Attractions of India

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the most recognised, admired and magnificent buildings in the world. It was built between 1631 and 1648 by the orders of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum in memory of his third and favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal who died giving birth to his 14th child. It's estimated that 20,000 workers were employed in its construction, including masons, marble workers, mosaicists and decorators. The Taj Mahal stands before a vast Mughal garden, laid out in perfect symmetry, with the canals providing an exquisite reflection of the building. It is a study in architectural precision, combining elements and styles from Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. The white marble exterior is inlaid with thousands of pieces of coloured and semi-precious stones, decorative bands and calligraphic inscriptions. The Taj Mahal is best visited at sunrise or sunset when the sun casts the building in different lights, but many hours should be spent here admiring one of the world's great sights.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Taj Mahal

Red Fort of Agra

The Red Fort of Agra was a centre of the Mughal Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries. Construction was begun by Emperor Akbar and continued by his successors Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. Its red sandstone walls stretch for 2.5km and enclosed the imperial city of the Mughal rulers, comprising ornately decorated palaces such as the Jahangit Palace and Khas Mahal, the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and numerous audience halls, courtyards and fountains. The Fort reflects a fusion of Hindu and Islamic styles leading to a distinctive new Indo-Muslim art. There are great views of the nearby Taj Mahal from Agra Fort.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Agra Fort

Red Fort of Delhi

The Red Fort was built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as his palace fort and represents the zenith of Mughal creativity, a fusion of Islamic, Hindu, Persian and Central Asian influences. The red sandstone walls stretch for 2.5km and are 33 metres high, enclosing palaces, gardens and pavilions and remains a powerful symbol of India.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Red Fort Complex

Humayun's Tomb

The tomb of Humayun, second Mughal Emperor of India, was built in 1569-70 by his widow, 14 years after his death. Later used to bury various members of the ruling family, it has been called the necropolis of the Mughal dynasty. Located in the centre of a garden laid out in char baah style, it inspired several architectural innovations which would culminate in the construction of the Taj Mahal a century later.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

Qutb Minar

Qutb Minar is a red sandstone tower, 72 metres high, that was constructed in the 13th century. It is surrounded by funerary buildings, including the Alai-Darwaza Gate built in 1311, and two mosques including the Quwwatu'l-Islam (Might of Islam), the oldest in northern India.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi

Keoladeo National Park, a former duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas, is an important wintering area and breeding ground for large numbers of aquatic birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China and Siberia. Some 364 species of bird have been recorded in the park, including the rare Siberian crane.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Keoladeo National Park

Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri was founded in 1571 as the capital of the Mughal Empire by Emperor Akbar but abandoned a mere 14 years later when he moved his capital to Lahore to fight against Afghan tribes. Today, the deserted city is a perfectly preserved example of a Mughal citadel and architecture. Its buildings include Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India accommodating 10,000 worshippers, as well as palaces, public buildings and residences that served the entire population of the capital.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Fatehpur Sikri

Located in Bihar Province on the plains of the Ganges, Bodh Gaya is one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world as the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment in 531 BC. Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims flock to the Mahabodhi temple, built in the 6th century AD on the site of the original temple built in the 3rd century BC. One of the oldest Buddhist brick temples in India, Mahabodhi is topped by a 50 metre spire. Other items of interest here are 25 metre high statue of Buddha and the giant Bodhi tree which is supposed to be the direct descendant of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha achieved supreme insight.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya

Located high in the Himalayas, the Valley of Flowers National Parks is renowned for its beauty with meadows of endemic alpine flowers and some rare and endangered animals including Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. Nandi Devi National Park is a rugged mountain wilderness which includes India's second highest peak.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks

Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and is known as the 'Pink City' since its buildings were painted for the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876. Jaipur was designed as a planned city, though today it exhibits the colourful chaos and bustle of many Indian cities, with streets packed with pedestrians, bicycles, cars, buses, camels and cows. Inside its old city walls, the City Palace now contains a museum for royal garments, miniatures, carpets, manuscripts and armour. The 18th century observatory of the astronomer Jai Singh, known as Jantar Mantar, contains a series of immense astronomical instruments made of marble and brass that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Elsewhere the pink sandstone facade of the Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal) is a famous Jaipur landmark. 11km north of Jaipur lies the spectacular Amber Fort, a hillside complex containing many courtyards and fine decorated palaces, halls, gardens and temples. The massive gateway can be reached by riding an elephant into the fort.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Jantar Mantar

