In India, you can find beautiful structures, big and ancient forts, and many more magnificent places to visit. India has its own very rich history of ancient times. That’s why you can find many historical places in India at every nook and corner.
Every historical place has its tales of bravery, romance, sacrifices, battles, and strength. Hence, we can’t mention only a few historical places which you should visit. You should visit historical places in India as many you can and you would not disappoint at all.
Table of Contents
About Historical Places In India
Historical places in India represent the culture of the country. In these places, you can see beautiful craftsmanship on the stones. This craftsmanship can be seen in many forts and temples. In Champaner, Nalanda, and Dholavira you can visit ancient archaeological sites. The Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, and Humayun’s Tomb are some famous historical places in India of the Mughal Period. And, if you want to visit some colonial architecture then you must visit Goa, Pondicherry, and Kolkata.
Also, you can’t miss The Great Living Chola Temples which are one more example of Indian history. Mysore, Hyderabad, Konark, Orchha, Rajasthan, Lucknow, Bijapur are some of the few other cities that have their historical significance.
Indian history has seen many religions, rulers, and kingdoms. They all have left their mark on every corner in the country. So many historical places in India are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site because of their cultural values and importance.
Here I am trying to shortlist the top 10 historical places in India you need to visit. Have a look;
1. Taj Mahal, Agra
As everybody knows that this historical place belongs to one of the seven wonders of the world. This is the most popular tourist attraction historical place in India. This is a symbol of love and was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the grief of beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631.
Mumtaz was Shah Jahan’s most beloved wife out of 11 and died during giving birth to their 14th child. As per the last wish of Mumtaz, Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of their love. It is situated on the banks of the river Yamuna. It was completed in over 16 years, from 1632 to 1648.
To visit this place many tourists come from all over the world. It has a beautiful infrastructure and this monument is made of white marble stone. If you want to see its real beauty then you must go on full moon day at night. Its beauty will mesmerize you and you will not forget that experience in your life.
2. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
This historical place is standing at the intersection of the main road in Jaipur city and that place is called Badi Chaupad. We can say that this palace is regarded as the signature building of Jaipur. It was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh.
When you reach behind the front wall of Hawa Mahal you would feel the Breeze and will feel fresh. Because there are many small windows has built on the front wall of the palace.
3. Sun Temple, Konark
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and this 13th-century temple is an architectural marvel. We can’t describe its beauty in the words. This is the quintessential example of the Oriya form of architecture. This magnificent temple is well-known as a sun temple in India.
King Narasimha deva 1 of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty had built this temple as it is believed. The shape of the temple is representing a chariot with stone wheels, pillars, and walls. And that chariot is belonging to Sun God. The design of the chariot was made with 12 pairs of wheels and pulled by seven horses. A major part of the structure has been damaged at present. This historical place has come in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Gwalior Fort, Gwalior
Next in the list of historical places in India has come Gwalior Fort. This place you can’t ignore, this is the must-visit place. Mughal Emperor Babur said about it ‘the pearl amongst fortresses in India’. It’s situated on the top of a rocky mountain near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. The structure of this fort dominates the entire city of Gwalior.
This is a beautiful piece of the architecture and identity of Gwalior city. The whole complex of the palace is well maintained and includes temples, water tanks and palaces. Like the Jahangir, The Gujari, Man Mandir, The Karan, and the Shah Jahan are some palaces inside the Gwalior fort that has been built.
5. Hampi, Karnataka
Hampi was the last capital of Vijayanagar, now a laid-back village in northern Karnataka. This historical place is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in India. And can say, to must-visit place in one of the best historical places in India. Hampi is a combined place of remaining and ruined pieces of art of beautiful Temples, remains of aquatic structures, ruins of palaces, ancient market streets, bastions, royal pavilions, royal platforms, treasury buildings, and many more places.
The ruins date back to the 14th century by Muslim invaders. They comprise more than 500 monuments, palaces and magnificent temple Dravidian. After going their incredible energy, you will feel.
6. Fatehpur Sikri, Utter Pradesh
Fatehpur Sikri is located near Agra in Utter Pradesh. It was once the capital of the Mughal Emperor in the 16th century. Mughal Emperor Akbar founded the city in 1569. The Fatehpur Sikri was tributed to famous Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti. The saint accurately predicts the birth of Emperor Akbar’s son. At present, women who are childless visit the tomb of Salim Chishti to seek their blessings.
Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned early after its accomplishment because of insufficient water supply. At this time this is well-preserved Mughal architecture. It has India’s largest mosque, an imposing entrance gate, and a palace complex.
7. Khajuraho Temples, Madhya Pradesh
These temples are our next suggestion in the list of historical places in India. As believed that these temples were built between 950 and 1050 and made by rulers of the Chandela dynasty of Rajput’s. They made Khajuraho their first capital.
These temples surrounded by dense forest that’s why they were hidden for centuries. When Britishers had come to India then they discovered it in the early 19th century. Khajuraho temples are best known for their lovemaking sculptures. That sculptures show a celebration of love, life, and worship.
8. Rani Ki Vav (the queen’s stepwell), Gujrat
This is a beautiful example of ancient architecture. It is located in Gujrat, and rediscovered in the 1940s and recently restored by archaeological in the 1980s. Rani Ki Vav was flooded by the Saraswati river which is flown there. This historical place was built by the widow of the ruler Bhimdev 1st, in his memory.
Rani Ki Vav is situated inside the temple and highlighting the sanctity of water. Every stone is well-carved and its panel covered in more than 500 main sculptures. This is must visit a place of Gujrat. This historical place has been listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites since 2014.
9. Gateway Of India, Mumbai
This is the most recognized monument of Mumbai’s. it has been situated in a commanding position overlooking the Arabian Sea at the harbour in Colaba. It was built in 1911 to welcome King George V and Queen Mary, the first British monarch to visit India. But its construction was completed in 1924.
The Gateway of India is also a testimony monument from where the last British troops left India in 1948. At present, this is the prime tourist attraction spot. The Maharashtra state government proposed a plan to develop the location for the tourists in March 2019, in front of the government.
10. Ajanta And Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
The Ajanta and Ellora Caves are beautifully carved into the hillside rock in the remote area of Maharashtra. There are 34 caves situated in Ellora. All caves represent the mixture of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jain religions. Most of the work at Ellora was done by Chalukya and Rashtrakuta Kings.
And the 30 caves you can see at Ajanta, all are Buddhist caves. These caves were constructed in 2 phases between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD. They both are different in their design. The Ajanta caves are rich in sculptures and paintings and on the other side, the Ellora caves are famous for their extraordinary architecture.
The most amazing thing about the Ajanta and Ellora caves is that they were made by the hands. With the help of a hammer and chisel. This is a beautiful historical place in India and you must visit it.
Conclusion
India has been the home of lots of dynasties, kingdoms, and empires. There are so many historical places to visit. You can not cover all in a few times. To explore all historical places in India, you need a life, maybe that can be short to cover all places. To understand the culture and events of Indian history you have to visit them, again and again. So, keep searching and wandering!!
Hello,
I am Pritam Chakrabortty. I’m a professional blogger and author. My passion is travelling and explore new unseen places. My travelling passion makes me create this blog to share my travel experiences.