Agra Fort was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1983. It is situated within a distance of just 2.5 km from the popular Taj Mahal in the Mughal city of Agra. It used to be the place of residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty. It is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its magnificent Islamic architecture. The fort was built by Akbar on the banks of the Yamuna during 1565-73. It is surrounded by a 2.4 km long, 21 meters high wall of red sandstone. It has two big ornamental gateways, which are decorated with beautiful patterns with white marble inlay and colored glaze. These patterns are representations of living beings, which are not found in any other Islamic building in India.
Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1983. Situated in Aurangabad, Maharashtra these caves date back to 2nd Century BC. These Buddhist caves are considered as one of the most outstanding artistic pursuits carried out in the olden times. About thirty in number, these remained abandoned for quite a lot of time as they were covered by dense forests before being rediscovered by a British officer. The surviving mural paintings in the caves are one of the finest paintings which represent the art of ancient India and are many times used as an inspiration by present day artists.
Sun Temple, Odisha
Sun Temple was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1984. Located in Konark, Odisha, this temple dates back to 13th. It was constructed in the form of a very large ratha (a chariot) and was dedicated to the Sun God (as the name also suggests).Bearing magnificently carved out features (twelve pair of wheels and the chariot being driven by seven horses) with detailed craftswork done, it looks divine and resplendent. What is interesting to note is that the wheels are actually sun dials which makes it a hotspot for the people interested in ancient astronomy.
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram was declared as a World Heritage site in the year 1984. The Group Monuments of Mahabalipuram are a collection of religious temples situated at the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal, at a distance of around 60 km from the city of Chennai. The site consists of the main complex of Mahabalipuram and 40 sanctuaries including an open air rock relief. Some of the popular temples are the Ratha Temples like Arjuna Ratha, Draupadi Ratha, Bhima Ratha, the famous cave temples, the structural temples like Shore Temple, Olakkanesvara Temple and other rock monuments. The site has been gaining importance as an archaeological, tourism and pilgrimage site since Independence.

M.M. SATHVIKA
7F 
ROLL NO= 5

THANKYOU

Machu Picchu is about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Andes Mountains Cordillera de Vilcabamba. It's more than 7,000 feet above sea level. It is the symbol of the Incan Empire & was built around 1450 AD. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Hiram Bingham, A Yale professor, discovered Machu Picchu in 1911.

FUN FACT!
The Incas were some of the best masons in the world. The structures were so well built with a technique called ashlar (stones that are cut to fit together without mortar) that not even a knife blade can fit in between stones.



2.  Khajuraho Temples
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a famous tourist and archaeological site known for its sculptured temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Jain patriarchs. These temples were built during the rule of the Chandelas of Bundelkhand. This group of temples is among the most beautiful medieval monuments in the country.

FUN FACT!
The name Khajuraho, or Kharjuravāhaka, is derived from ancient Sanskrit. खर्जूर means date palm, and वाहक means "one who carries" or bearer. Local legends state that the temples had two golden date palm trees as their gate which were missing when they were rediscovered.



3. Ellora Caves
These caves are located not far from Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra. It consists of 34 monasteries extending over more than 2 km, which were dug side by side in a wall of a high basalt cliff. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life.The Kailasha temple is the largest of the rock-cut Hindu temples at the Ellora Caves.

FUN FACT!
The caves were first discovered in 1819, when Jon Smith, a British official accidentally stumbled upon the horse-shoe shaped rock while hunting a tiger.



4. Buddhas Of Bamiyan
The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two 6th-century monumental statues carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley of the Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan.When the Kushana Empire spread, Bamiyan became a major trade, cultural and religious centre. As China, India and Rome sought passage through Bamiyan, Buddhism started spreading.
However, these statues were destroyed in 2001 during the Afghanistan War between the United States of America & the Taliban Terrorist Group.

FUN FACT!
After the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in 2001, 50 more caves were found behind the statues and in 12 of the caves, wall paintings were discovered.



5. Independence Hall
Independence Hall is a historic civic building in Philadelphia, where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted by America's Founding Fathers. It was built in 1753 as the Pennsylvania State House. It became a UNESCO World heritage Site in 1979

FUN FACT!
Independence Hall is also termed as "The birthplace of the United Sates". It was nuilt in pure Georgian style and was originally to be built in High Street, i.e, present-day Market Street

4.jantar mantar

5.Sun Temple
The Konark or Konarak Sun Temple is dedicated to the Hindu sun god Surya, and, conceived as a giant stone chariot with 12 wheels, it is the most famous of the few sun temples built in India. It is located about 35 km northeast of the city of Puri on the coastline in the state of Odisha (earlier Orissa). It was built c. 1250 CE by King Narasimhadeva I (r. 1238-1264 CE) of the Eastern Ganga dynasty (8th century CE - 15th century CE). The temple in its present state was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1984 CE. Although many portions are now in ruins, what remains of the temple complex continues to draw not only tourists but also Hindu pilgrims. Konarak stands as a classic example of Hindu temple architecture, complete with a colossal structure, sculptures and artwork on myriad themes.

