India’s Pride: UNESCO Sites of India

India is a great country with a rich heritage. The grandeur of our past is irreplaceable and an inspiration to us. It is our responsibility to ensure we pass on the cultural heritage to our future generations. There are many architectural wonders across the country which were built by great kings, queens, and spiritual people. Only a few of them have been identified by UNESCO because of their historical and cultural values. We list them all here.

1)Ellora Caves

The Ellora Caves are one of the most popular World Heritage sites in India. It is one of the largest rock-cut caves in the world, featuring Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain monuments dating back to 600-1000CE. There are 34 temples and monuments which extend over 2 km.

Location: Ellora, Maharashtra 

Timings: 6 AM-6 PM

3)Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. It is an immense monument made up of white marble, built in Agra on the banks of the river Yamuna. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan dedicated this monument to the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Begum. Millions of tourists from across the world visit this beautiful place every year.

Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh 

Timings: 6 AM-7 PM

4)Khajuraho

Khajuraho is a popular UNESCO site in India, known for its elegant temples built in the period of the Chandela Dynasty. The temples at this place strike a perfect between the magnificent Nagara-style architecture and the distinguished sculptures of deities. 

Location: Madhya Pradesh

Timings: 8 AM-6 PM

5)Hampi

Hampi is the city of temples, ancient forts, and other monuments. Located at the banks of the river Tungabhadra, many popular temples tell us different stories about the Hampi’s cultural legacy. Some of the popular places in Hampi are Virupaksha Temple, Elephant Stables, Vittala Temple, and the Statue of Ugra Narasimha.

6)Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar is one of the oldest and tallest monuments in India. Built in the 13^th century, the Qutub Minar stands at a height of 238 feet and was made with red sandstone. The popular rust-resistant iron pillar belonging to the Gupta Dynasty is in the mosque premises. The Qutub Minar and other monuments next to it were inscribed in the list of World Heritage Sites in 1993.

Location: Mehrauli, Delhi

Timings: 7 AM-5 PM

7)Ramappa Temple

The latest addition to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites is the Ramappa Temple or the Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple. The temple was built with sandstone during the Kakatiyan Period. Garnished beams, granite carved pillars and a unique inner sanctum made with lightweight bricks are the highlights of the temple. The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva and there are other small temples surrounding the main temple.

Location: Ramappa, Mulugu, Telangana

Timings: 6AM-6PM

8)Kaziranga National Park

The Kaziranga National Park is a great place to witness natural wildlife. It is located in the state of Assam. The National Park was added as a World Heritage Site in 1985. This beautifully protected park is home to tigers, elephants, one-horned Indian rhinoceroses, panthers, bears, and rare migratory birds. Tourists can visit this place from November to April.

Location: Kanchanjuri, Assam

Timings: 24hours (November to April)

 9)Rani Ki Vav

Rani Ki Vav or the Queen’s Stepwell is located on the banks of the Saraswati river. This unique monument is used as a water resource and storage system. The place is designed in the form of an inverted temple divided into seven levels of stairs surrounded by different combinations of mythological and religious sculptures. UNESCO added this beautiful masterpiece to its heritage site list in 2014.

Location: Patan, Gujarat

Timings: 8 AM-7 PM

10)Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb is the first-ever historical monument to introduced the ‘garden tomb’ concept to India. The place was built in the 16^th century by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath for the Mughal Emperor Humayun. This magnificent tomb is surrounded by a marvellous charbagh garden with pools. The monument was an inspiration to Shah Jahan when constructing the Taj Mahal. In 1993, UNESCO included this place in its list. 

Location: Delhi, India

Timings: 6 AM-6 PM

11)Ajanta Caves

The Ajanta Caves are one of the popular spots in Maharashtra. They are the perfect example of the brilliance of historical architecture. They were started by Sathahavans and more caves were added by the Gupta Dynasty. The Ajanta caves are the first-ever cave monuments of Buddhists which date back to the 1^st and 2^nd centuries. There are many magnificent paintings and sculptures which are considered as the masterpieces of Buddhist art.

Location: Maharashtra

Timings: 9 AM-5 PM

12)Great Living Chola Temples

The Great Living Chola Temples are stretched over the Tamil Nadu region. The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram were built during the Chola Dynasty. These popular temples are recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites because they depict the Chola style of architecture, paintings, and sculptures.

Location: Tamil Nadu

Timings: 8:30 AM-9 PM

These are some of the popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. Other popular sites for visits in India include Fatherpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Elephanta Caves, Sundarban Park, Mahabodhi Temple, and others. All of these architectural wonders have a great history and they are the pride of our nation.