Top 10 Historical places

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Top 10 Historical Places & Monuments

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This beautiful monument made of ivory marble was built in 1632 by Emperor Shah Jahan for his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is located in the city of Agra beside the Yamuna River. Both are even buried within the building. It is one of the 7 wonders of the world making it a very popular tourist attraction, with sometimes visits up to 50,000 people a day. Some parts of the building have beautiful Islamic calligraphy written by Amanat Khan Shirazi. The architecture is a combination of Islamic, Indian, and Persian influences and makes it very different from many other structures in India. The brilliant white marble came in from Makrana in Rajasthan, the jade and crystal came from China, the jasper from Punjab, the turquoise from Tibet, the Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan, the carnelian from Arabia, and the sapphires from Sri Lanka. It is said to cost 32 million rupees to build the Taj Mahal. In today’s currency that is approximately 1 billion dollars USD. It opens at 6 am and closes at 5 pm. It is also close to the Agra Fort if visitors want to see two monuments in 1 visit.

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Taj Mahal Entry Gates Taj Mahal Opening Hours

Western Gate (Main Gate) An hour before sunrise and about 45 minutes prior to sunset

Eastern Gate An hour before sunrise, and 45 minutes before sunset

Southern Gate Only Exit

Nearest Airport

Nearest Metro Station Nearest Railway Station Nearest Bus Stand

The Agra Airport

NA Agra Cantt Railway Station The Idgah Bus Stand

Entry Fee (Indian)

INR 45 (Additional INR 200 to see the main mausoleum)

Entry Fee (SAARC and BIMSTEC) INR 535 (Additional INR 200 to see the main mausoleum) Entry Fee (Foreigner) INR 1050 (Additional NR 200 to see the main mausoleum) Entry Below (Children Below Age 15) Free

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Netaji Subhash Marg, Lal Qila, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006

Red Fort also known as Lal Qalʿah, also spelled Lal Kila or Lal Qila is a large 16th -17th

century fortress of red sandstone stands at 75 feet (23 metres) high and encloses a

complex of palaces. halls, balconies, baths and indoor canals, and geometrical gardens,

as well as a mosque. It also has white marble interior similar to the Taj Mahal on the inside

as well. The architecture of this building was also by the same man who built the Taj

Mahal, Emperor Shah Jahan. It is described as a walled city that is both a military base

and a royal residence. The fort complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in

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You can arrive at the destination via flight, train, or road.

Flight – Indira Gandhi International Airport is located in Palam a place 16km away from

Delhi. You can take a taxi from here to the destination in about 20 mins.

Train – Metro trains also run in the city and the nearest metro station to the fort is Chandni

Chowk on Yellow Line which is 1.5km away from the red fort.

Road - They can use auto rickshaws, taxis, and local buses to reach the fort. Tourists can

catch buses from ISBT Kashmiri Gate, ISBT Anand Vihar, and ISBT at Sarai Kale Khan

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Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001

This 20th-century monument was erected to commemorate the landing of King

George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder on their visit to India in 1911. The

structure itself was built in 1924 and is located in Mumbai City and overlooks the

Arabian Sea. The arch is made of basalt and stands at 26 meters (85 feet) high. It is

kind of like an entryway to India.

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Air – The best airport to get to Mumbai is through Chhatrapati Shivaji International

Airport. It is about 30 km away from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal (CST Station),

which is a railway station. This can be used to get around Mumbai City.

Train - The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the most popular station in Mumbai.

Important Trains to note are the Mumbai Rajdhani, Mumbai Duronto, Konkan Kanya

Express.

Road – Mumbai is very well connected with national highways and roads. For individual

tourists, it is best to take the bus since it is the most economical and cost-efficient

method. Private buses and taxis also run daily to this attraction. These amenities can be

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Lahori Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is undoubtedly the most renowned Hindu sacred site in

Varanasi. It was constructed in the 18th century.  The temple is also entitled the Golden

Temple. The spire of the shrine is made with 800 kg of gold and looks beautiful during the

day. The temple has ancient Hindu text all over the temple called Skanda Purana.

