10 Most Famous Historical Monuments of India

22 Comments

• sam says:

  February 24, 2013 at 2:46 PM

  hello,r u from India or r u a foreigner. Do u know that there is a state called as karnataka and in the state there
  are two UNESCO world heritage sites by name HAMPI and BADAMI- IHOLE-PATTADAKAL. once again go thru history
  and give the facts.
  swamy.

  Reply
  • Kailash Kumbhkar says:

    February 24, 2013 at 3:55 PM

    Hello Swamyji,
    Thanks for your kind information about the Hampi and Badami.
    For your information please visit this page:
    http://www.walkthroughindia.com/attraction/12-most-popular-group-of-monuments-and-heritage-sites-in-india/

    Reply
• premang raithatha says:

  September 13, 2014 at 4:14 PM

  aap kitne time se blogging kar rahe hai ????

  Reply
  • Kailash Kumbhkar says:

    September 15, 2014 at 2:57 AM

    Hi, Is there any problem ?

    Reply
    • Mahesh Chaubey says:

      November 14, 2016 at 5:39 AM

      lol

      Reply
  • amanandeshwar says:

    November 19, 2014 at 9:41 AM

    just a………….

    Reply
• nishims ranjan says:

  December 22, 2014 at 4:19 PM

  heiii thanx for updaiting me…plz give some more historucal place name in india…which i must visit…n thnx again

  Reply
  • Kailash Kumbhkar says:

    December 26, 2014 at 10:23 AM

    Thanks, Visit all the 10 then will share more.

    Reply
• Legendary says:

  January 9, 2015 at 3:28 PM

  Hello please can you do the monuments of the world please please. I will be grateful if you do so. 😀

  Reply
• Mohan says:

  January 14, 2015 at 9:36 AM

  HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
  BUDDHIST CAVES –AJANTA

  INTRODUCTION

  Time stands still at Ajanta caves, the most mesmerizing
  cave temples of India. The renowned caves stand witness to a glorious history that has
  been etched in time forever. Mystical figures carved on the rock face narrate
  the legends of forgotten times for generations to come. That is the essence of
  the Ajanta-Ellora caves.

  Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is also a
  protected monument under the Archeological Survey of India. The caves hide
  within its hold, paintings and sculptures which are considered masterpieces
  around the globe. The Ajanta caves are a string of 30 caves, which were built
  in two phases between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD.

  HISTORY

  Like the other ancient Buddhist
  monasteries, Ajanta had a large emphasis on teaching, and was divided into
  several different caves for living, education and worship, under a central
  direction. Monks were probably assigned to specific caves for living. The
  layout reflects this organizational structure, with most of the caves only
  connected through the exterior. The 7th-century travelling Chinese scholar Xuanzang informs us that Dignaga, a celebrated Buddhist philosopher and
  controversialist, author of well-known books on logic, lived at Ajanta in the
  5th century. In its prime the settlement would have accommodated several
  hundred teachers and pupils. Many monks who had finished their first training
  may have returned to Ajanta during the monsoon season from an itinerant lifestyle.

  The caves are generally agreed
  to have been made in two distinct periods, separated by several centuries.

  ARCHITECTURE

  The monasteries mostly consist of vihara halls for
  prayer and living, which are typically rectangular with small square dormitory
  cells cut into the walls, and by the second period a shrine or sanctuary at the
  rear centred on a large statue of the Buddha, also carved from the living rock.
  This change reflects the movement from Hinayana to Mahāyāna Buddhism. The other
  type of main hall is the narrower and higher chaitya hall with a stupa as the
  focus at the far end, and a narrow aisle around the walls, behind a range of
  pillars placed close together. Other plainer rooms were for sleeping and other
  activities. Some of the caves have elaborate carved entrances, some with large
  windows over the door to admit light. There is often a colonnaded porch or verandah, with another space inside the doors running
  the width of the cave.

