UNESCO World Heritage Sites, India

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Humayun’s Tomb

Built in the mid 16th century by Haji Begum, senior wife of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, Humayun’s Tomb is an early example of Mughal architecture built in Delhi. A rose petal sandstone mausoleum built in proper Mughal style is a beautiful memorial to the poet king.


Humayun's Tomb

Octagonal in shape, raised on a plinth, with double domes, high arches, laid in the centre of large walled enclosure the monument is an imposing structure. A baradari (pavilion) occupies the centre of the eastern wall and a hammam (bath chamber) the centre if northern wall.

Approached from four sides by paved stone paths which divide the garden into squares, the mausoleum also has the destination of having several of the Mughal rulers buried here. Besides Bega Begum herself, Hamida Begum (Akbar’s mother), Dara Shikoh (Shah Jahan’s son), Bahadur Shah ll (the last Mughal emperor) and many others. Humayun’s wife is also buries in the red and white sandstone, black and yellow marble tomb.

The garden at this tomb has been laid out in the Persian style of Char Bagh, with paved stone avenues and narrow water channels. It is still maintained in its original grandeur.

Tourist Information

Timings : Open on all weekdays from sunrise to sunset. Entry fee for those above 12 years – Rs 5. Free entry on Fridays.

Access : Located near Nizamuddin railway station, Delhi

Where to stay

Deluxe hotels: Ashok hotel, Best Western Surya, Hyatt Regency, The Oberoi, Welcomgroup Maurya Sheraton, Taj Mahal, Le Meridien, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Taj palace international, Centaur hotel, hotel Samrat, Vasant continental, Park hotel.

Luxury: Ambassador, The Claridges, Imperial, Quatab hotel, Hotel Janpath, Hotel Kanishka, The Oberoi Maidens, Siddharth hotel.

Standard hotels: Diplomat, Hans Plaza, hotel Ranjit, Marina, Lodhi hotel, Rajdoot, Vikaram, YMCA tourist hotel.

Other accommodation: Ashok Yatri Niwas, India international centre, YMCA international guest house, Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, Youth hostel, tourist camping park, Rail Yatri Niwas and approved hotels.

Places to visit : Purana Quila, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, India gate, Parliament house, National museum, Raj Ghat, Lakshmi Narayan temple (Birla mandir), Teen murti house.

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Qutab Complex

The buildings in this complex, 15 km south of Delhi, date from the onset of Muslim rule in India and are fine examples of early Afghan architecture.


Qutab Minar

Spearing its way into the sky, Qutab Minar with a length of 238 feet, commands a panoramic view of the green fields extending into a sprawling city of Delhi. Started in 1192 by the slave king, Qutab-ud-Din Aibak, the tower was built in three stages.

Qutab-ud-Din completed the first storey while the other three were built by lltumish in 1230. The Minar was damaged in 1322 and then repaired by Mohammad Bin Tughlak and again in 1368 by Firoz Shah Tughlak. All the five storeys of the tapering Qutab Minar consist of ornamental bands of Koranic inscriptions. Each storey is marked by a balcony. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone, while the fourth and fifth are of marble of sandstone.

The most outstanding feature of the tower is the stalactite support to the balconies and the circular plan with its alternating semi circular and angular flutings.

Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid

To mark his victory over Rai Pithora, Qutab-ud-Din Aibak built the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid (Might of Islam) in 1192 which was completed in 1298. It is the earliest extant mosque in India, having a rectangular court. The court is enclosed by cloisters which were erected with carved columns and other architectural members from the 27 Hindu and Jain temples, which were later demolished.

Iron Pillar

The complex also hosts an iron pillar in the courtyard of the mosque. The quality of the iron used for constructing the pillar is exceptionally pure and has hot rusted even after 2000 years. An inscription in Sanskrit clearly indicates that it was initially erected outside Vishnu temple, possibly in Bihar. It was raised in memory of the Gupta king Chandragupta Vikramaditya, who ruled from 375 to 413, It is said to have been brought to Delhi by the Tomar king Anangpal, somewhere in the 11th century.

