FAMOUS MONUMENTS OF INDIA

A part of the Seven Wonders of the World. Taj Mahal has

become a symbol of endless love and devotion.

On the backdrop of Yamuna River .

Mughal emperor of India, Shah Jahan in the memory of

his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal,

Ustad Ahmad Lahori, has been cited to plan this

building.

construction began in 1630

It took 12 years of hard labour and 20,000 labourers to build the

mausoleum.

The architectural complex is comprised of five main elements:

1. the 'Darwaza' or main gateway,

2. the 'Bageecha' or garden,

3. the Masjid or mosque,

4. the 'Naqqar Khana' or rest house, and

5. the 'Rauza' or the Taj Mahal mausoleum. The actual Tomb is

situated inside the Taj.

The marble stature memorial has got embellishments of beautiful marble inlay work

known as "Pietra Dura" that is a very integral part of Agra's art culture and

traditions.

Qutb-u'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Qutab Minar in AD

1199 raised the first storey.

Three more storeys by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu'd-

Din IItutmish (AD 1211-36).

Shah Jahan

In 1638 when the emperor moved the capital of India from Agra

to Delhi, a new royal palace was constructed.

Known as the Red Fort (Lal Qila), it was begun around 1640 and

completed by 1648.

The Khas Mahal served as the emperor's private quarters and was the

most exquisitely decorated of all the pavilions.

The Diwan-i-khas in Red Fort was designed to reflect heaven and

served as the private audience hall.

All public audiences were held in the Diwan-i-am, and secret

meetings took place in the Royal Tower, or Shah Burj.

he Moti-Masjid (Pearl Mosque), built by Aurangzeb for his personal use.

Location of the site: Khajuharo, Madhya Pradesh

Famous For: Khajuraho is well known for erotic art sculptures and

carved temples and Dance Festival

Significance: World Heritage Site

Nearby attractions: Panna Wildlife Sanctuary

Khajuraho Temples

Location of the

site: 99-km From Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Significance: World Heritage Site

Total Caves: 30

Dates Back to: 2nd Century BC To 6th Century AD

Ajanta Caves

The themes are intensely religious in tone and centre round Buddha, Bodhisattvas,

incidents from the life of Buddha and the 'Jatakas'. Ajanta cave paintings are

executed on a ground of mud-plaster in the tempera technique.

Location: Near Mumbai

Carved

Between: 9th And 12th Centuries AD

Designated As: World Heritage Site

Famous For: Lord Shiva temple

Elephanta Caves

Charminar

Charminar, a splendid piece of architecture standing

in the heart of the hyderabad city built by Quli

Qutub Shah, in 1591.

A Representation Of Indo-Sarcenic Tradition

Agra Fort

Akbar

UP

Fatehpur Sikri

Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Build By: Akbar

Built in: 1571 - 1585

an epic poem in red sandstone

Location: Delhi

Architecture: Mughal Architecture

Designed By: Misak Mirza Ghiyas

Built By: Humayun's Wife Haji Begum

Humayun's Tomb

Location: 18 Miles From Aurangbad, Maharashtra

Belonging To: Hindu, Buddhist And Jain

Total Caves: 34

Carved

Between: 5th And 10th Century AD

Ellora Caves

Kailasha (Cave 16) is a remarkable example of

rock-cut temples

Location: Hampi, 350 kms from Banglore

Famous For : The Vithala Temple complex

Hampi

Legacy Of Vijayanagar Empire

Hampi is situated on the southern bank of Tungabhadra.

Once it was the seat of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire.

The monuments of Vijayanagara city, also known as Vidyanagara in honour of the

sage Vidyaranya were built between AD 1336-1570, from the times of Harihara-I to

Sadasiva Raya.

A large number of royal buildings were raised by Krishnadeva Raya (AD 1509-30),

the greatest ruler dynasty.

Nalanda University

Nalanda 90-km south east of Patna by road.

Lord Vardhamana Mahavir and Lord Buddha frequently visited it in the 6th century BC.