  The central square space of the interior of the viharas is defined
  by square columns forming a more or less square open area. Outside this are
  long rectangular aisles on each side, forming a kind of cloister. Along the side and rear walls are a number
  of small cells entered by a narrow doorway; these are roughly square, and have
  small niches on their back walls. Originally they had wooden doors.[48] The centre of the rear wall has a larger
  shrine-room behind, containing a large Buddha statue. The viharas of the
  earlier period are much simpler, and lack shrines.[49] Spink in fact places the change to a design
  with a shrine to the middle of the second period, with many caves being adapted
  to add a shrine in mid-excavation, or after the original phase.[50]

  IRON PILLAR-MEHRAULI

  INTRODUCTION

  The Iron Pillar located in Delhi,
  India, is a 7 m (23 ft) column in the Qutb
  complex, notable for the rust-resistant composition of the metals used
  in its construction.

  The
  pillar has attracted the attention of archaeologists and materials
  scientists and has
  been called “a testament to the skill of ancient Indian blacksmiths”
  because of its high resistance to corrosion.[1] The corrosion resistance results from an
  even layer of crystalline iron hydrogen phosphate forming on the highphosphorus content iron, which serves to protect it
  from the effects of the local Delhi climate.[2]

  HISTORY

  Mehrauli, Which was earlier
  known as Mihirawali which means Home of Mihir, was founded by the King Mihir Bhoja
  of the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty. Mehrauli is one of the seven ancient cities.
  The pillar, with an idol of Garuda at the top, was originally located at a
  place called Vishnupadagiri (meaning
  “Vishnu-footprint-hill”). Vishnupadagiri is located at the tropic of cancer
  from where one can observe the sun rising in the east and setting in the west
  on spring and autumn equinox days. It was a centre of astronomical studies
  during the Gupta period. However in 1234 King Iltutmish (1210-36 AD) the third
  sultan of Delhi’s slave dynasty captured Udaygiri and transported the pillar to
  Delhi as part of his victory .

  The iron pillar of Delhi, India is a 7 meter (22 feet) high pillar in
  the Qutb complex which is notable for the composition of the metals used in its
  construction.

  In pillar there is a Sanskrit inscription in Brahmi script which states
  that it was erected as a standard in honour of Lord
  Vishnu. It also praises the qualities of a king referred to simply as Chandra,
  who has been identified with the Gupta King Chandragupta II Vikramaditya
  (375-413). The inscription reads (in the translation given in the tablets
  erected by Pandit Banke Rai in 1903):

  It has attracted the attention of many archaeologists and metallurgists
  as it has withstood corrosion for the last 1600 years, despite harsh weather.
  Its unusually good corrosion resistance appears to be due to a high phosphorus
  content, which together promotes the formation of a solid protective
  passivation layer of iron oxides and phosphates, rather than the
  non-protective, cracked rust layer that develops on most ironwork.

  ARCHITECTURE

  GOL GUMBAZ-BIJAPUR

  INTRODUCTION

  Gol Gumbaz or Gol Gumbadh, from Persian گل
  گنبذ Gol Gombadh meaning “round
  dome”,[1] is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur. The tomb,
  located in Bijapur, Karnataka in India, was completed in 1656 by the architect Yaqut of Dabul. Although
  “impressively simple in design”, it is the “structural triumph
  of Deccan architecture”.[2]

  HISTORY

  Gol Gumbaz is
  the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah which was constructed in the 17th century by the
  seventh ruler of Adilshahi dynasty. Gol
  Gumbaz is situated at Bijapur in Karnataka. The place is
  530 kilometers away from Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka.

  Gol Gumbaz is a
  fine piece of Islamic architectural style. The Gol
  Gumbaz has a floor area of
  1700 square meter, a height of 51 meter and diameter of 37 meters with 3 meter
  thick walls. The construction of this large tomb took around 20 years to
  complete.

  Another significant feature of the Gol
  Gumbaz is its central dome which stands
  without the support of pillars. Also the central dome of Gol
  Gumbaz is the second largest dome in the world after the
  dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

  Gol Gumbaz has another amazing
  feature. Any sound at this place echoes for over eleven times. Moreover you can
  even hear the tick of a watch across a distance of 37 meter in the vast dome.
  You can enjoy the picturesque landscape of the region near Gol
  Gumbaz from its terrace which can be
  reached through the steps across the narrow passages.

  Apart from the burial chambers of Mohammed
  Adil Shah, his two wives, his mistress Ramba, his daughter and grandson, the
  complex of Gol
  Gumbaz also houses a mosque, a Naqqar Khana, a gateway and
  a dharamshala. The building in front of the Gol
  Gumbaz has been turned into a museum that contains all the
  history about the royal past related to Adilshah dynasty who constructed Gol
  Gumbaz.