Iltumish Tomb

Also located in the complex is the Iltumish Tomb, north-west to the iron pillar. Iltumish died in 1236, but had his tomb built a year earlier, in 1235. This is a landmark in Indo-Islamic architecture.

Alai Darwaza

Described as one of the most treasured gems of Islamic architecture, this gate was built on entirely Islamic principles. It is the first building employing whole Islamic principles of accurate construction and geometric ornamentation. The Alai Darwaza is a square, domed building with intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble.

Alai Minar

Ala-ud-Din wanted to build a second tower of victory twice as high as Qutab Minar but when he died the tower had reached only 27 meters and later no one was willing to continue his over ambitious project. Alai Minar is the uncompleted tower today which stands to the north of the Qutab Minar and the Mosque.

Travel Information

Timings : Open on all weekdays from sunrise to sunset. Entry fee for those above 12 years – Rs 5. Free entry on Fridays.

Best time to visit : November to February

Access : Located 18 km from New Delhi in Old Delhi, well connected by regular bus service.

Where to stay

Deluxe hotel: Ashok hotel, best western Surya, Hyatt Regency, The Oberoi, Welcomgroup Maurya Sheraton, Taj mahal, Le Meridien, Holiday Inn Crown plaza, Taj palace international, Centaur hotel, hotel Samrat, Vasant continental, Park hotel.

Luxury hotel: Ambassador, The Claridges, imperial, Qutab hotel, Hotel Janpath, Hotel Kanishka, The Oberoi Maidens, Hotel Siddarth.

Standard hotels: Diplomat, Hans Plaza, hotel Ranjit, Marina, Lodhi hotel, Rajdoot, Vikram, YMCA tourist hotel.

Other accommodation: Ashok Yatri Niwas, India international centre, YMCA international guest house, Vishwa Yuak Kendra, Youth hotel, tourist camping park, Rail Yatri Niwas and many more government approved hotels.

Places to visit : Purana Quila, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Jantar mantar, India Gate, Parliament house, National museum, Raj Ghat, Lakshmi Narayan temple, Teen Murti house

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Brihadisvara temple, Thanjavur

Under the reign of the great King Rajaraja, founder of the Chola empire the great temple of Tanjore (Thanjavur) was constructed between 1003 and 1010.


Brihadisvara temple

The Brihadisvara temple with its 66.5 meter high ‘Srivimana’ dominating the city is built of granite. The temple consists of a cupolic dome which is octagonal in shape and rest on a single square block of granite, weighing 81.3 tonnes. The moulded plinth is extensively engraved with inscriptions. On the walls of the inner passages are life-size iconographic representations of various Hindu deities.

Tourist Information

Timings : Open on all weekdays from sun rise to sunset except shrines under worship. No entry fee.

Access : The nearest airport and major railhead is Trichy (58 km). Thanjavur is directly linked by rail to Madurai, Tirupati, Chennai and Rameswaram. Excellent bus service link it to other towns in Tamil Nadu.

Best time to visit : October to April.

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Goa, Churches And Convents


Built of laterite and lime plaster, the churches and cathedrals built during 16th to 17th century A.D at old Goa are a legacy of the Portuguese. They comprise of Se Cathedral, church and convents of St.Francis of Assisi, chapel of St.Catherine, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of Lady of Rosary and the church of St.Augustine.


Basilica of Bom Jesus

Built in a combination of the renaissance and baroque styles, these churches and convents in old Goa are architectural masterpieces. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, where the mortal remains of St.Francis Xavier rest, is one of the best design and style.

The church of St.Cajetan has a façade decorates with lonic, Doric and Corinthian pilasters. The Se Cathedral, with its Tuscan exterior, Corinthian columns, raised platform with steps leading to the entrance and a barrel-vault, is yet another example of Renaissance architecture.

The paintings in the church are executed on wooden borders and fixed between panels with floral designs. Except of a few statues which are in stone, most of the other statues of the saints, Mother Mary and Jesus are mostly first carved in wood and then painted to adorn the altars.