Visitors can come and pay respect to the different deities and perform the pilgrimage at

the temple. Some nearby attractions and things to do while visiting the Kashi Vishwanath

Temple are the Yoga Training Centre, the Panchaganga Ghat, Nepali Temple, and the

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Tourists can perform the pilgrimage of the temple on any day from 4:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Besides, the aarti timings are:

 Mangala Aarti: 3:00 AM to 4:00 PM  Bhog Aarti: 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM  Sandhya Aarti: 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM  Shringar Aarti: 9:00 PM to 10:15 PM  Shayan Aarti: 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM

Nearby attractions:

• Panchganga Ghat • Nepali Temple • Scindia Ghat • Yoga Training Centre • Dasaswamedh Ghat • Ganesh Mandir Ghat • Beni Mahadev Temple • Alamgir Mosque • Banaras Toy Museum • Ganesh Mandir Ghat

Adalaj Rd, Adalaj, Gujarat 382421

It was built by the Hindu queen Rani Rudadevi with help from neighbouring Muslim

ruler King Mahmud Begada. The structure is built in the Solanki style of architecture, with

Islamic influence. It has five storeys, and each storey is uniquely designed and has

beautiful carvings all over the walls and columns. Stepwells are common in many regions

of India, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The term used for step-wells in Gujarat

is Vav while in Rajasthan they are called Baoli. Stepwells served two key purposes back

in the day, one as a place to store water and the other as a place for travellers to stop by

during their long journeys. The designs of these buildings are ancient and historic. The

architecture is beautiful, and the walls tell a story.

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The visiting hours are 8 am to 7 pm.

Some tips when traveling on a budget:

1. Go to Lal Darwaza (it’s the central bus station) 2. Take a shared auto or a bus to Adalaj town (inform that you want to go to the vav) 3. An auto will cost Rs 30 and a bus will be much cheaper

If you have some more money, you can take an auto from Ahmedabad city and directly go to the stepwell. Let the auto not wait for you otherwise he might charge you a bomb as a waiting fee. You can find an auto/ bus/ shared-auto easily after you are done with the visit. You can also take a radio cab for a drop and then take an auto for the return trip.

The non-shared auto will cost about Rs 200-250, a cab will be slightly more. The journey takes about forty-five minutes in the auto.

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Chittor Fort Rd, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan 312001

Chittorgarh Fort is regarded as the symbol of Rajput chivalry, resistance, and bravery. The fort is located east of Udaipur and is believed to be named after the person who built it, Chitrangada Mori. It is one of the largest forts in India, at 180 meters high on a hill that rises from the banks of river Berach. The fort is known for its seven gates named Padan Gate, Ganesh Gate, Hanuman Gate, Bhairon Gate, Jodla Gate, Lakshman Gate, and the main gate which is named after Lord Ram. There are two prominent towers within the premises of the fort namely Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) and Kirti Stambha (Tower of Fame). when viewed from above, looks roughly like a fish A huge complex of Jain temples is a major attraction. Chittorgarh Fort and other forts in Rajasthan were declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

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There is a legend that goes with this fort that states that Chitrangada Mori, a local

Maurya ruler built the fort. A water body that was situated next to the fort is said to

have been created by the legendary hero of Mahabharata, Bhima. The legend has it

that Bhima once struck the ground with all his might, which gave rise to a huge

reservoir.

Visiting Time: 9:45 AM – 6: 

For Indian Residents Ticket price = Rs 15.

If you are not an Indian citizen, then you will have to shell out Rs 200

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Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India - 380 027

Gandhi’s first Ashram in India was established in the Sabarmati area of Ahmedabad

on 25 May 1915. The Ashram was then moved to a piece of open land on the banks of

the river Sabarmati in 1917. The Ashram is presently involved in several activities that

serve to both preserve the history of Gandhi and the freedom struggle. It also

promotes and educates people in the great philosophies, values, and teachings of

Gandhi. Currently, the Ashram serves as a source of inspiration and guidance and

stands as a monument to Gandhi’s life mission and a testimony to others who have

fought a similar struggle.

