The ancient history of India is as old as mankind itself. Bharat, as it was known, India has been the home to several mighty empires, kingdoms, and governments. Though the history of India is a vast subject for discussion and debate better left to the interest of historians and academicians, the ancient, medieval, and pre-independence era monuments, forts, palaces, and buildings keep reminding us of the good as well as the turbulent times that shaped the course of history. We have made an earnest attempt to bring you the best historical places in India, and we believe you’ll enjoy reading about those.
Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Easily the finest monument ever built in India. One of the seven wonders of the world, the pristine beauty, and charm of the Taj has remained unparalleled even after several centuries. This is the reason why it’s one of the top historical places in India in terms of visitors, both foreign and domestic. Built around 1631, it became the symbol of Indo-Islamic architecture and took 22 years for completion. Situated on the bank of the Yamuna river, this ivory-white marble Maqbara (Urdu for Mausoleum), as we all know, was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in fond memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz. The monument is a reflection of the true love between the emperor and his beloved wife after the later died while giving birth to her 14th child. It was her last wish that a monument be built in her memory that would also embody their divine love. True to its nature, the Taj Mahal effuses a sense of peace and harmony and stands as a jewel in the crown of medieval Indian monuments.
Qutab Minar
One of the most beautiful historical places in India, the Qutab Minar stands tall at 73 meters in Delhi, the capital city of India, abode to the most historical places in India. Also known as the ‘tower of victory, the Qutab Minar was constructed in 1193 by the Delhi ruler Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after defeating the last Delhi Hindu Kingdom. Some believe that it functioned as a minaret or tower for the muezzin’s daily call to prayers and public worship thereafter. The Qutab Minar features five unique storeys, each built with a projecting balcony, and are made of marble and red standstone. There is a mosque at the foot of the minar or tower known as the “Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid”, historically India’s first mosque. The tower was constructed in three phases. The first phase as already seen above, the second phase by Illutumish, the successor of Qutab-ud-din Aibak in 1368, and the final phase by Firoz Shah Tughlak in 1368. The powerful Delhi ruler Allauddin Khilji made useful additions to the structure in in 1315. The main mosque consists of an inner and outer courtyard, embellished with shafts, and covered by Piller.
Red Fort, Delhi
You literally cannot leave out the Red Fort in Delhi in the list of the famous historical monuments of India, characterized by enormous size, visual proportions, and panache, all representing an epoch of unbridled magnificence. The Red Fort was also constructed by emperor Shah Jahan and took nearly 10 years for completion. The fort that sported white color originally due to the properties of limestone began to peel off during the colonial British rule, and therefore need to be painted in red.
Hawa Mahal
The Hawa Mahal, another historical place in India, is second to none. Located at Badi Choupad in Jaipur, also known as the ‘Pink city’, the Hawa Mahal was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. It comprises 953 windows on the exterior. Shaped like a honeycomb, the windows are wonderfully carved to let the cool breeze blow through the mahal, transforming it into an incredible summer palace. It was constructed as an extension structure to the City Palace which is located in the central northeast part of Jaipur, one of the famous historical places in India. This distinct five-storey structure features jharokhas or latticed windows, a confluence of Islamic and Hindu architectural styles. The Amber Fort, Jal Mahal, and Chokhi Dhani Village, all of them near the Hawa Mahal, are other famous historical places in India.
India Gate, Delhi
Delhi, according to a popular poll result, was voted as one of the best historical tourist places in India. Erstwhile known as Indraprastha, it is among the most ancient historical places in India and home to several monumental structures that hold cultural importance. To quote one such structure, the All India War Memorial, also known as the India Gate, one of the popular historical sites in India, is situated along the popular Rajpath in Nayi Delhi. A quick look at the India Gate will throw an awe-inspiring sight of an imposing structure which inevitably appears so in comparison with the world-famous Arc de Triomphe in France, the Arch of Constantine in the city of Rome, and Mumbai’s Gateway of India. The historical building, which is 42m tall, owes its design and architectural beauty to Sir Edwin Lutyens, a British architect. Known for hosting the Indian Republic Day function on 26th January every year, it’s a lso one of the biggest war memorials in India.
A touching tribute to the 82,000 Indian and English soldiers who fought valiantly and sacrificed their lives in the First World War and the Anglo-Afghan War, the India Gate has an inscription of the details of 13,300 men-at-arms on its surface. Earlier in 2022, the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame located at the India Gate was extinguished after nearly five decades and merged with that of the National War Memorial. One of the most famous historical places in India, though painting a ghastly picture of the horrors of the war, the India Gate boasts a splendidly innovative architectural style.
You can add other historical places in India including the Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Khajuraho Temples (Madhya Pradesh), Gwalior Fort (Madhya Pradesh), Konark Temple (Odisha), Gateway of India (Maharashtra), Charminar, (Hyderabad, Telangana), Ruins of Hampi (Karnataka), Mysore Palace (Karnataka), Golconda Fort (Telangana, Hyderabad), Brihadeshwara Temple (Tamilnadu), Victoria Memorial (West Bengal), Rani ki Vav (Gujarat) and more. Many of the famous historical places in India mentioned in the blog have stood the test of time and maybe even more celebrated today.
