Paris: India has nominated Vadnagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthplace in Gujarat, for preliminary review at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The submission by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO in Paris coincided with the Prime Minister’s birthday on Wednesday.

India’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Vishal V Sharma, said Vadnagar’s history goes back nearly 3,000 years, dating to 800–900 BCE. He described the town as an important cultural centre with deep antiquity.

The nomination is the first step in UNESCO’s two-stage process. The preliminary review will examine whether Vadnagar meets criteria of “Outstanding Universal Value,” cultural significance, and management standards before it can be considered for inscription.

India currently has 69 sites on UNESCO’s Tentative List, including the Bishnupur Temples in West Bengal, the Mughal Gardens in Kashmir, and Odisha’s Ekamra Kshetra, many of which have awaited evaluation for years.

Located in Mehsana district, Vadnagar shows evidence of habitation for about 2,700 years. Excavations have revealed Buddhist monasteries, stupas, medieval fortifications, and artefacts linking the town to ancient trade networks with West Asia and the Mediterranean. DeshGujarat