Ahmedabad becomes India's first World Heritage City

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Ahmedabad, a city in the western state of Gujarat, has been declared as India's first World Heritage city by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

"Just inscribed as UNESCO world heritage site: Historic city of Ahmedabad #India," UNESCO tweeted on Saturday.

Ahmedabad, the largest city and former capital of Gujarat State, India. /VCG Photo

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who just returned home from a two-nation tour of Israel and Germany, expressed happiness at the development.

"A matter of immense joy for India," he tweeted.

Gujarat's Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also took to social media to express his happiness. "Thrilled to learn that Ahmedabad has been recognized as UNESCO World heritage city, first of its kind in India," he tweeted.

The historical city, which was founded in 1411, cites exemplary architectures of intricately carved wooden havelis dating back hundreds of years.

Below are the newly inscribed properties by UNESCO in 2017:

Asmara, Eritrea

Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town, Palestine

Zheng Chenggong Statue on Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, Fujian Province. /VCG Photo

Gulangyu Island, China

Mbanza Kongo, Angola

Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia

Khomani Cultural Landscape, South Africa

Landscapes of Dauria, Mongolia, Russia

Los Alerces National Park, Argentina

Qinghai Hoh Xil, China

Hoh Xil in China's Qinghai Province was listed as a natural site on UNESCO's World Heritage List on July 7, 2017. /VCG Photo

The "Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe" listed by the UNESCO is a nature site that stretches across over a dozen of countries, including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Ukraine.

And in Africa, the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex crosses Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

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