TEN HERITAGE DESTINATIONS
IN
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES LIST
India's vibrant past and cultural richness
are evident from the unique heritage sites located in almost every part of the
country. Many of them deserve a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which
catalogues and conserves sites of importance. Currently, 32 Indian sites of
natural and cultural importance are included in the list. It is likely that
this number will swell as there are 46 sites on UNESCO's tentative list. Let's
take a look at some of them.
Temples at Bishnupur, West Bengal
he
beautiful terracotta temples in this place were built by the Vaishnavite Malla
Kings during the 17th and 18th centuries, from local laterite stones. The
dominant architectural style is the Bengali Eka-Ratna, with a single tower set
upon a sloping roof and a square cell, with a porch on each site. Among the few
remaining terracotta temples, the detailed terracotta work found in the area
has a distinct flavour of its own and cannot be found elsewhere.
Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala
Gifted
to the Portuguese by the Raja of Cochin in 1555, the Mattancherry Palace is
home to some of the most stunning mythological murals in the country, painted
in rich hues. The earliest paintings are found in the king's bedchamber, which
is covered with 48 paintings illustrating the Ramayana.
Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
It is
actually quite surprising that this isn't already a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Located a few kilometres away from Varanasi, Sarnath is where Buddha gave his
first teachings after attaining enlightenment. Today, the deer park, stupas,
temples and the Ashokan Pillar in Sarnath are visited by both Buddhist pilgrims
and travellers.
Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab
Popularly
known as the Golden Temple, this is the holiest Gurdwara of the Sikhs. It was
founded by the fourth Sikh guru in 1574 and was completed in 1604. Over
1,00,000 people visit the Gurdwara complex every day.
Santiniketan, West Bengal
Established
by Rabindranath Tagore, Santiniketan has now turned into a university town. In
1863, Tagore had founded an ashram here with the vision of bringing together
people from all walks of life. He also started Patha Bhavana, the school of his
ideals, with the idea of imparting education in a natural environment as it was
believed to be more enjoyable and fruitful. This became the Visva-Bharati
University in 1921.
Mughal Gardens, Kashmir
Immaculately
manicured green, pools and gardens make the Mughal Gardens a gorgeous location
for leisurely strolls and rendezvous. Built by the Mughals, these gardens were
heavily influenced by the Persian garden style. Some of the famous ones in
Kashmir include Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Chashma Shahi and Pari Mahal.
Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar
Commonly
known as Kala Paani, this colonial prison was used by the authorities to exile
political prisoners. An important site in the history of the Indian freedom
struggle, Cellular Jail now serves as a national memorial monument. Famous
people incinerated here include Veer Savarkar, Batukeshwar Dutt and Yogendra
Shukla.
Qutb Shahi Tombs, Hyderabad
With a
distinctive style that blends Persian, Pashtun and Hindu architectures, the
tombs of the seven Qutub Shai rulers lie in the Ibrahim Bagh, close to the Golkonda
fort. The tombs have finely carved stonework and are surrounded by landscaped
gardens.
Excavated remains, Nalanda, Bihar
Known
as India's first university, these ruins once flourished as a Buddhist
monastery, and a centre of culture and learning, with scholars flocking in from
all over the world. Excavations in 1915 unearthed 11 monasteries and brick
temples which were a part of the ancient Nalanda complex.
Kakatiya Temples, Telangana
Believed
to be constructed by the Kakatiya dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries, this
group of temples in Warangal representa the distinct architectural style of the
period with detailed stone carving, rock cut elephants, pillars and perforated
screens. The most famous temple here is Rudreshwara Swamy Temple or the
thousand pillar temple, which is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya.
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