  ARCHITECTURE

  The structure is composed of a cube,
  47.5 metres (156 ft) on each side, capped by a dome 44 m (144 ft) in external diameter. “Eight intersecting
  arches created by two rotated squares that create interlocking pendentives” support the dome. At each of the four corners of the cube, is a
  dome-capped octagonal tower seven stories high with a staircase inside.[2] The upper floor of each opens on to a round gallery which surrounds the
  dome. Inside the mausoleum hall, is a square podium with steps on each side. In
  the middle of the podium, a cenotaph slab on the ground marks the actual grave below, “the only instance
  of this practice” in the architecture of the Adil Shahi Dynasty. In the middle of the north side, “a large
  semi-octagonal bay” protrudes out.[2] With an area of 1,700 m2 (18,000 sq ft),[3] the mausoleum has one of the biggest single chamber spaces in the world.

  Running around the inside of the dome
  is the “Whispering Gallery” where even the softest sound can be heard
  on the other side of the mausoleum due to the acoustics of the space.

  KAMAKHYA TEMPLE-GUWAHATI

  INTRODUCTION

  The Kamakhya Temple (Assamese: কামাখ্যা মন্দিৰ) is a Hindu
  temple dedicated
  to the mother
  goddess Kamakhya, one
  of the oldest of the 51 Shakti
  Pitha.s,[2] Situated on the Nilachal Hill in western
  part of Guwahati city in Assam, India it is the main temple in a complex of
  individual temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas: Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi,Chinnamasta, Tripura
  Sundari, Tara, Kali, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Matangi and Kamala.[3]Among
  these, Tripurasundari, Matangi and Kamala reside inside the main temple whereas
  the other seven reside in individual temples.[4] It is an important pilgrimage destination
  for general Hindu and especially for Tantric worshipers.

  HISTORY

  The temple is situated a few kilometers away
  from the Guwahati Railway Station, and is open for visitors throughout the
  year. The exact date of the original temple is not known. It is believed that,
  the temple is an ancient temple. The Temple was rebuilt in 1665, after being
  destroyed by Muslim invaders. It was probably an ancient Khasi sacrificial
  site, sacrifices are still very much part of worship here. Group of devotees
  arrive each morning with goats to offer to Shakti. Although little is known
  about the early history of the temple, the first reference to the place has
  been traced back to the Allahabad inscriptions of Emperor Samudragupta.

  There is a legend attached to the history of the temple, which goes way back to
  the mythological age. According to the legend, Sati the wife of Lord Shiva (one
  of the holy Trinities in Hindu mythology) took her life at a ‘Yagna’ ceremony
  that had been organized by her father Daksha, because she could not bear the
  insults hurled at her husband by her father. On hearing the news of his wife’s
  death, Shiva, the destroyer of all that was evil flew into a rage and punished
  Daksha by replacing his head with that of a goat. Torn between misery and blind
  fury, Shiva picked up the corpse of his beloved wife Sati and performed a dance
  of destruction called the ‘Tandava’.

  ARCHITECTURE

  King Nara Narayana of Cooch Behar rebuilt the
  temple in 1665 after it had suffered destruction at the hands of foreign
  invaders. The temple consists of seven oval spires, each topped by three golden
  pitchers, and the entrance spirals down to a curvy path of some distance, which
  specially links the main road to the temple. Some of the sculptured panels of
  the temple carry depictions of Gods and Goddesses of Hindu pantheon carved in a
  delightful pattern. Tortoises, monkeys, and large number of pigeons have made
  the temple their home, and loiter around the premise, being fed by the temple
  authorities and the visitors. The cryptic, as well as the peaceful ambience of
  the temple combine together to soothe the nerves of visitors, and take their
  minds to flights of inner salvation, and this is the very reason that people
  come here for. Images of gods and goddesses of Hindu religion are carved on the
  walls. The image of the Goddess along with other deities is kept on a throne.