M.Sai Meenakshi 
r.no 23
class 7F

1   Agra Fort
2    Ajanta Caves
3     Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara           
 4   Buddhist Monuments
 5   Taj Mahal


        Introduction to UNESCO World Heritage site

World Heritage site, any of various areas or objects inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The sites are designated as having “outstanding universal value” under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

                       About Agra fort                                                                                                   
Agra Fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra in India. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. The Agra fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site.It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal.

                  About Ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves exemplifies one of the greatest achievements in ancient Buddhist rock-cut architecture. The artistic traditions at Ajanta present an important and rare specimen of art, architecture, painting, and socio-cultural, religious and political history of contemporary society in India.

 

    About Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara           

The Nalanda Mahavihara site is in the State of Bihar, in north-eastern India. It comprises the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE.

 

            About Buddhist Monuments

 On a hill overlooking the plain and about 40 km from Bhopal, the site of Sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments (monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in different states of conservation most of which date back to the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. It is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence and was a major Buddhist centre in India until the 12th century A.D.

 
               
                      About Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658), to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

 
FUN FACT

 

 

 

Not very far from the famous beach town of Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark is a 13th-century temple situated in Konark, Odisha. It was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty in around AD 1250. The Sun Temple is in the shape of a gigantic chariot with carved stone wheel, pillars and walls and is led by six enormously carved horses. It’s also considered to be one of the largest brahmin sanctuaries in India. The temple is originally said to be built at the mouth of river Chandrabhaga but the waterline receded since then. This World Heritage Site in India reflects the grandeur of the traditional style of Kalinga Architecture, which was prevalent then.

5. RED FORT COMPLEX, DELHI

Famous for/as: Shahjahanabad, Persian, Timuri and Indian Architectural Styles, Red Sandstone Architecture, Moti Masjid.

Situated in the centre of the historic city of New Delhi, the Red Fort was built by Emperor Shah Jahan when he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi, or what was known as Shahjahanabad at that time. The fort became the political hub of the Mughals. Under Shah Jahan, Mughal art and architecture reached its zenith, and the Red Fort is the perfect example of that. One can see the blending of Indo-Islamic, Timurid, Hindu and Persian forms of architecture in several facets of the Red Fort. It’s made up of red sandstone and houses several other smaller buildings such as the private pavilions, the Diwan-i-aam, the Diwan-i-Khas. The Red Fort is one of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India and is managed directly by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Taj Mahal is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden that encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal with construction starting in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD, with the mosque, the guest house and the main gateway on the south, the outer courtyard and its cloisters were added subsequently and completed in 1653 AD. The existence of several historical and Quaranic inscriptions in Arabic script have facilitated setting the chronology of Taj Mahal. For its construction, masons, stone-cutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from the Central Asia and Iran. Ustad-Ahmad Lahori was the main architect of the Taj Mahal.

2. Hawa Mahal
The Hawa Mahal is a palace in the city of Jaipur, India. Built from red and pink sandstone, it is on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the Zenana, or women's chambers.

The structure was built in 1799 by the Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of the city of [[jhunjhunu Rajasthan ]. He was so inspired by the unique structure of Khetri Mahal that he built this grand and historical palace.

3. Ajanta caves
The caves at Ajanta are excavated out of a vertical cliff above the left bank of the river Waghora in the hills of Ajanta. They are thirty in number, including the unfinished ones, of which five (caves 9, 10, 19, 26 and 29) are chaityagrihas (sanctuary) and the rest, sangharamas or viharas (monastery). The caves are connected with the river by rock-cut staircases. The excavation activity was carried out in two different phases separated by an interval of about four centuries. The first phase coincides with the rule of the Satavahana dynasty from about the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century BCE, while the second phase corresponds to the Basim branch of the Vakataka dynasty with their Asmaka and Rishika feudatories in the 5th to 6th centuries CE.

4. Ellora caves
These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. Not only is the Ellora complex a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.

5. Khajuraho
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments , which is a group of monuments of Hindu and Jainism , whose monuments are found in the Chhatarpur region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh . This monument is situated at a distance of about 175 kilometers from south-east Jhansi . This monument group is counted as a heritage area of ​​India in UNESCO World Heritage . The temples here which were established by Nagara architecture, in which most of the idols are of erotic art , that is, most of the idols are established in naked state. 

Egypt's pharaohs wanted to become gods in the afterlife. To prepare for the next world they built temples to the gods and massive pyramid tombs for themselves filled with all the things each ruler would need to guide and prepare himself in the next world.

