Historical Monuments in India, Top 10 List, Location, Facts

Monument

Location

Built By

Year Built

Taj Mahal

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan

1631-1648

Red Fort

Delhi

Shah Jahan

Mid 17th century

Qutub Minar

Delhi

Mamluk Dynasty

1193-1368

Humayun’s Tomb

Delhi

Empress Bega Begum

1565-1570

Fatehpur Sikri

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Mughal Emperor Akbar

1571-1585

Ajanta Caves

Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Buddhist monks

2nd century BCE – 6th century CE

Ellora Caves

Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Buddhist, Hindu, Jain monks

6th-11th centuries

Khajuraho Temples

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Chandela Dynasty

950-1050

Konark Sun Temple

Konark, Odisha

Eastern Ganga Dynasty

13th century

Meenakshi Temple

Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Pandya Dynasty

7th century

Sanchi Stupa

Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh

Maurya Empire

1st – 3rd century BCE

Hampi

Karnataka

Vijayanagar Empire

14th century

Mahabalipuram

Tamil Nadu

Pallava Dynasty

7th century

Elephanta Caves

Maharashtra

Rashtrakuta rulers

5th to 6th centuries

Rani ki Vav

Patan, Gujarat

Chalukya Dynasty

11th century

Charminar

Hyderabad, Telangana

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah

1591

Qutb Shahi Tombs

Hyderabad, Telangana

Qutb Shahi dynasty

16th-17th centuries

Golconda Fort

Hyderabad, Telangana

Bahmani Sultanate

13th century

Brihadeeswara Temple

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Rajaraja Chola I

11th century

Mahabodhi Temple

Bodh Gaya, Bihar

Ashoka

3rd century BCE

Monument

Location

Built Year

Key Highlights

Taj Mahal

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

1648

A global symbol of love built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal. Crafted in white marble and counted among the Seven Wonders of the World.

Qutub Minar

Delhi

1193

World’s tallest brick minaret at 73 meters, showcasing Indo-Islamic design with detailed carvings and inscriptions.

Ajanta Caves

Maharashtra

2nd Century BCE – 6th Century CE

Rock-cut caves featuring intricate Buddhist paintings and sculptures; designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ellora Caves

Maharashtra

6th – 10th Century CE

Houses temples and monasteries of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The Kailasa Temple is especially famous for its architectural excellence.

Sun Temple

Konark, Odisha

1250 CE

Designed like a colossal chariot dedicated to the Sun God, adorned with exquisitely carved wheels and panels.

Khajuraho Temples

Madhya Pradesh

950 – 1050 CE

Known for their detailed sculptures and symbolic carvings. Built by the Chandela dynasty, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hampi Monuments

Karnataka

14th – 16th Century CE

Former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, featuring ruins, palaces, and temples that reflect Dravidian architecture.

Great Living Chola Temples

Tamil Nadu

11th – 12th Century CE

Examples of Chola dynasty brilliance, including Brihadeeswarar Temple, with towering gopurams and detailed stone carvings.

Humayun’s Tomb

Delhi

1570

A garden-tomb that set the precedent for later Mughal architecture, including the Taj Mahal. Features Persian-style layouts.

Fatehpur Sikri

Uttar Pradesh

Late 16th Century

Once the Mughal capital under Akbar. Constructed in red sandstone, blending Islamic and Hindu architectural styles.

Monument

Interesting Fact

Taj Mahal

Referred to as the “Crown of Palaces,” it symbolizes eternal love and Mughal architectural brilliance.

Qutub Minar

Recognized as the tallest brick minaret globally, standing at 73 meters.

Red Fort

Originally called “Qila-e-Mubarak,” it served as the royal residence of Mughal emperors.

India Gate

A war memorial honoring 82,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives in World War I.

Humayun’s Tomb

The first garden-style tomb built in the Indian subcontinent, inspiring later Mughal architecture.

Ajanta Caves

Stone carvings were intricately made using only chisels and hammers, showcasing ancient craftsmanship.

Ellora Caves

Features a rare blend of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples carved into rock cliffs.

Gateway of India

Constructed to mark the 1911 visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India.

Hawa Mahal

The “Palace of Winds” was designed to let royal women watch street festivities while remaining unseen.

Amer Fort

Renowned for its elaborate Hindu-style artistic elements and grandeur.

City Palace, Jaipur

A perfect fusion of Mughal and Rajput architectural designs.

Jaisalmer Fort

Among the largest and best-preserved fortified cities still inhabited today.

Mysore Palace

Famous for its extravagant Dussehra celebrations and Indo-Saracenic architecture.

Charminar

Erected to commemorate the end of a devastating plague in Hyderabad.

Sanchi Stupa

One of India’s oldest stone structures, reflecting early Buddhist art and architecture.

Khajuraho Temples

Recognized by ASI for being among the best-preserved monuments from ancient times.

Konark Sun Temple

Features a sundial that measures time in three-hour intervals, known as ‘pahar’.

Mahabalipuram

Notable for its monolithic rock-cut architecture, with many structures carved from a single rock.

Brihadeeswarar Temple

One of South India’s largest temples, built entirely from a single granite block.

Victoria Memorial

A grand marble monument erected in memory of Queen Victoria during the British era.