Qutb Minar

Monuments In India - Qutb Minar

The oldest monument in Delhi built by Qutb-ub-din Aibak in 1196 AD. It was a six-storeyed tower with a beautiful dome at the top. There are 379 steps to reach the top. The Minar was at a height of 91 metres when built but, now it is only 73.5 metres due to the damage caused by lightning. It was a victory monument to the Islam dynasty. The Minar was made up of sandstone except the top floor which is in white marble. The diameter of 14.3 metres at the base decreases towards the top to reach 2.7 metres. Beautiful inscriptions of verses from the Quran can be seen at the interious of the minar. The brilliance of western sculpture attracts a number of tourists to Qutb Minar.

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Rameswaram

Monuments In India - Rameswaram

The small island south-east of Tamil Nadu is a pilgrimage centre. Legends say, it was from Rameswaram, Sree Rama set out to Srilanka to rescue of wife Sita from Ravana. The famous Ramnathswami temple was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 17th century. The entrance door of the nine storeyed Gopuram goes up to height of 38 metres. The most spectacular feature of this temple is the huge corridor, 1200 metres high. The Dravidian style of architecture and 1200 pillars carved out of black granite add to the beauty of the temple. The southern cape point of Rameswarm temple is Dhanushkodi. The Kothandarama temple is very famous. Bathing at Dhanushkodi is considered an auspicious act.

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Napier Museum

Monuments In India - Napier Museum

The Napier Museum built in the 19th century is situated near the zoo in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala. The architecture is a compination of Taditional Kerala style with Chinese and Mughal influence. The English architect Chisholm made the final touches of this spectacular structure. The sight of both exterior and interior is very fascinating. Stripes of different colours in alternate manner give the exterior of gorgeous appearance. The scalloped arches in yellow colour and the beautifully carved balconies with friezes and lattice work shows the beauty of architecture. A vast collection of ancient sculptures, ornaments and coins is exhibited here.

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Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

Monuments In India - Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

The Kamrup or Manas Wildlife sanctuary is located at the foot of the Himalayas in Kamrup distrit on the banks of river Manas in western Assam. The dense, evergreen and wet-deciduous forest region most suitable for wildlife was established in 1928. Having an area of 391 sq.km. it accommodates a variety of wildlife such as Indian elephant, rhinoceros, tiger golden langur, pigmy hogs, black bear, bison and deer. By noticing the damages to and decrease in the population of some animals, the Indian and Assam state governments jointly implemented a plan of rehabilitation, and now it is going on successfully. The park authorities and local villagers offen helping hand to the progress of the work.

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Maharaja's Palace

Monuments In India - Maharaja's Palace

Mysore is a place of several historic buildings. The Maharaja's palace is in the heart of Mysore city in an outstanding arhitectural wonder. It was designed by Henry Irwin in Indo Saracenic style and built in 1897. The beautifully decorated golden throne is the main attraction of the palace. Wall painting, coloured glass works and splendid works in ivory add to the beauty of the palace. The walls are ornamented with paintings illustrating the festivals of Mysore. The fully illuminated palace during festivals is a marvellous sight.

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Mahabodhi Temple Complex

Monuments In India - Mahabodhi Temple Complex


The Mahabodhi Temple complex is at Bodh Gaya, Bihar.It was here that Sri. Buddha meditated, sitting on a slab-like stone under a banyan tree and attained enlightenment. This banyan tree was later known as Bodhi. The slab like stone named as Vajrasana was believed as the seat of knowledge. In the 2nd century Emperor Ashoka who was a devotee of Buddha built a shrine on the premises and later this was rebuilt as Mahabodhi Temple. The huge tower of the temple stands at a height of 180 metres from the ground. There are many stupas surrounding the temple. The presiding deity is Sri Buddha in the yogic posture. There is a lotus pond beside the temple. A statue of Sri Buddha is erected in the middle of this beautiful pond. The Mahabodhi Temple is a famous pilgrimage centre.

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Mahabalipuram

Monuments In India - Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram was an important port in the Coromandel coast developed by the Pallava kings during the 7th century AD. It was during the reign of King Narasimhavarman, the greatest Pallava ruler, most of the temples were built. Narasimhavarman was fondly called as Mamalla (little wrestler) and the place was named after him, Mamallapuram. The Rathas and Mandapas were cut out from granite rock. The mandapas of Mahabalipuram resembles the rock-cut caves of Ajantha and Ellora. The Shore temple built later was of smoothened and shaped stones. The influence of some foreign sculpture can be seen in the construction of the temples in Mahabalipuram. Now-a-days it is a land of sculpture located in Chengalpet, Tamilnadu. The government has established a college of sculpture at Mahabalipuram to encourage local stone-cutters and to develop the art and sculpture.

