When we think of India, the first thing that comes to mind is the beautiful, majestic, and historical places in every corner of the country. India is a land of history and culture, like no other place in the world.
From the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Hawa Mahal, and Fatehpur Sikri to the Golden Temple, Khajuraho Temple, India, have architectural masterpieces. India has a history of over thousands of years, over different eras, and under the rule of different rulers.
It will take you days or months to travel to all the historical places in India, so I have curated a list of the top 10 historical places in India. You can visit each and every one of these places and experience the culture and majesty of these places.
Famous Historical Places In India
There is no shortage of places to visit in India for their historically significant places, but it is not possible to see them all. This is why we have listed down the most famous historical places in India. Listed down below are the 10 historical places in India with information you need.
1. Taj Mahal
If you are a history buff and admire the Seven Wonders of the World, then you can tick off your bucket list. The Taj Mahal is a beautiful specimen among the Seven Wonders of the World. And it is one of the most famous historical places in India.
All over the world, the Taj Mahal is considered the “epitome of eternal love”. Built by Shah Jahan for his late wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1632. The construction took about 22 years to complete, with the combined efforts of 20,000 people.
Entry Fee– Indians INR 40
Foreigners INR -1000
Opening– Half an hour before sunrise
Closing– Half an hour before sunset
Must see– Night Shows
Built by Shah Jahan
Year– 1648
Read More: 8 Tips To Get The Best Photographs At The Taj Mahal
2. Agra Fort
During the Mughal Rule, India was adorned with some beautiful monuments; of them is the Agra fort. Built completely of red stone, the construction began in 1565 by Mughal Emperor Akbar. The fort is among the 10 historical places in India.
The fort has two famous gates called the Amar Singh Gate and the Delhi Gate. If you enter through the Amar Singh Gate, you can visit the inner quarters of the fort. The mosques, palaces, courts, and gateways.
Entry Fee– Indians INR- 40
Foreigners INR– 550
Opening– 6 am
Closing– 6 pm
Must See– Nagina Masjid, Mina Masjid, Moti Masjid, Zenana MIna Bazaar and Jahangir Palace.
Built by– Akbar and Shah Jahan
Year– 1573
3. Red Fort
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan gave us some of the most beautiful architectural marvels, like the Red Fort. It took more than 10 years to finish the construction of the fort. Though the name signifies the colour of the fort as “red.” But originally, the colour of this massive fort was white.
It was made out of Limestone, hence the colour, but when the colour started to chip off, the British had to paint it red. The fort was originally known as the Qila-e-Mubarak.
Entry Fee– Indians INR- 10
Foreigners INR– 250
Opening– 9:30 am
Closing– 4:30 pm (Monday closed)
Must see– The Rang Mahal, where the females, like the wives, maids and mistresses, resided.
Built by– Shah Jahan
Years– 1639
4. Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri was once the capital of the Mughal Empire during the rule of Emperor Akbar. This royal city has a number of beautiful public buildings and living quarters for the king, servants and the army.
The place has beautiful gardens with decorated pillars. This was one of the well-planned cities in 1569. But, due to the water, the fort was abandoned.
Entry Fee– Indian INR- 40
Foreigner INR– 510
Opening– 6 am
Closing– 6 pm (Friday closed)
Must see– Diwan -i- Aam & Diwan -i-Khas
Built by– Akbar
Year– 1569
5. Hawa Mahal
Also known as the “Palace of Winds,” Hawa Mahal looks like a massive honeycomb with intricately beautiful 953 windows. The building is shaped like a crown built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. This is one of the significant historical places in India.
The building is one of the tallest buildings in the world without any foundation. As the building is curved, it stands strong with a pyramid-like shape.
Entry Fee– Indian INR- 10
Foreigner INR– 50
Opening– 9:30 am
Closing– 4:30 pm
Must see- The intricate detailing on the windows
Built by– Pratap Singh
Year– 1799
6. Khajuraho Temples
To gaze upon the raw eroticism of architectural phenomena, Khajurao Temple is the best place for you to visit. The temple is curved with countless carvings to depict love, beauty, eternal grace, art and delicacy.
The Khajuraho temple is a perfect example of two religions coming together, Hinduism and Jainism. The whole temple has carvings of Apsaras, cult icons, and demi-gods.