Travel Information

Timings : Open on all weekdays from sunrise to sunset. No entry fee.

Best time to visit : Winters

Access : Air links to Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai and Pune. The nearest railhead is Vasco da Gama, (35 km) from Panaji. Goa is connected with Londa junction on the Miraj-Bangalore sector of South Central railway. Konkan railway linking Mumbai with Mangalore passes through Goa (Madgaon).

Good motorable road connects Goa with other towns via the national highways NH 4A, NH17 and NH 17A. Road links to Ahmedabad (1,138 km), Aurangabad (699 km), Bangalore (599 km), Mumbai (597 km), Chennai (923 km), Pune (473 km). Bus services connect Goa with Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Mangalore and other major towns in the neighbouring states.

From Mumbai, by Catamaran services operates by M/s Damania shipping (P) Ltd. From October to May only.

Where to stay

Deluxe hotels : Aguada hermitage, The fort Aguada bech resort, The Taj holiday village, Majorda beach resort, Oberoi Bogmalo beach, Cidade de Goa.

Standard hotels : Fidalgo, Mandovi, Hotel Nova Goa.

Other hotels : Paying guest accommodation and many ‘lower-end’ hotels are available.

Places to visit : Panaji, Old Goa, Aguada Fort and beaches of Baga, Calangute, Sinquerim, Anjuna, Chapora/Vagator, Arambol/Terekol, Bogmalo, Colva etc.

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Mountain Railways of India

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - The Toy Train of the Darjeeling Hills



Darjeeling (2134 m), the exotic hiss station in West Bengal and is connected to the plains by means of a 2 feet gauge, 83 km long railway line (operational since Sep 1881) on which runs a beautiful toy train. This train is still hauled by small steam engines which were built in the early 20th century. For a die-hard rail enthusiast, a trip to India is incomplete without a ride on this unique toy train. One day advance reservation will ensure your seat. Batasia loop on the railway line near Ghoom is a great engineering feet.

Places to Visit

Darjeeling is a major hill station with hills covered with tea plantations, complicated series of interconnecting roads, Victorian colonial mansions and a striking population of Nepalis and Tibetans.
Himalayan training institute, zoological park and museum, Lloyd botanical park, Rangeet valley rope way (5 km), Observatory hills, gardens, museums, temples, handicrafts, fishing, Ghoom Buddhist monastery (6 km), Senchal (11 km) : View of Everest and Mt. Kanchenjunga from Tiger hill, picnic spot. Trekking (April-May, Oct-Nov).

How To Reach

Darjeeling is 666 km from Kolkata. One has to reach Siliguri/New Jaipalguri from Kolkata. New Jaipalguri connects Darjeeling by narrow gauge (86 km, 7.5 hour).

Time To Visit

The peak tourist season is Oct and Dec, while the best season is from mid March to May with clear skies. Share jeeps run in the town.

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Nilgiri Railway

The toy train route from Mettupalayam (95 km from Coimbatore) to Ooty is in world heritage centre list. The route has 16 tunels, 31 bridges, 326 m to 2193 m , 1899 AD, 46 km in 4.5 hour.

Ooty ia a major hill resort in Tamil Nadu. The main attractions are Botanical garden, fossil tree trunk (20 million year old), lake, rose garden, Dodebetta peak (2636 m, 10 km), tea plantation, Government museum, Deer park, Pykara (21 km) : Toda settlement, trekking, Kotagiri hill station (40 km); Coonoor hill station (20 km) : Dolphin's nose (26 km) to view Catherine falls, Lamb's rock : View of Coimbatore plains, Sim's park, botanical gardens; MUDUMALAI Wild life sanctuary (30 km).

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Bhimbetka cave paintings : A world Heritage centre 46 km from Bhopal. Over 600 rock shelters with pre-historic painting are located in a forest of teak and Sal. Only 15 are accessible and is linked by concrete path. By Itarsi bus get down for the caves. The caves are 3 km from the main road. You can visit the caves on one day tour conducted by MP Tourism.