India, Feb. 24 -- A delegation led by Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs and Information Technology minister, departed for Paris on Saturday to secure the World Heritage status for 12 historic forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The Maharashtra government has submitted a proposal to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under the theme 'Maratha Military Landscape of India', urging the inclusion of 12 forts in the prestigious World Heritage Sites, said an official statement. These include 11 forts in Maharashtra in Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohagad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi Fort, and one Jinji Fort in Tamil Nadu.

Shelar is accompanied by ...