World Heritage Scorecard
Enhancing the Tour with the most cherished sites of the World
Somewhere along the way, during one of my earlier tours, I became attached to the idea of visiting as many sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List as I possibly could. That is not exactly an original goal, as the sites on that list are there for a reason; they represent the most compelling places our world has to offer. So, when I planned my routes for the Tour of Gondwana, I, of course, did so in a way that would bring me to as many of the listed sites as I could, given the practicalities of a long tour. Though it was not always easy, and on occasion my visits were fleeting, I think I did about as well as could be expected. Below, then, is my personal list of World Heritage sites seen during the Tour, listed in chronological order. I have included some brief comments that focus on describing the ease and relevance of visiting the sites as part of a bicycle tour, for other's future reference.
Among those are an Amazement Factor which gives a rating from 1 to 10 depending on how impressed I was with a particular site. A score of ten represents the sites which found to be the most amazing, and lower numbers less so. However, as these sites, by their very inclusion on the list, should all be rather amazing, I rarely could bring myself to give a score below five. I also tended to judge natural and cultural sites on a separate scale, as it didn't seem relevant to compare the aesthetic qualities of, say, Lima Centro with the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, some sites inscribed on the List, such as Vredefort Dome, or Leon Viejo, are mainly included for their academic or scienfitic value, which, while very important, may not present much interest to tourists. Finally, as could only be the case, my opinions reflect my personal preferences and biases. For those reasons, my recommendations should not be taken very seriously. I normally hate such ratings as a matter of course, as I don't see any real reason for unnecessarily introducing any unneeded hierarchies. However, in this case, I decided to include this factor as it may serve to help others in deciding whether to include a potentially lengthy detour to a particular site on their own tours.
In that regard, I have also included a Tour-Friendly Factor, which attempts to quantify which sites are easily visited on a long bike tour. With a similar 1 to 10 scale, aspects which would raise a site's score include: if it is possible to bicycle into or around the site; if it is located close to a major touring route, or does not require a long deviation, especially one located at the end of a dead-end road; if it can be visited independently and does not require a guide; if it does not lie in a heavily congested urban area; if it is possible to visit more than a small portion of a very large site by bike, or does not require a lengthy hike to see most of its attractions; if it does not require other, non-cycling, activities such as scuba diving; if it is affordable to visit; and other similar factors. Again, my ratings are not scientific and should not be taken too seriously.
With these sites, which I enjoyed during the Tour, and an additional 18 that I had been fortunate enough to see during my Pre-Tour life, I have now seen only a mere 16.4% of the entire list. With the majority of the List still unappreciated by me, and with more sites added every year, I think that I may need to plan a few more extended tours. That's not necessarily a bad problem to have, of course!
The Scorecard (Part 1)
1.
The Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
Name: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 5
Tour-Friendly Factor: 5
Comment: Added to the List just before the Tour started, this attractive building's location in the center of a major city lowers its friendly factor.
2.
Tree Ferns in the Tasmanian Wilderness
Name: Tasmanian Wilderness
Location: Western Tasmania, Australia
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 5
Comment: Filled with remnants of the original Gondwanan Forests, visiting this large site by bicycle only alows a sampling of the edges.
3.
Blue Mountains National Park
Name: Greater Blue Mountains Area
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 6
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: A reasonably accesible natural site. Mountains covered with eucalypt forests.
4.
Illuka Nature Reserve
Name: Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
Location: New South Wales & Queensland, Australia
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: Name changed from Central Eastern Rainforets Reserves (thank you, UNESCO.) Nice hiking opportunities.
5.
McKenzie Lake on Fraser Island
Name: Fraser Island
Location: Queensland, Australia
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 5
Comment: Not realistically possible to bicycle on the island. Expensive tour usually needed.
6.
A Kauri Pine in Barron Gorge National Park
Name: Wet Tropics of Queensland
Location: Queensland, Australia
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: Most easily accessed using the tourist facilities at Cairns.
7.
Great Barrier Reef
Name: Great Barrier Reef
Location: Off the Queensland Coast, Australia
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 9
Tour-Friendly Factor: 6
Comment: Requires diving/boat tour to be appreciated, of course.
8.
Fossils embedded in stone
Name: Australian Fossil Mammal Sites
Location: Central Queensland/South Australia, Australia
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 5
Tour-Friendly Factor: 2
Comment: I visited the Riversleigh section in Queensland. Difficult access and minimal facilities.
9.
The Kata Tjutas at Sunset
Name: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Location: Northern Territory, Australia
Type: Mixed
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 6
Comment: A lengthy detour from main route is required.
10.
Ancient pictographs at the Ubirr Gallery
Name: Kakadu National Park
Location: Northern Territory, Australia
Type: Mixed
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 9
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: A great combination of natural and cultural history.
11.
The Bungle-Bungles at Purnululu National Park
Name: Purnululu National Park
Location: Western Australia, Australia
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 6
Tour-Friendly Factor: 3
Comment: Access only by dirt track. Due to time constraints, I visited using an air tour.
12.
Stromatolites at Shark Bay
Name: Shark Bay
Location: Western Australia, Australia
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 6
Tour-Friendly Factor: 6
Comment: Sprawling site. Not easy to see large areas by bike.
13.
Clock Tower at Stadthuys Museum
Name: Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca
Location: Western Malaysia
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 5
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: Added to the List after my visit. I saw only the historic center of Melaka.
14.
Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya
Name: Historic City of Ayutthaya
Location: Thailand
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: A very pleasant and interesting place to visit.
15.
