Bhuj, Hyderabad On 2025 World Monuments Watch List

For the first time ever, the moon has been added to the World Monuments Fund's list of at-risk heritage sites, extending preservation efforts beyond Earth. Selected from over 200 nominations, the 2025 Watch List features 25 sites in urgent need of preservation. Here is the lowdown on 10 on this list.

Pic: Kind courtesy World Monuments Fund

Bhuj Historic Water Systems, India

Bhuj’s historic water systems, including Hamirsar Lake, have been replaced by modern infrastructure. Revitalising these ancient systems can secure the city’s water future.

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund

The Moon

The Moon, home, unbelievably, to over 90 historic sites, including Apollo 11’s Tranquillity Base, symbolises humanity’s greatest achievements. The 2025 Watch calls for global protection of our lunar heritage.

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund

Musi River Historic Buildings, India

Hyderabad’s Musi River area is rich in history. But battling pollution. The area needs to be restored and its heritage celebrated.

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund

Historic City of Antakya, Türkiye

Antakya, known for its still thriving multicultural history, was devastated by the 2023 earthquakes, with nearly 90 per cent of its ancient areas destroyed. The town needs urgent attention.

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund

Kyiv Teacher’s House, Ukraine

After being damaged by a missile strike in 2022, the national icon symbolises Ukraine’s strength -- preserving it can help heal wounds and honour the past.

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund

Gaza Historic Urban Fabric, Palestine

Gaza’s heritage has been devastated, severing ties between its people and their past. Returning these sites to their glory is crucial to preserving their historical identity.

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund

Maijishan and Yungang Buddhist Grottoes, China

Mass tourism is putting China’s ancient cave temples at risk. It’s time to rethink how we experience these incredible sites, to protect their treasures.

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund

Chapel of the Sorbonne, France

Located in the Latin Quarter of Paris, this building has for various issues suffered years of neglect. Those need to be solved and the chapel reopened soon.

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund

Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

A beautiful pre-Hispanic network of roads is being inundated by developmental pressures, dying for advocacy to save it.

 

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund

Historic Lighthouses Of Maine, United States

Climate change -- are you listening, Mr Trump? -- can take away these beauties that dot the Maine coast.

Pic: With kind permission World Monuments Fund
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