Explore the sites to Visit in India And also explore the vast Built Heritage of India Built heritage of India....

2. What is built heritage:
Built heritage is the unique and irreplaceable architecture with
historic background that merits preservation for future
generations. These can be individual old buildings of historic
importance such as houses, churches, castles, military
fortifications and other types of buildings, monuments or areas of
built heritage value e.g. town, squares, harbors and churchyards).
In broadest sense, built heritage does refer not only to ancient
history, but also to modern period.

3. Taj Mahal, Agra : Currently Taj is popularly known as “poem of Marble”. It is the
most cherished heritage sight that will attract 10 lakhs visitors throughout the
year. This famous monument was constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah
Jahan in his lovely died wife(Mumtaj’s) memory.
It took 22 years to build it, they began building it in 1631 and it was completed in
1653 and there were 20,000 workers who helped. To build it there it costed 32
million rupees.
Various kinds of precious stones are used to make this monument. This place
can be reach by road from Delhi which is 253 kms away and the nearest airport
is the New Delhi airport.

4. Taj Mahal, Agra
A Tribute to Beauty is a "symbol of eternal love, regarded as one of the eight
wonders of the world it is built entirely of white marble and seems to glow in
the light of the full moon. Like a jewel, the Taj sparkles in moonlight when the
semi-precious stones inlaid into the white marble on the main mausoleum catch
the glow of the moon.

5. The India Gate is a national monument of India. Situated in the heart
of New Delhi, it was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
It commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives
fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial
bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed
in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.
The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the
Duke of Connaught in 1921. The monument was dedicated to the nation
10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin.

6. India Gate, Delhi
Gateway made of Sand Stone is very dominating and intimidating in its outlook.
The interesting thing about the Delhi gate is that it has its century old wooden
locking system. The system is very complex and thus it had remained unused
since the times of British

7. Lotus Temple, Delhi
Located in the south of Delhi, it is lotus shaped and has rightly been given the
name. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal place for meditation and obtaining
peace and tranquility.

8. The Lotus Temple, located in New Delhi, India, is a Bahá'í House of Worship
completed in 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, it serves as the Mother
Temple of the Indian subcontinent and has become a prominent attraction in
the city. The Lotus Temple has won numerous architectural awards and been
featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles.

9. Red Fort, Delhi
Delhi's famous Red Fort is known by that name because of the red stone with
which it is built and it is one of the most magnificent places in the world,
famous for its delicately carved inlaid and Royal chambers

10. The Red Fort was built as the fortified palace of Shahjahanabad, capital of the fifth
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in 1648. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red
sandstone, it is adjacent to the older Salimgarh Fort, built by Islam Shah Suri in
1546. The imperial apartments consist of a row of pavilions, connected by a water
channel known as the Stream of Paradise (Nahr-i-Behisht). The Red Fort is
considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity under Shah Jahan.

11. Qutub Minar, Delhi
Qutb Minar, is the tallest minar (73 metres) in India originally
an ancient Islamic Monument, inscribed with Arabic
inscriptions, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Located in
Delhi, the Qutb Minar is made of red sandstone and marble.
The stairs of the tower has 379 steps,[is 72.5 metres (237.8 ft)
high, and has a base diameter of 14.3 metres, which narrows to
2.7 metres at the top. Construction was started in 1192 by Qutb-
ud-din Aibak and was carried on by his successor, Iltutmish. In
1368, Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed the fifth and the last
storey. It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval
structures and ruins, collectively known as the Qutb complex.

12. Qutub Minar, Delhi
Famed as the highest brick minaret of the world, Highest brick tower in the
world This ornate tower is now an eminent member of the World Heritage
Site community

13. Humayun's Tomb is a magnificent architecture , the first
garden-tomb to be built in India, ased on the description of
Islamic paradise gardens, is known to have inspired the Taj
Mahal
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
It is a magnificent architecture , the first garden-tomb to be built in India,
based on the description of Islamic paradise gardens, is known to have
inspired the Taj Mahal

14. It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and is located in
Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India, close to the Dina-panah citadel also known
as Purana Qila (Old Fort), that Humayun founded in 1533. It was also the
first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale. The tomb was declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
Humayun's tomb (Humayun ka Maqbara) is the tomb of the Mughal
Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India. The tomb was commissioned by
Humayun's first wife Bega Begum (Haji Begum) in 1569-70, and
designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by Bega
Begum.

15. Akshardham Temple, Delhi
It is world’s largest Hindu temple The monument is a fusion of several
architectural styles of pink stone and pure white marble. Pink stone symbolizes
devotion in eternal bloom and white marble of absolute purity and eternal
peace. It is one of the wonders of the modern world, and the wonders of modern
India.

