India grasps an unmatched status across the world for its exquisite architectural beauty and heritage. Indian monuments truly reflect the country’s rich and glorious past. The world heritage monuments in India, cutting across all ages, take us to myriad cultures, traditions and way of life. A large number of monuments located in different parts of the country showcases their architectural legacy, history and culture.
Indian Safaris and Holidays bring you the details of some of the World heritage monuments in India.
New Delhi owns a number of historical monuments that are very well-renowned across the world. While visiting the ancient architectural relics, the city will take you to the era of Maurya and Mughal Dynasty. The earliest architectural relics date back to the Maurya period since then, the site has seen continuous settlement. Humayun’s Tomb was built for Humayun’s widow , Hamida Banu Begum. Designed by Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, the construction of the structure began in 1562 and completed in 1565. The tomb established a standard for all the other Mughal monuments, which followed its design , most notably the Taj Mahal.
The Qutab Minar is located in Qutab Complex, Mehrauli in South Delhi. It was built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak. It is a fluted red sandstone tower, which tapers up to a height of 72.5 meters and is covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Quran. Qutab-ud-din Aikab began constructing this victory tower as a sign of Muslim domination of Delhi and as a minaret of the muezzin to call the faithful to offer the prayer.
The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra which is regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world. It was built by Mughal emperor, Shah Jehan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals in India its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset and The Taj seems to glow in the light of a full moon.
The Agra Fort is another prestigious monument in Agra. The great Mughal Emperor, Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1666, A.D. although additions were made till the time of his grandson Shah Jehan. The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. There are a number of exquisite buildings like Moti Masjid -–a white marble mosque akin to a perfect pearl; Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-I-Khas, Musamman Burj – where Shah Jehan died in 1666 A.D. Jehangir’s Palace; khaas Mahal and Shish Mahal.
Ajanta and Ellora are the pride of Maharashtra. The rock-cut caves of both sites are world famous and illustrate the degree of skill and artistry that Indian craftsmen has achieved several hundred years ago. The village of Ajanta is the Sahyadiri hills, about 99 kms from Aurangabad; a few miles away in a mammoth horseshe-formed rock,a re 30 caves overlooking a gorge, each forming a room in the hill and some with inner rooms.
Elephanta Caves are also know as Gharapuri. Visit this Green Island of the wonders of the 7th century. This painstakingly hewn rock-cut cave temple is dedicated to Shiva. The Maheshamurti panel in which Shiva is shown as a creator, protector and destroyer, is a sight that should be enjoyed at least, once-in-a-lifetime.
Located in Madhya Pradesh, the Stupas of Sanchi, owned the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sanchi (the village) is know for housing a number of Buddhist structures, like stupas, monasteries, temples, pillars etc. The `Great Stupa` at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India. The stupa was originally commissioned by the Emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BC. Its nucleus was simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha.
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are India’s unique gifts to the world. Life in every form and mood has been captured in stone, testifying not only to the craftsman’s artistry but also to the extra ordinary breadth of vision of the Chandela Rajputs under whose rule the temples were conceived and constructed. The Khajurhao temples were built in the short span of a hundred years from 950 – 1050AD in truly inspired burst of creativity. The 22 temples out of 85 original temples have survived till today to constitute one of the world’s great artistic wonders. Three geographical divisions, group the temples in western, eastern and southern complexes. The three main components are the entrance (ardha-mandapa), assembly hall (mandapa) and sanctum (garbha griha) with further additionas in the more developed temples.
Hampi is a village in northern Karnataka state. It is located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara empire. Predating the city of Vijayanagara, it continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Vrirupaksha Temple, as well as several other monuments belonging to the old city. The ruins are a UNESCO Wolrd Heritage Site, listed as group of monuments at Hampi. Virupaksha Temple, Vijaya Vittala Temple, Kings Palace, Mahanavami Dibba, Queens Bath, Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables, Pushkarni, Hazara Ram Temple are some must see places here.
One of the most stunning monuments of religious significance ,a true masterpiece of architecture proudly stands in the form of Sun Temple at Konark. A culmination of Oriya architecture, the temple is a wonderful place as the language of stone defeats the human language here. Built in the 13th century by Kings Narasimhadeva, the temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twelve wheels, carrying the sun god, Surya, across heavens. Located at a manageable distance from the seat of Lord Jaganath Puri at 35 kms. The name of Konark Temple is amalgamation of two wrods Kona meaning corner and Arka meaning the Sun.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan, are a series of sites located rocky outcrops of the Aravalis mountain rage in Rajasthan. They represent a typology of Rajput Military hill architecture, a style characterised by its mountain peak settings, utilising the defensive properties of the terrain. It represents number of hill forts and is said to express the development of Rajput defensive architecture which Rajput forts are well known for the defensive. Architecture. They enclose large territories and even complete villages in walled compounds. The property consisits of Chittaurgarh Fort, Kumbalgarh Fort, Ranthambore Fort, Gagron Fort, Amber Fort, Jaisalmer Fort. Due to the variety of built structures in each hill fort, only the most significant element of each complex are described.
The Mountain Railways of India is one of the gems included in the world heritage properties from India. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railways; the Nilgiri Mountain Railways and the Kalka-Shimla railways have collectively been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are only six or seven narrow lines out of 20 which are operational around the world. These lines were built the 19th and early 20th century by British colonial rule. The Indian Railways run them. Four of these seven narrow lines, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1881), the Kalka-Shimla Railway (1898) the Kangra Valley Railway (1924) and the Kashmir Railway (2005) are in the rugged hill regions of the Himalayas of Northern India while two are further down south in the western Ghats; the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Matheran Hill Railway in Maharashtra and Lumding-Silchar line, built at the turn of the 20th century, lies deep inside Assam, in the Barak river valley of the Cachar Hills.
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