India is known for its rich culture, beauty and architecture. From Kashmir to Kanyakuvari, India has natural beauty as well as creativity and a proud history. So let’s know about those places of India.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is one of the most iconic buildings in India. The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum which is known as a symbol of love. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his late wife. It was constructed between 1631 and 1648 and today stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Taj Mahal attracts 7-8 million visitors annually. In 2007, it was declared the winner of the new 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.
Hawa Mahal
The pride of Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal which is made of pink sandstone. Translated into English, Hawa Mahal means “Palace of the Winds” and is named because of the 953 jharokas (small windows) installed on the building. There are about 953 windows in Hawa Mahal. The reason behind making so many windows is that this palace never experiences heat and always keeps clean air.
Lotus Temple
By looking at it, it is known that it was named after the Lotus Temple. New Delhi has three layers of “petals” made of concrete that are arranged to form the nine sides of the temple. It is used as a place of worship for Bahá’í followers. The construction of the Lotus Temple was completed in 1986. This temple is known for its flower-like shape and this temple treats all religions equally without any distinction of any religion.
Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, popularly known as the Golden Temple in English, is a place of worship for the Sikhs. Originally built in 1604, the temple has since been destroyed several times by Afghan invaders. The temple was completely destroyed by Afghan raiders in the 19th century. After this Maharaja Ranjit Singh rebuilt it and decorated it with gold lining. That is why it is called the Golden Temple.
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Meenakshi Amman Temple is a Dravidian edifice with significant religious meaning for Hindus. The Meenakshi Amman Temple of Madurai is one of the most magnificent temples in Tamil Nadu. This temple with twelve big gopurams is spread over an area of fourteen acres. Its spacious, painted pillared corridors were adorned with cages full of parrots. These parrots used to chant the name of the presiding goddess throughout the day. It is believed that Lord Shiva married Parvati at the place where the temple is currently located. It is also the place where the Thirukalyanam Festival is held every April.
Nalanda Ruins
Nalanda Ruins One of the most awe-inspiring monuments in India, Nalanda University was the only international university in the world during its time during the 5th century. It is said that Buddhist students from Greece, China, Persia and others would gather here to learn about the religious teachings. The reason for this complex being in ruins is because of the many attacks by Huns, Gaudas and Turks. It is also said that the once grand library kept burning for three months.
Statue of Gomateshwar
The statue of Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola honors a Jain saint. It is 60 feet tall and is actually the tallest monolithic statue in the world. It was built between 978 and 993 CE, where travelers get to see inscriptions written in Kannada and Tamil languages. In these writings the efforts made by the king and his general to make the idol have been praised.
