Top 20 Must Visit Historical Monuments of India in 2024

India’s rich history have been preserved with outstanding number of cultural monuments and heritage sites.List of most famous Indian monuments are also featured on rear side of the new rupee notes of India.

Rani Ki Vav featured on 100 rupess notes, Sanchi Stupa featured on 200 note, Konark Sun Temple featured on 10 rupess notes, Hampi Monuments featured on rear side of new 50 rupess note and Red Fort featured on 500 notes of India.

Brihadisvara Temple, Tamil Nadu

Brihadisvara Temple of Thanjavur is dedicated to Lord Shiva and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as Great Living Chola Temples along wtih Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple.

The temple is one of the largest South Indian temples, declared as a heritage monument, protected monument and most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.

Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh

Taj Mahal is a marble mausoleum, bordered with monumental structures and parts of the tomb and the minarets, that attracts a large number of tourist in India. The monument is a masterpieces of the India’s heritage and symbol of India’s rich history with UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Mysore Palace, Karnataka

Mysore Palace is second most famous tourist attractions in India, after the Taj Mahal. The historical palace is one of the seven palace and one of the most famous tourist attractions in Mysore.

Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh

Agra Fort is sister sister monument of the world famous Taj Mahal and has been inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage site. The red fort of Agra is also home to list of other historic sites such as Shish Mahal, Jahangir’s Hauz,Shahjahani Mahal and Ghaznin Gate.

Qutab Minar, Delhi

Qutb Minar is another most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site in Delhi and the complex is surrounded by several historically monuments including Iron Pillar, Mosque and and the 73-metre tall bricks minaret.

Red Fort, Delhi

The historic red fort of Delhi is a must see monuments of India and home to most important surviving structures of the country. Tourist structures of red forts are Lahori Gate, Chhatta Chowk, Mumtaz Mahal and Moti Masjid.

Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

Humayun’s Tomb of Delhi was the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site build with red sandstone. The site and complex spread over 13 hectares surrounding the monuments and Charbagh garden.

Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh

Fatehpur Sikri is situated around 39 km from Agra and famous for red stone structures and monuments including Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chishti,Panch Mahal, Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-i-Khas.

Amer Fort, Rajasthan

Amer Fort is located 11 km from Jaipur and known for its artistic style elements with red sandstone and marbles. The fort is popularly known as the Amer Palace and one of the principal tourist attraction in Jaipur along with Sheesh Mahal, third courtyard and Maota Lake.

Konark Sun Temple, Odisha

Sun Temple of Konark is the must see historical monuments of Kalinga architecture in Odisha and a major pilgrimage site for Hindus. The giant ornamented chariot is dedicated to the Hindu sun god Surya and one of the important landmarks in Odisha.

Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh

Sanchi Stupa complex in raisen district of Madhya Pradesh is an important monument of Indian architecture and one of the oldest stone structure of the country with huge ornamental gateways and carved toranas.

Rani Ki Vav, Gujarat

Rani Ki Vav in the town of Patan is a stepwell, display the water storage systems of India and was added to the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The famous stepwell is cleanest iconic place in India and the monument is feature on the rear side of new 100 rupess note with lavender colour,

Hampi Monuments, Karnataka

Hampi was the centre of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire, situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra river and famous for Virupaksha Temple, Narasimha idol and Shiva linga and stone chariot. The Group of Monuments at Hampi was part of the great Hindu kingdom in South India with several temples, pillared halls, mandapas and structures.

Ajanta Ellora Caves, Maharashtra

Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains list of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments. The Kailasha temple of Ellora Caves along with the nearby Ellora Caves are the major tourist attraction in Aurangabad along with Bibi Ka Maqbara, Grishneshwar temple and Daulatabad Fort.

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Khajuraho Group of Monuments are famous for their erotic sculptures of nagara style and one of the must visit heritage sites in India. Kandariya Mahadeva temple is the largest and most ornate Hindu temple in Khajuraho along with Chausath Yogini, Lakshmana temple and Parshvanatha.

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu

Mahabalipuram on the Coromandel Coast of India is home to list of religious monuments and one of the largest open-air rock site in the world. The group of monuments at Mahabalipuram contains Descent of the Ganges, Dharmaraja Ratha, bull sculpture, Varaha cave temple and world famous Two temples Shore Temple.

Champaner Pavagadh, Gujarat

Champaner Pavagadh archaeological park is dotted with heritage sites and list of cultural heritage monuments. The famous monuments of park include Kabutarkhana Pavilion, Jami Masjid, Jain temple and Pavagadh Kalika Mata temple.

Hawa Mahal, Rajasthan

Hawa Mahal is a five story pyramidal shaped monument, constructed with red and pink sandstone. The grand and historical palace of winds is one of the most popular historical monuments of Jaipur and popular tourist spot.

Charminar, Telangana

Charminar is the iconic landmark of Hyderabad and also among the most historical place of India. The monument and mosque is also known for its surrounding markets of pearls, jewelry, perfume and bangles.

Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh

Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh is a small village famous Veerabhadra temple and a must visit temple in India with list of world famous monuments and statue of granite Nandi bull,statue of Nagalingeshwara and Hanging Pillars.

Other most popular historical monuments in India also include Bekal Fort of Kerala, Gol Gumbaz of Bijapur,Hari Parbat Fort, Lepakshi of Andhra Pradesh, Modhera Sun temple, Gateway of India,Aihole Badami Pattadakal, Chota Imambara, Kanchipuram, Bangalore Palace,Mattancherry Palace, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Mahabat Maqbara,Dutch Palace,Bhoramdeo temple, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Victoria Memorial and Hill Forts of Rajasthan.