India has the 6th most World Heritage sights in the world, declared by UNESCO and each one presents a unique point of view in terms of national history. These have been protected, preserved and often restored due to their immense importance. Here is a list of 7 such heritage sights to behold in India:
- Fatehpur Sikri, Agra: Also known as ‘The City of Victory”, the city of Fatehpur was founded by Emperor Akbar, the third Mughal Ruler of India. After Akbar’s victorious campaign in Gujarat in 1573 CE, the city was commissioned and several monuments were constructed here, including the famed Buland Darwaza which is in itself an architectural marvel and a must visit.
- The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, Chandigarh: This is an outstanding contribution to the Modern Movement and consists of 17 building projects on 3 continents. The Indian one, located in Chandigarh city of India, and consists of three buildings, three monuments and a lake. The sites demonstrate the how Modernism was applied to construction, and hold a special place in Indian movement in this direction.
- Jantar Mantar, Jaipur: A collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, Jantar Mantar is a popular place among tourists and history seekers alike. It features the largest stone sundial and was completed in 1734 CE, built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II. This site was an important milestone in Indian Astronomy, which was at par with European efforts and borrowed heavily from ancient Indian texts mentioning techniques to measure astronomical variables.
- Red Fort, Delhi: The Red Fort is a popular monument from the Mughal Era and served as the main residence of the Mughal dynasty for around 200 years. Made of Red sandstone, the fort served as a political center of the Mughal state and still holds importance as the spot where the Prime Minister delivers their speech on Indian Independence Day.
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Tamil Nadu: This is the only rack railway in India which allows it to climb steep gradients in the hills. Built by the British in 1908, this train site runs on steam locomotives and is a World Heritage Site, signifying India’s rich cultural history. It is also a fun ride to take amidst the breathtaking Nilgiri hills.
- Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal: The National Park, tiger reserve and biosphere reserve is one of the biggest reserves of Mangrove Forests and Bengal Tigers. It gained national importance during the 1987 when it was declared as a UNESCO Heritage site. Though a major portion of the basin comes in Bangladesh, India’s portion has a wide variety of wild animals including the salt-water crocodile.
- Rani ki Vav, Gujarat: This is a stepwell in Patan, Gujarat, along the banks of the Saraswati River. The structure is a very intricate form of art and was built as a memorial to an 11th century king Bhima. This site also gained the title of “Cleanest Iconic Place” in India in 2016. It is built in the Maru-Gujrara style of architecture with an inverted temple and multiple levels of stairs holding more than 500 principal structures.
