25 Cultural World Heritage Sites and Monuments in India by UNESCO
There are 42 World Heritage Sites in India recognized by UNESCO,Of these 42 heritage sites, 35 are cultural sites and the 7 are natural sites. The cultural heritage sites of India are known for brilliant architecture, Stone art,Cave paintings and temples with sculpture carved on it.
Apart from the 25 cultural world heritage sites and monuments, a list of tentative sites has been also submitted to UNESCO. The world heritage list contains 46 historical,cultural and natural sites in India, few of them are Ekamra Kshetra, Mughal Gardens, Glorious Kakatiya Temples, Aihole Monuments,Badami cave temples, Nalanda University and Terracotta Temples of Bishnupur.
Red Fort Complex, Delhi
Red Fort is a massive building made of red sandstone and considered as the final flourishing of Mughal architecture in India. The Red Fort Complex houses a number of museums,gardens,tall gates,Chawari Bazar,Chhatta Chowk,Mumtaz Mahal and Diwan- i-Aam.
Taj Mahal -Agra, Uttar Pradesh
The Taj Mahal is the tomb of his wife Mumtaz Mahal and the complex includes a mosque,guest house,gardens and big gates. It is known as the jewel of Muslim art in India and a winner of the New 7 wonders of the World.
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi
Humayun’s Tomb is the most notable structure and the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. The complex Char Bagh garden,Nila Gumbad,Chillah Nizamuddin Aulia and Humayun’s Tomb, One of the most magnificent tombs built in Delhi.
Qutb Minar and Monuments, Delhi
Qutb Minar and its standstone monuments are ancient historical monuments and the tallest brick minarety in the world. The Minar is second tallest minar in India,located in the Mehrauli area of Delhi and surrounded by several other historically monuments.
Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh
The Fort of Agra is situated on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the city and famous as sister monument of the Taj Mahal. Agra Fort is a massive red-sandstone structure and one of the finest Mughal forts in India.
Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
Fatehpur Sikri is a fascinating ghost city situated on the bank of a large natural lake in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh. This abandoned place is one of the most important building and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire.
Konarak Sun Temple, Orissa
Sun Temple of Konark is one of the most stunning monuments,a Hindu temple dedicated to the sun god. The temple is in the list of seven wonders of India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the shape of a gigantic chariot.
Ajanta Caves -Aurangabad, Maharashtra
The Ajanta Caves is greatest historical monument famous for its Buddhist rock-cut cave temples and monasteries. It is the finest surviving examples of Indian art,painting,sculptures and rock-cut cave temples.
Ellora Caves -Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Ellora caves is a protected monument and one of major tourist attraction in Marathwada region of Maharashtra. These caves are an impressive complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples, The Kailasanatha temple or Kailasa temple is one of the largest rock-cut ancient Hindu temple in India.
Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
Elephanta Island Caves are one of three cultural world heritage sites in Maharashtra, located on Elephanta Island in Mumbai. This rock cut architecture caves are home to large group of five Hindu temple and number of sculpted caves.
Jantar Mantar -Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jantar Mantar monument of Jaipur is the world’s largest stone sundial in India,Located near City Palace and Hawa Mahal of Jaipur. The monument is one of the collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments of Rajasthan, was built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh.
Rani ki Vav -Patan, Gujarat
Rani-ki-Vav on the banks of the Saraswati River is one of the intricately constructed ancient step well,situated in Patan town of Gujarat. This magnificent east-facing step well is one of the largest and the most sumptuous structures of its type in India.
Mountain Railways of India
The Mountain Railways of India are also known as Toy Trains that run on narrow–gauge railway lines through the different mountains hill stations of India. Out of 5 mountain railways, three of them are included in the list of World heritage site,Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka–Shimla Railway.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan
The 6 Hill Forts of Rajasthan includes Chittorgarh,Kumbhalgarh,Ranthambore Fort,Jaisalmer Fort,Gagron Fort and Amber Fort are World heritage site based in the Aravalli Range. These masterpieces fort and palaces are wonderful example of Rajputana architecture and also popular because of its rich culture, heritage and Monuments.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus -Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is one of the biggest landmarks and a historic railway station in India. Mumbai CST is the largest train terminus in Mumbai and is one of the busiest railway stations in India.
Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh and a group of Hindu and Jain temples. The temples of Khajuraho are famous for nagara-style architectural and erotic sculptures,the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is the largest temple in Khajuraho.
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh
Bhimbetka rock shelters in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains are series of natural rock shelters,natural cave paintings in the Raisen District. The rock shelters and caves of Bhimbetka are one of the most popular tourist attraction in Madhya Pradesh.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex -Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha and the most sacred site in Buddhism. The Mahabodhi Vihar was declared as World heritage site in 2002,located about 96 km from ancient city of Patna,Bihar.
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the major Buddhist monuments of India and also the oldest stone structure of country. The hemispherical brick structure of Sanchi along with monolithic pillars, palaces and temples are situated 45 km away from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
Churches and Convents of Goa, Old Goa
The churches and convents of Goa are a group of Catholic religious monuments with Portuguese style of art,located in Old Goa. Religious monuments of Goa includes Se Cathedral,Basilica of Bom Jesus,Chapel of Santa Catarina,Church of St. Francis of Assisi and Ruins of the Church of St Augustine.
Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu
The Great Living Chola Temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire in south India, The site includes the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur,Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, these marvelous temples has the best architecture, sculpture and painting and the greatest achievement of the Chola architects.
Group of Monuments at Hampi, Karnataka
The ruin city of Hampi was one of the richest and largest cities in the world and part of the Vijayanagara Empire. Temples of Hampi along with several other monuments are the World Heritage Site and one of the most searched historical place in Karnataka.
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka
The Group of Monuments at Pattadakal is located on the left bank of the Malaprabha River and an important tourist destination in Karnataka. Pattadakal monuments includes Virupaksha Temple,Sangameshvara Temple,Mallikarjuna Temple,Kashi vishwanatha temple and Papanatha temple. Apart from the major temples, several small Shiva shrines are also important monuments here with monolithic stone pillar and statues.
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
The monument complex of Mahabalipuram is a temple town situated along the shores on the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram includes largest open-air rock relief,several Cave Temples,Dharma Raja Rathas,rock paintings, Shore Temple and is known for its architectural.
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is a heritage site in Panchmahal district of Gujarat, The park attractions includes historic and living cultural heritage monuments,mosques, tombs and temples. World Heritage Monuments of Champaner Pavagadh includes eleven different types of buildings around the Pavagadh hill such as Kabutarkhana Pavilion,Jama Masjid,Lakulisa Temple, Kevada Masjid,Helical Stepwell and Sat Kaman.
