The monuments of a country plays an important role in reflecting the country’s history or the ancient civilization and also helps us understand the people who lived in different eras including their habits and traditions. Monuments are the objects or buildings created in honor of an important person or a momentous event that had happened and they act as a symbol of history.
India is blessed to have many beautiful and famous monuments, which are visited by many tourists and they are the only wealth of Indian tourism including world heritage sites and natural tourism.
Let us see some of those mesmerizing historical monuments of India below:
Taj Mahal In Agra, India
This epitome of love is built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal, located on the south banks of holy river Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh, stands as a stunning monument combining the elements of Mughal, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian Architecture styles. The picturesque location, exquisite ornamentation, precious gemstones and the purity of white marble made it gain a place in ‘The Eight Wonders of the World’.
Qutub Minar in Delhi, India
This tower is 73 meters high built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1193, to celebrate Muslim dominance in Delhi over Hindu rulers. The tower has five storeys and projected balconies, made with red sandstone, marble and sandstone. Some of the verses from the holy Qur’an are etched on the bricks of the minaret.
Charminar In Hyderabad, India
The glorious Charminar represents the rich heritage of ancient Hyderabad. Constructed by a great architecture named Quli Qutub Shah in 1591, Charminar is a memorial built to celebrate the end of deadly plague. This square shaped structure with 4 tall pillars made of granite, limestone, mortar and marble, is a visual treat to watch.
Ajanta Caves In Maharashtra, India
The caves contain a series of 29 Buddhist cave temples. These caves are preserving masterpieces of Buddhist art. The most beautiful cave is cave 26, where we can see a carved statue of reclining Buddha, which represents the moments of death. The cave carvings are so beautiful and only by visiting these caves help you understand why the Ajanta caves and carvings are legendary.
Konark Sun Temple In Orissa, India
Widely known for the architectural greatness, sophistication and the sculptural work, Konark Temple is a mixture of heritage, exotic beach and natural beauty surrounding this place. There are images of Sun God on three sides of the temple positioned perfectly to catch the rays of the sun all day. The entire temple is carved intricately in such a short period of time.
Harmandir Sahib In Amritsar, India
Also known as The Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib stands as a symbol of human brotherhood, glory and equality. It has a unique Sikh architecture, which teaches the lesson of harmony between all religions, caste, creed and sex. It is built by Guru Arjan Sahib in 1601 AD, with 4 entrances and interiors made of gold with carvings on it.
The Lotus Temple In New Delhi, India
Also known as Bahai House of worship or Bahai Mashriqul adhkar temple, the lotus temple is considered as a marvellous modern architecture in India. People from all over the world come here to meditate, pray, study or to stay peaceful. The flower like architecture is attracting many tourists from all over the world.
Hawa Mahal In Jaipur, India
The palace of winds or Hawa Mahal is located in the heart of Pink City, Jaipur. This stunning Hawa Mahal was built in 1799, by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. This honeycomb kind of structure is five-story built in the shape of a crown of Lord Krishna with 953 windows through which the breeze flows in. The design, style, and architecture are perfectly showcased with a blend of Hindu-Rajput styles.
Victoria Memorial In Kolkata, India
As the symbol of British Raj, Victoria memorial is a white marbled beauty located in Kolkata, was built by Queen Victoria to celebrate her 25 years of rule over India. The grace and elegance of this memorial is considered as the pride of Kolkata. The Indo-Saracenic architecture style along with the 16 foot tall bronze statue on the top of the memorial are so magnificent to watch.
Mysore Palace In Karnataka, India
This royal residence of Wodeyars was built in 1912, and is one of the biggest palaces in India. Also known as Amba Vilas, Mysore palace is a beautiful blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and gothic architectural styles which makes it the second most visited monument in India after Taj Mahal. The Dussehra celebrations, museum, the light and sound shows in the night along with narration of the history of palace are the special attractions.
We might have missed some other beautiful monuments of India. Please let us know, which Indian monument, in your opinion, should be in the list. Happy travelling!
