Unesco Quiz

Notes:
The Great Living Chola Temples include the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, built by Chola rulers Rajaraja I, Rajendra I, and Rajaraja II respectively. The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, however, was constructed by the Pallavas and is not part of the Chola group.

Notes:
The correct answer is [C] Garba dance. UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognizes traditions and living expressions passed down through generations.

• Garba of Gujarat (Statement C – Correct): In December 2023, Garba was officially inscribed on the UNESCO list during the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee. This ritualistic and devotional dance, performed during the festival of Navratri, is the 15th intangible cultural heritage element from India to receive this status.
• Durga Puja in Kolkata (Statement B – Incorrect): This was inscribed in 2021. It was the 14th addition, celebrated for its large-scale artistic installations (pandals) and community involvement.
• Kumbh Mela (Statement D – Incorrect): This mass pilgrimage and gathering was inscribed in 2017. It is recognized as one of the world’s largest peaceful religious congregations.
• Chhau Dance (Statement A – Incorrect): A tradition from eastern India (Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand) involving martial arts and storytelling, it was inscribed much earlier, in 2010.

Historical Context:
India currently has 15 elements on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Other notable inclusions include Yoga (2016), Nowruz (2016), and the Vedic Chanting (2008). These recognitions aim to ensure better visibility of the cultural diversity and heritage of various communities.

Notes:
The correct answer is [B] Only two. In 2023, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, India saw two major additions to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

• Shantiniketan (Included in 2023): Located in West Bengal, it was established by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore and later expanded by Rabindranath Tagore. It was recognized as a unique cultural institution that blends ancient Indian traditions with modern global ideologies, moving away from the colonial architectural style.
• Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (Included in 2023): This includes the famous 12th and 13th-century temples at Belur, Halebidu, and Somanathapura in Karnataka. These temples are renowned for their unique star-shaped ground plans, intricate soapstone carvings, and the “Hoysala style” of architecture.
• Rani-ki-Vav (Incorrect): Located in Patan, Gujarat, this magnificent stepwell was included in the World Heritage List in 2014. It is celebrated for its mastery of subterranean architecture and ornate sculptures.
• Mahabodhi Temple Complex (Incorrect): Located in Bodhgaya, Bihar, it is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha. It was inscribed by UNESCO much earlier, in 2002.

Current Status:
As of late 2023, India has 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (34 Cultural, 7 Natural, and 1 Mixed site). Shantiniketan became the 41st and the Hoysala temples became the 42nd site.

Notes:
Established in 1986, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was India’s first biosphere reserve under UNESCO’s MAB Programme. In Karnataka, it includes the Bandipur, Nagarhole, and BR Hills National Parks. This reserve forms the “Nilgiri Elephant Landscape,” a critical corridor enabling the movement of over 6,000 Asian elephants, the world’s largest single population, linking the Eastern and Western Ghats.

Notes:
The Western Ghats cover approximately 60% of Karnataka and are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This region is a global biodiversity hotspot with over 4,500 flowering plant species, 38% of which are endemic. Karnataka is recognized for its rich biodiversity including a significant number of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The Western Ghats contribute substantially to the state’s ecological diversity and natural heritage.

Notes:
The correct answer is [C] 2 and 3 only.

• Statement 1 – Incorrect: Earth Hour is not an initiative of UNEP or UNESCO. It was started by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and its partners in Sydney, Australia, in 2007.
• Statement 2 – Correct: The signature action of the movement is for individuals, communities, and businesses to switch off non-essential electric lights for one hour, from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM local time, usually on the last Saturday of March.
• Statement 3 – Correct: While the hour of darkness is symbolic, the core mission is to raise awareness about the dual challenges of climate change and nature loss. It serves as a call to action for sustainable living and environmental protection.

Earth Hour vs. Earth Day: It is common to confuse these two major environmental events:

Feature	Earth Hour	Earth Day
Organizer	WWF	Earthday.org
Main Action	Switching off lights for 60 minutes	Environmental teach-ins and service
Date	Last Saturday of March	April 22nd
Symbol	60+ (Signifying action beyond the hour)	The Earth (Green/Blue)

Notes:
ನೀಲಗಿರಿ ಪರ್ವತ ರೈಲುಮಾರ್ಗವನ್ನು ಜುಲೈ 2005ರಲ್ಲಿ UNESCO ವಿಶ್ವ ಪರಂಪರೆ ತಾಣವೆಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ಇದು 46 km ಉದ್ದದ ಮೀಟರ್ ಗೇಜ್ ರೈಲುಮಾರ್ಗವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಮೆಟ್ಟುಪಾಳಯಂ ಮತ್ತು ಉದಗಮಂಡಲಂ ಅನ್ನು ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

Notes:
1999ರಲ್ಲಿ ಡಾರ್ಜಿಲಿಂಗ್ ಹಿಮಾಲಯನ್ ರೈಲ್ವೆಯನ್ನು UNESCO ವಿಶ್ವ ಪರಂಪರೆ ಪಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. “ಟಾಯ್ ಟ್ರೈನ್” ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿರುವ ಈ ರೈಲು ಮಾರ್ಗವು ಸಿಲಿಗುರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಡಾರ್ಜಿಲಿಂಗ್ ನಡುವಿನ 88 km ದೂರವನ್ನು ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

Notes:
ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಚೋಳ ವಂಶದ ಆಡಳಿತಗಾರರು ಅನೇಕ ಮಹತ್ವದ ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದರು. ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 1. ತಂಜಾವೂರಿನ ಬೃಹದೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾಲಯ 2. ಗಂಗೈಕೊಂಡ ಚೋಳೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾಲಯ 3. ದಾರಾಸುರಂನ ಐರಾವತೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾಲಯ ಪ್ರಮುಖವಾಗಿವೆ. ಬೃಹದೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾಲಯವನ್ನು 1987ರಲ್ಲಿ UNESCO ವಿಶ್ವ ಪರಂಪರೆ ತಾಣವೆಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. 2004ರಲ್ಲಿ ದಾರಾಸುರಂನ ಐರಾವತೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾಲಯವನ್ನು ಈ ಪಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ಈ ತಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಈಗ “Great Living Chola Temples” ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

Notes:
UNESCO ವಿಶ್ವ ಪರಂಪರೆ ತಾಣಗಳು ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಅಥವಾ ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಮಹತ್ವ ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಸ್ಥಳಗಳಾಗಿವೆ. ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೇಕ ವಿಶ್ವ ಪರಂಪರೆ ತಾಣಗಳಿದ್ದು, ಎಲ್ಲೋರಾ ಗುಹೆಗಳು ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಾಗಿದೆ.