Chennai

World Heritage Sites in India

The heritage sites of Indian tourist circuit are the monuments selected by UNESCO to encourage protection and preservation of cultural sites considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

Ajanta Caves The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date back to the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. the Gupta period in the 5th and 6th centuries A.D., many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence.

Taj Mahal An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

Ellora Caves 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 far from Aurangabad, in the state of Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. Not only is the Ellora Cave 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.

Sun temple,Konark On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konark is a monumental representation of the Sun God Surya's chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, Konark is one of India's most famous Brahman sanctuaries.

Hampi 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. Conquered by the Deccan Muslim confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months before being abandoned.

Elephanta Caves The 'City of Caves', on an island in the Sea of Oman close to Mumbai, contains a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Lord Shiva. Here, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high reliefs in the main cave.

Agra Fort Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th- century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.

Delhi

Delhi is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Having been the capital of several empires in ancient India, Delhi was a major city in the old trade routes from northwest India to the Gangetic Plains.

Many ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance have been erected in its history.The Mughals built a section of the city (now known as Old City or Old Delhi) that served as the capital of Mughal Empire for a long period. During the British Raj, New Delhi was built as an administrative quarter of the city. New Delhi was declared the capital of India after India gained independence from British rule in 1947. As the seat of the Government of India, New Delhi houses important offices of the federal government, including the Parliament of India, making Delhi a powerhouse of Indian politics.

Delhi has grown up to be a cosmopolitan city owing to the immigration of people from across the country. Like many other large cities of the world, Delhi suffers from urbanisation problems such as pollution, traffic congestion, and scarcity of resources.The rapid development and urbanisation of Delhi and surrounding areas coupled with the high average income of the populace has largely eclipsed socio-cultural traits that used to represent Delhi until a few years after independence. Today, Delhi is a major cultural, political, and commercial center of India.

Delhi Attractions

Parliament House of India

Jantar Mantar

Alai Darwaza

Alai Minar

Qutub Minar

Delhi Red Fort

Birla Mandir

Kali Bari Mandir

Kalkaji Temple

Lotus Temple

Jama Masjid

India Gate

Supreme Cour

King George V Memorial

Northern Ridge

Parliament House

Regal Building

Rashtrapati Bhavan

Connaught Place

Jaipur

Jaipur is as remarkable for its marvellous architecture and town planning as it is for the lively spirit of the people who inhabit it. The city presents a unique synthesis of culture that has to be experienced in order to be appreciated.

Jaipur is the pristine jewel in the desert sands of Rajasthan.

Jaipur is as remarkable for its marvellous architecture and town planning as it is for the lively spirit of the people who inhabit it. The city presents a unique synthesis of culture that has to be experienced in order to be appreciated.

With its origin buried deep into the pages of history, the city still exudes a magical old world charm; an aroma of chivalry and romance is evident, despit having evolved into a city that is the hub of modern commercial activity in the region. Tell-tale signs of the glorious past and regal splendour of the city lie strewn across with gay abandon.

The colourful and intricately carved monuments are adequately matched by the lively spirit of fanfare, festivity and celebration of the people. Even today, one can find weather beaten faces with huge coloufrul trurbans, fierce moustaches and lips that spontaneouslya crease into a heart warming smile.

A city like Jaipur, where modernity and tradition live hand-in-hand, is truly rare. Perhaps this is what makes it an attractive destination for tourists who flock to Jaipur , year after year.

Places To Visit

Amer Fort

Jaigarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort

City Palace

Govind Devji Temple

Moti Doongrari & Lakshmi Narayan Temple

Jagat Shiromani Temple

Around The Taj Mahal

Do not miss the opportunity to include a tour of some of the most unique and marvellous heritage sites, wildlife sanctuaries on your trip to the Taj Mahal.

If you interested to explore the Mughal heritage, then visit Sikandra the closest neighbour of Agra or another world heritage site not very far from Agra the walled city of Fatehpur Sikri. Looking for some relaxation, then move a little ahead from Fatehpur Sikri and you'll reach the bird paradise of India, the Bharatpur bird Sanctuary.


Donot miss the spiritual land of Lord Krishna and the three towns associated with his legends Mathura- Gokul And Vrindavan.

Cities around Agra (Distance from Agra)

¤Delhi (203 km)
¤ Haridwar
¤ Khajuraho (393 km)
¤ Lucknow (363 km)
¤ Naintal (376 km)
¤ Sikandra (10 km)
¤ Varanasi (577 km)
¤ Dehradun (381 km)
¤ Mathura - Vrindavan (58 km)
¤ Gwalior (118 km)
¤ Jaipurr (232 km)
¤ Rishikesh

Attractions around Taj Mahal

¤ Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary(60 km)
¤ Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
¤ Panna National Park
¤ Ranthambore National Park (294 km)
¤ Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary(189 km)

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal
Let the splendor of the diamond, pearl and ruby vanish like the magic shimmer of the rainbow. Only let this one teardrop, the Taj Mahal, glisten spotlessly bright on the cheek of time... Rabindranath Tagore Location:Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra , one of the most powerful cities in the medieval world.

Agra is a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, in the northern region of India. It is a part of the great northern plains and is situated on the west bank of river the Yamuna. Agra is 204 km south of Delhi. Legendary Saga: An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Arjumand Banu. The Taj Mahal is one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage and the jewel of Muslim art in India.

Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. Elegy in Marble- Taj Mahal: Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. The architecture is stunning and the unique mughal style combines elements of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture. Most impressive are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets (40 m high) at the corners of the structure, and the majestic dome in the middle. If observed minutely around the archways, the lettering of the Quran verses appears to be uniform, regardless of their height. The impressive pietra dura artwork includes geometric elements, plants and flowers, mostly common in Islamic architecture. There is a high level of intricacy involved in artwork when one realizes that a 3 cm decorative element contains more than 50 inlaid gemstones. the Taj Mahal is inspired by love and shaped to perfection, it immortalizes one man's love for his wife and the splendor of an era.