INDIA (Rajasthan) - Hill Forts of Rajasthan (UNESCO WHS)

Within the State of Rajasthan, six extensive and majestic hill forts together reflect the elaborate, fortified seats of power of Rajput princely states that flourished between the 8th and 18th centuries and their relative political independence. Enclosed within defensive walls are major urban centres, palaces, trading centres and other buildings including temples that often predate the fortifications within which developed an elaborate courtly culture that supported learning, music and the arts.

Some of the urban centres enclosed in the fortifications have survived, as have many of the site's temples and other sacred buildings. The forts use the natural defenses offered by the landscape: hills, deserts, rivers, and dense forests. They also feature extensive water harvesting structures, largely still in use today. The Hill Forts of Rajasthan exhibit an important interchange of Princely Rajput ideologies in fort planning, art and architecture from the early medieval to late medieval period, within the varied physiographic and cultural zones of Rajasthan.

The six forts which were designated as UNESCO WHS in 2013 under the name Hill Forts of Rajasthan are the following (those with links are presented on the blog):
• Chittorgarh Fort
• Kumbhalgarh Fort
• Ranthambore Fort
• Gagron Fort
• Amber Fort
• Jaisalmer Fort

References:
Hill Forts of Rajasthan - UNESCO official website
Hill Forts of Rajasthan - Wikipedia