Five Tamil Nadu Places Included in UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Union Culture Minister Kumari Selja declared on 14 October 2012 that the five sites in Tamil Nadu, including famous Lord Sri Ranganathar temple in Srirangam, have been included in the tentative list by the Union Culture ministry for UNESCO's world heritage status

The 17th century Fort St George in Chennai, Chettinad, Kazhugumalai rock sculptures and Pulikat Lake were the other sites in the list.

About UNESCO World Heritage Site

UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 states parties which are elected by their General Assembly

As of 2012, 962 sites are listed: 745 cultural, 188 natural, and 29 mixed properties, in 157 states parties. By sites ranked by country Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites with 47 sites, followed by Spain with 44 and China with 43.