<p>Cultural heritage and sites play a pivotal role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in cities of the Global South. Many cities in Global South, with rich in historical and cultural assets, face unique challenges in integrating heritage conservation with sustainable urban development. This study tries to explore how leveraging cultural heritage and sites can contribute to achieving the SDGs, including poverty alleviation, sustainable cities, and climate action. In this perspective paper, an attempt has been made to understand the role of cultural heritage and sites to achieve the SDGs from a case study in Bishnupur, well known as the temple city of West Bengal, India, based on an extensive field visit. The SDGs were linked to cultural heritage and sites with specific examples from the city. From the findings, it can be stated that cultural heritage and sites drive local economic development, foster social cohesion, and enhance environmental sustainability sufficiently. Additionally, the study addresses the need for policy frameworks that recognise the value of cultural heritage and sites in achieving the SDGs, while balancing preservation with the demands of rapid urbanization. The results underscored the potential of cultural heritage and sites to catalyze sustainable urban transformation, promoting resilience and heritage-driven development in the cities of the Global South.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>