Indian culture has always been preserved in its rituals, festivals, and traditions, but mainly it lies in historical monuments in India that make it the most beautiful country in the world. Also called ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’, India has been famous around the world for its rich cultural and historical preservation. More than just years of legacy and history, historical monuments of India are popular for their astonishing design, sculpture, and ancient architecture.
With a list of thousands of forts, temples, gardens, buildings, minarets, and mausoleums, Indian history has been preserving some of the oldest legacies in the world. Right from the Mughal period to the era of Lord Rama, from British Rule to the dynasty of Rajasthani Rajputs, Indian monuments are reflecting more than just a rich history. Since India has always been the best tourist place to explore the rich history and culture, we have crafted a list of the most beautiful and popular historical monuments & places in India. Let’s check out the best places to visit in India conserving rich history laced with great architecture.
Here’s Our list of Top 10 Monuments of India that are Must Visit
Lets See:
1) Taj Mahal
This is undoubtedly the most popular and famous historical monument in India, which preserves an iconic tale of love. With its appealing architecture & design, the Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders in the world. A building made of ivory-white marble is recognized as the epitome of love.
Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Who Built: Mughal emperor Shah Jahan
Year of Construction: 1632
2) Gateway of India
Constructed to host the royal visit of King George V, Gateway of India has been the most iconic and historical monument of India for travelers around the world.
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Who Built: George Wittet
Year of Construction: 13 March 1913
3) India Gate
This is undoubtedly the most recognized war memorial in India. One of the most popular historical monuments of India is also referred to as the replica of ‘Arc de Triomphe’ in Paris. This 42m tall structure has the name of 70,000 martyrs soldiers engraved on it.
Location: New Delhi
Who Built: Edwin Lutyens
Year of Construction: 1921
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4) Hawa Mahal
Popular as one of the hidden gems of history, Hawa Mahal lies in the pink city Jaipur. A five-story red-stone building was constructed for the convenience of the women to admire the outside world.
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Who Built: Maharaj Sawai Pratap Singh
Year of Construction: 1799
5) Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji)
One of the holiest Sikh sites in the world, Golden Temple is perhaps the most beautiful historical monument in India, which is well-preserved in the 20th century as well. With its extraordinary grace, Indo-Islamic architecture, and the top glided with pure gold, its roots are deeply connected to India’s history.
Location: Amritsar, Punjab
Who Built: Arjan Sahib Jee with Baba Budha Jee
Year of Construction: 1604
6) Meenakshi Temple
Replicating the finest side of Indian architecture, Meenakshi Mandir is one of the most ancient yet well-preserved monuments & places in India. The shrine is believed to have 3,300 sculptures engraved in its 14 Gopurams.
Location: Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Who Built: King Kulasekara Pandya
Years of Construction: 6th century BC
7) City Palace
One of the most prominent historical monuments of India, the City Palace of Udaipur preserves rich Rajput Architecture. It sits on the bank of Lake Pichola overlooking the astonishingly planned city of India.
Location: Udaipur, Rajasthan
Who Built: Maharaj Udai Singh II
Year of Construction: 1559
8) Victoria Memorial
Undoubtedly one of the most popular historical monuments of India, Victoria Memorial sits on the bank of the Hooghly River. Preserving the collection of colonial-era during British Rule in India, this building is currently a museum.
Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
Who Built: Willia Emerson
Year of Construction: 1906
9) Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Widely popular for its erotic sculptures, Khajuraho is undoubtedly the most historic monument in India. Dates back to the 10th century, these groups of historically rich temples are truly amazing. It is believed to link with ‘Kamasutra’, while astonishing design replicates excellence architecture in the country.
Location: Madhya Pradesh
Who Built: Chandela dynasty
Year of Construction: 950-1050 CE
10) Mahabalipuram, Group of Monuments of India
One of the most ancient monuments of India, Mahabalipuram is perhaps the strangest place in the world. The structures, statues, and other historical monuments here are carved out of a whole rock found on the Coromandel Coast. It has to be said that there was a Shiva temple earlier at this place as the evidence of Rathas, Mandaps, and giant open-air structures are known to be the ‘Descent of the Ganges’.
Location: Tamil Nadu
Who Built: Narasimhavarman
Year of Construction: 7th-century-CE
These are the top 10 most visited historical monuments of India that must be on your list of things to visit in 2020. If you think European culture, history, or anything else is way richer than Indian history, you must have a visit to these ancient yet beautiful monuments of India. Also, Rajasthan alone has the most beautiful historical sites in the world. So, get ready to explore the most beautiful ancient architecture of India.