16. Akshardham a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. Also referred to as Delhi
Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, the complex displays millennia of
traditional Hindu and Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture. The building
was inspired and developed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the
Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, whose 3,000
volunteers helped 7,000 artisans construct Akshardham.
The temple, which attracts approximately 70 percent of all tourists who visit Delhi,
was officially opened on 6 November 2005.It sits near the banks of the Yamuna
adjacent to the 2010 Commonwealth Games village in eastern New Delhi.

17. Victoria Memorial, Kolkatta
It was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 25-year reign over India It
currently serves as a museum. it is a majestic white marble building
surrounded by a sprawling garden. A black bronze Angel of Victory, holding a
bugle in her hand is placed at the apex of the dome

18. The Victoria Memorial's architect was William Emerson (1843–1924), president
of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The design is in the Indo-Saracenic
revivalist style. This style uses a mixture of British and Mughal elements as well
as Venetian, Egyptian, Deccani and Islamic architectural influences. The
building is 338 feet (103 m) by 228 feet (69 m) and rises to a height of 184 feet
(56 m). It is constructed of white Makrana marble.[14] The gardens of the
Victoria Memorial were designed by Lord Redesdale and David Prain.
Emerson's assistant, Vincent J. Esch designed the bridge of the north aspect
and the garden gates.

19. City Palace, Jaipur
It houses number of palaces inside the complex. including an art gallery and a
rich collection of some rare items. the museum inside has a rich collection of
royal costumes, folk embroidery, rare and invaluable (Kashmiri) Shawls, silk
saris .

20. It was the seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur, the head of the Kachwaha Rajput clan.
The Chandra Mahal palace now houses a museum but the greatest part of it is
still a royal residence. The palace complex, which is located northeast of the
centre of the grid patterned Jaipur city, incorporates
an impressive and vast array of courtyards, gardens
and buildings. The palace was built between 1729 and
1732, initially by Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber.
He planned and built the outer walls, and later additions
were made by successive rulers right up to the 20th century.

21. Gateway of India, Mumbai
Mumbai's most famous monument, this is the starting point for most tourists
who want to explore the city. The last of the British ships that set sail for
England left from the Gateway. Behind the arch, there are steps leading down to
the water.

22. The Gateway of India is a monument built during the British Raj in Mumbai
(formerly Bombay), India.It is located on the waterfront in the Apollo Bunder
area in South Mumbai and overlooks the Arabian Sea. The structure is a basalt
arch, 26 metres (85 feet) high. It lies at the end of Chhatrapati Shivaji Marg at
the water's edge in Mumbai Harbour. In earlier times, it would have been the
first structure that visitors arriving by boat in Mumbai would have seen. The
Gateway has also been referred to as the Taj Mahal of Mumbai, and is the city's
top tourist attraction.

23. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
It is also known as “Palace of Winds “ is the most sensational monument in the
city of Jaipur. was originally constructed to offer women of the court an upper
hand, so that they can watch the activities taking place in the bazaar and the
surrounding streets it is shaped like a pyramid and is a five-storied building,
with number of small windows and screens, with arched roofs .

25. Golden Temple, Amritsar
One of the most famous religious places in India. Located in the city of
Amritsar, its name literally means House of God. , richly ornamented with
marble sculptures, golden gilding, and large quantities of precious stones it is a
place of both stupendous beauty and sublime peacefulness

26. There are four doors to get into the Harmandir Sahib, which symbolize the
openness of the Sikhs towards all people and religions. The present day
Gurdwara was rebuilt in 1764 by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia with the help of other
Sikh Misls. In the early nineteenth century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh secured the
Punjab region from outside attack and covered the upper floors of the
Gurdwara with gold, which gives it its distinctive appearance and its English
name.
The Harimandir Sahib is
considered holy by Sikhs.
The holiest text of
Sikhism, the Guru
Granth Sahib, is always
present inside the
Gurdwara.
Its construction was mainly intended to build a place of worship for men
and women from all walks of life and all religions to come and worship
God equally. Over 100,000 people visit the holy shrine daily for worship.

27. Birla Temple, Delhi
It is a famous temple of Hindus in New Delhi. The temple was inaugurated by
Mahatma Gandhi and took six years to complete. It is a landmark in the history
of modern Indian architecture. The walls of the entire complex exhibit paintings
of the artists from Jaipur. An artificial mountainous landscape, with fountains
and waterfalls, has been created as the backdrop of the temple.

