Highlights
- There is a total of 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
- India stands at 6th position with the most UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Fascinating historic monuments, caves, and tombs in India that one must visit.
India with 38 UNESCO World Heritage sites – 7 of them natural, 30 cultural, and 1 mixed, stands at 6th position of countries with most UNESCO World Heritage sites. These are 10 fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India that one must visit once in their lifetime.
10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites To Visit
1. Agra Fort
Agra Fort is a historical monument situated in Agra. It was the main residing fort for most of the Mughal Emperors until the capital was shifted to Delhi. It is so massive that sometimes it is also referred to as a walled city or symbol of Agra. It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.
2. Ajanta Caves
Ajanta Cave includes paintings and rock-cut sculptures excavated in a horseshoe-shaped bend of rock surface nearly 76 m in height overlooking a narrow stream known as Waghora. The location of this valley was a calm and serene place for the Buddhist monks who retreated to these secluded places during the rainy seasons. They are regarded as one of the best examples of an Indian old art form and a masterpiece of Buddhist art.
3. Elephanta Caves
The Elephanta Caves are situated in the eastern part of India on the Island of Gharapuri ( also known as Elephanta Island) in Mumbai Harbour. Elephanta Caves is a collection of sculptures and cave temples dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva. Hindu spiritualistic beliefs and symbology are finely utilized in the overall planning of the caves along with a markable beauty of old Indian art form.
4. The Great Living Chola Temples
The Great Living Chola Temples are stretching over all of south India including the neighboring islands. These were built by kings of the Chola Empire and include three great Temples: the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram, and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. The unique and splendid architecture of Chola Temples testifies to the brilliant achievements of the Chola Empire in sculpture, architecture, and painting, leaving tourists spellbound.
5. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, situated in Mumbai is a historic train terminal, designed by a British architectural engineer, Frederick William Stevens, in an Italian Gothic style. Its name was changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in 1996, after the name of the great warrior king, Shivaji.
6. Ellora Caves
The Ellora Caves, situated in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, is one of the largest rock-cut Hindu temple caves around the world. The unique and marvelous artwork of the cave predominantly features Hinduism and some parts of Buddhism and Jainism as well.
7. Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a town in Agra District, predominantly a city in red sandstone, built by the great Mughal Emperor, Akbar, in the honor of great Sufi saint Sheikh Salem Chisti. Its marvelous and unique architecture never fails to awe-struck the tourists.
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8. Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun’s Tomb is the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent built in 1570 and was commissioned by Humayun’s first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum, who chose Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad to design the structure and architecture of the tomb. Its design inspired several other monument designs including the Taj mahal.
9. Rani-Ki-Vav
Rani ki Vav is a stepwell situated in the town of Patan in the Gujarat state of India on the banks of the Saraswati river. Its construction is attributed to Udayamati, daughter of Khengara of Saurashtra, queen of the Solanki dynasty in the 11th century, and wife of Bhima I. It was built at the height of craftsmens’ ability and the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, reflecting mastery of this complex technique and great beauty of detail and proportions.
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10. Red Fort
The Red Fort was built under the regime of Shah Jahan when he was shifting the capital from Agra to Delhi, designed by the great architect, Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also constructed the Taj Mahal. It has been the main residence for most of the Mughal Emperors. The marvelous design of the fort was by the British and the defensive walls of the forts were greatly damaged during their rule. On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru Hoisted The National Flag on the fort. From then onwards, the Prime Minister hoists the National flag on the fort on Independence Day every year.
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