The first sites recognised as World Heritage Sites in South Asia were the Sagarmatha National Park and the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, inscribed in 1979.[3] Nepal has currently a total of four sites. Sri Lanka has eight sites and Bangladesh has three sites. Pakistan has six sites. Two sites are located in Afghanistan, both of which are enlisted as endangered. India is home to most of the inscribed sites in the region (sixth globally) with 43 sites. Each year, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee may inscribe new sites on the list or delist sites that no longer meet the criteria. Selection is based on ten criteria: six for cultural heritage (i–vi) and four for natural heritage (vii–x).[4] Some sites, designated "mixed sites", represent both cultural and natural heritage. In Southern Asia, there are 53 cultural, 12 natural, and 1 mixed site.
The World Heritage Committee may also specify that a site is endangered, citing "conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List." Two sites in this region are currently listed as endangered.[5]
Legend
The table is sortable by column by clicking on the at the top of the appropriate column; alphanumerically for the site, area, and year columns; by state party for the location column; and by criteria type for the criteria column. Transborder sites sort at the bottom.
Site; named after the World Heritage Committee's official designation
Location; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates
Criteria; as defined by the World Heritage Committee[4]
Area; in hectares and acres. If available, the size of the buffer zone has been noted as well. A value of zero implies that no data has been published by UNESCO
Year; during which the site was inscribed to the World Heritage List
Description; brief information about the site, including reasons for qualifying as an endangered site, if applicable
The site has been listed as endangered since 2000 because of the destruction of historic water tanks in 1999 to widen a road and deteriorating perimeter walls of the Garden, listed on request of the Pakistan government
The site has been listed as endangered 2003–2007 due to the partial or substantial loss of the traditional elements of six out of seven monument zones and resulting general loss of authenticity and integrity of the whole property.
The site has been listed as endangered since its inscription due to lack of legal protection, lack of protection measure or management plan and the generally poor condition of the site.
Charaideo was the capital of the Ahom kingdom (1228–1826), and the tumuli were the burial sites of the royals and nobility. The tumuli create an undulating landscape reminiscent of hills, in line with the spiritual beliefs of the Tai-Ahom people.
UNESCO sites for South Asia compared to other Asian regions
The number of UNESCO sites of South Asia is contrasted by the number of sites Southeast and East Asia. South Asian countries are noted with 'SA' and in brown colour.
^Extended in 2004 to include the Brihadisvara Temple Complex in Gangaikondacholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple Complex in Darasuram and name change from Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur to the present name.