Raisen could become a unique district with three world heritage sites. The Bhopal circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has proposed Bhojpur temple complex in Raisen and Mandu Hill-Fort complex in Dhar as world heritage sites. Bhimbetka and Sanchi, both in Raisen district, are already on the world heritage map.
Till now Agra is India’s only district which have three world heritage sites — Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort.
They all belong to the Mughal period whereas the sites in Raisen represent three different eras — Bhimbetka (pre-historic), Sanchi (Buddhist) and Bhojpur temple (ancient).
The Upper Lake of Bhopal, the biggest man-made lake in country, has been considered part of the Bhojpur temple complex in the proposal. This might enhance importance of the historic lake and help its conservation.
{{/usCountry}}The Upper Lake of Bhopal, the biggest man-made lake in country, has been considered part of the Bhojpur temple complex in the proposal. This might enhance importance of the historic lake and help its conservation.
{{/usCountry}}If UNESCO accepts the proposal, Madhya Pradesh would become the only State in the country to have five world heritage sites, three of them in one district. MP has now three world heritage sites – Khajuraho, Sanchi and Bhimbetka.
The ASI headquarters in Delhi has included the two heritage complexes in its world heritage site proposal to UNESCO. “From outside, we have completed almost all formalities of the proposal,’’ superintendent archaeologist of Bhopal Circle of ASI Mohammad K K told Hindustan Times.
He said the huge Shiva temple at Bhojpur and Hill-Fort complex of Mandu have immense