28. The Laxminarayan Temple also known as the Birla Mandir, is a Hindu
temple dedicated to Laxminarayan in Delhi, India. Laxminarayan
usually refers to Vishnu, Preserver in the Trimurti, also known as
Narayan, when he is with his consort Lakshmi. The temple,
inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, was made built by B. R. Birla and
Jugal Kishore Birla from 1933 and 1939. The side temples are
dedicated to Shiva, Krishna and Buddha.

29. Khajuraho - Land of The Moon God
Situated in Madhya Pradesh, India, Khajuraho oozes with passion, eroticism,
dance and music and other finesses of creative arts depicted in sculpture and
images of the temples

30. The name Khajuraho, ancient "Kharjuravāhaka", is derived from the Sanskrit
words kharjura = date palm and vāhaka = "one who carries". In the 19th
century, British engineer T.S. Burt arrived in the area, followed by General
Alexander Cunningham. Cunningham put Khajuraho on the world map when he
explored the site on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of India and described
what he found in glowing terms. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments has been
listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered to be one of the
"seven wonders" of India.

31. Jal Mahal, Jaipur
It is noted for its sophisticated design and grand architecture. The Palace was
developed as a pleasure spot and was used for the royal duck shooting parties.
It is a five-story palace, with the first four floors being submerged under water

32. "The Jal Mahal palace has got an eye-popping makeover. Traditional boat-
makers from Vrindavan have crafted the Rajput style wooden boats. A gentle
splashing of oars on the clear lake waters takes you to Jal Mahal. You move past
decorated hallways and chambers on the first floor to climb all the way up to the
fragrant Chameli Bagh. Across the lake, you can view the Aravalli hills, dotted
with temples and ancient forts, and on the other side, bustling Jaipur. The most
remarkable change is in the lake itself. The drains were diverted, two million
tonnes of toxic silt were dredged from the bottom, increasing its depth by over a
metre, a water treatment system was developed, local vegetation and fish
reintroduced, the surrounding wetlands regenerated and five nesting islands
created to attract migratory birds."

33. Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
It is the largest stone observatory in the World The observatory has fourteen
statistical instruments for measuring time, predicting eclipses and to ascertain
other astronomical events

34. The Jantar Mantar is an equinoctial sundial, consisting a gigantic triangular
gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the Earth's axis. On either side of the
gnomon is a quadrant of a circle, parallel to the plane of the equator. The
instrument is intended to measure the time of day, correct to half a second and
declination of the Sun and the other heavenly bodies.

35. Lake Palace, Udaipur
This palace is situated on an island, in the middle of Lake Pichola. Constructed
in white marble, it is one of the most mesmerizing palaces there are a number
of apartments within the palace itself. Ornamented with painted mirrors, inlaid
stones, cusped arched and lotus leaves, the rooms in these apartments bring
back the memories of the bygone royal era.

36. Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag Niwas) is a luxury hotel, of 83 rooms and
suites featuring white marble walls, located on a natural foundation of 4 acres
(16,000 m2)rock on the Jag Niwas island in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India. The
hotel operates a speed boat which transports guests to the hotel from a jetty at
the City Palace. It has been voted as the most romantic hotel in India and in the
world.

37. Mysore Palace, Mysore
It is a sight not to be missed when it is illuminated on Sundays and festive occasions..
The palace complex includes twelve Hindu temples. The palace houses several rooms
of importance. which are Royal wedding hall, public hall where the general
population could meet the king at prescribed times with petitions. And an armory,
which contains a collection of different types of arms used by the members of the
royal family.

38. The Palace of Mysore is a historical palace situated in the city of Mysore in Karnataka,
southern India. It is the official residence of the Wodeyars, the former royal family of
Mysore, which ruled the princely state of Mysore from 1399 to 1947. The palace also
houses two durbar halls (ceremonial meeting hall of the royal court).
Mysore is commonly described as the City of Palaces, however the term "Mysore Palace"
refers specifically to the one within the old fort. Mysore Palace is now one of the most
famous tourist attractions in India, after Taj Mahal, with more than 2.7 million visitors.

39. Conservation & Preservation:-
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), as an attached office under
the Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, is the
premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection
of the cultural heritage of the nation. Maintenance of ancient
monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national
importance is the prime concern of the ASI. Besides it regulate all
archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
For the maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites
and remains of national importance the entire country is divided into 24
Circles. The organization has a large work force of trained
archaeologists, conservators, epigraphist, architects and scientists for
conducting archaeological research projects through its Excavation
Branches, Prehistory Branch, Epigraphy Branches, Science Branch,
Horticulture Branch, Building Survey Project, Temple Survey Projects
and Underwater Archaeology Wing.