Six Indian Heritage Projects bag UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards 2023

Ans. 12 projects of China, India and Nepal

Ans. Rambagh Gate and Ramparts, Amritsar

Ans. Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru

Updated: 22 Dec 2023

3 Min Read

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Prize for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2023 has been announced, with six winners from India.

UNESCO Award-winning Countries 2023:

12 projects from China, India and Nepal were accepted by the award jury into the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Prize 2023 for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
The award for new design in heritage contexts was awarded to the Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital in Luoyang, China.

Award of Excellence: Rambagh Gate in Amritsar
Award of Distinction: Karnikara Mandapam at Kunnamangalam Bhagavathi Temple, Kerala
Award of Merit: Church of the Epiphany in Gurugram, Haryana, David Sassoon Library and Reading Room in Mumbai, Bikaner House in New Delhi.
Peepal Haveli in Punjab and Sikami Chhen in Kathmandu were awarded 'Special Recognition for Sustainable Development' for their transformative heritage practices.

Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIA) has been considered one of the most beautiful airports in the world.
It has been awarded the World Special Prize for 'Interiors 2023' by UNESCO's Prix Versailles.
It is the only Indian airport to receive such an honour.

Ram Bagh is a garden built during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Amritsar, Punjab, India.
It was completed in 1831 and is named after the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, who founded the city of Amritsar.

From 1856 to 1866, military officers and British residents used this place in the Civil Lines military cantonment for prayers.
This church was built when the Bishop of Kolkata came to the Church of Hisar in 1866.
The Government of India built the church. Till 1942, the responsibility of its care was with the government and the then DC.
During the Second World War, in 1942, it was given to the Society for Propagation of the Gospel and Cambridge Mission, Delhi.

Peepal Haveli is a heritage rural homestay in Nawan Pind Sardaran village of Gurdaspur district, Punjab.
Peepal Haveli belongs to the Sangha family.
The construction of 'The People Haveli' was started 125 years ago by a family led by Sardar Narayan Singh.
The village received the "Best Tourism Village" award from the Ministry of Tourism of Punjab in September 2023.

The 'Asia-Pacific Heritage Award' has been given by UNESCO since 2000 to fulfil the strategic objectives in the Asia-Pacific region.
The purpose of this award is to promote the conservation of such cultural heritage areas whose conservation efforts have been initiated by an individual or organisation.
It encourages other property owners to undertake conservation projects within their communities, independently or through public-private partnerships.