Entry Fee– Indian INR- 10
Foreigner INR– 250 (But only for the Western temples, as the rest are free)
Opening– 8 am
Closing– 6 pm
Must see– The light and sound show depicting the story of the Chandela Dynasty.
Built By– Chandela Dynasty
Years– 950AD TO 1050AD
7. Sanchi Stupa
The Sanchi Stupa is one of the most significant historical structures ever unearthed in India. Built around the 3rd century B.C. by Emperor Asoka. It is the most significant religious centre in Buddhism.
The Dome of the Sanchi Stupa is to signify the “Wheel of Law.”And the stupa is actually a symbol of Buddha’s freedom and the “circle of life and death.” The four gates of the stupas have been mentioned in the Jataka tales and stories about Buddha’s life.
It is believed that the Sanchi Stupa contains the ashes of Buddha himself, though it was never confirmed.
Entry Fee– Indian INR- 10
Foreigner INR– 250
Opening– 8:30 am
Closing– 5 pm
Must See– The Ashoka pillar that has the statue of four lions built in a Greco-Buddhist style. It is also the national emblem of India.
Built by– Emperor Ashoka
Year– 3rd century BCE
Read More: 15 Best Places For Solo Travelers In India – 2022 Guide
8. Victoria Memorial
One of the more modern historical places in India was built during British Rule. The Victoria Memorial was built by Lord Curzon, who was also responsible for the partition of the state of Bengal.
The beautiful monument is situated in the middle of a beautiful lush green garden. The memorial is like a museum filled with weapons and relics from British rule. Like paintings, statues, sculptures, and other artefacts.
Entry Fee- Indian INR- 20
Foreigner INR– 200
Opening– 5:30 am
Closing– 6:15 pm
Must see– The “Angel of Victoria” acts like a weathercock on windy days
Built By– Lord Curzon
Year– 1921
9. India Gate
Located on the Rajpath, this 42-meter tall monument is sometimes compared with the Arch of Constantine in Rome and Arch de Triomphe in Paris. The India Gate is dedicated to the lives of 82,000 soldiers, both Indian and British, who gave their lives in WWI.
Every year on Republic day, the parade is held in front of the Gate. It is the spot where the Amar Jawan Jyoti, “the eternal flame”, still burns bright.
Entry Fee– Free for all
Opening– All time
Must See– The Amar Jawan Jyoti, Children’s Park
Built by– Edwin Lutyens
Year– 1931
Read More: Top 10 Famous Jain Temple In India
10. Ajanta And Ellora Caves
One of the most beautiful caves in India, with spectacular craftsmanship with rock carvings done by hand. Discovered by John Smith in 1819, a British officer. The Ajanta and Ellora caves are full of beautiful carvings and sculptures and paintings of Jainism, Buddhism and Brahmanism.
There are about 29 caves full of artwork in Ajanta and about 39 caves in Ellora. In Ellora, there are 12 Buddhist caves, 5 Jain caves, and 17 Hindu caves.
Entry Fee– Indian INR- 10
Foreigner INR– 250
Opening– 9 am
Closing– 5:30 pm (Ajanta is closed on Mondays & Ellora is closed on Tuesdays)
Must See– The multiple caves and the artwork
Built by– Satavahanas and Vakataka
Year– 200BC to 100AD, 5th Century AD
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
In India, among the top historical places are,
1. Taj Mahal
2. Amer Fort
3. Ajanta and Ellora Caves
4. Red Fort
5. Golden Temple
Here are the 8 must-see monuments in India,
1. Taj Mahal
2. Meenakshi Temple
3. Mysore Palace
4. Gateway of India
5. Qutub Minar
6. Hawa Mahal
7. Mahabalipuram
Here is a list of the top historical places in the World,
1. Petra, Jordan
2. Machu Pichu, Peru
3. The Colosseum, Rome
4. Angkor Wat, Columbia
5. The Great Wall of China
6. The Taj Mahal, India
7. The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
8. Stonehedge, England
Visit Now!
India is a country rich with cultural and historical heritage, so to indulge in mesmerizing and magical historical places, you need to visit India. Gaze upon the intricate architecture and stone work on these exquisite historical places in India.
The pictures are not doing justice to the magnitude and majesty of these places, so you must visit and experience them fully.
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