It is also supposed to be the birthplace of Sariputra, one of the Chief disciples of the Lord Buddha.

The University of Nalanda was founded in the 5th century by the Gupta emperors.

Nalanda was a great centre of learning and students from foreign centre of learning and students from foreign

countries were also attracted to this university.

Hieun Tsang received here the Indian name Mokshdeva.

Nalanda acquired a celebrity spread all over the east as a centre of Buiddhist theology and educational activities. Its

importance as a monastic university continued until the end of the 12th century.

Sanchi Stupa

Sanchi is a small village in Raisen District of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, it

is located 46 km north east of Bhopal, and 10 km from Besnagar and Vidisha in

the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

specimen of Buddhist art and architecture,

the period between the third century BC and the twelfth century AD

Pattadakal

Pattadakal was not only popular Chalukyan architectural activities, but also a

holy place for royal coronation, 'Pattadakisuvolal'. Temples constructed here

mark the blending of the Rekha Nagara Prasada and the Dravida Vimana styles of

temple building.

Virupaksha temple of the Chalukyan period served as a model for the

Rashtrakuta ruler to carve out the great Kailasha at Ellora.

Location: Konark, Orissa

Also Known As: Black Pagoda & Konarak

Built By: King Narsingha Deva

Presiding Deity: Surya Or The Sun God

Konark Sun Temple

Konark Sun Temple is a 13th century Sun Temple, at Konark, in Odisha. It was

constructed from oxidized and weathered ferruginous sandstone by King

Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty

Buland Darwaza

Buland Darwaza erected in 1602 AD to commemorate Akbar's victory over

Deccan is the highest and grandest gateway in India and ranks among the

biggest in the world.

The Darwaza rises to a height of 40 metres and is topped by pillars and

Chhatris.

It is the most Islamic structure in Fatehpur Sikri and echoes early Mughal

design with simple ornamentation, the carved verses from the Koran and

soaring arches. On the outside a long flight of steps sweeps down the hill

giving the gateway additional height.

India Gate in Delhi

At the center of New Delhi stands the 42m high India Gate, an

"Arc-de-Triomphe" like Archway in the middle of a crossroad.

It commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives

fighting for the British Army during the First World War and bears

the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in

the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.

The foundation stone was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921

and was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10

years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was

added much later, after India got its independence. It is in the form of a flame that burns

day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives

in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971.

Golconda Fort

Golconda Fort is a majestic monument, which lies on the western outskirts of

Hyderabad city. It speaks of a great cultural heritage of 400 years and is

regarded as a place worth visiting. Built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in

1525, Golconda Fort stands as the epitome of Nawabi culture and grandeur.

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in

India.

It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan

and is located across the Red Fort in Delhi.

Lotus Temple

The Lotus Temple is called so because of its flower like shape. It was

built in 1986. It is a Bahai House of Worship and due to its unique

architectural design, it has won various awards. It was built in 1986

and has become one of the most well-known attractions in Delhi. It is

located in the South of Delhi having acres of gardens in its

surroundings.

Golden Temple

This temple is also known as Darbar Sahib or

Hari Mandir Sahib. It is actually a Sikh

Gurdwara that is located in Amritsar, Punjab.

The dome of this temple is covered with a gold

leaf and the interiors of temple are decorated

with precious stones in a floral design.

Bijapur

City in India

Bijapur city is the district headquarters of Bijapur District of Karnataka state. It is

also the headquarters for Bijapur Taluka.

Gol Gumbaz or Gol Gumbadh, Kannada: , Urdu: ,from Persian Gol Gombadh meaning "rose dome",-- is the mausoleum of

Mohammed Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur. Wikipedia

Height: 60 m

Opened: 1659

Address: Jadar Galli, Bijapur, Karnataka

Architects: Mohammed Adil Shah, Yaqut of Dabul

Burials: Mohammed Adil Shah, Ali Adil Shah II

Mount Abu

Mountain

Mount Ab