First occupied in the fifteenth century, Ambohimanga has long been one of the most important spiritual and historic sites for the Malagasy people. Perched high atop one of the twelve sacred hills of Imerina, it emerged as a fortified political capital and royal palace under the reign of Andriantsimitoviaminandriana (r. 1740–1745). Defensive walls and seven gates were constructed. The primary gate, Ambatomitsangana, was operated by rolling a 12-ton stone disk to seal the opening and protect the Malagasy royalty in times of danger. In 1794, the royal palace was moved to Antananarivo; Ambohimanga remained the royal burial place and took on the role of religious capital. In 1897, the French authorities of the colony of Madagascar sought to transfer the royal remains to Antananarivo, in a failed attempt to undermine the sacred significance and national symbolism of Ambohimanga. The royal tombs were demolished and military buildings erected in their place. By 1904, any vestige of this French takeover had been erased. The religious function of the site continues to this day, and it remains a sacred pilgrimage destination.

The Royal Hill of Abohimanga includes a complex of royal buildings and places of ritual, a highly protected forest, fortification systems, a series of sacred natural and manmade sites and bodies of water, and the seat of justice, which is located on an enormous granite rock and shaded by a royal fig tree. Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2001, the site faces an uncertain future following political upheaval in 2009. Insufficient financial resources, unregulated development, and destabilization of management structures threaten Ambohimanga. Through international partnerships and community engagement, local advocates hope to build capacities to ensure the preservation of this sacred treasure.