All three of Giza's famed pyramids and their elaborate burial grounds were built during a period of construction from approx 2550 to 2490 B.C. The pyramids were built by Pharaohs Khufu (tallest), Khafre (background), and Menkaure (front).

• Ellora Caves, Ellora has a series of 34 magnificent rock-cut temples in Maharashtra. They are located near the village of Ellora and southwest of the Ajanta Caves. It is spread over a distance of 2 km. The Ellora complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

The Hindu caves are the most dramatic in design and the Buddhist caves contain a simple ornamentation. Ellora served as a group of monasteries (viharas) and temples (caityas).

The Ellora Caves are devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Their presence in the same complex shows the sense of tolerance that was a way of life in ancient India.

The most popular monument of all, the world-famous Kailasa Temple is a part of the Brahmanical group of caves (13-29). The Kailasa Temple is in Cave 16, and is one of the most beautiful temples in the world.

Caves 30-34 are Jain cave temples, and they were excavated sometime between the 9th and the 12th century.

•Qutb minar
Qutbu'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Minar in AD 1199 for the use of the mu'azzin (crier) to give calls for prayer and raised the first storey to which three more storeys were added by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish (AD 1211-36).

Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari reveal the history of Qutb. According to the inscriptions on its surface it was repaired by Firuz Shah Tughlaq (AD 1351-88) and Sikandar Lodi (AD 1489-1517). Major R.Smith also repaired and restored the minar in 1829.

It is the earliest extant mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists of a rectangular courtyard and was erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Hindu and Jaina temples which were demolished by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak as recorded in his inscription on the main eastern entrance.

The Iron Pillar in the courtyard bears an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script of fourth century AD, according to which the pillar was set up as a Vishnudhvaja on the hill known as Vishnupada in memory of a mighty king named Chandra.

The tomb of Iltutmish (AD 1211-36) was built in AD 1235. It is a plain square chamber of red sandstone, carved with inscriptions and patterns in Saracenic tradition on the entrances.

Ala'i-Darwaza was constructed by Alau'd-Din Khalji in AH 710 (AD 1311) as recorded in the inscriptions engraved on it. This is the first building employing Islamic principles of construction and ornamentation.

Ala'i Minar was commenced by Alau'd-Din Khalji, with the intention of making it twice the size of earlier Minar. He could complete only the first storey which now has an extant height of 25 m.

• The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains. Within massive sandstone and dense forests there five clusters of natural rock shelters, displaying paintings that date from the Mesolithic Period to the historical period.

The shelters were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003.

On the Bhimbetka site’s hill where the archaeological research has been concentrated since 1971, 243 shelters have been investigated, of which 133 contain rock paintings. In addition to the cave paintings, archaeologists have discovered large numbers of artifacts in caves, dense teak forests and cultivated fields around Bhimbetka. 

The paintings are categorized into different prehistoric periods. The oldest date to the Old Stone Age which consists of rhinoceroses and bears. Paintings from the Middle Stone Age times are smaller in addition to animals, human activities. Drawings from the Chalcolithic Period show the early concepts of agriculture. Finally, the decorative paintings dating to early historical times depict religious motifs such as tree gods and magical sky chariots. 

The caves provide a rare glimpse at a sequence of cultural development from early nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled cultivators to expressions of spirituality. 

• Rani-ki-Vav, on the banks of the Saraswati River, was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century AD. Stepwells are a distinctive form of water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC. Rani-ki-Vav was built at the height of craftsmens’ ability in stepwell construction and the Maru-Gurjara architectural style. It is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of high artistic quality. The well is located at the westernmost end of the property which is of 10 m in diameter and 30 m deep. It is oriented in an east-west direction and combines all of the principle components of a stepwell, including a stepped corridor beginning at ground level. 

Rani-ki-Vav impresses us with its architectural structure, technological achievements in water sourcing and in particular with its sculptural decoration, of true artistic mastery. The figurative motifs and sculptures, and the proportion of filled and empty spaces, provide the stepwell’s interior with its unique aesthetic character. 

It was however the silting of the flood caused during this historic event, which allowed for the exceptional preservation of Rani-ki-Vav for over seven centuries.

2. Agra Fort
The Agra Fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra and is also known as Agra's Red Fort. Built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 and completed in 1573, it served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi.

3. Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves are 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the second century BCE to about 480 CE in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra state in India. Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4. Ellora Caves 
Ellora Caves are a rock-cut Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain cave complex, with artwork dating from the period 600–1000 CE, located in the Sambhaji Nagar District of Maharashtra, India. Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

5. Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site in central India that spans the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, as well as the historic period. It exhibits the earliest traces of human life in India and evidence of the Stone Age starting at the site in Acheulian times.

