Question map
Which one of the following was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 2002?
Explanation
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002 [t2][t3][t4]. This site is of immense religious significance as it marks the location where Siddhartha Gautama attained Enlightenment and became the Buddha [t5][t7]. The complex features one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, dating back to the late Gupta period (5th or 6th century CE), with the original structure attributed to Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C. [t7]. In contrast, the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, which includes the Mahadeva Temple, was inscribed much earlier in 1986 [t4]. The Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar and the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebid (part of the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas) were not inscribed in 2002; the latter was only added to the list in 2023.
Sources
- [1] https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/mahabodhi-temple-complex
- [2] https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1056/