Block Quote
India's incredible heritage and cultural history has innumerable time stamp testimonials in the form of architecture. From caves, temples, and palaces, to stupas and stepwells, our architectural diversity is unlike any other country in the world. This rich and enduring tapestry developed over 4000 years, during which there were several political and foreign influencers, weaving new threads of variance. India ranks #6 in the list of countries with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here are some of the most memorable man-made spaces in our country.
Hampi is a temple town in Northern Karnataka and was once the capital of the historical Vijayanagara Dynasty. Dating back to 1500 AD, the ruins of temples and other structures that were apart of the Vijaynagar Dynasty are the main attraction. According to some historical accounts, Hampi used to be considered the second-largest city in the world. The austere, grandiose sites of Hampi have won over the admiration of all travelers. These Dravidian temples and palaces were built between the 14th and 16th centuries. Hampi is also classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the town is called the World's Largest Open-air Museum covering an area of about 29 sq km.
Rani-ki-Vav was initially built as a memory to a king in 11th century AD. Stepwells are a distinctive form of water resource and storage in the Indian subcontinent – structures like these have been built since 3rd Millennium BC. These structures evolve over time from a pit in the soil to an elaborate multi-story work of architecture. This stepwell was built in a Maru-Gurjara architectural style that reflects the mastery of the complex technique with detailed proportions. Almost designed like an inverted temple, highlighting the sanctity of water, the structure is divided into seven levels of stairs with highly intricate sculptural panels. There are more than 500 principal sculptures and 1000 minor ones that combine secular, religious, mythological imagery along with literary works.
The Mahabodhi temple is considered to be one of India's popular spiritual destinations. It isn't just another temple but marks the spot where the Buddha was enlightened. It's an intricate and elaborately crafted complex that emanates a serene ambiance – people from all walks of life attain peace when they visit this site. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002 and was restored by the British in 1880. It is believed that the temple was built in the 3rd century by Emperor Ashok. The present complex comprises the 50 meters high Temple, the Vajrasana, sacred Bodhi Tree (fig), and other six sacred sites of Buddha's enlightenment, surrounded by several ancient stupas. The existing Bodhi Tree at the complex is not the original tree that Buddha was enlightened under – most likely to be the fifth succession of the original one. The meditation garden within the temple's complex is the most popular zone to visit – one can sit there in tranquility and meditate with the monks.
About 100 km from the city of Aurangabad are the rock-cut caves of Ajanta that are nestled in a panoramic gorge, shaped in the size of a gigantic horseshoe. Consisting of a set of 29 caves, Ajanta is one of the finest examples of early Buddhist architecture, sculptures, and paintings. These caves hold the halls or shrines of Chaitya – which are dedicated to Lord Buddha. The Viharas or monasteries are still used by monks to meditate and impart Buddhist teachings. The paintings on the walls and ceiling of the caves showcase instances from the life of Lord Buddha. The most popular and interesting paintings are the Jataka tales.
Dilwara Jain Temples in Mount Abu are located about 2 and a half kilometers from the hill station. The complex has five temples built at various times in history around the 12th century, by the followers of Jainism. The five temples are Shri Mahaveer Swami Temple, Shri Adi Nath Temple, Shri Rishabdaoji Temple, Shri Parshav Nath Temple, and Shri Nemi Nath Ji Temple. These five intricately sculpted temples are dedicated to the five Jain saints or the Tirthamkars. It is the epitome of marble architecture in India and one of the most stunning Jain shrines across the world. It is most popularly known for ornamented pillars and detailed carvings.
%20(1).jpg)