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3.Aksum

The ruins of the ancient city of Aksum are found close to Ethiopia's northern border. They mark the location of the heart of ancient Ethiopia, when the Kingdom of Aksum was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. The massive ruins, dating from between the 1st and the 13th century A.D., include monolithic obelisks, giant stelae, royal tombs and the ruins of ancient castles. Long after its political decline in the 10th century, Ethiopian emperors continued to be crowned in Aksum.

4.Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy

The nine Sacri Monti (Sacred Mountains) of northern Italy are groups of chapels and other architectural features created in the late 16th and 17th centuries and dedicated to different aspects of the Christian faith. In addition to their symbolic spiritual meaning, they are of great beauty by virtue of the skill with which they have been integrated into the surrounding natural landscape of hills, forests and lakes. They also house much important artistic material in the form of wall paintings and statuary.

5.Historic City of Ahmadabad

The walled city of Ahmadabad, founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in the 15th century, on the eastern bank of the Sabarmati river, presents a rich architectural heritage from the sultanate period, notably the Bhadra citadel, the walls and gates of the Fort city and numerous mosques and tombs as well as important Hindu and Jain temples of later periods. The urban fabric is made up of densely-packed traditional houses (pols) in gated traditional streets (puras) with characteristic features such as bird feeders, public wells and religious institutions. The city continued to flourish as the capital of the State of Gujarat for six centuries, up to the present.

An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

2) Jaipur City, Rajasthan

The walled city of Jaipur, in India’s north-western state of Rajasthan was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II. Unlike other cities in the region located in hilly terrain, Jaipur was established on the plain and built according to a grid plan interpreted in the light of Vedic architecture. The streets feature continuous colonnaded businesses that intersect in the centre, creating large public squares called chaupars. Markets, shops, residences and temples built along the main streets have uniform facades. The city's urban planning shows an exchange of ideas from ancient Hindu and early modern Mughal as well as Western cultures. The grid plan is a model that prevails in the West, while the organization of the different city sectors (chowkris) refers to traditional Hindu concepts. Designed to be a commercial capital, the city has maintained its local commercial, artisanal and cooperative traditions to this day.

3) Red Fort 

The Red Fort was built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad – the new capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex. The private apartments consist of a row of pavilions connected by a continuous water channel, known as the Nahr-i-Behisht (Stream of Paradise). The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which, under the Shah Jahan, was brought to a new level of refinement. The planning of the palace is based on Islamic prototypes, but each pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions The Red Fort’s innovative planning and architectural style, including the garden design, strongly influenced later buildings and gardens in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and further afield.

4) Hill Forts of Rajasthan

The serial site, situated in the state of Rajastahan, includes six majestic forts in Chittorgarh; Kumbhalgarh; Sawai Madhopur; Jhalawar; Jaipur, and Jaisalmer. The ecclectic architecture of the forts, some up to 20 kilometres in circumference, bears testimony to the power of the Rajput princely states that flourished in the region from the 8th to the 18th centuries. Enclosed within defensive walls are major urban centres, palaces, trading centres and other buildings including temples that often predate the fortifications within which developed an elaborate courtly culture that supported learning, music and the arts. Some of the urban centres enclosed in the fortifications have survived, as have many of the site's temples and other sacred buildings. The forts use the natural defenses offered by the landscape: hills, deserts, rivers, and dense forests. They also feature extensive water harvesting structures, largely still in use today.

5) Sun Temple, Konârak

On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya's chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, it is one of India's most famous Brahman sanctuaries.

Name : Sejal Sirohia 
Class : Vll F
Roll no. : 13

1. TAJ MAHAL:
The Taj Mahal is known the world over for its beautiful architecture, history and the tale of love that led to its creation. Located in the Indian city of Agra, the Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a testament of his love for his departed wife Mumtaz Mahal. Apart from housing her tomb, it also contains the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The mausoleum, built with an ivory-white marble and precious stones, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. To this day it attracts 7 to 8 million visitors a year.

2. AJANTA CAVES:
 The Ajanta Caves are a series of 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments that date back to the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE.

2) The caves are located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3) The Ajanta Caves are known for their stunning rock-cut architecture, intricate carvings, and stunning frescoes.

4) The caves contain both chaitya halls, which are used for worship, and viharas, which were used as monasteries for monks.

5) The Ajanta Caves were rediscovered in 1819 by a British officer named John Smith, and since then, have been a subject of fascination for art and history enthusiasts.

6) The frescoes and carvings in the Ajanta Caves are considered some of the best examples of ancient Indian art and are said to have had a significant influence on the development of Indian art.

7) The caves contain the depiction of Jataka Tales which are stories related to the previous births of Gautama Buddha.

