Taj Mahal - The stunningly beautiful mausoleum of Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, and his wife.
The town of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is one of the major attractions around Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The monuments at Mahabalipuram were carved out of rock in 7th and 8th centuries, they are inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Locations in the video: Mahishamardini Cave (0:05), Old and new light houses (0:22), Krishna's Butterball (2:08), Descent of the Ganges (Bagiratha's Penance) (2:41), Pancha Rathas (Five Rathas, Five Chariots) (3:50), Shore Temple (4:35), Mahabalipuram beach (5:00).
Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory), India was founded in 1571 by the Emperor Akbar, to be capital of the Mughal Empire, and was abandoned in 1585. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hampi is one of the most impressive sites to visit in India. Inscribed as UNESCO Heritage site (quote from unesco.org): "The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries.”
The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in India and an important monument of Indian Architecture. It was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE.
Jodhpur, located in the state of Rajasthan, is known as the Blue City, for its houses painted in blue. Its main fame is the Mehrangarh Fort, built in the 15th century on a hill above the city, one of the largest forts in India.
The 3 World Heritage Sites in New Delhi, India: Humayun's Tomb, Red Fort, Qutub Minar (Qutb Minar). Humayun's Tomb was the first garden-tomb in India, was completed in 1572, and inspiration for Taj Mahal. The Red Fort was completed in 1648, it was the palace fort Shah Jahan (the fifth Mughal Emperor and builder of Taj Mahal). Qutub Minar is the tallest minaret in the world built by bricks, completed early 13th century. It is 73 m/240 ft high, diameter 14.3 m/47 ft at the base.
There are 34 rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples and monasteries from 7th to 10th centuries at Ellora. The most amazing is Cave 16: the Kailasa Temple (Kailasha, Kailash, Kailasanatha). It is the largest monument in the world cut from monolithic rock, it is UNESCO World Heritage Site: "These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff... Not only is the Ellora complex a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.”
Old Goa was the colonial capital of Goa from 1510 until it was abandoned in 1835. UNESCO listed World Heritage site.
Udaipur is known in Rajasthan and India with its beautiful palaces and lakes, the most famous of all being the City Palace and Lake Pichola. Udaipur was founded in 1559 as a new capital of the Mewar kingdom.
The Badami Cave temples were carved out of red sandstone hill in the 6th and 7th centuries in a stunning natural setting. In the video: Caves 1-4, Agastya lake, Lower and Upper Shivalaya temples, Bhootnath temples.
Pattadakal was capital of the Chalukya dynasty of Karnataka in Southern India between the 6th and 8th centuries. It is inscribed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites, quote: "Pattadakal, in Karnataka, represents the high point of an eclectic art which, in the 7th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty, achieved a harmonious blend of architectural forms from northern and southern India. An impressive series of nine Hindu temples, as well as a Jain sanctuary, can be seen there.”
The Kumbhalgarh Fort and the Ranakpur Jain Temple are two nearby amazing places, convenient to visit on a combined daytrip. Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second largest fort in Rajasthan. It was built in the 15th century and is one of the six forts included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Hill Forts of Rajasthan". The Ranakpur Jain Temple was constructed in the 15th century and is famous for its intricate architectural style. It has 1444 marble pillars, all carved in exquisite detail, each pillar with unique carvings.
The stepwells have been used in India for 1500 years for collection and storage of water, over the time they evolved into complex works of art and architecture. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) in Patan, Gujarat, India was built in the 11th century AD. It is UNESCO World Heritage site. The Sun Temple in Modhera was built in 11th century AD, it is another stunning architectural creation of the Indian architects of the past. In front of the temple is the stepped tank/reservoir. The Adalaj Stepwell, near Ahmedabad was built at the end of the 15th century, it is intricately carved and is five stories deep.
Chittorgarh Fort (Chittor Fort) is one of the largest forts in India. Built in the 7th century, used to be the capital of the Mewar rulers, and the place of three major battles in 1303, 1535, 1567. The ruins of many temples, palaces, reservoirs and towers are scattered around. Some of the most impressive structures in the fort are the scenic Gaumukh Reservoir and the beautiful stone towers with carved statues: Tower of Victory (Vijay Stambha, built in mid-15th century, 37 m/122 ft) and Kirti Stambha (12th century, 22 m/72 ft). Chittorgarh Fort, together with five other hill forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Ghats of Varanasi, along the banks of Ganges River, from Sunrise until the night time ceremony. Varanasi (Benares) is the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism and spiritual capital of India. The city existed at least 3,000 years ago (and possibly much earlier) and according to legend was founded by the god Shiva. The Ganges is a sacred river to Hindus and dying in Varanasi, and being cremated there on the banks of the Ganges is considered to grant instant salvation.
