India, Sept. 24 -- In what is a matter of pride for Maharashtra, the Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar have been included in UNESCO's 'tentative list for world heritage status'. The development was confirmed in an official press release issued by the ministry of culture on September 18. The proposal, submitted by India's permanent delegation to UNESCO on August 27, 2025, highlights the global significance of the region's volcanic formations and ecological richness.

In its official citation, UNESCO noted: "The Deccan Traps at Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani represent one of the best-studied areas in the Deccan Trap region, which is one of the largest single continuous volcanic features on Earth. Mahabaleshwar's Deccan Traps also hav...