Andhra Pradesh’s Tirumala Hills and the Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes) near Visakhapatnam have been added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites, a vital first step toward global recognition and preservation.
The Erra Matti Dibbalu, spread over 1,500 acres, are rare coastal red sand formations—one of only three such sites worldwide—declared a National Geo-Heritage Monument in 2016. Their striking reddish hue and unique sedimentary features provide insights into ancient sea-level changes but face threats from unregulated tourism.
The Tirumala Hills, besides housing the iconic Tirupati temple, hold the Eparchaean Unconformity, a 1.6-billion-year-old geological boundary that showcases the earth’s evolutionary history.
The UNESCO recognition underscores both the ecological and scientific significance of these sites, urging stronger conservation efforts, sustainable tourism, and global awareness. With this milestone, Andhra Pradesh takes a step closer to securing full World Heritage status for its natural marvels.