8) The Ajanta Caves are also known for their advanced architectural techniques, such as the use of perspective to create the illusion of depth in the paintings and sculptures.

9) The caves were built over a period of several centuries, and it is believed that they were built and used by different groups of people at different times.

10) The Ajanta caves have been well preserved over time by the ASI due to their isolation and had undergone various conservations and preservation works in the 20th century.

3.SUN TEMPLE:
The Konark Sun temple is one of the wonders of India. It is the grandest of the many Sun temples in India and has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Sun temple is believed to have been built in the 13th century by a king named Narasimha I. The principal deity of the temple was Surya or the Sun God. The temple is an architectural and engineering marvel, though only its ruins have survived. The famous Konark Wheel is a part of this temple built in the shape of a massive chariot.


4.AGRA FORT:
Agra Fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra in India. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. The Agra fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site.It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled city.

After the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, the victorious Babur stayed in the fort, in the palace of Ibrahim Lodi. He later built a baoli in it. His successor, Humayun, was crowned in the fort in 1530. He was defeated at Bilgram in 1540 by Sher Shah Suri. The fort remained with the Suris till 1555, when Humayun recaptured it. Adil Shah Suri’s general, Hemu, recaptured Agra in 1556 and pursued its fleeing governor to Delhi where he met the Mughals in the Battle of Tughlaqabad. Sheesh Mahal, Agra Fort:The effect produced by lighting candles in Sheesh Mahal, Agra Fort.

5. CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ TERMINUS :

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (previously Victoria Terminus, Mumbai (suburban), is a railway terminus and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra,

The terminus was designed by a British born architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens from an initial design by Axel Haig, in an exuberant Italian Gothic style. Its construction began in 1878, in a location south of the old Bori Bunder railway station,^[6] and was completed in 1887, the year marking 50 years of Queen Victoria's rule.

In March 1996 the station name was changed from Victoria Terminus to "Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus" (with station code CST) after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the 17th-century warrior king who employed guerrilla tactics to contest the Mughal Empire and found a new state in the western Marathi-speaking regions of the Deccan Plateau.^[7][8][9]

In 2017, the station was again renamed "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus" (with code CSMT), where the title Maharaj has literal meaning, "Great king; emperor."^[10] Both former initials "VT" and the current, "CST", are also commonly used.^[11]

The terminus is the headquarters of India's Central Railway. It is one of the busiest railway stations in India,^[12] serving as a terminal for both long-distance and suburban trains with a total number of 18 platforms.

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2. HUMAYUN'S TOMB - Humayun's tomb is present in Delhi, India. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum under her patronage in 1558,and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad Persian architects chosen by her. It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and is located in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, Indian, close to the Dina-panah citadel, also known  as Purana Qila that Humayun found in 1538. The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site 1993 and since then has undergone extensive restoration work.

3.AGRA FORT - The Agra Fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra, and also known as Agra's Red Fort. It was built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 and completed in 1573, it served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal dynasty until 1638 when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. It was also known as the 'Lal-Qila' or 'Qila-i-Akbari'. In 1983,the Agra fort was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


4.SUNDARBAN NATIONAL PARK - The Sundarbans National Park is a national park ,tiger reserve and biosphere reserve in West Bengal, India. It is a part of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest in Bangladesh. The delta is densely covered by mangrove forests and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of birds ,reptiles and invertebrate species including the salt water crocodile. On 4th may 1984 it was declared a national park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1987

5. ELLORA CAVES -  Ellora caves are a rock-cut Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cave complex, with artwork dating from 600-1000ce . It is located in the Sambhaji nagar District of Maharashtra. All of the Ellora monuments were built during the period of the Rashtrakutas. There are over 100 caves at the site, all excavated from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills, 34 of which are open to the public. They were built close to one another and illustrate the religious harmony that existed in ancient India.


Name - Architha bennuri 
Class/sec- VII F
Roll no - 20

Petra is half-built, half-The spectacular sandstone city of Petra was built in the 3rd century BC by the Nabataeans, who carved palaces, temples, tombs, storerooms and stables from the soft stone cliffs.carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges. It is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites, where ancient Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture.During the first centuries BC to AD, Petra is believed to have been home to 20,000 – 30,000 people and was an important trading city. It then sat uninhabited for over five centuries until rediscovered by a Swiss explorer in 1812, hence the name the 'Lost City'.

5.AHU TONGARIKI
The iconic 15 huge moai statues of ahu tongariki, a unesco world heritage site on easter island, chile, south america.Ahu Tongariki was the largest ceremonial structure ever built on Easter Island. In terms of size, plan and the number of statues, it represents the apogee in the development of the so- called 'image ahu', most of which were built in a period of ap- proximately five or six hundred years between ca. AD 1000- 1500.