  The current temple structure was constructed in1565 by Chilarai of the Koch
  dynasty in the style of medieval temples. The form of the earlier structure,
  destroyed by the Kala Pahar, is unknown. The temple consists of three major
  chambers. The western chamber is large and rectangular and is not used by the
  general pilgrims for worship. The middle chamber is a square, with a small idol
  of the Goddess, a later addition. The walls of this chamber contain sculpted
  images of Naranarayana, related inscriptions and other gods. The middle chamber
  leads to the Sanctum sanctorum of the temple in the form of a cave, which
  consists of no image but a natural underground spring. The spring emanates from
  a fissure in a large rock that symbolizes a Yoni. In summertime the water runs
  red with iron oxide resembling menstrual fluid, an occasion for the Ambubasi
  festival. Though the temple is aligned facing east like most Hindu temples, the
  worship of the yoni is performed facing north.

  The Kamakhya Temple has a beehive like shikhara. Some of the sculptured section
  seen here are of interest. There are images of Ganesha, Chamundeswari, dancing
  features etc. The temple is a natural cave with a spring. Down a flight of
  steps to the bowel of earth, is located a dark, mysterious chamber. Here,
  draped with a silk sari and covered with flowers, is kept the “matra
  yoni”. There is no image of Shakti here. Within a corner of a cave in the
  temple, there is a sculptured image of the Yoni of the Goddess, which is the
  object of reverence. A natural spring keeps the stone moist. Other temples on
  the Neelachala hill include those of Tara, Bhairavi, Bhuvaneswari and
  Ghantakarna With all its enigmatic splendor and picturesque locale, the
  Kamakhya Temple is one of the most astounding structures, not only in Assam,
  but also in the whole of India.

  Durga Puja is celebrated here annually during Navaratri in the month of
  September- October. It is a three-day festival attracting several visitors. A
  unique festival observed here is the Ambuvaci (Ameti) fertility festival
  wherein it is believed that the Goddess (mother Earth) undergoes her menstrual
  period.

  ST.THOMAS BASILICA-CHENNAI

  INTRODUCTION

  San Thome Basilica is a Roman
  Catholic (Latin
  Rite) minor basilica in Santhome, in
  the city ofChennai (Madras), India. It
  was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, over the supposed tomb of St
  Thomas, an apostle of Jesus. In 1893, it was rebuilt as a church with the
  status of a cathedral by the British. The
  British version still stands today. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style, favoured by British architects in the late 19th century.

  HISTORY

  St Thomas built a church at
  San Thome. After his martyrdom, his body was buried in the Church built by him.
  A pot containing earth, moistened by his blood and the lance with which he was
  pierced were both buried in his tomb. The foundation for a new Church was laid
  on 2nd july 1523. The Church was rebuilt and erected as a Parish. Father
  Penteado from Portugal was the first Parish Priest. In 1893 His Excellency, Dom
  Henry Joseph Reed Da Silva, Bishop of Mylapore demolished the old Cathedral and
  laid the foundation for the new Basilica, to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Day
  of the Episcopal Consecration of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII. In this church the
  second tower, asmaller one, points to the exact place where the Apostle was
  buried. The new Basilica was constructed and consecrated on 1st April 1896 AD.
  The tip of the cross on the spire is 155 feet from the ground level. In this
  Church, the statue of our Lady of Mylapore is enthroned, before which St
  Francis Xavier prayed intensely for several days while he stayed in mylapore.

  The Bishop of Dacca
  consecrated a new bell on 9th may 1896, His Excellency, Dom A S Valente,
  Patriarch of the East Indies consecrated the main altar of the Cathedral. The
  Bishop of Mylapore consecrated the altar of Saints Peter and Paul on 29th
  June 1896 AD. Asun-dial from the old Cathedral is placed on the rear side
  of the Sacristy. This Cathedral Basilica is a matter of pride to the nation and
  to all of us, because it is built over the tomp of St Thomas. There are three
  Basilicas, all over the world, that are built over the tomb of the apostles.
  The first one is St peter’s Basilica in Rome, the second one on the tomb of St
  james, and the third one is the tomb chapel of St Thomas in San Thome Cathedral
  Basilica in chennai. The Cathedral Basilica was restored and consecrated on
  12th December 2004 by the Apostolic Nuncio His Excellency Archbishop Pedro
  Lopez Quintana and Cardinal Ivan Dias of Mumbai. On 8th September 2005 the
  present Archbishop of Madras Mylapore His Grace, Most Rev Dr A M Chinnappa SDB
  DD Ph D issued a decree officially elevating this Cathedral parish as a Shrine
  of the Archdioces

  Reply
• Sri Lakshmi says:

  January 14, 2015 at 9:40 AM

  BUDDHIST CAVES –AJANTA

  INTRODUCTION

  Time stands still at Ajanta caves, the most mesmerizing
  cave temples of India. The renowned caves stand witness to a glorious history that has
  been etched in time forever. Mystical figures carved on the rock face narrate
  the legends of forgotten times for generations to come. That is the essence of
  the Ajanta-Ellora caves.

  Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is also a
  protected monument under the Archeological Survey of India. The caves hide
  within its hold, paintings and sculptures which are considered masterpieces
  around the globe. The Ajanta caves are a string of 30 caves, which were built
  in two phases between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD.

  HISTORY

  Like the other ancient Buddhist
  monasteries, Ajanta had a large emphasis on teaching, and was divided into
  several different caves for living, education and worship, under a central
  direction. Monks were probably assigned to specific caves for living. The
  layout reflects this organizational structure, with most of the caves only
  connected through the exterior. The 7th-century travelling Chinese scholar Xuanzang informs us that Dignaga, a celebrated Buddhist philosopher and
  controversialist, author of well-known books on logic, lived at Ajanta in the
  5th century. In its prime the settlement would have accommodated several
  hundred teachers and pupils. Many monks who had finished their first training
  may have returned to Ajanta during the monsoon season from an itinerant lifestyle.

  The caves are generally agreed
  to have been made in two distinct periods, separated by several centuries.

  ARCHITECTURE

  The monasteries mostly consist of vihara halls for
  prayer and living, which are typically rectangular with small square dormitory
  cells cut into the walls, and by the second period a shrine or sanctuary at the
  rear centred on a large statue of the Buddha, also carved from the living rock.
  This change reflects the movement from Hinayana to Mahāyāna Buddhism. The other
  type of main hall is the narrower and higher chaitya hall with a stupa as the
  focus at the far end, and a narrow aisle around the walls, behind a range of
  pillars placed close together. Other plainer rooms were for sleeping and other
  activities. Some of the caves have elaborate carved entrances, some with large
  windows over the door to admit light. There is often a colonnaded porch or verandah, with another space inside the doors running
  the width of the cave.

  The central square space of the interior of the viharas is defined
  by square columns forming a more or less square open area. Outside this are
  long rectangular aisles on each side, forming a kind of cloister. Along the side and rear walls are a number
  of small cells entered by a narrow doorway; these are roughly square, and have
  small niches on their back walls. Originally they had wooden doors.[48] The centre of the rear wall has a larger
  shrine-room behind, containing a large Buddha statue. The viharas of the
  earlier period are much simpler, and lack shrines.[49] Spink in fact places the change to a design
  with a shrine to the middle of the second period, with many caves being adapted
  to add a shrine in mid-excavation, or after the original phase.[50]

  IRON PILLAR-MEHRAULI

  INTRODUCTION

  The Iron Pillar located in Delhi,
  India, is a 7 m (23 ft) column in the Qutb
  complex, notable for the rust-resistant composition of the metals used
  in its construction.

  The
  pillar has attracted the attention of archaeologists and materials
  scientists and has
  been called “a testament to the skill of ancient Indian blacksmiths”
  because of its high resistance to corrosion.[1] The corrosion resistance results from an
  even layer of crystalline iron hydrogen phosphate forming on the highphosphorus content iron, which serves to protect it
  from the effects of the local Delhi climate.[2]

  HISTORY

  Mehrauli, Which was earlier
  known as Mihirawali which means Home of Mihir, was founded by the King Mihir Bhoja
  of the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty. Mehrauli is one of the seven ancient cities.
  The pillar, with an idol of Garuda at the top, was originally located at a
  place called Vishnupadagiri (meaning
  “Vishnu-footprint-hill”). Vishnupadagiri is located at the tropic of cancer
  from where one can observe the sun rising in the east and setting in the west
  on spring and autumn equinox days. It was a centre of astronomical studies
  during the Gupta period. However in 1234 King Iltutmish (1210-36 AD) the third
  sultan of Delhi’s slave dynasty captured Udaygiri and transported the pillar to
  Delhi as part of his victory .