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Khajuraho Temples

Monuments In India - Khajuraho Temples

Khajuraho, once a village of eighty five temples now exists with a few in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh. The temples were built by chandela Kings between 950 AD and 1050 AD. The earliest temples were built in coarse granite and the later ones in sandstone from Panna. The temples are of different religions, Jain, Shaiva and Vaishnava. Medieval Indian architecture was followed in the construction of Khajuraho Temples. The entrance of all the temples are facing east. Both the interior and exterior are examples of excellent carving. The sculptures are of Gods and Goddesses, apsaras, salabhanjikas and surasundaris. Today Khajuraho is a tourist centre and an archeological site.

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Jewish Synagogue

Monuments In India - Jewish Synagogue

The word synagogue was used to denote the congregation of the Jews of worshipping. Later the Jewish prayer hall was called synagogue. The synagogue at Fort Kochi, Kerala was built in 1568. When the state of Israel was established, the Jews who had settled in Kochi and other parts of Kerala left the place to immigrate at Israel. There were only about 17 Jews who remained, and the number of adult males does not fill the required number for a priest. So, now there is no priest in the Synagogue at Kochi. Surrounding the Syangogue is the town of the Jews. Even today the synagogue is prserved well without losing its splendour.

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Jantar Mantar

Monuments In India - Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh is the unique observatory built by Rajput King Sawai Jai Sing 1 in 1724. It consists of a massive sundial and other instruments for observing the movement of planets and other celestial bodies. The construction seems unusual but the structures and scientifically devised instruments most suitable for the observation of sky in the absence of telescopes.There is a strange collection of huge masonry instruments like Samrat Yantra, Misra Yantra, Ram Yantra and Jai Prakash Yantra. In 1948 jawaharlal Nehru declared Jantar Mantar a National Monument.

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Humayun's Tomb

Monuments In India - Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's tomb was built by his senior widow Hamida Beegum in 1560 in fond remembrance of her husband. The entrance is a big double-storeyed gate way. A beautiful garden in charbagh style surrounds the tomb. Inside the tomb there is a huge octagonal hall surrounded by octagonal chambers. The main sarcophagus is placed in the central hall in north-south direction. On the roof of the tomb is double dome of marble 42.5 metre high. There is a crescent on the top of the dome. It is made up of black and white marbles and red sandstone. There are many small monuments in the premises of Humayun's tomb. Of these, a square tomb with a double-dome called Nai Ka Gumbad or the Barber's tomb, built for emperor's favourite barber is an outstanding structure. Humayun's tomb reminds us the fall of the Mughal dynasty.

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Hawa Mahal

Monuments In India - Hawa Mahal

The Hawa Mahal is at Jaipur, the Red city, the capital of Rajasthan. Hawa Mahal means the Palace of the Wind. The magnificent architectural structure was designed by Lal Chand Usta and built by King Savay Prathap Singh in 1799. It is a pink coloured five-storeyed building. The Hawa Mahal was meant for the ladies of the Royal family to watch festivals, processions and celebrations without being noticed by others. There are hundreds of casements and balconies in each storey. Today this beautiful castle is developed as an observatory.

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Haridwar

Monuments In India - Haridwar

Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh is one of the famous pilgrimage centres of India. It lies in the valley of Shivalik Mountain ranges, on the banks of the Holy Ganges. Haridwar is a place of temples. Jhandidevi temple built in 1929 is located on the Nilagiris 3km. from Jhndighat. It is believed that the idol of Jhandidevi was placed by Adi Sankaracharya. Daksha Mahadeva Temple is another one at Kankhal 4 km. from Haridwar. Manasadevi Temple on the Bilva mountains is accessible through the mountain path. There is also a rope way connecting Jhandidevi temple and this temple. The art and sculpture of these temples are very beautiful. Many Snanghats are there in Haridwar. Thousands of lighted lamps decorated with flowers floating in the Holy Ganges is a marvellous sight. Haridwar is an education centre for science, arts and culture. It is also a well known place for ayurvedic treatment.

