It is no secret that India is home to one of the oldest civilizations and has a very rich history. Over the years, India was ruled by multiple kings, empires and dynasties. Though today we might be an independent nation, these rulers and dynasties have left behind their legacy in the form of these monuments. Be it a palace, temple, fort or anything else, every monument has a story to tell. These monuments not only make up for great tourist attractions but also portray our art, culture and history. If you are a history geek or just want to witness the rich cultural heritage of India, then keep on reading for I have curated a list of some of the most popular historic monuments and sites that you will definitely fall in love with.
Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan — Once the capital of the kingdom of Mewar, Chittor fort or Chittorgarh fort is one of the largest forts in India. The fort gained popularity after being featured in the Bollywood movie ‘Padmaavat’. Spread across 700 acres of land, every inch of this fort reflects the glorious past of the Mewar rulers and is a fine example of Rajasthani architecture. Among many of the brave and famous incidents the fort has seen, the one about Rani Padmini is definitely at the top. For those who don’t know, Rani Padmini and other women of Chittorgarh jumped into a self-sacrificing Jauhar when the fort of Chittorgarh was invaded by Alauddin Khilji, the most powerful ruler of the Khilji dynasty. Chittorgarh fort was declared to be a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2013.
Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh — Think of all the historical places in India and Taj Mahal is sure to be at the top of the list. The monument is a symbol of love as it was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his late wife Mumtaz Mahal. The structure is built entirely from white marble and is indeed a work of art. The structure took 22 years to complete and the details in the construction work completely justify why. It is said that after the construction of Taj Mahal was complete, Shah Jahan cut off the hands of all the workers that were a part of building the Taj Mahal, the reason being no other such monument was to be made.
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Cellular Jail, Andaman Nicobar Islands — Cellular Jail was the place for anyone and everyone who rebelled against the British. The cells of this jail have witnessed numerous prisoners being tortured to death. It is one of the most famous attractions of Port Blair. Freedom fighters like Babarao Savarkar, Batukeshwar Dutt, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar among others have been imprisoned here. The jail was constructed between 1896 and 1906. The jail was also known as ‘Kala Pani’ because it was surrounded by water on all sides making it impossible for the prisoners to escape. The inmates were kept in such a way that they could neither see nor talk to any other prisoners. The jail is made up of 696 cells each 2.7 metres to 4.5 meters in size.
Hawa Mahal, Rajasthan — Hawa Mahal or the ‘Palace of Winds’ is a historical monument you can’t resist not visiting. The palace is made of red and pink sandstone and was used as a gallery by the women of the palace to look outside on to the street, since most of the time they followed the ‘purdah’ system. The palace designed by Lal Chand Ustad is the tallest building that does not have a proper foundation. The palace leans at an angle of 87 degrees with 5 stories and 953 windows that have intricate lattice work on them. The palace is built in the shape of a crown because Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, the ruler who built it was a devotee of Lord Krishna.
Jallianwala Bagh, Punjab — This place witnessed one of the most horrific events in Indian history, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. On 13th April, 1919 General Dyer ordered the British troops to open fire on a gathering of unarmed people that were gathered to celebrate the festival of Baisakhi. While many lost their lives in the open firing, some people lost their lives in the stampede while some died jumping into the well to save themselves from the bullets. You can still see the bullet marks on the wall to this day. This event fueled the independence struggle and played a major role in gaining freedom for India.
The history of India is so rich and vast, but I tried my best to pick a few bits and pieces for this blog. Hope you learned something new and informative reading this blog. Like this post if you would love to read part 2 of this blog because I would definitely love writing it for you. As always, subscribe for more travel related content and follow us on social media for more fun stuff.
Author : Rachel D’souza
