Rajasthan's Shekhawati Havelis Added to UNESCO Tentative List

Key facts

• Rajasthan's historic Shekhawati havelis have been included in UNESCO's Tentative List, a preliminary step towards potential World Heritage status, covering heritage properties across 14 towns including Alsisar, Bissau, Chirawa, Churu, Dundlod, Fatehpur, Jhunjhunu, Khetri, Laxmangarh, Mandawa, Mahansar, Nawalgarh, Ramgarh and Sikar.
• The Shekhawati region in northeastern Rajasthan is known for elaborately painted havelis built largely by merchant families, featuring frescoes depicting religious and mythological themes, portraits, everyday life, and 19th and early 20th century technological and cultural changes.
• Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari described the inclusion as an important milestone in securing international recognition for Shekhawati's architectural and cultural heritage.
• Properties must generally be included on a country's Tentative List before being considered for formal nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List.