India’s glorious past, rich culture, heritage, and many historical places attract tourists worldwide. You can find historical sites of all kinds- palaces, forts, minars, temples, mosques, and churches.

The splendid architecture of beautiful historical monuments reflects the talented artists and India’s glory of the past. 

It would be best to visit these exciting places to explore and learn about them. The following prominent historical places in India are a must-see for history and tourism enthusiasts.

People love exploring heritage tourism in India to discover historical places.

Top Historical Places in India you Should Visit Once

Historical places in India welcomes you with unknown and undiscovered historical facts and values. The socioeconomic value, standard of living, belongings, sculptures, ruling periods and more make you surprise. Here are some popular Indian historical places you should visit once. Some places bring historical values and some famous for pilgrimage.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal comes from one of India’s most famous historical places. It attracts tourists from around the world. It is known as a symbol of love. It is situated on the bank of Yamuna in Agra. 

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum made of ivory-white marble. It was constructed in honor of Shah Jahan’s wife, Mumtaz. It also has the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Gardens, pools, and fountains surround the beautiful Taj Mahal as one of the most famous historical places in India. 

Screens, calligraphy, and inlay work may be seen on the main building’s façade and inside. The Taj Mahal, one of the world’s seven natural wonders, features elaborate carvings and precious and semi-precious stones from all over the world. 

Thousands of tourists come to visit this beautiful historical place. Initially built in the 17th century, the Taj Mahal also has the tombs of Shah Jahan and his third wife. 

Qutub Minar 

The Qutub Minar in Delhi is the tallest minar in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is made of red sandstone and marble. 

This fantastic historical place is known as the ‘Tower of Victory.’ It represents Indo-Islamic architecture. Qutb-ud-din-Aibak laid the foundation of Qutub Minar, and Iltutmish finished it.  

The walls have carvings of verses from the Holy Quran in the Kufic style of Islamic calligraphy. Qutub Minar is 240 ft in height. An iron pillar (more than 2,000 years old) in the premises still needs to rust. It is a history in itself. 

The Qutub Minar has five stories with a balcony. There is a famous mosque at the tower base. It is known as the ‘Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid.’ It is India’s first mosque in history. 

Ajanta Ellora caves

Ajanta and Ellora Caves are the earliest Buddhist architectures. It is one of best historical places in India. It is located in Maharashtra. 

The Ajanta caves are usually 29 in number. They were built in the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD. The 34 Ellora caves date from the sixth to the eleventh centuries AD. 

It is one of the world’s biggest rock-cut monastic caves. The Ajanta and Ellora caves include artwork designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Buddhist art is well known from the Ajanta Ellora caves.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves have a distance of 100 kms. The Ajanta caves are mainly full of beautiful paintings representing Buddhism. The Ellora caves are all about sculpture and architecture.

The Ajanta caves have a crescent shape of a massive horseshoe. Four caves of Ajanta were used as Chaitya or prayer halls. The other 25 caves were Viharas or residential places. 

There is a Kailasa temple in the Ajanta Ellora caves. It is the largest monolithic rock-cut temple in the world. It would be best if you visited these popular historical places in India. 

Konark Temple:

The Konark Sun Temple is one of India’s most famous historical places. It is dedicated to the Sun god in Hindu mythology. The temple is famous for its brilliant architecture. 

The Konark temple in Odisha is also known as the Black Pagoda. The temple looks like a giant chariot of around 100 ft with twenty-four wheels. It also has stone carvings of 7 horses on each side of the temple.

Narasimha Deva, I built the Konark sun temple in the 13th century. The geometrical patterns and carved wheels act as sundials. This brilliant masterpiece is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The temple is in Konark, about 35 kilometers northeast of Puri. It is 65 kilometers away from the capital of Odisha, Bhubaneswar. The temple has three types of stones. Chlorite for doors and frames, Laterite for the platform and staircase, and Khondalite for other temple parts.

Tourists across the globe come to see the beautiful architecture and intricate carvings on the temple’s walls. There is also a Natya Mandap in front of the temple. Put Konark Sun temple on your vacation list if you are into architecture and historical places. 

Historical Places in India,
Historical Places in India

Sanchi Stupa

One of the earliest stupas is Sanchi. It is also one of the oldest stone structures and one of the eminent historical places in India. King Ashoka built the Sanchi Stupa in the 3rd century BC. 

Sanchi, itself, is a historical place at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. You can also see Mahastupa, the famous Ashokan pillar, and beautiful torans on the grounds of Sanchi. The Toranas reflect love, peace, courage, and trust. 

The World Heritage Site, Sanchi, has various sculptures, monuments, and lush gardens. The Sanchi Stupa is 54 feet high and 120 feet in width. The dome of the Stupa symbolizes the cosmic mountain.

It also has a three-layered umbrella-like edifice or ‘Chhatrapati.’ It represents the three jewels of Buddhism – Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. You can see the Lion capital at Sarnath and Sanchi. India’s national emblem is taken from the Lion capital. It is one of the most popular historical places in India.

The Gateway of India

One of India’s most well-known historical sites is Mumbai’s Gateway of India. It was constructed to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary’s journey to India while Britain still controlled the country. In 1911, the foundation stone was placed.