  The iron pillar of Delhi, India is a 7 meter (22 feet) high pillar in
  the Qutb complex which is notable for the composition of the metals used in its
  construction.

  In pillar there is a Sanskrit inscription in Brahmi script which states
  that it was erected as a standard in honour of Lord
  Vishnu. It also praises the qualities of a king referred to simply as Chandra,
  who has been identified with the Gupta King Chandragupta II Vikramaditya
  (375-413). The inscription reads (in the translation given in the tablets
  erected by Pandit Banke Rai in 1903):

  It has attracted the attention of many archaeologists and metallurgists
  as it has withstood corrosion for the last 1600 years, despite harsh weather.
  Its unusually good corrosion resistance appears to be due to a high phosphorus
  content, which together promotes the formation of a solid protective
  passivation layer of iron oxides and phosphates, rather than the
  non-protective, cracked rust layer that develops on most ironwork.

  ARCHITECTURE

  GOL GUMBAZ-BIJAPUR

  INTRODUCTION

  Gol Gumbaz or Gol Gumbadh, from Persian گل
  گنبذ Gol Gombadh meaning “round
  dome”,[1] is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur. The tomb,
  located in Bijapur, Karnataka in India, was completed in 1656 by the architect Yaqut of Dabul. Although
  “impressively simple in design”, it is the “structural triumph
  of Deccan architecture”.[2]

  HISTORY

  Gol Gumbaz is
  the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah which was constructed in the 17th century by the
  seventh ruler of Adilshahi dynasty. Gol
  Gumbaz is situated at Bijapur in Karnataka. The place is
  530 kilometers away from Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka.

  Gol Gumbaz is a
  fine piece of Islamic architectural style. The Gol
  Gumbaz has a floor area of
  1700 square meter, a height of 51 meter and diameter of 37 meters with 3 meter
  thick walls. The construction of this large tomb took around 20 years to
  complete.

  Another significant feature of the Gol
  Gumbaz is its central dome which stands
  without the support of pillars. Also the central dome of Gol
  Gumbaz is the second largest dome in the world after the
  dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

  Gol Gumbaz has another amazing
  feature. Any sound at this place echoes for over eleven times. Moreover you can
  even hear the tick of a watch across a distance of 37 meter in the vast dome.
  You can enjoy the picturesque landscape of the region near Gol
  Gumbaz from its terrace which can be
  reached through the steps across the narrow passages.

  Apart from the burial chambers of Mohammed
  Adil Shah, his two wives, his mistress Ramba, his daughter and grandson, the
  complex of Gol
  Gumbaz also houses a mosque, a Naqqar Khana, a gateway and
  a dharamshala. The building in front of the Gol
  Gumbaz has been turned into a museum that contains all the
  history about the royal past related to Adilshah dynasty who constructed Gol
  Gumbaz.

  ARCHITECTURE

  The structure is composed of a cube,
  47.5 metres (156 ft) on each side, capped by a dome 44 m (144 ft) in external diameter. “Eight intersecting
  arches created by two rotated squares that create interlocking pendentives” support the dome. At each of the four corners of the cube, is a
  dome-capped octagonal tower seven stories high with a staircase inside.[2] The upper floor of each opens on to a round gallery which surrounds the
  dome. Inside the mausoleum hall, is a square podium with steps on each side. In
  the middle of the podium, a cenotaph slab on the ground marks the actual grave below, “the only instance
  of this practice” in the architecture of the Adil Shahi Dynasty. In the middle of the north side, “a large
  semi-octagonal bay” protrudes out.[2] With an area of 1,700 m2 (18,000 sq ft),[3] the mausoleum has one of the biggest single chamber spaces in the world.

  Running around the inside of the dome
  is the “Whispering Gallery” where even the softest sound can be heard
  on the other side of the mausoleum due to the acoustics of the space.

