The recognition marks an important step toward eventual inclusion in the prestigious World Heritage Sites list

Andhra Pradesh has earned a rare distinction on the global stage with two of its natural treasures, the Tirumala Hills and the Red Soil Dunes near Visakhapatnam, securing a place on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. The recognition marks an important step toward eventual inclusion in the prestigious World Heritage Sites list.

The Ministry of Culture, in an official statement, announced that a total of seven natural sites from across India have been added to the tentative list this year. With this, India’s overall tally of tentative heritage sites has risen from 62 to 69.

Alongside Tirumala and the Red Soil Dunes, the other sites shortlisted include, the Deccan Traps of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra), St. Mary’s Islands (Karnataka), cave systems of Meghalaya, the Naga Hill Ophiolite (Nagaland), and the Varkala Cliffs (Kerala).

Officials described this recognition as a reaffirmation of India’s commitment to preserving and promoting its unique natural and cultural legacy. “Securing a place on UNESCO’s tentative list is the crucial first step toward full World Heritage recognition,” the Ministry said.

State tourism officials point out that the Tirumala Hills hold immense geological significance, with formations such as the Silathoranam and the Eparchaean Unconformity, which stand as evidence of nearly 1.5 billion years of Earth’s history. These rare geological features, combined with the hills’ ecological and cultural importance, played a key role in their selection.

Similarly, the Red Soil Dunes of Visakhapatnam, formed by the action of wind over thousands of years, represent a striking and scientifically significant coastal landscape. The dunes, unique to the region, are considered crucial for understanding climate history, sedimentation patterns, and ecological balance along the Bay of Bengal coast.

With these inclusions, Andhra Pradesh now finds itself at the forefront of India’s heritage preservation drive, contributing significantly to the nation’s expanding footprint on UNESCO’s global heritage map.