The desert city of Jaisalmer, called "The Golden City" because of the color of the sandstone used for its buildings and the fort. The Jaisalmer Fort was built in the 12th century, with Royal Palace, Jain temples, and residential buildings inhabited even now, it is one of the six forts included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Hill Forts of Rajasthan". The sandstone used for many houses and temples in Jaisalmer is intricately carved.
The Ajanta Caves are 30 Buddhist rock-cut temples and monasteries set along horseshoe shaped river gorge. The caves were built between 2nd century BC and 5th century AD. The paintings and sculptures in Ajanta are considered masterpieces of the Buddhist art and Ajanta is UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Kerala Backwaters are unique set of interconnected rivers, lakes and channels (natural and manmade) with total lenght of thousand miles. They are the main tourist attraction in Kerala state, and are usually explored by houseboats or tour boats. In the video - one full day/night cruise with houseboat from Kollam to Ashtamudi Lake, and one day boat trip from Kollam to Alleppey (Alappuzha).
Amazing Places in Southern India: Madurai, Rameswaram, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Kochi, Kerala Backwaters, Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), Hampi, Aihole, Pattadakal, Badami, Old Goa. Locations in the video: Madurai, Tamil Nadu (0:01); Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu (1:27); Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu (2:06); Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu (3:48); Kochi, Kerala (5:03); Kerala Backwaters (6:35); Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), Kerala (7:48); Padmanabhapuram Palace (8:00); Varkala Beach (8:28); Hampi, Karnataka (8:35); Aihole, Karnataka (9:45); Pattadakal, Karnataka (10:12); Badami, Karnataka (11:00); Old Goa, Goa (12:04).
The Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib - "The Abode of God") in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India is the holiest shrine and the most important pilgrimage site for the Sikhs. It is on the Tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan, Northern India. The main sites in the video are: The Amber Fort (Amer Fort) - built 16th century; Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) - 1799 (2:21); City Palace - 1729-1732 (3:20); Jantar Mantar, site with astronomy instruments - completed by 1734, UNESCO World Heritage Site (4:01); Jaigarh Fort - 1726 (4:57); Nahargarh Fort - 1734 (6:01); Monkey Temple (Galtaji) - 16th century (6:48); Old City (7:37).
The Gwalior Fort is strategically located on a steep 3 km-long sandstone hill, overlooking the city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is unknown when exactly the Gwalior Fort was built, the first mention of it is from the 10th century. Over the centuries the control over the fort changed more than a dozen times, so various architectural styles are present there, including Rajput, Mughal, and Hindu. Many important historic monuments including palaces, temples, and water tanks are located in the fort
Orchha is a historic town in Madhya Pradesh, India, founded in 1531. It is renowned for its remarkable blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture, presented in ornate palaces, temples, and cenotaphs. Orchha was at the heart of many prominent royal dynasties for nearly 300 years. The historic ensemble of Orchha is listed on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Six amazing hill forts in Rajasthan, India. Amber Fort, Jaipur (0:00), Chittor Fort, Chittorgarh (1:54), Jaisalmer Fort (3:29), Kumbhalgarh Fort (4:59), Junagarh Fort, Bikaner (6:30), Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur (8:22). Some of these forts have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Great Chola Temples, in Tamil Nadu, India were completed between the early 11th and 12th centuries by the kings of the Chola Empire. They are considered outstanding examples of the great architectural achievements of the Chola dynasty. The Great Living Chola Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur was added to the list in 1987, while the Airavatesvara Temple at Dharasuram/Kumbakonam, and Arulmigu Peruvudaiyar Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram, were added in 2004.
The Nalanda Mahavihara (Bihar, North-eastern India) comprises the archaeological remains of a monastery and university from the 5th to 13th century CE. The University of Taxila (in present-day Punjab, Pakistan) was established as a center of education in religious and secular topics, from the 6th century BCE to the 5th century CE. It started as a Vedic seat of learning and later became a center of Buddhist scholarship. UNESCO declared both Nalanda and Taxila World Heritage Sites, because of their archaeological importance and historical significance to the field of education.
The Khajuraho Monuments comprise an exquisite collection of Hindu and Jain temples located in Madhya Pradesh, India, constructed between 950 and 1150 AD. Renowned for their architectural brilliance and intricate sculptures, these temples are celebrated as some of the most profound masterpieces of Indian art. Their recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site underscores their global historical and cultural importance.