The Seven Wonders Of India And Why They’re So Renowned

India is a land of much wonder. In every state, there is something worth seeing. And not just worth seeing, worth travelling thousands of miles to see. But which ones must you see first?

Well, here are seven we think are good candidates. The wonders include a monolith, places of worship, even a university and a marvelous mausoleum. Let’s have a look.

The Seven Wonders Of The World

1. Taj Mahal in Agra

Taj Mahal,  an ivory-white 17 hectare mausoleum, was built in 1653 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan after the demise of his beloved wife, Mumtaz. It is located at Agra, Uttar Pradesh, having been built over 22 years with the help of 20,000 workers, artisans and even 1,000 elephants.

The architecture of the mahal is inspired by Persian and Mughal architecture. It is not only one of the wonders of India but also one of the wonders of the world, and remains very popular with tourists both local and foreign.

2. The Golden Temple in Amritsar

The Sri Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as ‘The Golden Temple’, is a central place of worship for Sikh community, built around a water pool in the years 1585 to 1604. It is located in Amritsar and considered one of the holiest Gurudwaras. It was designed by Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru.

It has a collection of buildings around the sacred place that have offices, museums and a small Sikh group that runs a kitchen. Adi Granth, the holy book of Sikhs, is installed inside the temple and also houses the Akal Takht, which is believed to be the physical attribute of God.

3. Hampi Temple in Hampi

Hampi is a temple town located amidst the ruins of Vijayanagara, Karnataka. It is a collection of all the ancient Hindu temples, representing the rich cultural heritage of the region.

It was a part of the ancient Indian kingdom of Vijayanagara, whose rulers were known for their love of art and culture. Some notable temples are Virupaksha Temple, the Queen’s Bath and the Vittala Temple Complex.

4. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Madhya Pradesh

Located in Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a vast complex of Jain and Hindu Temples. These monuments were built in 9th century by the rulers of Chandela Dynasty.

This place is famous for the Nagara architecture and erotic sculptures. The site had around 85 temples by the 12th century, of which only 20 remain. The group of temples honours both Hindu and Jain traditions.

5. The Monolithic Gomateshwara Statue in Shravanabelagola

The Gomateshwara is a giant statue, around 60 feet high, located at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka. It was built by the minister of Ganga Dynasty during AD 981. This statue was built in respect of the first Jain Tirthankara grandson, Bahubali (Gomateshwara), when he attained salvation for a year by standing motionless.

The best time to visit this place is during the event of Maha-Masak-Abhishek, every 12 to 14 years. During this event, the statue is washed with gallons of water, honey, milk and different types of sandalwood pastes.

6. Nalanda University in Bihar

Located 95 kilometres from Patna, the capital city of Bihar, Nalanda University was a world-renowned center of learning during the reign of the Gupta Empire and later during the rule of the emperor of Kannauj, Harshavardhana.

It is inspired by the highly organised methods of vedic learning, and was attended by many scholars from different regions, including China, Korea, Central Asia and Tibet.Later It was destroyed by the Muslim army in the 12th century AD.

7. Konark Sun Temple of Odisha

Konark Sun Temple, also known as Black Pagoda, was built in 1255 CE by the East Ganga Dynasty ruler, King Narasimhadeva I, on the banks of the River Chandrabhaga.

This temple is dedicated to the Sun God and is located in Konark, Orissa. It is famously known for its architecture in the Kalinga style and especially the sun-chariot-style temple with 12 pairs of carved wheels, pillars and walls pulled by seven horses.

With this information, we’re sure you can put together your next list. If you have the time, you could even aim to visit more than one monument at a time, as several of them are located near each other. Need any tips on how this can be arranged? Do let us know in the comments. We’d be delighted to help you out.