Top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (& Stories Behind Them)

India has a rich culture and heritage. Of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, over 35 are in India. Club Mahindra brings you the stories behind these historical sites. Read on.

Mahabodhi Temple Complex, Bihar

Prince Siddhartha, son of King Shuddhodana, started questioning established religious rites and practices from a tender age. At 16 he set out in search of the truth, which he finally found under a Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) at Bodh Gaya. The Mahabodhi (literally the ‘great awakening’) temple is built at the exact spot where the Buddha – as Siddhartha came to be known – found enlightenment. The first temple was built by Emperor Ashoka, followed by many more over the 5th and 6th centuries.

Qutab Minar, Delhi

Said to have been built on the ruins of 27 Jain and Hindu temples, the 800-year-old Qutab Minar was built by Qutab-ud-din-Aibak and named after him. Over 72 metres high and with a diameter tapering from 14.32 metres at the bottom to 2.75 metres at the top, the minar (tower) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. The surrounding area contains funerary buildings, notably the Alai Darwaza, and two mosques, including the Quwwat-ul-Islam, the oldest in northern India.

Red Fort Complex, Delhi

Originally built from white limestone by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the Red Fort or Lal Qila gets its name from the protective red stone walls surrounding it. The British later painted the fort itself red. The fort became Shah Jahan’s new capital when he shifted from Agra to Delhi and he named it Qila-i-Mubarak or the blessed fort. Built between 1638 and 1648, the Red Fort has a history of romance and war. It was here in 1858 that Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried for treason and exiled to Rangoon (Myanmar).

Hampi Group of Monuments, Karnataka

Located by the banks of the Tungabhadra in hilly terrain formed by granite boulders, the monuments of Hampi are a part of the wider-spread Vijayanagara ruins. Local folklore has it that two young local chieftains, Hakka and Bukka, saw the unusual sight of a hare that was being pursued by their hound suddenly turn around and chase the predator. Vidyaranya, their guru, told them the place is special and asked them to establish their local capital there. The site, which has about 1600 monuments and covers over 40 sq km, is worth a visit for the architecture.

Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh

As guides deadpan and tourists look askance, the question in every heart and mind is – why are there erotic sculptures in a temple? One story says a beautiful maiden Hemvati was bathing when she was seduced by the Moon God, who promised her that her son would one day rule over the region. The temples were built in her honour. Another says the sculptures were an effort to rekindle passion among Buddhists. A third story claims that the erotic sculptures are symbolic of leaving your lust outside the place of worship.

Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Maharashtra

Another relic from the Gupta period, these cave temples were rediscovered by the British in the 19th century. It is said that Buddhist and Jain disciples used to reside here and learn at the feet of their gurus. Carved out of whole mountain rock, the artwork at Ajanta is dedicated to Lord Buddha while the Ellora cave complex has murals and sculptures relating to Jain, Hindu, and Buddhist beliefs. They were created under the supervision of several generations of kings, including the Chalukya and Rashtrakuta dynasties.

Sun Temple, Konarak, Odisha

Built in the 13th century, the Sun Temple at Konarak is said to commemorate the victory of King Narasimhadeva of the Ganga Dynasty over Tughan Khan, a representative of Emperor Nasiruddin Mahmud. Another mythological story goes that Samba, the son of Krishna, contracted leprosy as a result of a curse from Narada. He went to Konarak for penance and cure, where he established an idol of the Sun God which he found in a nearby river.

Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu

Consisting of three temples built in the 11th and 12th centuries by the Chola Dynasty, the Chola temples of Brihadeswara, Airavateswara, and Gangaikondacholapuram comprise the three main temples in the complex. The tallest tower at the height of 53 meters has a graceful curve and recessed corners. It was declared a world heritage site in 1987.

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu

Another set of monuments carved from rock, the Mahabalipuram temple was built by the Pallavas in the 7th and 8th centuries. There are about 40 monuments, including the largest open-air bas relief in the world. Locals say the area gained prominence during the reign of Mamalla, hence the alternative name of Mamallapuram. Inscriptions on the walls show that the temple was called the Ratha temple.

Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh

Built on the banks of the Yamuna, the fort represented the glory of the Mughals during the 16th to 18th centuries. Constructed of red sandstone, it currently spans 2.5 km in length. The complex is a fusion of Indian and Persian Timurid art. Located in the same city as the Taj Mahal (another world heritage site and one of the seven wonders of the modern world), you can visit both sites in a single trip – one by day and one by night.

Club Mahindra welcomes you to well-appointed resorts in India’s cultural hotspots where you can explore the rich heritage of this great country. With these Club Mahindra reviews, get a sneak peek of what members have to say about the heritage resorts of Club Mahindra!