Monuments speak a lot about the past of a place. They give you a vivid picture of the culture, social norms, art and the ongoing trend of the age they belong to. They are symbolic of a rich cultural heritage and a glorious past. Monuments of India India are among some of the best historical monuments in the world. These structures not only describe India but also attract the eyes of people from all round the globe. A number of these monuments in India have found their way to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site. So here we present you with a list of some of the most beautiful monuments of India.
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Qutab Minar is one of the tallest towers in the world. The minaret is 234 feet high and was built in 1200 CE by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Lal Qila, also known as the Red Fort, is made of red stone under the supervision of the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan in 1648. It was the residence of the Mughal emperor of India for nearly 200 years.
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India Gate was constructed in the memory of the 90,000 soldiers killed during the First World War. It stands 42m tall. Visit this memorial after the sunsets for a beautiful view. It is one of the most beautiful monument of Delhi.
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Situated in Amber, 11kms away from Jaipur, Amber Fort is one of the most beautiful and popular attraction of Jaipur. It was built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh. It was built using red sandstone and marble.
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‘Palace Of The Winds’, or Hawa Mahal, is one of the famous tourist attractions in Jaipur. This is a beautiful five-storey palace and was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh.
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City Palace is a grand palace situated in the heart of the city. It was the place from where the kings ruled. The royal family still stays in a part of this palace. A number of building complexes comprise the entire City Palace.
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Agra Fort, situated on the banks of River Yamuna, dates back to the 16th century. Mughal Emperor Akbar laid down the foundation of the fort, in the year 1565. The Red Fort of Agra stands enclosed within massive double walls, which rise to a height of 69 ft and have a circumference of 2.5 km.
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Taj Mahal is the most gorgeous structure ever created. An epitome of love, this is one of the best tourist attractions of India. Taj Mahal is counted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.
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Fatehpur Sikri is a fascinating ghost city built in the 16th century and lies 37 km from Agra. It is a great example of the intricate Mughal architecture. The Fatehpur Sikri Mosque is said to be a copy of the mosque in Mecca and has designs, derived from the Persian & Hindu architecture.
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The caves of Ajanta depict wonderful examples of rock cut architecture and cave paintings. They date back to the date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE.
The caves contains some of the legedary masrterpieces og Buddhism art which contains paintings and sculptures. The are also under the UNESCO World Heritage Site in India.
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The Ellora caves are over 10 centuries old and represent elaborate sculptures of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths. These structures consist mostly of viharas or monasteries with huge, buildings carved into the mountain face.
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Khajuraho temples are well known for their spectacular sculptors. Khajuraho is situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh, it is best known for its archaeological site that feature sculptured temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Jain patriarchs. It is also known for its display of sex through architecture and sculptures.
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Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest fortifications in the world. It is a World Heritage Site and was built in 1156 AD by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal. The fort is 1,500 ft long and 750 ft wide and is built on a hill that rises above a height of 250 ft above the surrounding country side.
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Mahabalipuram is situated along the shores of the Bay of Bengal about 60 km from the south of Chennai. It has in store some of the finest architectural monuments of the world. The Pallava king Narsimha, built the brilliant ‘Ratha’ cave temples of Mahabalipuram in the 7th century.
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Charminar is situated in Hyderabad. It was constructed in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah. It was constructed to mark the end of plague in the Hyderabad city. The Charminar is a huge and imposing structure with four minarets.
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Mysore Palace or Amba Vilas and was the residence of Wodeyar Maharaja. It is one of the largest palaces in India. It sets a superior example of matchless combination of different styles of architecture. It is one of the most attractive and gorgeous monuments in Karnataka.
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The famous Sun Temple was built in c. AD 1250, during the reign of the Eastern Ganga King Narasimhadeva-I (AD 1238-1264). The entire complex was designed in the form of a huge chariot drawn by seven feisty horses on twelve pairs of elegantly carved wheels.
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Sanchi Stupa is a world famous heritage site. It is extremely popular among the Buddhist pilgrims. Built during the Mauiryan Empire, the stupa has four gateways and railings. It is adorned with balustrades, staircases and an umbrella on top.
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The ruins od Hampi are a part of the World Heritage Center. It is situated in Karnataka and was built in the 14th century. It sets a superb example of Dravidian architecture. Most of the ruins of Hampi are situated along the road that leads to the city, from Kamalapura. Vithala Temple Complex, House of Victory, Hazara Ramaswami Temple, King’s Balance, Queen’s Bath, Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables, Mahanavami Dibba, Mustard Ganesha and Noblemen’s Palace are some of the important parts of the ruins.
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The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the world as it attracts a number of Buddhist pilgrims. The temple is built at the place where Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment. The Maha Bodhi Temple of Bodh Gaya was constructed in 250 BC. The temple rises to a height of 55 meters.
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Located in the city of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu State of India, Brihadeeswarar Temple also known as Periya Kovil, Brihadeshwara Temple, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram is one of the largest temples of India. Built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 AD , it is one of the legendary example of Tamil architecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Great Living Chola Temples“.
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