SARNATH
AT
UTTAR PRADESH
UNESCO's tentative list has 46 Indian heritage sites. Which ones do you think should be included on the main 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
The 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.
