India, July 26 -- In a moment of profound national pride, the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on Saturday. The decision came during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, elevating Sarnath as India's 45th World Heritage property.

UNESCO announced the inscription with the statement: "New inscription on the # WorldHeritage List: Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, #India." This recognition comes after a process that started in 1998, when Sarnath was first added to UNESCO's Tentative List. India submitted its official application in January 2025 for the 2025-26 cycle, leading to the recent vote after review by ICOMOS experts.

Sarnath is ...