NAME: SNITHIKA
ROLL NO : 6
CLASS: 7F

There are over 100 caves at the site, all excavated from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills, 34 of which are open to the public. These consist of 17 Hindu (caves 13–29), 12 Buddhist (caves 1–12) and 5 Jain (caves 30–34) caves Each group represents deities and mythologies prevalent in the 1st millennium CE, as well as monasteries of each respective religion. They were built close to one another and illustrate the religious harmony in ancient India.

2. Agra Fort

The Agra Fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra and is also known as Agra's Red Fort. Built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 and completed in 1573, it served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. It was also known as the "Lal-Qila" or "Qila-i-Akbari".Before capture by the British, the last Indian rulers to have occupied it was the Marathas. In 1983, the Agra Fort was life inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled city. It was later renovated by Shah Jahan.

Like the rest of Agra, the history of Agra Fort prior to Mahmud Ghaznavi's invasion is unclear. However, in the 15th century, the Chauhan Rajputs occupied it. Soon after, Agra assumed the status of capital when Sikandar Lodi (AD 1487–1517) shifted his capital from Delhi and constructed a few buildings in the pre-existing fort at Agra.

3. Humayun Tomb

Humayun's tomb (Persian: Maqbara-i Humayun) is the tomb of Humayun in Delhi, India.^[1] The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum under her patronage in 1558, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad, Persian architects chosen by her. It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent and is located in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India, close to the Dina-panah Citadel, also known as Purana Qila (Old Fort), that Humayun found in 1538. It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale. The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and since then has undergone extensive restoration work, which is complete. Besides the main tomb enclosure of Humayun, several smaller monuments dot the pathway leading up to it, from the main entrance in the West, including one that even pre-dates the main tomb itself, by twenty years; it is the tomb complex of Isa Khan Niyazi, an Afghan noble in Sher Shah Suri's court of the Suri dynasty, who fought against the Mughals, constructed in 1547 CE.

4. Ajanta Caves

The Ajanta Caves are 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the second century BCE to about 480 CE in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra state in India.^[1][2][3] Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[2] Universally regarded as masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, the caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotions through gesture, pose and form.^[4][5][6]

The caves were built in two phases, the first starting around the second century BCE and the second occurring from 400 to 650 CE, according to older accounts, or in a brief period of 460–480 CE according to later scholarship.

The Ajanta Caves constitute ancient monasteries (Chaityas) and worship halls (Viharas) of different Buddhist traditions carved into a 75-meter (246 ft) wall of rock. The caves also present paintings depicting the past lives and rebirths of the Buddha, pictorial tales from Aryasura's Jatakamala, and rock-cut sculptures of Buddhist deities. Textual records suggest that these caves served as a monsoon retreat for monks, as well as a resting site for merchants and pilgrims in ancient India. While vivid colors and mural wall paintings were abundant in Indian history as evidenced by historical records, Caves 1, 2, 16, and 17 of Ajanta form the largest corpus of surviving ancient Indian wall paintings.

Panoramic view of Ajanta Caves from the nearby hill

The Ajanta Caves are mentioned in the memoirs of several medieval-era Chinese Buddhist travelers. They were covered by jungle until accidentally "discovered" and brought to Western attention in 1819 by a colonial British officer Captain John Smith at a tiger-hunting party. The caves are in the rocky northern wall of the U-shaped gorge of the river Waghur, in the Deccan plateau. Within the gorge are a number of waterfalls, audible from outside the caves when the river is high.

5. Hampi

Hampi or Hampe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Hampi (City), Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India.Hampi predates the Vijayanagara Empire, it is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Puranas of Hinduism as Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra. Hampi continues to be an important religious center, housing the Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery, and various monuments belonging to the old city.

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It was a fortified city. Chronicles left by Persian and European travelers, particularly the Portuguese, say that Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy, and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms, and trading markets. By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal. The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged, and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins.

Located in Karnataka near the modern-era city of Hosapete, Hampi's ruins are spread over 4,100 hectares (16 sq mi) and it has been described by UNESCO as an "austere, grandiose site" of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India that includes "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures, and others".

Location

Hampi is set in a rocky terrain. Above: one of the many Vijayanagara market ruins, with the Tungabhadra River in the background

Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the eastern part of central Karnataka near the state border with Andhra Pradesh. It is 376 kilometers (234 mi) from Bengaluru and 165 kilometers (103 mi) from Hubli. The closest railway station is in Hosapete (Hospet), 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) away and the closest airport is 32 kilometers (20 mi) Jindal Vijaynagar Airport in Toranagallu which has connectivity to Bengaluru. Overnight buses and trains also connect Hampi with Goa and Bengaluru.It is 140 kilometers (87 mi) southeast of the Badami and Aihole archaeological sites.

