20 Indian UNESCO World Heritage Sites You Need To Visit

Need to take a trip somewhere? How about a heritage tour? Take a look at 20 UNESCO world heritage sites that you need to visit, at least once in your life.

1. Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan

 
This fort incorporated urban centres, temples and trading centres of the Rajputs, some of which exist even today.

2. Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra

 

Ajanta Caves are one of the most brilliant examples of Indian Art. These caves mainly have scriptures that depict the life of Buddha

 3. Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the greatest architectural accomplishments in the entire range of Indo-Islamic architecture.

4. Kailashnath Temple, Ellora 

These caves depict ancient India, concentrating mainly on three religions: Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism.

5. Red Fort, Agra

This structure was founded by Emperor Akbar in 1565. It is located close to the Shah Jahan Gardens that surround the Taj Mahal.

6. Sun Temple, Konark

The word 'konark' is derived from two words; 'Kona' meaning corner and 'Arka' meaning sun. In fact, sun worship in India began from this very temple.

7. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

The temple is one of the oldest stone cut structures in South India. It was built by the Pallava dynasty.

8. Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa

This church is considered to be one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture, a building style of the Baroque era that began in the late 16th century in Italy.

9. Elephanta Island, Maharashtra

The Elephanta Island is home to Lord Shiva and presents an exemplary example of Hindu cave culture. It depicts numerous temples and images from Hindu mythology.

10. Fatehpur Sikri, Agra

The design and layout of Fatehpur Sikri presents the evolution of Indian town planning, from Akbar's time.

11. Khajuraho Monuments, Madhya Pradesh

 Khajuraho was ruled by the Chandella rulers who came into power in the early 10th century. These monuments are full of artistic scriptures, many of which are open to interpretation.

 

12. Kaziranga National Park, Assam

Kaziranga lies in the heart of Assam and is the best place to experience raw nature in India. It is famous for one-horned rhinoceroses.

13. The Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

The Valley of Flowers, with its outstanding biodiversity and picturesque views of flowers and landscapes, is certainly one of the most beautiful places in India.

14. Minor Stupa Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh

Once upon a time, Sanchi was considered a major Buddhist sanctuary. It was one of the major centres of Buddhism in medieval India.

15. Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi

This tomb was built by Humyan's wife, Biga Begum, 14 years after his death. Later, it was used for the burial of members of the ruling family.

16. Rani-Ki-Vav, Gujarat

Rani-ki-vav (queen's step well) is an inverted temple and consists of seven levels of stairs with unique sculptures surrounding it. It was constructed during the era of the Solanki dynasty.

17. Qutab Minar, New Delhi

The Qutab Minar was essentially a part of Lalkot, one of the first few areas of Delhi. The tower has 379 steps and is surrounded by other ancient structures. The entire complex is known as the Qutab Complex.

18. The City of Hampi, Karnataka

The city of Hampi was the last capital of the kingdom of Vijayanagar. About 30,000 foreigners visit Hampi every year!

19. Red Fort, New- Delhi

This fort was built as a part of Shahjahanabad, Mughal emperor Shahjahan's capital. The architecture of this fort is a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions.

20. Jama Masjid Champaner, Gujarat

This mosque is a perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. It has motifs showing the sun, diamonds, pots, vines and lotus petals.