It may be a third world country but India is indeed a tourist hub. The country is not about fancy beach resorts or nature reserves. What it offers to their visitors is a chance to witness the most breathtaking architectural sites ever built by man and these sites are hundreds of years old. One of the sites just celebrated it millennium birthday! It is truly amazing! Anyway, we have compiled an India travel guide so that you won’t miss the best spots to see in the country.
1. Taj Mahal
One of the things to do in India is to visit the Taj Mahal. It is not just a popular tourist site in the country. The whole world knows the name TAJ MAHAL but are you aware of what it really means and why it was built? Taj Mahal is in fact a mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the most favorite wife of Mughal leader Shah Jahan. When his wife passed away, he wanted her to have the most exquisite resting place in the world and this was the Taj Mahal. UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site.
2. Ganges
The Ganges River is a natural attraction and one of the most famous tourist spots in India. The locals also call it Ganga and it spreads along India and Bangladesh. The river is 2,525 kilometers or 1,569 miles long.
It is a blessing to the residents along the banks of the river because most of them are poverty-stricken and depend on the river for their daily needs. They bathe there, do their laundry there and even get their food in the river. Now, isn’t Ganges truly a gift for the people of India?
3. Amer Palace
The Amer Palace is also referred to as the Amer Fort or Amber Fort. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is included in the Hill Forts of Rajasthan inscription at Level ii and iii criteria. The fort and the palace were built by Raja Man Singh in the 16th century and the raw materials used were red sandstone and white marble. It has four courtyards with different gates. You have to spare one day to look around and explore Amer Palace.
4. Humayun’s Tomb
The top four tourist attraction in India is Humayun’s Tomb. Humayun is a Mughal ruler back in 1530 and to honor his life, he was built a tomb upon his death by Architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyath through the wishes of Akbar, another Mughal King and the son of Humayun. The place is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the monument was heavily restored since 1993. As of this moment, the tomb is completely reestablished and it is open for public visits.
5. Harmandir Sahib
You may marvel at modern structures in first world countries and find it as excellent architectural designs. But there is nothing like Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple of Panjab, India. It is in the UNESCO tentative list of sites and is one of the most visited attractions in the country.
People from all over the world are invited to pray and worship inside the Harmandir Sahib because it is the ultimate reason for its establishment – no matter what religion you are, you can pray to the one and only God of your faith in this non-sectarian and universal place of worship. It was reported that at least 100,000 people visit the place every single day. Go inside the building and pray in Harmandir Sahib – this is one of the best things to do in India.
6. Qutb Minar
Qutb Minar is a minaret – a minaret is a slender and really tall tower with a small terrace at the top which is usually used by Muslims who call the Azan or prayer. It is the highest minaret in the whole world at 72.5 meters. UNESCO recognized it as a Level iv criterion cultural site and it was built in 1200 by Qutb al-Din Aibak. After 20 years, Iltutmish, his son in law and inheritor added more floors to the tower using red sandstone. But in 1369, the top of the tower was devastated by lightning. This prompted Firoz Shah Tughlaq to repair the damaged minaret.
7. Akshardham
Akshardham is located at New Delhi and it is comprised of a complex with a temple therein. Within the complex, there is a performance of the Abhisheka – it is a Sanskrit word which means a ritual for religious reasons. There is also a water show called the Sahaj Anand and some exhibitions too. The exhibitions included an IMAX film about the life of Swaminarayan. There is also a culture-filled boat trip and a Hall of Values display known as the Sahajanand Darshan.
8. The Red Fort
The Red Fort was also mentioned in the UNESCO World Heritage Site website and they called it a “new level of refinement”. The walls of the fort were made of red sandstone and it was really massive. The architect behind it was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri and the Red Fort was constructed in 1648. Inside the fort you will find the Chawari Bazar, the Lahori Gate, the Delhi Gate, the Water Gate, the Chhatta Chowk (imperial jewelry were displayed here), Moti Masjid and a lot more buildings. You have to visit the fort because it is one of the great things to do in India.
9. Agra Fort
The Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the cultural list which can be found in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The Mughal Empire had it “built” in the 11th century because they claimed it to be their achievement. But there were stories regarding the construction of this World Heritage Site. It is believed that the Lodi Dynasty rulers were the ones responsible for the establishment of the fort and that the Mughal rulers seized it and made it as their own.
10. City Palace, Jaipur
One of the things to do in India is to go to the city palace. The City Palace of Jaipur is part of the UNESCO tentative list. Being part of the tentative list means that the property is not yet a World Heritage site but it is up for nomination once it passes the standards of UNESCO.
The Jaipur City Palace is a tourist spot. It is not just one palace but a collection of palaces and buildings in one big complex. The Chandra Mahal and the Mubarak Mahal are located in the City Palace, among other structures. It was constructed in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and the architectural style was adapted through a mix of European Mughal and Indian Shilpa Shastra.
11. Chittor Fort
Chittor Fort is the just one of the six forts in India which is a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The forts were inscribed in 2013 as Hill Forts of Rajasthan and it included Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Jaipur, and Jaisalmer. It’s been there since the 7th century and was managed by the Mewar Empire, at that time. Today, writers and poets visit the forts and find inspiration in the ancient walls for their creative writing.
12. Brihadisvara Temple
India is full of structures which are not just scenic; some are so important to culture and history that UNESCO has seen its value. Brihadisvara Temple is one of those buildings and it is now a World Heritage Site. UNESCO included it under the inscription Great Living Chola Temples. There were three temples in the list and all were built during the Chola dynasty in the 11th century. The Brihadisvara Temple is the biggest place of worship in India and is currently 1,006 years old.
13. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
If you want to visit another landmark in India, the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is a worthy addition to your bucket list. The attraction is a Sikh-type of architectural building – yes, it is a place of worship associated with Sikhism. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion and they believe that there is only one creator which believers have to be faithful to. Anyway, it existed since 1664 and has undergone various repairs and renovations just to preserve its value.
14. India Gate
The India Gate is another monument in the country. They used to call it the All India War Memorial to honor the fallen soldiers who died in the First World War. About 82,000 Indian Army soldiers died during the war and 13,300 names were remembered and engraved on the gate.
The structure was revealed to the public in 1931 but it was slowly constructed ten years prior to the inauguration. It was styled according to the Arc de Triomphe monument in France.
15. Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal, in English means Palace of the Breeze. The palace was constructed through the initiative of Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 so that the members of the royal household can take a peek during festival season and see what happens on the streets. The structure is grand and beautiful which is why it is a tourist attraction in the country. You have to visit the place since it is one of the things to do in India.
