To appreciate India in all its manifestations, it is essential to divert our attention to various heritage sites that exist within the country. Many have been well preserved.

Popular Historical Sites in India

• The Humayun Tomb in Delhi, the capital city of India, is very popular with the tourists. It consists of the main tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun and also houses the grave of Hamida Begum, his wife. The tomb also has the grave of Dara Shikoh , who happens to be the son of late Emperor Shah Jehan as well as those of later Mughals. It is a UNESCO world heritage site.
• The Qutbh Minar Complex in Delhi is worth visiting. The monument stands high in Mehrauli in Delhi. Qutbuddin Aibak, belonging to the Slave Dynasty began the construction of this monument complex and eventually other successors and rulers were also involved in completing the complex structure such as Iltutmish, Aluddin Khilji etc. as well as the British.
• Lal Kila or the Red Fort is situated in the walled city of Delhi. It is also a UNESCO Heritage site and is visited by many tourists.
• The Basilica Bom Jesus is in Goa and houses the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The church is situated in old Goa, which was the capital of Goa in early Portuguese days, situated 10 km from Panjim.
• Hampi is situated in the ruins of Vijayanagar Empire. Hampi village is in Northern state of Karnataka. Hampi has several temples and in some worshipping is done.
• The Sanchi Stupa is very famous. It is situated in a small village located in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh. It was initially commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE . The Toranans surrounding the stupa represent love, peace, courage and trust.
• The Ajanta caves are a tourist attraction and are situated in Maharashtra. These monuments made of cut rock date back to second century BCE. They contain sculptures and paintings of Buddhist religious art. They are located in Aurangabad district village of Maharashtra..
• The Elephanta Caves are situated in the Elephant Island in the Arabian sea close to Mumbai, capital city of Maharashtra. They are made up of the Shaivistic reliefs of the deities, which are important to Shiva devotees. It was declared a UNESCO heritage site in order to ensure that the artwork is preserved.
• Ellora Caves are located in Aurangabad in Maharashtra. They are famous for their rock cut architecture and consists of 34 caves. The rulers of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty built these rocks. It is also a world heritage site. They are made up of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain caves.
• The Konark Sun temple was built in the 13th century in Konark in Orissa. It is a well known temple and is also a world heritage site.
• The Taj Mahal was built by late Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. It is tomb built in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal, wife of Shah Jehan. Foreign tourists make it a point to visit this monument located in Agra.
• The Sunderbans National Park located in West Bengal consists of mangrove forests and is a major reserve for Bengal tigers. You also come across reptiles and birds, the salt- water crocodile etc.
• The Fatehpur Sikri is situated in Agra and was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar. It has several palaces, halls and masjids. It synthesizes various schools of craftsmanship of various schools of regional architecture, such as Bengali and Gujarati.
• The group of monuments in Khajuraho are also world heritage sites. It is situated in Chhatarpur district of Maharashtra. The monuments are famous for their erotic sculptures.
• The Nanda Devi National Park is situated in Uttarakhand state. It is also a world heritage site. The park lies at an elevated level of 3,500m above sea level.

India is a tourist’s delight. It has much to offer in the form of cultural heritage. The past glory cannot be forgotten and are preserved in various relics and monuments that have withstood the pressures of time.