Famous monuments in India you must visit
India is a land of diversity and home to some architectural and historical marvels.
Mysore Palace
One of the most spectacular structures in South India is the Palace of Mysore. It was built under the supervision of the British. It is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture which was a revival style of architecture of the Mughal-Indo style. The Palace is now a museum which is open to all tourists. One of the most spectacular structures in South India is the Palace of Mysore. It was built under the supervision of the British. It is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture which was a revival style of architecture of the Mughal-Indo style. The Palace is now a museum which is open to all tourists.
Location – Mysore, Karnataka
Timings – 10 AM - 5:30 PM, all days of the week. Light and Sound show - Monday to Saturday - 7 PM - 7: 40 PM.
Taj Mahal
The stunning white marble structure was built in the 17th century. It was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The monument houses the tomb of both Mumtaz and Shah Jahan. Taj Mahal is set on the banks of the river Yamuna in a picturesque setting. It is a mixture of different architectural elements of Mughal, Persian, Ottoman-Turkish, and Indian style.
Entry to the tombs is barred but tourists are permitted to walk around the beautiful surroundings of the Mahal. The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world.
Location – Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Timings – 6 AM – 6:30 PM (Closed on Fridays)
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Read more about Taj Mahal and Agra here.
Sri Harmandir Sahab
Sri Harmandir Sahab also popularly known as Golden Temple is the holy religious site of the Sikhs. The temple is set in beautifully across the holy Amritsar Sarovar which stands to be the holy river of Sikhs. The temple is a blend of Hindu and Islamic style of architecture and is a two-storied building in the shape of a dome. The upper half of the temple is built in pure gold and the bottom half with white marble. The temple’s floors are made of white marble and the walls are adorned by flower and animal prints.
Location – Amritsar, Punjab
Timings – Twenty-four hours a day, all days of the week
Brihadishwar Temple
It is one of the three Chola temples to be part of the UNESCO world heritage site. The temple was built by Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century. The temple is also known as Periya Kovil and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple tower is 66 meters high and is amongst the highest in the world..
Location – Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Timings – 6 AM – 12:30 PM, 4 PM – 8:30 PM, all days of the week
Bahai Temple (aka Lotus Temple)
The temple is also known as the Lotus Temple or the Kamal Mandir. The construction of this exemplary structure in the shape of the white lotus was completed in 1986. The temple is a religious site of the people of the Bahai faith. The temple provides space for visitors to connect with their spiritual self with the help of meditation and prayer. The outside space of the temple consists of green gardens and nine reflecting pools.
Location – Delhi
Timings – Summer – 9 AM – 7 PM, Winters – 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM, Closed on Mondays
Hawa Mahal
The five-storey monument was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. It is known as the palace of wind or breeze. The structure is made of pink and red sandstone. The architectural styles visible in the monument are a blend of Islamic, Mughal, and Rajput.
Location – Jaipur, Rajasthan
Timings – Summer – 9 AM – 4:30 PM, all days of the week
Victoria Memorial
The building was made for Queen Victoria in the 20th century. The entire monument is made of white marble and is spectacular to look at. The memorial is now a museum open for tourists to explore and marvel in the artifacts like statues, paintings, and manuscripts. The area around the museum is a garden where people relax and enjoy the beauty of the greenery.
Location – Kolkata, West Bengals
Timings – Summer – Museum – 11 AM – 5 PM, Garden – 6 AM – 5 PM
Qutub Minar
The monument was built during Qutub-ud-din-Aibak’s regime. It is a 240 feet long structure that has balconies on each level. The tower is made of red sandstone and marble. The monument is built in Indo-Islamic style. The structure is located in a park surrounded by many other important monuments constructed around the same time.
The monument is also known as the Victory Tower as it was built in commemoration of Mohammad Ghori’s victory over Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan.
Location – Delhi
Timings – Open all days – 7 AM – 5 PM
Sanchi Stupa
Sanchi Stupa is one of India’s most ancient monuments as it was built in the 3rd century by the highly celebrated king Ashoka. It is the largest Stupa in the country and is also known as the Great Stupa. The structure is made wholly of stone.
Location – Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Timings – 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM, all days of the week
Gateway of India
One of India's relatively new monuments was built during British rule. It is set at the tip of the Apollo Bunder in southern Mumbai. Before King George V visited India, the arched gateway was built to welcome him to the country.
The Gateway of India might be confused with the India Gate which is located in Delhi and overlooks the parliament and president’s house.
Location – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Timings – Open all the time
Red Fort
The most important and famous fort in India was built during the rule of the Mughal king Shah Jahan in 1648. The massive fort is built of red sandstones in the architectural style of the Mughals. The fort consists of beautiful gardens, balconies, and entertainment halls.
During the Mughal rule, it is said the fort was decked with diamonds and precious stones but over time as the Kings lost their wealth, they could not sustain such pomp. Every year the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation on Independence Day from the Red Fort.
Location – Delhi
Timings – 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Closed on Mondays
Charminar
The Charminar was built by Quli Qutb Shah in the 16th century and its name loosely translates to four minarets that form cardinal points of the structure. If you are a lover of shopping, you can head to the nearby Charminar Bazaar to fulfill your desire of purchasing goodies.
Location – Hyderabad, Telangana
Timings – Summer – 9:30 AM-5:30 PM, all days of the week
Khajuraho
The Khajuraho Temples were built by the Chandela Rajput dynasty in the 12th century. The entire structure is made of red sandstone. The temples are famous amongst Hindus and Jains. The entire area consists of three complexes with 85 temples.
Location – Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh
Timings – Summer – 7 AM – 6 PM, all days of the week
Konark Temple
The temple was built in the 13th century and is famously also known as the Black Pagoda. It is dedicated to the Sun god. The temple is noteworthy for its intricate architecture which dates back thousands of years. The exterior of the temple is a marvel as the structure resembles a chariot and the inside is decked with murals and paintings.
Location – Konark, Odisha
Timings – 6 AM- 8 PM, all days of the week
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Enticing, Historic, Heritage, Iconic and rich with history places for Indian Visa Tourists are covered in Tourist Guide to Rajasthan.
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