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India is a diverse country and no doubts that the colors of diversity are spread in all the four directions. Right from the majestic snow capped mountains of Himalayas till the lush green surroundings in South India and from the birth land of Rabindranath Tagore till the birth land of Mahatma Gandhi, there are numerous colors that narrate the tale of rich cultural heritage. Such places have a lot to tell about themselves to the visitors as they boast a great past and have seen different waves of change. With a well established connection of roadways, railways and airways, accessing these alluring destinations become smooth and comfortable. Heres a brief account of the historical tourist sites that promise to lure the people from different corners of the country.
Taj Mahal doesnt need an introduction as it stands among the 7 wonders of the world. Located in Agra on the banks of Yamuna, it is described as a teardrop on the cheek of eternity by Rabindranath Tagore. Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz. This spectacular tomb is an epitome of beauty and now a UNESCO world heritage site.
Set amidst the hilly ranges of Aravali 11 kms away from the Pink City, the Amber fort or Amer Fort, is a Rajputana grandeur crafted aesthetically by red sandstone. This majestic fort was built by Raja Maan Singh in 1592 and was further expanded by his son Raja Jai Singh. Boasting different marvels in its complex, Amber fort is a popular historical site among the tourists.
A famous shrine located in Amritsar, the Golden Temple is a famous Gurudwara that was designed by Guru Arjan Dev in 15th century. It is considered as the holiest shrine of Sikhism as it boasts the Akal Takhat, or the eternal throne that was attributed by Guru Hargobind Singh. The Sikhs worldwide visit Harmandir Sahib to seek blessing of their Gurus.
Swaninarayan Akshardham temple is an enchanting marvel that stands deftly on the banks of River Yamuna. Constructed in the year 2005, Swaninarayan Akshardham temple is a replica of Akshardham temple in Gujarat. Having intricately carved interiors and large idols of Hindu deities, this temple is an exciting site for the tourist and devotees as well.
The muscular grandeur standing on an elevated hill, Mehrangarh fort is among the largest fort in India. It was built in 1459 by Rao Jodha and is the home of the royal throne of Jodhpur. At present, Mehrangarh fort has a been converted into a museum where the royal belongings like palanquins, armors, weapons, paintings, jewellery and furniture are kept for public display.
Qutab Minar is a minaret with a soaring height of 73 meters that was constructed and named after Qutubuddin Aiybak. Qutab Minar has serpentine carvings on exterior walls that are the verses from Quraan and nearby monuments form the Qutab complex, making it a popular tourist site among the visitors especially school students.
Situated on the left bank of River Yamuna, the Agra Fort is a Mughal era marvel made up of red sandstone. It is also known as the Red Fort of Agra due to its exquisite architecture and visitors can get a clear view of Taj Mahal from here. The UNESCO world heritage site boasts structures like Pearl mosque, Diwan-E-Khas and Jahangiri Mahal in its premises.
Based in the heart of the country, Madhya Pradesh, the Khajuraho temples are grandeur displaying eroticism on the exterior of temples. All temples are an outstanding example of architecture of the medieval era that leaves everybody spellbound. Mahadeva temple, Lakshmana temple, Shiva temple etc. are some temples that should be visited.
The Dravidian marvel Brihadeeshwara temple is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to the supreme deity, Lord Shiva, it is considered to be as one of the largest living temple from the Chola Empire. There are sculptures that depict different forms of Lord Shiva in the premises and the sanctum preserves the intricate idol of Shiva.
Constructed in the form of arch like structure, the 42 meters tall magnificent India Gate is a war memorial that was built to commemorate the martyrs of war. It has names of 82 thousand martyrs inscribed that laid their lives during wars. The Amar Jawan jyoti is a burning structure underneath it that symbolizes immortal soldiers of India.
The Sun Temple of Konark is a quintessential example of Oriyan architecture. Dedicated to Lord Surya, the temple is constructed in the form of a massive chariot being pulled by 7 horses. It is slanted in east direction in such a manner that the rays of sun foray the main entrance during sunrise.
Standing majestically at a height of 35 feet and facing the Arabian Sea, the Gateway of India is a historical monument that was built in 20th century keeping in mind with the Roman architecture. It used to be the place where the British authoritarians landed upon their arrival in India. It is also said that the last ship of British sailed from here when they left India forever.
