INDIA'S HERITAGE MONUMENTS

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India gate, New Delhi : A memorial to over 90 000 Indian soldiers who died in world war I . The names of 13 516 soldiers are inscribed on it. The arch rising to a height of 42 m is surmounted by a stone bowl where since 1971 an eternal flame has been lit - Amar Jtoyhi - to honour the unknown soldier.

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Red fort Delhi : The fort is 2 km in circumference and has within its precints several beautiful edifices. Has beautiful marble palaces, Durball hall, garden etc. Built by Shah Jahan in 17 th century. The seat of Mughal power in India till 1857.

Prime Minister of India addresses the nation on the Independance day every year on 15 th August from Red fort.

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Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi : The official residence of the President of India, set in 330 acres of land. Formerly Viceregal palace,over looks a beautiful Mughal garden. It has 340 rooms, 37 salons, 74 lobbies and loggias, 1 km of corridor, 18 staircases and 37 fountains.

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1. Bhai house of worship, Delhi : The lotus shaped marvel in marble is referred to as the Taj Mahal of the 21 st century completed in 1986.

2. Qutab Minar, Delhi : Qutab Minar was built by Qutb ud din Aibak, the slave king in the 13 th century as a victory tower. The 72.5 m, five storied minar of red sandstone has ornamental filigree of Koranic inscriptions. In the centre of it's courtyard is an Iron pillar erected by king Chandra Verman which has remained rust free for more than 100 years.

3. Humayun's tomb, Delhi : To the east of Hazarath Nizamuddin's shrine, this memorial was built by Humayun's widow Haji Hamida Begum in 1565.

4. Jantar Mantar, Delhi : The oldest observatory of it's type, constructed by Maharaja Jai singh II of Jaipur in 1725. It is dominated by a huge sundial. A similar observatory exists in Jaipur, Rajastan.

5. Jama Masjid, Delhi : The largest mosque in India built by Shah Jahan, located near the Red fort. Over 20000 people can gather here at a time for prayers.

New Delhi photos

[bajjuri_6]

i think taj mahal... red fort and charminar are the most deserving to be heritage site...

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Meenakshi Sundareswar temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu : The temple gateways are among the most eleborately carved in south India. The 17 th century temple has about 30 million sculptures.

Meenakshi temple photos

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Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh : One of the seven wonders of the world. Built of white marble by Emperor Shah Jahan to immortalize his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Construction time 1630 to 1648 AD.

Taj Mahal is a matchless white marble monument of beauty and eternal love designed by Iranian architect Istad Usa. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor built this in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years to complete this spectacular monument and 20 000 people were deployed to work on it. 1000 elephants transport the marble slabs to the site.

The emperor was deposed by his son and imprisoned in the great red fort for eight years but was buried in the Taj. During his imprisonment he had a view of the Taj. Like a jewel, the Taj sparkles in moonlight when the semi precious stones inlaid into the white marble on the main mausoleum catch the glow of the moon. It is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines.

Buland Darwaza, Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh : At 53.5 m, it is the highest gateway in India. Built by Emperor Akbar to commemorate his conquest of Khandesh in Gujrat.

Salim Chisti's tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh (1572) : Built after Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chisti's death. Tomb venerated by Hindus and Muslims.

Bada Imambara , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh : Asia's largest vaulted hall.

Photos of Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Bada Imambara

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Gateway of India, Mumbai, Maharashtra : A triumphal arch built to commemorate viit of King George V and queen Mary in 1911. It is 26 ft tall.

Elephanta caves, Mumbai, Maharashtra : Situated on an island. Beleived to be built by Pulikesi II of the Chalukyas kingdom in 634 AD. Exquisite cavings depicting the myths of Shiva.

Mumbai photos

Daulatabad fort (13 km from Aurangabad) : The fort is on the way to Ellora - large fortress, victory tower and cannon, tomb of Aurangazeb at Khuldabad is near by. Bibi ka Maqbara : Tomb of Rabia Durani (w/o Emperor Aurangazeb) and Pan Chakki : Water mill (1695 AD) are the attractions in Aurangabad.

Ellora caves, 26 km from Aurangabad, Maharashtra : A world heritage centre. Dance festival in March. 34 caves consisting of Buddhist (1-12), Hindu (13-29), and Jain caves (30-34) of 500 to 1100 AD. Kailasha temple is the main attraction, which is carved out of a monolith, is the biggest cave temple in India : 84 m * 47 m. Built during the reign of
King Krishna I who ascended the throne in 760 AD. Grishneswar jyotirlinga temple is near by.

Ajanta caves, 110 km from Aurangabad, Maharashtra : A world heritage centre of 200 BC. 29 caves containing numerous images of Buddha and painting on walls. The caves are located in the hills in horse shoe shape. Rock cut caves set deep in the Sahydri hills. It has a large relief depicting the death of the Buddha lying on a bed.

Ajanta Ellora cave photos

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Charminar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh : A majestic monument of four minarets, to commemorate the cessation of plague in the city, according to the chronicles. Char Minar (55 m, 1591 to 1612, built by Mohamad Quli Qutb Shah).

Andhra Pradesh photos

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Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur, Karnataka : The 17 th century dome and the whispering gallery within is so called because even the gentlest whisper echoes acrosss it's great length. Gol Gumbaz - world's fourth largest dome (37.92 m in diameter, 51 m in height and 3 m thick walls, A single minute whisper will be echoed 9 times.

Gol Gumbaz photos