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Some activities to do during your stay at the ashram are:

 Collecting, processing, preserving, and displaying archival materials

(writings, photographs, paintings, voice-records, films, personal clothes , etc

 Microfilming, lamination, and preservation of negatives

 Arranging exhibitions on aspects of Gandhi’s life, literature, and activities

 The Ashram Trust funds activities that include education for the visitor, the

community , and routine maintenance of the museum and its surrounding grounds

 Keeping contact with as well as helping and undertaking study and research in

Gandhian thought and activities and publishing the results of such study and

research and allied literature for the benefit of the people

 Observance in a suitable manner of occasions connected with Gandhi’s life

 Maintaining contact with the youth and student community and providing facilities to

them for the study of Gandhian thought.

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Golden Temple Rd, Atta Mandi, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar, Punjab 143006

Sri Harmandir Sahib also known as the Golden Temple is the spiritual center for over

20 million Sikhs worldwide. It was built by Maharajah Ranjit Sing, founder of the Sikh

Empire of India in 1799 – 1849. Temple has marble inlays all along the floor and the

upper floors are covered in 750 kilos of pure gold. It is truly a remarkable sight to see.

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Devotees can bathe in the Golden Temple's holy pool which is told to have

healing properties. The temple also offers a free vegetarian meal at the temple kitchen

for all visitors and sometimes even serves 100,000 a day. Everyone sits together on the

floor as equals and there is no discrimination towards foreign visitors.

All visitors must remain barefoot, and everyone passes through a separate foot-

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Khajuraho City has many temples, but The Khajuraho Temple is a very popular tourist destination. It was built during the Chandella Dynasty which ruled in the 10th and 11th centuries CE. The art and architecture surrounding the temple and the carvings are remarkable. The City has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There were once around 85 temples in Khajuraho, now there are only 22 Hindu temples left now due to damages from nature and deterioration. Khajuraho Temples are also ranked as the best monuments of antiquity by the Archeological Survey of India.

Some of the activities that tourists can enjoy during their visits are festivals and dance shows. Tourists can enjoy the festival of Classical Dances that is often held during the months of February and March. There is a week-long festival that encompasses 7 classical dances of India. The dances include Indian classical dance genres like Manipuri, Bharat Natyam, Oddissi, Kucchipudi, Mohiniattam, Kathak, and Kathakali. Famous dancers and singers come to these festivals to celebrate certain holidays and spiritual prayers.

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There are also various handcraft stores and Crafts Emporium from where you can buy

various sculptures made of brass, iron and stone.

By Air: Civil Aerodrome Khajuraho Airport in Khajuraho is the nearest airport (6 Km) that

connects several. Tourists can get flights from Mumbai and Delhi to visit these temples.

By Rail: Khajuraho Railway Station (5.9 Km) is the nearest railway station to reach the

destination. Another railway station is the Mahoba Railway Station which is located 63 Km

from Khajuraho.

By Road: There are various private buses which go to and from Khajuraho to several

other cities. Major cities like Jhansi, Satna, Harpalpur, Jabalpur, and others. There are also

taxis and rickshaws from the train station to get to the temples and private cars.

Best Time to Visit: September to March

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Jama Masjid Rd, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006

This mosque in Old Delhi is the largest mosque in India and has a courtyard that

can hold 25,000 devotees. This is also an architectural monument built by Shah Jahan,

the Emperor who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. This mosque is located right

opposite of the Red Fort and tourists can see all 3 monuments in one visit if timed

accordingly. The architecture and stones used to build this is very similar to the Taj

Mahal.

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The Jama Masjid has three great gates, four towers, and two 40 m-high minarets

constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. The prayer hall is decorated

with arched marble structures inscribed with a detailed history of the mosque. Travelers

can rent out robes at the northern gate to fit the attire of the mosque. There are separate

entrances for individuals who are non-vegetarians. For non-vegetarians, Al Jawahar and

Karim are the prominent eateries in Jama Masjid.

To reach by road, board the bus operating from ISBT Kashmere Gate or Old Delhi

railway station. Private cabs are also available.

Cost: Jama Masjid’s entry fee is INR 50 for Indian nationals and INR 300 for foreign

tourists.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun 7 AM TO 630 PM