The 15th century Kumbalgarh Fort is regarded as one of the finest defensive structures in Rajasthan, its vast fortified ramparts stretch for 36km and protect palaces, temples and farms.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Hill Forts of Rajasthan

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is one of the jewels of Rajasthan, a medieval walled city that is perched on a sand-coloured rocky hill in the middle of the Thar desert. Founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156, Jaisalmer became a major trading post on the southern Silk Road routes from Central Asia. Merchants grew wealthy from the passing camel caravans and built many beautifully carved wooden and sandstone havelis which are still present in the city today, including the Patwon Ki and Salim Singh Ki Havelis. The narrow cobbled lanes of the old city also numerous packed Jain temples, forts and palaces built from sandstone, giving Jaisalmer a wonderful medieval atmosphere and earning it the name 'The Golden City'. The thick city walls are over 10 metres high and include 99 bastions, while the fort contains the palace of the Maharawal.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Hill Forts of Rajasthan

The Kakla to Shimla Railway was opened at the turn of the 20th century to allow the colonial families of the Raj to escape the summer heat of Delhi and Calcutta for the cool mountain climate of the hill station at Shimla. The narrow gauge track takes a meandering route for 96km as it rises over 1,600 metres, passing through 103 tunnels amidst some stunning scenery.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Mountain Railways of India

The sun temple at Konârak is one of India's most famous Brahmin sanctuaries, constructed in the 13th century as a representation of the chariot of the Sun God Surya. The chariot has 24 wheels with symbolic designs referring to the cycle of seasons and the months and is led by seven horses. The temple is located on the Bay of Bengal to capture the rays of the rising sun.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sun Temple, Konârak

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was completed in 1881 and connects the hill station of Darjeeling with the low-lying plains of Bihar. Its tiny locomotive travels slowly along a narrow gauge rail, taking 8 hours to complete a mere 82km on a meandering route. The railway highlights the ingenious engineering required to lay track along the mountainous and jungle clad landscape. The scenery changes from paddy fields through hills filled with tea plantations and finally reaches the mountain slopes of Darjeeling, with stunning views of the Himalayas beyond.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Mountain Railways of India

Kaziranga National Park is situated in Assam and is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by human activity. Located in the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River, it comprises dense grasslands, open forests and numerous streams and lakes. It has the world's largest populations of one-horned rhinoceroses and Indian elephants as well as numerous other mammals including tiger, panther, leopard, capped langur, buffalo, hoolock gibbon, swamp and hog deer and Indian muntjac. Over 100 species of birds, including migratory birds, are present, including grey pelican, black-necked stork, Pallas's fish eagle, Bengal florican, swamp partridge, grey peacock-pheasant, great pied hornbill and green imperial pigeon.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kaziranga National Park

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary contains a huge variety of wildlife including many endangered species, including tiger, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant. It's the most important site for the survival of pygmy hog, hispid hare and golden langur while over 450 bird species have been recorded.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

Sundarbans National Park is located in the land and waters of the Ganges delta adjacent to the Bangladesh border. Including the Sundarbans forest in Bangladesh, it covers over 10,000 km² and forms the world's largest mangrove forest. The park is home to a number of rare and endangered species, including the Bengal tiger and birds, reptiles and aquatic mammals.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sundarbans National Park

The Khajuraho Temples were built by the Chandela dynasty between 950 and 1050 and were lost in the forest for many centuries before being rediscovered by a British officer in the 19th century. Only about 20 of the original 85 temples remain but they are considered to be amongst the finest temples in India and masterpieces of Indian art. Belonging to both Hinduism and Jainism, each temple is dedicated to a specific god and are renowned for the eroticism of their intricate carvings. Temples of note include the Lakshmana Temple dedicated to Vishnu, the Shiva temple of Kandariya-Mahadev (both in the Western Complex) and the Jain Temple of Parsvanath in the Eastern Complex.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Khajuraho Group of Monuments

The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are located in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains, comprising five clusters that display rock painting dating from the Mesolithic to historic periods. The cultural traditions represented by the paintings are reflected by those of adjacent villages.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

The Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi date back to the 1st and 2nd centuries BC and it is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence. The complex comprises monuments, monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and a monastery. The principal monument, Stupa 1, is a 36 metre high mound of sandstone, surrounded by porticoes with stone railings and richly decorated gateways.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi

Mumbai

Mumbai is India's largest city, its commercial centre and centre of the Bollywood industry. One of Mumbai's most recognisable landmarks is the Gateway of India arch near the bay. The Ghandi Museum tells the story of India's independence hero while the Prince of Wales Museum has an impressive collection of Mughal and Rajasthani miniatures. The Towers of Silence on Malabor Hill were built by Zoroastrians fleeing persecution in Persia to serve as an open air mortuary for their dead. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, is the main railway station in Mumbai. It is a superb example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India and incorporates many aspects of traditional Indian palace architecture.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)

The Elephanta Caves are located on the island on Elephanta in the Arabian Sea close to Mumbai. There are seven caves, each with decorated temples and images from Hindu mythology, which date from the 5th to the 8th centuries AD.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Elephanta Caves

Ajanta Caves

The Ajanta Caves are a series of 29 cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BC to the 7th century AD. Cut from hillside rock, there are 5 temples and 24 monasteries which contain carvings that depict the life of Buddha. In AD 650 they were abandoned in favour of the Ellora Caves 100km to the south-west but were rediscovered by a British tiger hunting party in 1819.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Ajanta Caves

Ellora Caves

The Ellora Caves comprise 34 monasteries and temples which were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Dating from 600-1000 AD, there are Buddhist, Jain and Brahmin temples, each peacefully co-existing side by side. The caves have remarkable reliefs and sculptures. The Kailasa Temple in particular is a rock-cut masterpiece - 3 million cubic metres of rock were removed to create the temple which is carved with intricate detail.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Ellora Caves

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is a collection of largely unexcavated historic properties which includes prehistoric sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital and the remains of the 16th-century capital of the state of Gujarat. The ruins of numerous buildings dating from the 8th to the 14th century are present while Kalikamata Temple on top of Pavagadh Hill remains an important site of pilgrimage.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park

Mahabalipuram is famous for rock-carved monuments created by the Pallava dynasty between the 6th and 8th centuries AD. These are located on a rocky outcrop along the Coromandel coast. They include the Shore Temple overlooking the beachfront with shrines dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, the temple of Rivage with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva, giant open-air reliefs such as Arjuna's Penance, the world's largest, which tell the story of the 'Descent of the Ganges', five ratha temples in the form of chariots and mandapa rock sanctuaries covered in bas-reliefs. Amidst the historic monuments, Mahabalipuram is a coastal retreat famed for its sandy beaches and delicious seafood.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

Thanjavur was capital of the once great Chola Empire, which ruled southern India and Sri Lanka in the 11th and 12th centuries AD. The Brihadisvara Temple here is testament to this civilisation, built between 1003-10 by King Rajaraja I. The temple is richly endowed with carvings and sculptures of Shiva, Vishnu and Durga and its tower, at 76 metres, is one of the highest in India. The Rajaraja Museum has a collection of magnificent Chola bronzes.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Great Living Chola Temples

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a narrow gauge railway built at the turn of the 20th century to connect the British hill station of Ootacamund to the plains below. The track scales an elevation from 326 metres to 2,203 metres through the scenic Nilgiri Hills. Ootacamund, known as Ooty, is the most famous of South India's hill stations - its attractions include the Botanical Gardens and the stunning views from Dodabetta Peak.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Mountain Railways of India

The monuments at Pattadakal date from the Chalukya dynasty of the 7th and 8th centuries and comprise a series of nine Hindu temples, notably the Temple of Virupaksha, as well as a Jain sanctuary.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Group of Monuments at Pattadakal

The city of Hampi was capital of the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar, which reigned between the 14th and 16th centuries, and was noted for its extraordinary temples and palaces that made Hampi one of the most beautiful cities of the medieval world with a population of half a million people. Buildings of note include the temples of Ramachandra and Hazara Rama, the elephant stables, Queen's Bath and Lotus Mahal, as well as the stone chariot pulled by two small elephants which is found in the courtyards of the temple of Vitthala. After the Battle of Talikota in 1565, Hampi was conquered by the Deccan Muslim confederacy, pillaged and abandoned.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Group of Monuments at Hampi

Old Goa

Goa was a Portuguese colony from 1510 until 1961 when India regained control. The Portuguese influence is still strongly felt however, particularly in the Catholic churches of Old Goa. The Church of Bom Jesus contains the tomb of the Catholic missionary St Francis Xavier. Other notable churches are the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Anne's Church.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Churches and Convents of Goa

The Western Ghats mountain chain is older than the Himalaya mountains and moderates the tropical climate of the region by influencing the Indian monsoon weather pattern. It has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism and is recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity, home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Western Ghats