Nomad Saikat
India is a land of fascinating historical past. The monuments and architecture in India still stand as a proof of that colourful past. The famous historical monuments in India speak their own story. They are the result of artistic brilliance and glorified heritage and culture. The history of monuments in India is a symbol of its legacy. You cannot miss visiting the famous monuments in India. This article will include a list of monument names that are worth visiting. Witnessing the cultural diversity, brilliant art work, impeccable sculptures and structural expertise of these best historical monuments of India would be an experience in itself. So keep reading and enrich yourself with the information given.
Taj Mahal
Location: Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Nearest Airport: The nearest airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Raja ki Mandi, Agra cantt, Agra Fort are the nearest railway stations.
Bus Stop: Nearest bus stop is Central Bus Station Agra.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time- 6am
Closing time– 6:20pm
Closed day– Closed on Friday.
Ticket price– Ticket price is Rs.45 for Indians and Rs. 1050 for foreigners.
Taj Mahal doesn’t really need any introduction. This is definitely one of the most famous monuments in India that one needs to visit. The magnificent white structure looks beautiful and the history attached to it adds to the grandeur. Known as the “Jewel of Muslim Art” , Taj Mahal is one of the 7 wonders in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This grand structure was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz. On the southern bank of the Yamuna River this piece of architecture is surely one of the most visited Historical monuments of India.
Qutub Minar
Location: Mehrauli, New Delhi.
Nearest Airport: Nearest airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Old Delhi Railway station is the nearest railway station
Nearest Bus Stop: Kashmiri Gate Bus Stop is the nearest bus stop.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time– 6am
Closing time- 9 pm
Closed day- Open on all days
Ticket price-Entry fee is Rs. 35 for Indians and Rs. 550 for foreigners.
Standing at 72.5 meters height, Qutub Minar is one of the tallest monuments in Asia. The tall architecture made with red sandstone is a delight to watch. This one is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Built by Qutub-ud-Din aibak, the approximate age of this monument is 800 years and has 5 floors. If you are inclined towards knowing more about the history of monuments in India, then Qutub Minar is one of the must visit places.
Ajanta Caves
Location: Ajanta Caves Road, Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
Nearest Airport: Aurangabad Domestic Airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Jalgaon Railway Station.
Bus Stop: Ajanta Foot Cave Bus Stand.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time– 6 am
Closing time– 5:30 pm
Closed day- Closed for the general public on Mondays.
Ticket price-Ticket Price is Rs. 40 for Indians and Rs. 600 for foreigners.
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site the Ajanta Caves are popularly known as the home to some of the rarest Buddhist art and sculptures. The cave consists of some of the oldest Buddhist monasteries (Viharas) and worship hall (Chaitanyas). The Buddhist customs are carved into 250 feet rock walls. This site falls under the purview of the Archeological Survey of India. This is a 29 rock cut monument that is dated back to the second century BCE to 480 CE. This is one of the major tourist spots in Maharashtra and is one of the most famous monuments of India.
Sun Temple Konark
Location: Puri District, Odisha
Nearest Airport: Bhubaneswar Airport is the nearest airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Nearest Railway Station is Puri Railway Station.
Bus Stop: Konark Bus Station is the nearest bus stop.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time- 6 am
Closing time– 6pm
Closed day– Open on all days
Ticket price– Entry fee is Rs. 35 for Indians and Rs. 550 for foreigners.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Konark Temple, stands as tall as 100 feet. This is a temple dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya. The gigantic architectural formation looks like a chariot with huge wheels and horses that are carved from stone. It is a major tourist attraction because of the Odisha style of architecture. The walls have carvings of various animals like elephants and giraffes and there is also a carved statue of the Sun God.
Fatehpur Sikri
Location: Dadupura, Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh.
Nearest Airport: The Kheria Airport is the nearest airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Nearest railway station is Fatehpur Sikri.
Bus Stop: Nearest bus stop is the UP Broadways Bus Stand.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time– 6 am
Closing time– 6:20pm
Closed day- Open on all days.
Ticket price– Ticket price is Rs. 35 for Indian visitors and Rs. 550 for foreigners.
Fatehpur Sikri is a hub for all the history buffs. The great structure of Fatehpur Sikri Fort made of red sandstone looks spectacular. The elegance and grandeur of the Mughal art is visible everywhere. This fort was built by Mughal emperor Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri has many notable places to visit within its premises that includes Akbar’s Residence, Buland Darwaza, Birbal’s House, Jama Masjid, Paanch Mahal. Also there is a beautiful lake on the side of the fort that enhances its beauty. With so much historical evidence to visit, this surely stands as one of the top historical monuments in India.