The synonym Hampi—traditionally known as Pampa-kshetra, Kishkindha-kshetra, or Bhaskara-kshetra—is derived from Pampa, another name for the goddess Parvati in Hindu theology.

All of the Ellora monuments were built during the Rashtrakuta dynasty (r. 753-982 CE), which constructed part of the Hindu and Buddhist caves and the Jain caves. Funding for the construction of the monuments was provided by royals, traders and the wealthy of the region.^[

Like the rest of Agra, the history of Agra Fort prior to Mahmud Ghaznavi's invasion is unclear. However, in the 15th century, the Chauhan Rajputs occupied it. Soon after, Agra assumed the status of capital when Sikandar Lodi (AD 1487–1517) shifted his capital from Delhi and constructed a few buildings in the pre-existing fort at Agra. After the first battle of Panipat (AD 1526) Mughals captured the fort and ruled from it. In AD 1530, Humayun was crowned in it. The fort was given its present appearance during the reign of Akbar (AD 1556–1605). Later this fort was under the rule of Jats of Bharatpur for 13 years.

Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643, but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around ₹32 million, which in 2020 would be approximately ₹70 billion (about US $1 billion). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by Ustad Ahmad Lahori, the emperor’s court architect. Various types of symbolism have been employed in the Taj to reflect natural beauty and divinity.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts more than 6 million visitors a year^[3] and in 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.

In 2015, the rhino population stood at 2401. Kaziranga National Park was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer.^[4] Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for conservation of avifaunal species. When compared with other protected areas in India, Kaziranga has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation. Located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, the park combines high species diversity and visibility.

Kaziranga is a vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests, criss-crossed by four major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, and the park includes numerous small bodies of water. Kaziranga has been the theme of several books, songs, and documentaries. The park celebrated its centennial in 2005 after its establishment in 1905 as a reserve forest.

In 2017, Kaziranga came under severe criticism after a BBC News documentary revealed a hardliner strategy to conservation, reporting the killing of 20 people a year in the name of rhino conservation.^[5] As a consequence of this reporting, BBC News was banned from filming in protected areas in India for 5 years.^[6] While several news reports claimed that BBC had apologized for the documentary, the BBC stood by its report, with its Director General, Tony Hall, writing in a letter to Survival International that the letter "in no way constitutes an apology for our journalism."^[7] As a response to the report, researchers in India have provided more nuanced understanding of the matter, calling out BBC for the carelessness of its journalism, but also pointing to the problems of conservation in Kaziranga^[8] and questioning whether shoot-at-sight has been a useful conservation strategy at all.^[9]

3) Humayun's Tomb - This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. Humayun's garden-tomb is also called the 'dormitory of the Mughals' as in the cells are buried over 150 Mughal family members. The tomb stands in an extremely significant archaeological setting, cantered at the Shrine of the 14^th century Sufi Saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. In December 1530, Humayun succeeded his father to the throne of Delhi as ruler of the Mughal territories in the Indian subcontinent.

4) Khajuraho - The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India. They are about 175 kilometers southeast of Jhansi, 10km from Azad Nagar Khajwa, 9km from Rajnagar and 49 km from district headquarter Chhatarpur. The name Khajuraho is taken from the Hindi word khajur, meaning 'date palm'. It is said once the city was surrounded by nothing but date palm trees and therefore the name. But there's another story, which states that the name originated from Khajura-vahaka, which is a symbolic name for Shiva.

5) Hampi - Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It was a fortified city. Chronicles left by Persian and European travelers, particularly the Portuguese, say that Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms and trading markets. Explore Hampi on a Bicycle or a Moped, Visit the Temples and Ruins of Hampi, Visit Anjaneya Hill, Rock Climbing, Coracle Ride, Fishing in the Lake, Boat Ride, Cliff Jumping, Climb Matanga Hill, Hut Stay in Hippie Island and Visit the Local Market for Shopping. It is believed in Hindu mythology that Goddess Parvati led the life of a yogini in the Hemkunta hills of Hampi, to convince Shiva to marry her. So the river that flows alongside the Hemkunta hill was called the Pampa river and the land was called Pampa Khestra.

