and the flourishing of monastic and educational traditions, according to UNESCO. It includes stupas, shrines, viharas – residential and educational buildings – and important art works in stucco, stone and metal. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka: These are in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains on the southern edge of the central Indian plateau. Within massive sandstone outcrops above comparatively dense forest, are five clusters of natural rock shelters, displaying paintings that appear to date from the Mesolithic Period right through to the historical period. (Source: Wikipedia)

Qutub Minar and its monuments: Built in the early 13th century a few kilometres south of Delhi, the red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5m high, tapering from 2.75 m in diameter at its peak to 14.32 m at its base, and alternating angular and rounded flutings. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311), and two mosques, including the Quwwatu'l-Islam, the oldest in northern India, built of materials reused from some 20 Brahman temples. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

Taj Mahal: An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. (Source: Express Photo)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, in Mumbai, is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. The building, designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’ and the major international mercantile port of India. (Source: Express Photo by Prashant Nadkar)

Mountain Railways of India: This includes three railways — The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (in pic) was the first, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the Kalka Shimla Railway. All three railways are still fully operational. (Source: PTI)

Elephanta Caves: The 'City of Caves', on an island in the Sea of Oman close to Bombay, contains a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Shiva. Here, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high reliefs in the main cave. (Source: Mouthshut.com)

Ellora Caves These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from AD 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. (Source: Express photo)

Fatehpur Sikri: Built during the second half of the 16th century by Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for 10 years. The complex monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, include one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. (Source: Express Photo)

Group of Monuments at Hampi: The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries. (Source: Express Archive Photo)

Humayun's Tomb: This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. (Source: Express archive photo)

The Jantar Mantar: The Jantar Mantar, in Jaipur, is an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century. It includes a set of some 20 main fixed instruments. They are monumental examples in masonry of known instruments but which in many cases have specific characteristics of their own. (Source: Express Photo by Rohit Jain)

Khajuraho Group of Monuments: The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different religions – Hinduism and Jainism. (Source: Express archive photo)

Konarak Sun Temple: On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya's chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, it is one of India's most famous Brahman sanctuaries. (Source: Templedetails.com)

Known for the UNESCO world heritage site Rani Ki Vav (Queen’s step well) from the 11th century, Patan is a small town located on the banks of River Saraswati. It is a spiritual town and has a lot of historical value. The best time to visit Patan is from October to April. (Source: PTI)