Buttressed Trees in Khao Yai National Park
Name: Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex
Location: Thailand
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 6
Comment: Provided my first sighting of wild elephants.
16.
Carvings of Apsara dancers on Preah Khan Temple
Name: Angkor
Location: Cambodia
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 10
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: Having your own bike makes a visit to the large site of Angkor very enjoyable.
17.
Vat Phou
Name: Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape
Location: Southern Laos
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: A small site, but very pleasant thanks to its nice location.
18.
Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Pra Bang
Name: Town of Luang Prabang
Location: Northern Laos
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 10
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: The entire town is included in the site, and that distinction is well deserved.
19.
Wat Mahathat in Sukkhothai
Name: Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns
Location: Northern Thailand
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 9
Comment: Another site where having a bike is a big help.
20.
Paharpur Vihara
Name: Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
Location: Bangladesh
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 6
Tour-Friendly Factor: 6
Comment: A little out of the way, but interesting.
21.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Name: Mountain Railways of India
Location: Three widely separated parts of India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 6
Comment: I took a ride on the The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Newer additions to the site are located in other parts of the country
22.
Rhinocerous and Pea Cock in Royal Chitwan
Name: Royal Chitwan National Park
Location: Nepal
Type: Natural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: The weather was not perfect during my visit, but it was still enjoyable.
23.
The Taj Mahal
Name: Taj Mahal
Location: Agra, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 10
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: Lives up to its reputation as the most beautiful building in the World.
24.
Agra Fort
Name: Agra Fort
Location: Agra, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: I did not know much about this fort prior to visiting, but was pleasantly surprised.
25.
Stone screen at Fatehpur Sikri
Name: Fatehpur Sikri
Location: Agra, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: I also found this site surprisingly interesting.
26.
World Peace Pagoda at Lumbini
Name: Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
Location: Southern Nepal
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 5
Tour-Friendly Factor: 6
Comment: Minimal touristic interest at this site.
27.
Durbar Square in Kathmandu
Name: Kathmandu Valley
Location: Southern Nepal
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 9
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: Poltitcal tensions and curfews put a crimp in my sightseeing, but I really enjoyed the area.
28.
The Potala Palace in Lhasa
Name: Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa
Location: Tibet
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 10
Tour-Friendly Factor: 4
Comment: Even Chinese occuption has not yet diminished the beauty of this site.
29.
Buddha's Footfalls at the Mahabodhi Temple
Name: Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
Location: Bihar, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: An oasis of calm in a hectic part of the World.
30.
Midday Sun God Staute at Konārak
Name: Sun Temple, Konārak
Location: Orissa, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: My rather rushed visit was still interesting.
31.
Anuradhapura
Name: Sacred City of Anuradhapura
Location: Sri Lanka
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: Notable for ongoing restoration work on large stupas.
32.
Cave Temple at Dambulla
Name: Golden Temple of Dambulla
Location: Sri Lanka
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: A cool cave temple on a steamy island.
33.
Frescos on the rock fortress at Sigiriya
Name: Ancient City of Sigiriya
Location: Sri Lanka
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: A nice place to be at sunset.
34.
Reclining Buddha at Polonnaruwa
Name: Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
Location: Sri Lanka
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: The least restored of the country's sites.
35.
Dalada Mailgawa, home of the Tooth Relic in Kandy
Name: Sacred City of Kandy
Location: Sri Lanka
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 6
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: I missed seeing an important festival by one day.
36.
Galle Fort
Name: Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Location: Sri Lanka
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 5
Tour-Friendly Factor: 8
Comment: Due to time constraints, I had to visit by train.
37.
A relief carving at Mahabalipuram
Name: Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Location: Tamil Nadu, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 6
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: This site was very crowded with visitors.
38.
Cow Shrine, Virupakshawa Temple at Hampi
Name: Group of Monuments at Hampi
Location: Karnataka, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: A surprisingly extensive site.
39.
Virupakshal Temple at Pattadakal
Name: Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
Location: Karnataka, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 8
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: The most peaceful and rural of the Indian sites I saw.
40.
Se Cathedral
Name: Churches and Convents of Goa
Location: Goa, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 7
Tour-Friendly Factor: 7
Comment: A distinct contrast from the other Indian cultural sites.
41.
Giant head carvings in the Elephanta Island Cave Temple
Name: Elephanta Caves
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 6
Tour-Friendly Factor: 4
Comment: Located on an island in Mumbai Harbor.
42.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a Mumbai rail station
Name: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 6
Tour-Friendly Factor: 4
Comment: A perfectly hectic site for my last in Asia.
43.
The Parthenon at the Acropolis
Name: Acropolis, Athens
Location: Athens Greece
Type: Cultural
Official Site: ~ Go There ~
Amazement Factor: 6
Tour-Friendly Factor: 4
Comment: Visited during transfer to Stage 3. Site in rather perilous condition.
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Why These Places Are Special
Beginning on 01978, the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has evaluated important places around the globe to determine those with universal values to humanity, and to aid in their understanding and preservation. Since that time 878 (as of 02008) properties have been inscribed on the World Heritage List. In what is surely a process fraught with political intrigue, reams of paperwork, and lengthy discussions, new sites are first proposed by individual nations, and then evaluated for inscription by the Committee. Though my including it here will certainly infuriate teams of lawyers, here are the selection guidelines:
(shamelessly clipped from THIS page)
- to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
- to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
- to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
- to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
- to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
- to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);
- to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
- to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
- to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
- to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations.
Since 1992 significant interactions between people and the natural environment have been recognized as cultural landscapes.
(End of UNESCO text)