Most Khajuraho temples were built between 885 CE and 1000 CE by the Chandela dynasty.^[4][5] Historical records note that the Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by the 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometers. Of these, only about 25 temples have survived, spread over six square kilometers.^[2] Of the surviving temples, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art.^[6] The temple complex was forgotten and overgrown by the jungle until 1838 when Captain T.S. Burt, a British engineer, visited the complex and reported his findings in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

ELLORA CAVES-
Ellora Caves are a rock-cut Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cave complex, with artwork dating from the period 600–1000 CE, located in the Sambhaji nagar District of Maharashtra, India.^[1] There are over 100 caves at the site, all excavated from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills, 34 of which are open to public.^[2] These consist of 17 Hindu (caves 13–29), 12 Buddhist (caves 1–12) and 5 Jain (caves 30–34) caves.^[3][4] Each group represents deities and mythologies prevalent in the 1st millennium CE, as well as monasteries of each respective religion.^[3] They were built close to one another and illustrate the religious harmony that existed in ancient India.^[5][6] Because of their exceptional achitecture and testimony to the mixing of cultures and religions in ancient India, the Ellora Caves were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.<sup>[5]

AJANTA CAVES-</sup>

The Ajanta Caves are 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the second century BCE to about 480 CE in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra state in India.^[1][2][3] Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[2] Universally regarded as masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, the caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotions through gesture, pose and form.^[4][5][6]

The caves were built in two phases, the first starting around the second century BCE and the second occurring from 400 to 650 CE, according to older accounts, or in a brief period of 460–480 CE according to later scholarship.
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NAME:HEYANSH KUMAR
ROLL NO:21
CLASS-7F</sup>

Taj Mahal was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1983. Taj Mahal along with being a world heritage site is one of the ‘seven wonders of the world’. This beautiful monument built in white marble is situated in the erstwhile capital of Mughal empire- Agra. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife and the love of his life- Mumtaz Mahal; it therefore stands as a symbol of pure and eternal love. Taj Mahal has combined the best architectural features of many Mughal buildings and is thus considered as a masterpiece. Resplendence of Taj Mahal grows manifold at sunrise and sunset.

Agra fort
Agra Fort was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1983. It is situated within a distance of just 2.5 km from the popular Taj Mahal in the Mughal city of Agra. It used to be the place of residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty. It is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its magnificent Islamic architecture. The fort was built by Akbar on the banks of the Yamuna during 1565-73. It is surrounded by a 2.4 km long, 21 meters high wall of red sandstone. It has two big ornamental gateways, which are decorated with beautiful patterns with white marble inlay and colored glaze. These patterns are representations of living beings, which are not found in any other Islamic building in India.

sun Temple
Sun Temple was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1984. Located in Konark, Odisha, this temple dates back to 13th. It was constructed in the form of a very large ratha (a chariot) and was dedicated to the Sun God (as the name also suggests).Bearing magnificently carved out features (twelve pair of wheels and the chariot being driven by seven horses) with detailed craftswork done, it looks divine and resplendent. What is interesting to note is that the wheels are actually sun dials which makes it a hotspot for the people interested in ancient astronomy.

AJANTA CAVES
Ajanta Caves was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1983. Situated in Aurangabad, Maharashtra these caves date back to 2nd Century BC. These Buddhist caves are considered as one of the most outstanding artistic pursuits carried out in the olden times. About thirty in number, these remained abandoned for quite a lot of time as they were covered by dense forests before being rediscovered by a British officer. The surviving mural paintings in the caves are one of the finest paintings which represent the art of ancient India and are many times used as an inspiration by present day artists.

MACHU Picchu

Machu Picchu is about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Andes Mountains Cordillera de Vilcabamba. It's more than 7,000 feet above sea level. It is the symbol of the Incan Empire & was built around 1450 AD. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Hiram Bingham, A Yale professor, discovered Machu Picchu in 1911.

AJANTA CAVES

The Ajanta Caves are 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the second century BCE to about 480 CE in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra state in India. Universally regarded as masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, the caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotions through gesture, pose and form. The caves were built in two phases, the first starting around the second century BCE and the second occurring from 400 to 650 CE, according to older accounts, or in a brief period of 460–480 CE according to later scholarship. The caves also present paintings depicting the past lives and rebirths of the Buddha.

 

KHAJURAHO GROUP OF MONUMENTS

 

 

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India. The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and a few erotic sculptures. Most Khajuraho temples were built between 885 CE and 1000 CE by the Chandela dynasty. Of these, only about 25 temples have survived, spread over six square kilometers. Of the surviving temples, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art . The temple complex was forgotten and overgrown by the jungle until 1838 when Captain T.S. Burt, a British engineer, visited the complex and reported his findings in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 

 

 

TAJ MAHAL

 

 

The Taj Mahal is also known as ( 'Crown of the Palace') is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658) to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall. Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643, but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around ₹32 million, which in 2020 would be approximately ₹70 billion. The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by Ustad Ahmad Lahori, the emperor’s court architect.

AGRA FORT

The Agra Fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra, and also known as Agra's Red Fort. Mughal emperor Humayun was crowned at this fort. It was later renovated by the Mughal emperor Akbar from 1565 and the present day structure was completed in 1573. It served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. It was also known as the "Lal-Qila" or "Qila-i-Akbari".   Before capture by the British, the last Indian rulers to have occupied it were the Marathas. In 1983, the Agra fort was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its importance during the Mughal Dynasty.