The Gateway of India was the arrival point for visitors from the west during British rule. This historical monument is 26 meters high. It has four turrets and intricate lattice stone carvings. 

The Gateway of India is made of yellow basalt stones. It is famous for mixing Victorian, Gothic, Hindu, and Islamic architectural styles. One of India’s most significant historical sites, the Gateway of India, has Indo-Saracenic architecture.

This iconic arch monument has great historical significance. The last British troop left India from Gateway of India. It in itself holds the history of India’s independence. 

It is decorated with lights at night. It is a beautiful site to visit. The Gateway of India, besides the Arabian Sea, looks magical. 

Victoria Memorial 

The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, West Bengal, is also known as Victoria Memorial Hall. It is one of the most popular historical places in Kolkata. The Victoria Memorial monument is also a museum. It represents the city’s colonial and architectural heritage. 

The beautiful Victoria Memorial, made of marble, attracts tourists from all over the world. Lush green lawns surround it. It is the prime location for city dwellers to spend a day there. 

The Victoria Memorial is an example of the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. It blends Mughal and British styles with Egyptian, Islamic, and Venetian elements. Lord Curzon proposed building it as a memorial to honor Queen Victoria. 

King George V, then the Prince of Wales, laid the foundation of the Victoria Memorial in Jan 1906. There is a lot of history there. It has a beautiful 16-ft-tall bronze statue of victory on top of the memorial. 

It is known as the Angle of victory. This beautiful piece adds to the grandeur of the Victoria Memorial grounds. It has 25 galleries like the Calcutta Gallery, Portrait Gallery, Royal Gallery, Sculpture Gallery, National Leaders Gallery, etc.

There are more than 28,000 artifacts, including paintings, weaponry, textiles, and more, at the Victoria Memorial Museum. This beautiful historical place made of white marble is a delight to the eyes. There is a light and sound show in the evening. It takes the viewers on a beautiful journey of Kolkata’s rich heritage and history.

Khajuraho 

Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho is a historic city. It is also a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was the capital of the Chandela Dynasty. 

Khajuraho is one of India’s most popular historical places for its temples. The temples are examples of Nagara-style medieval Indian architecture. The Khajuraho temples were built between 950 AD and 1050 AD.

The ‘Khajuraho Group of Monuments’ is also popular for nayikas and deities sculptures. This historical place had 85 temples in the 12th century. Twenty-five of them is still there in Khajuraho. 

The main attraction of tourists to Khajuraho is the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple. It has intricate sculptures that represent beautiful ancient Indian art. The Khajuraho has temples of two religions — Hinduism and Jainism. 

It is the most beautiful part of Khajuraho. The temples hold the tradition of acceptance and respect for different religions. The vivid erotic carvings on temple walls celebrate love, life, and worship. It is one of the most popular historical places in India for tourists. 

6 Historical Places in India
6 Historical Places in India

Amer Fort

Amer Palace, popularly known as Amer Fort, falls under the top historical places in India. The beautiful landscape and history of Amer Fort attract tourists from around the world to Jaipur. You can have an elephant ride to get regal entry into the Amer Palace.

The fort displays elements of both Muslim and Hindu architecture. There is a “Shila Devi” temple in Amer fort. It has a well-known Ganesh Pol. It is a gate that opens up to the royal residences.

There are several pavilions and halls in the Amer Fort. Sandstone with the colors pink and yellow makes up this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each of the four floors of the Amer palace contains a courtyard.

Raja Man Singh built the Amer fort in 1592 AD, and Raja Jai Sigh I expanded it. This giant fort has a lot of historical invasions. It has four different parts with separate entrances. 

The main entrance is known as ‘Suraj Pol’ or Sun Gate. Along with it, there are other popular attractions of the Amer Fort like the ‘Diwan-i-Aam,’ ‘Sheesh Mahal,’ and ‘Sukh Mahal,’ and ‘Magic Flower,’ a fresco carved out of marble. 

The main attraction for tourists is the Sheesh Mahal or mirror palace. It has beautiful mirror mosaics and colored glass. Jai Mandir and Sukh Niwas are examples of natural air conditioning. The wind from a water area built within it cools it. It is an architectural marvel.

There are also ancient underground tunnels that connect Amer to Jaigarh Fort. You can see plays of laser lights on the fort’s walls. It tells stories of Rajputs. 

Red Fort

Red Fort is one of the most famous historical places in India. India hoisted the national flag for the first time at Red Fort in Delhi on its independence. It is popularly known as the Lal Qila.

Shah Jahan built this beautiful fort in the 17th century. It is made of huge red sandstone walls. It represents the Mughal style of architecture. 

The beautiful geometric gardens, spacious balconies, and amazing entertainment halls are the main attractions of tourists. You can enjoy amazing light and sound shows on the Red Fort walls. The Red Fort holds historical and national importance in India. 

Conclusion

There are also other historical places in India like the Golden temple, Hampi, Fatehpur Sikri, Hawa Mahal, Brihadeshwara Temple, etc. India has some of the best historical places in India, soaked in hundreds of years’ worth of stories.

 We have tried to mention the top 10 historical places in India. It helps you to sort out some places for your vacation. Visit these amazing historical places in India to experience this beautiful country’s architectural and cultural history.