  KAMAKHYA TEMPLE-GUWAHATI

  INTRODUCTION

  The Kamakhya Temple (Assamese: কামাখ্যা মন্দিৰ) is a Hindu
  temple dedicated
  to the mother
  goddess Kamakhya, one
  of the oldest of the 51 Shakti
  Pitha.s,[2] Situated on the Nilachal Hill in western
  part of Guwahati city in Assam, India it is the main temple in a complex of
  individual temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas: Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi,Chinnamasta, Tripura
  Sundari, Tara, Kali, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Matangi and Kamala.[3]Among
  these, Tripurasundari, Matangi and Kamala reside inside the main temple whereas
  the other seven reside in individual temples.[4] It is an important pilgrimage destination
  for general Hindu and especially for Tantric worshipers.

  HISTORY

  The temple is situated a few kilometers away
  from the Guwahati Railway Station, and is open for visitors throughout the
  year. The exact date of the original temple is not known. It is believed that,
  the temple is an ancient temple. The Temple was rebuilt in 1665, after being
  destroyed by Muslim invaders. It was probably an ancient Khasi sacrificial
  site, sacrifices are still very much part of worship here. Group of devotees
  arrive each morning with goats to offer to Shakti. Although little is known
  about the early history of the temple, the first reference to the place has
  been traced back to the Allahabad inscriptions of Emperor Samudragupta.

  There is a legend attached to the history of the temple, which goes way back to
  the mythological age. According to the legend, Sati the wife of Lord Shiva (one
  of the holy Trinities in Hindu mythology) took her life at a ‘Yagna’ ceremony
  that had been organized by her father Daksha, because she could not bear the
  insults hurled at her husband by her father. On hearing the news of his wife’s
  death, Shiva, the destroyer of all that was evil flew into a rage and punished
  Daksha by replacing his head with that of a goat. Torn between misery and blind
  fury, Shiva picked up the corpse of his beloved wife Sati and performed a dance
  of destruction called the ‘Tandava’.

  ARCHITECTURE

  King Nara Narayana of Cooch Behar rebuilt the
  temple in 1665 after it had suffered destruction at the hands of foreign
  invaders. The temple consists of seven oval spires, each topped by three golden
  pitchers, and the entrance spirals down to a curvy path of some distance, which
  specially links the main road to the temple. Some of the sculptured panels of
  the temple carry depictions of Gods and Goddesses of Hindu pantheon carved in a
  delightful pattern. Tortoises, monkeys, and large number of pigeons have made
  the temple their home, and loiter around the premise, being fed by the temple
  authorities and the visitors. The cryptic, as well as the peaceful ambience of
  the temple combine together to soothe the nerves of visitors, and take their
  minds to flights of inner salvation, and this is the very reason that people
  come here for. Images of gods and goddesses of Hindu religion are carved on the
  walls. The image of the Goddess along with other deities is kept on a throne.

  The current temple structure was constructed in1565 by Chilarai of the Koch
  dynasty in the style of medieval temples. The form of the earlier structure,
  destroyed by the Kala Pahar, is unknown. The temple consists of three major
  chambers. The western chamber is large and rectangular and is not used by the
  general pilgrims for worship. The middle chamber is a square, with a small idol
  of the Goddess, a later addition. The walls of this chamber contain sculpted
  images of Naranarayana, related inscriptions and other gods. The middle chamber
  leads to the Sanctum sanctorum of the temple in the form of a cave, which
  consists of no image but a natural underground spring. The spring emanates from
  a fissure in a large rock that symbolizes a Yoni. In summertime the water runs
  red with iron oxide resembling menstrual fluid, an occasion for the Ambubasi
  festival. Though the temple is aligned facing east like most Hindu temples, the
  worship of the yoni is performed facing north.

  The Kamakhya Temple has a beehive like shikhara. Some of the sculptured section
  seen here are of interest. There are images of Ganesha, Chamundeswari, dancing
  features etc. The temple is a natural cave with a spring. Down a flight of
  steps to the bowel of earth, is located a dark, mysterious chamber. Here,
  draped with a silk sari and covered with flowers, is kept the “matra
  yoni”. There is no image of Shakti here. Within a corner of a cave in the
  temple, there is a sculptured image of the Yoni of the Goddess, which is the
  object of reverence. A natural spring keeps the stone moist. Other temples on
  the Neelachala hill include those of Tara, Bhairavi, Bhuvaneswari and
  Ghantakarna With all its enigmatic splendor and picturesque locale, the
  Kamakhya Temple is one of the most astounding structures, not only in Assam,
  but also in the whole of India.

