New Delhi, June 28:

The 17th century Mughal marvel, Red Fort, has
joined the ranks of 26 other Indian sites, including the Taj Mahal,
to be included in UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee at its meeting in New Zealand on
Thursday decided to bestow the honour on the red sandstone monument
built by Mughal emperor Shah Jehan in Delhi.

It beat competition from 45 other sites from across the globe in
finding a place on the list.

Japan's Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, Turkmenistan's Parthian Fortresses
of Nisa and Australia's Sydney Opera are the other sites that will
now be inscribed in the World Heritage List.

The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal
creativity, which under emperor Shah Jahan was brought to a new
level of refinement.

The planning of the palace is based on Islamic prototypes, but each
pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building,
reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions, UNESCO
said in a statement.

The other Indian monuments that have been given World Heritage
status in the past include the Ajanta and Ellora caves in
Maharashtra, Taj Mahal and Agra Fort in Uttar Pradesh, Sun Temple in
Orissa, monuments at Hampi in Karnataka and Khajuraho Temples in
Madhya Pradesh.

The other monuments in the Capital besides the Red Fort in the list
are Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar.

India had proposed the Majuli Islands in Assam for the status last
year, but it was not included in the list.

The Red Fort almost got nominated by India for the honour in 1993.
The government deferred nominating it at that time as a major part
of the fort was occupied by the Army.

Later on Archaeological Survey of India took charge of it and
carried out conservation and beautification work as it chose the
monument as the country's nominee for this year's World Heritage
List.

The Red Fort's innovative planning and architectural style,
including its garden design, strongly influenced later buildings and
gardens in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and further afield.

Through its fabric, the complex reflects all phases of Indian
history from the Mughal period to Independence, it said.