Chart 713 - World Heritage Sites of India - 1

World Heritage Sites of India - 1

Spectrum Chart - 713 : World Heritage Sites of India - 1

1. Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra - The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri in Mumbai Harbour.The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Elephanta caves were declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

2. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi - Qutub Minar at 120 meters, is the tallest brick minaret in the world. Qutub Minar, along with the ancient and medieval monuments surrounding it, form the Qutub Complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The construction of Qutub Minar was commissioned by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate in 1199 AD.

3. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat - Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is situated in Panchmahal district in Gujarat, India. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 as a cultural site. There is a concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage properties cradled in an impressive landscape which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16th-century capital of the state of Gujarat.

4. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu – The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, in Tamil Nadu were built by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries. These monuments have been carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast. The temple town has approximately forty monuments, including the largest open-air bas-relief in the world. It was inscribed under the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1984.

5. Kaziranga National Park, Assam - Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam. The sanctuary, which hosts two-thirds of the world's great one-horned rhinoceroses, is a World Heritage Site. Kaziranga is home to the highest density of tigers among protected areas in the world and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.

6. Hill Forts of Rajasthan :

(A) Chittorgarh Fort - Chittorgarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India. It is a World Heritage Site. The fort, popularly known as Chittor, was the capital of Mewar and is today situated in Chittorgarh. Chittorgarh Fort is stated that the fort was constructed by the Mauryans during the 7th century AD.

(B) Kumbhalgarh - Kumbhalgarh Fort is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills, in the Rajsamand district near Udaipur of Rajasthan state in western India. It is a World Heritage Site included in Hill Forts of Rajasthan. Built during the course of the 15th century by Rana Kumbha, Kumbhalgarh is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great king and warrior of Mewar.

(C) Ranthambore Fort - Ranthambore Fort lies within the Ranthambore National Park, near the town of Sawai Madhopur, the park being the former hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jaipur until the time of India's Independence. It is a formidable fort having been a focal point of the historical developments of Rajasthan. Ranthambore Fort, along with 5 other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan in 2013.

(D) Amber Fort - Amber Fort, is located in Amer, a town with an area of 4 sq. km located 11 km from Jaipur. Located high on a hill, it is the principal tourist attraction in the Jaipur area. Amber Fort is known for its artistic Hindu style elements. With its large ramparts and series of gates and cobbled paths, the fort overlooks Maota Lake. Amber fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

(E) Jaisalmer Fort - Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest fortifications in the world. It is a World Heritage Site. It was built in 1156 AD by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal. The fort stands amidst the sandy expanse of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill and has been the scene of many battles. The fort is 1,500 ft long and 750 ft wide and is built on a hill that raises above a height of 250 ft above the surrounding country side. The basement of the fort has a 15 ft tall wall forming a double line of defence.

7. Great Stupa of Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh - The Buddhist vihara at Sanchi, famous for its Great Stupa, is located at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of the state of Madhya Pradesh. The Great Stupa at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India and was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha.

8. Group of Monuments at Hampi, Karnataka – The Group of Monuments at Hampi comprise a sombre but ostentatious Hampi town, on the banks of the river Tungabhadra in Karnataka. Hampi subsumes the ruins of Vijayanagara, which was the former capital of the powerful Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi, as an important Hindu religious centre, has the Virupaksha Temple and several other monuments, which are part of the cultural heritage site inscribed under the UNESCO World Heritage List.

9. Great Living Chola Temples :

(A) Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple - Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Gangaikonda Cholapuram. It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture built by the Chola dynasty. It was built by Rajendra Chola I and completed in 1035 AD.

(B) Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur - Brihadeeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thanjavur. It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Tamil architecture during the Chola period. Built by Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 CE, the temple turned 1000 years old. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples".

(C) Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram - Airavatesvara Temple is a Hindu temple of Dravidian architecture located in the town of Darasuram, near Kumbakonam in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This temple, built by Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century CE is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Red Fort Complex, Delhi - Red Fort complex was the residence of the Mughal emperor of India for nearly 200 years, until 1857. It is located in the centre of Delhi and houses a number of museums. Constructed in 1648 by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the palace of his fortified capital Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort is named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Red Fort Complex.

Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh - Khajuraho Group of Monuments attributed to the Chandela dynasty. The ensemble of monuments that have survived belong to the Hindu and Jain Religious practices with striking fusion of sculpture and architecture; the best example of this outstanding feature is seen in the Kandariya Temple. It was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, a cultural property on October 15, 1982 for its unique original artistic creation and proof of the Chandela Culture that existed prior to the Muslim invasion of India in the early 12th century.

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