Temples & Monuments

The Konark Sun Temple was commissioned by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty in the 13th century.

The Dravida style of temple architecture, prevalent in South India, is famous for its towering Vimanas and large, ornate entrance gateways called Gopurams.

The Kailasa temple (Cave 16) at Ellora was built by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I in the 8th century.

The Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan, is universally acclaimed as the pinnacle of Mughal architecture and the jewel of Indo-Islamic art.

The Shore Temple, a structural temple overlooking the Bay of Bengal, was constructed during the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha.

The Brihadisvara Temple, also known as the Big Temple, was completed in 1010 AD by Rajaraja Chola I.

The Dilwara Temples at Mount Abu are famous for their intricate marble carvings and represent the Maru-Gurjara architectural style.

The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is the largest and most ornate temple in the Khajuraho complex, built by the Chandela dynasty rulers.

The Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh (Jhansi) is considered one of the earliest Hindu stone temples, dating back to the Gupta period (c. 6th century).

Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah in Bijapur, Karnataka, and is famous for its massive dome and whispering gallery.

Qutb-ud-din Aibak commissioned the Qutub Minar in 1193, but he died before completing it; Iltutmish later completed the work.

The Vittala Temple complex in Hampi (Vijayanagara) is celebrated for its iconic stone chariot and musical pillars.

Char Minar was built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 to commemorate the end of a plague in the city.

The Elephanta Caves are famous for the Trimurti (Maheshmurti) sculpture, which depicts the three aspects of Lord Shiva.

Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by Lal Chand Ustad.

The Chennakesava Temple at Belur is a prime example of the Hoysala architecture, which is a subtype of the Vesara style.

Shravanabelagola is famous for the 57-foot-high monolithic statue of Bahubali (Gommateshwara).

The Gateway of India in Mumbai was built to commemorate the arrival of King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder in 1911.

The Modhera Sun Temple was built by King Bhima I of the Solanki dynasty in the 11th century.

The 'Pancha Rathas' (Five Chariots) in Mahabalipuram are monolithic structures carved out of single granite rock formations.

The Lad Khan Temple at Aihole is a prime example of early Chalukyan temple architecture, showing a transition from cave shrines to structural temples.

The Red Fort (Lal Qila) in Delhi was constructed by Shah Jahan and served as the capital of the Mughals until 1857.

The Chennakeshava Temple was commissioned by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the Cholas.

The Alai Darwaza, built by Alauddin Khalji, is located within the Qutub Minar complex and is recognized for its use of true Islamic architectural elements.

The Dilwara Temples are renowned for their stunning white marble carvings and are considered a masterpiece of Jain temple architecture.

The Sas-Bahu temple, built by King Mahipala of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty in 1093, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Padmanabha).

The Hoysala style of architecture is distinct for its star-shaped ground plan and the prevalence of Trikuta (three-shrine) temple layouts.

The Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra was originally a Sanskrit college built by Vigraharaja IV before it was converted into a mosque by Qutub-ud-din Aibak.

Rani ki Vav was built in the 11th century AD, allegedly by Queen Udayamati of the Solanki Dynasty.

The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah is often called the 'Draft of the Taj' because it was the first Mughal building to make extensive use of pietra dura (inlay work).

The Virupaksha Temple was built by Queen Lokamahadevi in 740 AD to celebrate her husband Vikramaditya II's victory over the Pallavas of Kanchipuram.

The Meenakshi Amman Temple represents the height of Nayaka architecture, particularly famous for its soaring, highly ornate gopurams.

Bibi Ka Maqbara was built by Prince Azam Shah, the son of Aurangzeb, in memory of his mother Rabia-ud-Daurani in Aurangabad.

The Lepakshi temple is a classic example of the Vijayanagara style, featuring a massive monolithic Nandi carved from a single block of granite.

Sawai Jai Singh II of Amber constructed five Jantar Mantar observatories in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, and Varanasi.

The Sanchi Stupa was originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE to preserve Buddhist relics.

Gwalior Fort is frequently referred to as the 'Gibraltar of India' due to its strategic location and invincible appearance.

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is widely known as the richest place of worship in the world.

Akbar built the Buland Darwaza (Gate of Magnificence) at Fatehpur Sikri in 1573 to celebrate his conquest of Gujarat.

The Kailasa Temple at Ellora (Cave 16) is a monolithic structure carved from a single cliff, showcasing the transition and integration of rock-cut and structural architecture.

Teli ka Mandir features a Dravidian-style shikhara perched upon a Nagara-style rectangular sanctum, making it a distinct architectural hybrid.

The Brahmeshvara Temple is a significant monument of the Kalinga school of architecture, characterized by its 'Deula' structure.

The Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple in Andhra Pradesh is often referred to as 'Dakshina Kashi' due to its immense religious significance.

Bada Bagh consists of a series of royal cenotaphs (chhatris) built by the Maharajas of Jaisalmer state.

The Jagdish Temple was built by Maharana Jagat Singh I in 1651 and is a fine example of the Indo-Aryan style.

The Stone Chariot is located inside the Vittala Temple complex at Hampi and is dedicated to Garuda.

The Lal Mahal (Red Palace) was built by Ghiyas ud din Balban; it is considered the earliest example of a true arch in India.

The 8th-century Martand Sun Temple in Kashmir was commissioned by the powerful Karkota king Lalitaditya Muktapida.

The Panch Mahal is a unique, airy, five-storied building located in the Fatehpur Sikri complex built by Akbar.

The Murud-Janjira fort off the coast of Maharashtra is famous for remaining undefeated by the Marathas, Mughals, British, and Portuguese.