Dhamek Stupa
Location: Sarnath, Varanasi. Uttar Pradesh
Nearest Airport: Nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Varanasi Junction railway Station is the nearest railway station.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time-6:20am
Closing time– 6pm
Closed day– Open on all days.
Ticket price- Entry price is Rs.20 for Indians and Rs.250 for foreigners.
Dhamek Stupa is important as a site because Lord Buddha gave his first sermon here after attaining enlightenment. The event is known as Dharma Chakra Pravartana. This is also one of the four places that Lord Buddha wants his followers to visit at least once. The massive structure is a solid cylindrical tower that is 28.5 metres in diameter and stands at a height of 33.5 metres. If you are visiting Varanasi or Sarnath, Dhamek Stupa is definitely one of the famous monuments in India.
Red Fort
Location: Netaji Subhash Marg, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi.
Nearest Airport: The nearest airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Nearest Railway Station is Delhi Junction.
Visiting hours:
Opening time: 9:30am
Closing time: 4:30pm
Closed day: Red Fort is closed on Mondays.
Ticket Price– Ticket price is Rs. 35 for Indians and Rs. 500 for foreigners.
Red Fort is another important UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an important monument where Independence Day celebrations are held each year. Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, is a massive structure made of red sandstones. You can witness the grandeur of Mughal architectural elements in the sprawling geometrical gardens, balconies and halls. Red Fort was previously a residential area of Mughal emperors. A light and sound show takes place every evening which is a major tourist attraction. The ticket price for the show is separate which is Rs.60 on weekdays and Rs. 80 on weekends for adults. For children it is Rs.20 on weekdays and Rs.30 on weekends. It is the largest monument in Delhi and obviously one of the most famous monuments in India.
Hampi Group of Monuments
Location: Vijayanagara District, on the south bank of Tungabhadra River, Karnataka.
Nearest Airport: Hubli Airport is the nearest airport.
Nearest Railway Station: The nearest railway station is the Hospet Junction.
Visiting hours:
Opening time: 6am
Closing time: 6pm
Closed days: Open on all days.
Ticket price– Ticket price is Rs. 30 for Indians and Rs. 500 for foreigners to enter the Vitthala Temple and Zanana Enclosure.
The popularity of Hampi as a heritage site goes back to the 14th century. The site has almost 500 monuments and other tourist attractions. The most notable ones are the Hindu and Jain temples, Hampi bazaar, Archeological Museum, Queen’s Bath.
Shaniwarwada
Location: The location is Shaniwar Peth, Pune , Maharashtra.
Nearest Airport: The nearest airport is Pune Airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Shivaji Nagar Railway Station is the nearest railway station.
Bus Stop: Nearest bus stand is Shaniwarwada PMT Bus Stand.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time- 9 am
Closing time– 6 pm
Closed day– Open on all days
Ticket price– Entry fee is Rs.20 for Indians and Rs. 250 for foreigners.
The Shaniwarwada fort is partly made of stone and partly made of brick. Ideally Shaniwarwada could have been a 7 storied building but by the attacks on it the top 6 floors collapsed and only the base floor survived and the surviving portion is now maintained as a tourist spot. It was the seat for the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire during 1818. Shaniwarwada has 5 gates namely, the Delhi darwaza, Mastani Darwaza, Khidki darwaza, Ganseh Darwaza and the Jambhul Darwaza. It also has an impressive structure of a lotus shaped fountain.
Golden Temple
Location: Golden Temple Road, Atta Mandi, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar, Punjab.
Nearest Airport: Amritsar Airport is the nearest airport which is 13km from the Temple.
Nearest Railway Station: Amritsar Junction Railway Station is the nearest Railway Station that is 2km away.
Nearest Bus Stop: Amritsar Bus Stand is the nearest Bus Stand.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time– 5 am
Closing time– 10 pm
Closed day– Open on all days
Ticket price– Entry is free.
Golden temple is a notable religious site of the Sikh community which is also known as the Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is a beautiful two storied structure which has a golden upper part made of pure gold and the rest is made of white marble. You can visit the Sikh History Museum, Akal Takht, Clock Tower, Teja Singh Samundri Hall and Guru Das Langar within the temple compound. The Golden temple is built around an artificial pool. Golden Temple was the centre of the Singh Sabha movement between 1883 and 1920. It is one of the most visited and celebrated temples in Amritsar and also one of the most famous monuments in India.
Hawa Mahal
Location: Hawa Mahal Road, Badi Choupad, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Nearest Airport: Jaipur International Airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Jaipur Junction Railway Station is the nearest railway station.