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Gwalior Fort

Monuments In India - Gwalior Fort

In the fifteenth century Raja Mansing built the Gwalior Fort at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. It was constructed in sandstone on a 3 km. long basalt hill, lies at a height of more than 90 metres from the plains. There are more than six gates to enter the fort. The fort consists of eight reservoirs, several palaces, temples, a mosque and other buildings. The atrium of the great Sas-Bahu temple, The Gujari Mahal and the Hathi Pole are some of the outstanding structures and excellent examples of Hindu architecture. During the first war of independence Tantia Topi was defeated by the Britsh near this fort. Huge rock-cut Jaina statues of 15th century can be seen below the walls of the Fort.

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Gomateswara

Monuments In India - Gomateswara

The famous Jain pilgrimage centre is located on the top of Vindhyagiri hills 3000 ft. above sea level at Sravanabelagola 93 km. away from Mysore, Karnataka. The gigantic monolith statue of Gomateswara was built in the 9th century in memory of the first Jain Theerthankara's son Prince Bahubali. It was carved out of a single block of granite 50 metres. Creepers growing spirally on the legs and arms denote the state of meditation. Access to the Gomateswara temple is through a flight of 500 steps. At some places on the way, there are small shrines beautifully carved out. Every 12th year the Masthakabhisheka festival is celebrated by bathing the statue of Gomateswara in milk, ghee, curd and saffron. Gomateswara is one of the biggest standing statues in the world.

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Golconda Fort

Monuments In India - Golconda Fort

Golconda fort was the capital city of Qutb Shahi Kingdom, 8km. west of Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh. In 1687 this city was conquered by Aurangazeb and annexed to the mughal Empire. The Golconda fort is 5 km. in circumference. During the reign of Qutb Shahi kings this fort was rebuilt with granite and iron. Tombs of Qutb Shahi rulers, palaces and mosques still remain intact. The ventilators in the walls are designed so as to let continuous availability of fresh air. There is a secret underground path from the fort to one of the palaces in the hill slopes. Golconda fort was a famous trade centre for diamonds derived from rocks of the surrounding hills.

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Golden Temple

Monuments In India - Golden Temple

Amritsar was founded by Ram Das the fourth Guru of the Sikhs in 1577 and the name is derived from a lake known as Amrit Sarovar (Pool of nectar). The Golden Temple or Hari Mandir is at Amritsar, the largest city in Punjab, The temple was built in an island in Amrit Sarovar. Surrounded by water, the temple is viewed as if floating on water, It was Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs who planned the structure and took initiative to construct this beautiful temple. The Muslim divine, Mian Mir of Lahore laid the foundation stone in 1588 AD. The construction was made by the craftsmen from Patti Kasur and Kalanur. The temple complex is surrounded by white marble walls. The architectural magnificence with a huge dome and small minarets present a unique appearence to the Golden Temple. It is one of the well known pilgrimage centres of India.

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Gol Gumbaz

Monuments In India - Gol Gumbaz

The Gol Gumbaz is at Bijapur, Karnataka, It is the mausoleum of Mohammad Adib Shah, the King of Bijapur. The tomb of his wife and daughter are also placed here. This beautiful square-shaped structure, crowned by a huge dome is constructed in Islamic architectural style and its height ends upto 60 metres. The wall of the dome is 10 ft. thick and 125 ft. in diameter. This magnificent dome is the secod largest one in the world. There are seven-storeyed towers of octagonal shape each on all four sides of the building. In the interior lies the famous whispering Gallery. The construction of this well known monument was completed in 1659.

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Gateway of India

Monuments In India - Gateway of India

This great landmark is at Mumbai Port, Maharashtra. This archway was built to honour King George V and Queen Mary on their visit to India in 1911. Indo-Saracenic style of architecture was used to construct this magnificent structure and it was completed in 1924. Built in yellowish-brown coloured basalt, it also shows the excellence of 16th century Gujarat architecture. On both sides of the arch are extremely large halls where more than 600 people can be accomodated. When India got freedom in 1947, the last batch of British soldiers marched out through the Gate way of India. Today, it is used as an embarking point for boats. Statues of swami Vivekananda and shivaji have been erected near the Gateway of India.
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Gandhi Memorial

Monuments In India - Gandhi Memorial

The Gandhi Memorial is the Raj Ghat in Delhi on the banks of river Yamuna. The spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948 was marked by a simple square platform of black marble. His last words 'He Ram' are inscribed on the platform which lies at the centre of a serene garden. Prayers are conducted on each Friday, the day he was killed. Adjacent to the cremation ground is Gandhi Memorial Museum. Gandhiji's belongings such as a pair of spectacles, wooden sandals, spinning wheel etc. are the valuable possessions kept here. Historic photographs, paintings and a vast collection of books-all in connection with gandhiji are also exhibited here.
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