  Durga Puja is celebrated here annually during Navaratri in the month of
  September- October. It is a three-day festival attracting several visitors. A
  unique festival observed here is the Ambuvaci (Ameti) fertility festival
  wherein it is believed that the Goddess (mother Earth) undergoes her menstrual
  period.

  ST.THOMAS BASILICA-CHENNAI

  INTRODUCTION

  San Thome Basilica is a Roman
  Catholic (Latin
  Rite) minor basilica in Santhome, in
  the city ofChennai (Madras), India. It
  was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, over the supposed tomb of St
  Thomas, an apostle of Jesus. In 1893, it was rebuilt as a church with the
  status of a cathedral by the British. The
  British version still stands today. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style, favoured by British architects in the late 19th century.

  HISTORY

  St Thomas built a church at
  San Thome. After his martyrdom, his body was buried in the Church built by him.
  A pot containing earth, moistened by his blood and the lance with which he was
  pierced were both buried in his tomb. The foundation for a new Church was laid
  on 2nd july 1523. The Church was rebuilt and erected as a Parish. Father
  Penteado from Portugal was the first Parish Priest. In 1893 His Excellency, Dom
  Henry Joseph Reed Da Silva, Bishop of Mylapore demolished the old Cathedral and
  laid the foundation for the new Basilica, to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Day
  of the Episcopal Consecration of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII. In this church the
  second tower, asmaller one, points to the exact place where the Apostle was
  buried. The new Basilica was constructed and consecrated on 1st April 1896 AD.
  The tip of the cross on the spire is 155 feet from the ground level. In this
  Church, the statue of our Lady of Mylapore is enthroned, before which St
  Francis Xavier prayed intensely for several days while he stayed in mylapore.

  The Bishop of Dacca
  consecrated a new bell on 9th may 1896, His Excellency, Dom A S Valente,
  Patriarch of the East Indies consecrated the main altar of the Cathedral. The
  Bishop of Mylapore consecrated the altar of Saints Peter and Paul on 29th
  June 1896 AD. Asun-dial from the old Cathedral is placed on the rear side
  of the Sacristy. This Cathedral Basilica is a matter of pride to the nation and
  to all of us, because it is built over the tomp of St Thomas. There are three
  Basilicas, all over the world, that are built over the tomb of the apostles.
  The first one is St peter’s Basilica in Rome, the second one on the tomb of St
  james, and the third one is the tomb chapel of St Thomas in San Thome Cathedral
  Basilica in chennai. The Cathedral Basilica was restored and consecrated on
  12th December 2004 by the Apostolic Nuncio His Excellency Archbishop Pedro
  Lopez Quintana and Cardinal Ivan Dias of Mumbai. On 8th September 2005 the
  present Archbishop of Madras Mylapore His Grace, Most Rev Dr A M Chinnappa SDB
  DD Ph D issued a decree officially elevating this Cathedral parish as a Shrine
  of the Archdioces

  Reply
• muntadev2in says:

  January 18, 2015 at 1:36 PM

  very interesting thanks for great information which helped my 8th class kid

  Reply
• ghouse basha says:

  July 5, 2015 at 2:48 PM

  Thanks for sharing great info.You can also add other historical monuments like charminar of hyderabad,qutub minar etc and make it more informative.

  Reply
  • Kailash Kumbhkar says:

    July 14, 2015 at 9:14 AM

    Thanks will add.

    Reply
• Joy Travels says:

  July 25, 2015 at 5:56 AM

  hanks for your kind information about the understand this facet of the city.

  Reply
• onkar says:

  December 8, 2015 at 12:32 PM

  hi

  Reply
• onkar says:

  December 8, 2015 at 12:33 PM

  thanx wti (walk through india)

  Reply
  • admin says:

    January 11, 2016 at 3:06 AM

    Thank you Onkar.

    Reply
• Victor William says:

  January 27, 2017 at 8:51 PM

  thanks for sharing this post with us

  Reply
• famous monuments says:

  September 11, 2017 at 5:42 AM

  Thank you for information about famous monuments in India.

  Reply
• Amit says:

  October 28, 2017 at 8:33 PM

  Very nice and interesting article, keep it up…

  Reply
• Senkay Global Tours says:

  December 4, 2017 at 12:11 PM

  Best places to go in India, thank for sharing this information

  Reply