Bus Stop: Jaipur Bus Stand and Badi Chaupar Bus Stands are the nearest bus stands.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time– 9:30 am
Closing time– 4:30pm
Closed day– Hawa Mahal is open on all days but the museum is closed on Fridays and Saturdays.
Ticket price- Ticket price is Rs. 50 for Indians and Rs. 200 for foreigners.
A beautiful blend of Mughal, Islamic and Rajput architectural style can be seen in this prominent spot in Jaipur. You will get beautiful views of the Jantar Mantar and City Palace from Hawa Mahal. It is a five storied building in one of the busiest locations. Built in red and pink sandstone, this famous monument of India has a total of 953 ornate sandstone windows. The massive structure was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. The palace is also known as the Palace of the Breeze or Wind because it allows cool air from the Venturi effect, therefore getting the name Hawa mahal , where “Hawa” means Breeze or Wind and “Mahal” means Palace.
Gateway of India
Location: Apollo Bandar, Colaba,Mumbai, Maharashtra,
Nearest Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the nearest airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Churchgate Railway Station is the nearest railway station.
Bus Stop: Gateway of India Bus Stop in Colaba is the nearest bus stop.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time– Open all day.
Closing time: No closing time.
Closed day– Open everyday
Ticket price– No entry fee.
Undoubtedly the Gateway of India is one of the most iconic monuments in India. Constructed in the 20th century, the structure is made following Indo-Islamic style of architecture. Previously the gateway of India was used as a symbolic entrance for colonial personnel in India. It was constructed to commemorate the arrival of Emperor George V, who was the first British monarch to visit India.
Charminar
Location: Char Kaman, Ghansi bazaar, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Nearest Airport: Rajiv Gandhi international Airport is nearest.
Nearest Railway Station: Nearest railways station is Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station
Bus Stop: Nearest bus stop is Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time– 6 am
Closing time- 6 pm
Closed day- Closed on Fridays.
Ticket price-Entry fee is Rs. 20 for Indians and Rs. 250 for foreigners.
Charminar is an Indo-Islamic architecture mosque that also retains Persian elements in its formation. The arches and domes give a jaw dropping look to this monument and look splendid. The history of Charminar goes back to 425 years ago. This is also included as the official emblem of Telangana. On the list of architectural treasures made by the Archeological Survey of India, Charminar finds its position. The structure is made of limestone, granite and marble and has 4 pillars to it as the name suggests, “Char” means four and “Meenar” means Pillars.
Mysore Palace
Location: Sayyaji Rao Road, Mysuru, Karnataka.
Nearest Airport: Mysore airport is the nearest airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Nearest railway station is Mysuru Junction.
Bus Stop: Mysore City Bus Stand is the nearest bus stand.
Visiting hours:
Opening Time- 10 am
Closing time– 5:30pm
Closed day– Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Ticket price- Rs. 40 for adults and Rs. 25 for children of 7-12 years age
One of the chief attractions of Mysore City, Mysore Palace is one such monument in India that has a different charm to it. Every part of this palace exudes royalty, be it the ornate pillars, the Durbar Hall or the bejeweled Golden Throne. The palace shines through 97,000 electric bulbs that lit up the palace. It was designed by Henry Irwin. The palace is also popularly known as the Amba Vilas Palace. Mysore Palace is in the second spot in the list of most famous tourist spots in India after Taj Mahal, with more than 6million footfalls in a year.
Bekal Fort
Location: Kanhagad, Kasarago Road, Bekal, Kerala
Nearest Airport: Mangalore Airport
Nearest Railway Station– Kasaragod Railway Station
Bus Stop: KSRTC Bus Stand Kasargod
Visiting hours:
Opening Time– 6 am
Closing time- 6 pm
Closed day– Open on all days.
Ticket price- Rs.20 per person
Bekal Fort is one of the popular destinations in India. The fort is 130feet high and sprawled across 40acres. The fort is shaped like a keyhole. The entrance deserves a special mention that is zigzagged in structure. There are observation towers which is one of the notable features of this place. It is also a popular spot for watching the beautiful sunset. This fort was built as a defense fort and therefore there are no mansions or palaces or any other building inside.
There are reasons why India is such a diversified country. The history that it is a witness of speaks volume through the famous monuments of India. You can gain a lot of insight after visiting the historical monuments in India. If you are someone who loves learning about architectural history and want to explore the rich culture of India, the above mentioned historical monuments in India are a must visit. So pack your bags and start your journey as soon as you get some time out.
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