Located on the east bank of Musi River, Charminar is a grandeur that has 4 minarets and is an important landmark in the city of Nizam. Charminar was erected when Qutb Ali Shah shifted his capital from Golconda to Hyderabad. It is a splendid amalgamation of Indo-Islamic and Persian architecture. It catches the sight when gets illuminated at night.
The enormous structure that stands majestically in the capital city of India, Red Fort is a UNESCO world heritage site that was built in 5th century by Shah Jahan. Made up of red sandstone, Red Fort used to be the authoritarian seat of the Mughal Empire in Delhi. The fort is octagonal in shape and several gates. Prominent ones are Delhi Gate, Turkman Gate, Kashmiri Gate etc.
A blend of Hindu, Islamic and Gothic architecture, Mysore Palace used to be the residence of the royal Wadiyar family for almost 600 years! During this span it was rebuilt over end number of times. The magnificent grandeur is surrounded by lush green gardens and lawns, has exquisite interiors with priceless antiques that draw visitors in a large number.
A unique blend of Indo-Persian architecture located near Yamuna, Humayuns Tomb is the first garden tomb in Indian subcontinent. It was built by his son Akbar and sandstone was used in a large scale for its construction. A present day UNESCO world heritage site, Humayuns tomb also houses the remains of Mughal descendents.
Hampi has served as the capital city of Vijayanagara Empire in 1500 AD and is identified by the group of monuments that is boasts. The enchanting ruins are spread across 30 square kilometers that are mostly the ruins of temples like Vitthala temple, Virupaksha temple, Elephant Stables, Zenana emclosure and Lotus Palace etc.
The magnificent Rajput architecture constructed using pink sandstone, Hawa Mahal in Jaipur is a distinctive landmark. It was constructed so that the events and processions remain visible to women, as in those times, women werent allowed to appear in public. The Breeze Palace is also famous for having no stairs and ramps are used for climbing the top.
Famous as Pride of Kolkata the Victoria Memorial is an alluring marvel that was constructed in the memory of Queen Victoria. The Indo-gothic architecture is surrounded with sprawling gardens and lies on the bank of Hoogly River. It has more than 20 galleries displaying various portraits and paintings of the queen.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a magnificent gothic architecture in Mumbai. Formerly known as Victoria terminus, it is a historical railway station that serves as the headquarters of central railways. It has 18 platforms in which 7 are for local suburban trains and 11 are for long distance outstation express trains.
With emerald green sprawling surroundings, Bahai temple or the Lotus temple is the epitome of peace in New Delhi. It was constructed in 1986 and is notable for its flower like shape comprising of 27 marble petals. Interestingly, there are no idols or pictures in the temple premises apart from the serene silence that captivates the soul.
Sanchi is well known for the Buddhist architecture that belongs to the period between 3rd century BC and 12th century AD. The Sanchi Stupa in Sanchi is a famous dome that contains the relics of Buddha. It is the best preserved stupa in the country. A present day world heritage site, Sanchi Stupa has witnessed a rich legacy of Buddhist aesthetics.
Containing the marvelous paintings and sculptures, the caves of Ajanta & Ellora offer a panoramic view to the ancient India. Both the caves are an amalgamation of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments. They are surrounded by the Sahayadri hill ranges that keep the atmosphere pleasant throughout the year.
Entrenched on the Koromandal coast of Bay of Bengal, the group of monuments at Mahabalipuram is a complex that comprises of notable landmarks like chariot temples that are carved into the shape of chariots, carved boulders of Ganga, Pallava temples and a collection of cave temples. This place is another strong contender for the position of world heritage site.
Standing amidst the great sandy expanses of Thar Desert, Jaisalmer Fort is an enchanting fort built with yellow sandstone in Rajasthan. It is named after the Rajput king Rawal Jaisal and stands on an elevation with a height of 250 feet. This striking monument is enlisted as UNESCO world heritage site and is visited by many tourists from different parts of India.
All the enchanting marvels were constructed by the great emperors of ancient India that shows a rich respect towards the art and culture that blend with each other. Whether theyre ancient temples, historical monuments or magnificent palaces, they all say something about what theyve witnessed over long periods of time in this diverse country. Those who ardently love to explore the ancient India will get a mesmerized and a closer look to the previous era lifestyles if they visit these historical tourist places in India. Dont forget to take a glance at the nearby attractions too.
