Top 7 Historical Places in India You Must Visit

India is a beautiful country, having a fascinating history of the civilization that is known to be the oldest in the world. The historical monuments in India, like Ajanta-Alora Caves, reflect the heritage and history of the country and depict tales of battles, romance, emotions, power, and a lot more. Most of these historical places in India are now preserved by Government and still carry exceptionally striking beauty.

India offers many historical places that are rooted in India’s glorious and rich past. Let’s take a small virtual tour back in time, and we hope you enjoy this time travel with the top 7 historical places in India.

1. Taj Mahal, Agra

Taj Mahal, one of the ‘Seven Wonders,’ needs no formal introduction. Located in the city of Agra, the Taj Mahal is the mausoleum, built in the loving memories of Mumtaz Mahal - wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Only white marble was used for the construction, and it took sixteen years (1632-1648) to make this mausoleum. Taj Mahal is also known as a canvas showcasing the Mughal, Turkish, Persian, and Indian architectural styles.

Quick Info:

• Opening Time: Sunrise to sunset (closed on Fridays)

• Entry Fee: Foreigners (INR 1300) SAARC/BIMSTEC visitors (INR 540)

• Special Advice: Taj Mahal on a full moon night looks even beautiful.

• Location: Agra, on the banks of river Yamuna (204 Km from Delhi)

Note: Additional 200 per head for visiting the main mausoleum.

Taj Mahal

Red Fort

2. Red Fort, Delhi

Red Fort, also known as Quila-e-Mubarak, was established in 1648. It stands tall as a sign of Mughal Creativity under the leadership of Shah Jahan. The fort was constructed by Shah Jahan when he shifted capital from Agra to Delhi, and it remained the residence of the Mughal Imperil family for nearly 20 years. It is another prestigious monument in India that reflects the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. It is crafted by magnificent red sand stones, and it is carved with floral designs and embodied with semi-precious stones. The light and sound show that is held in the evening is a not-to-miss thing here.

Quick Info:

• Opening Time: 9:30 am- 4:30 pm daily (Closed on Mondays)

• Entry Fee: Foreigners (INR 500)

• Location: Netaji Subhash Marg, Delhi

3. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb is a magnificent tomb and a renowned historical place in India built during the Mughal rule. The tomb was commissioned in 1526, and it is still known to be the perfect example of Persian architecture. Humayun's Tomb is dedicated to Humanyun by his wife, which also reflects a blurry image of the Taj Mahal. The beautiful carving on the tomb’s walls carries the legacy of the Indo-Islamic architecture. The teams of Persian and Indian craftsmen worked together to build the garden tomb, which is larger than any other tomb built before in the Islamic world.

Quick Info:

• Opening Time: 6:00am- 6:00pm daily

• Entry Fee: Foreigners (INR 500)

• Location: Mathura Road, opposite Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, Delhi

4. Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Maharashtra

Ajanta and Ellora Caves are the ancient rock-cut caves, located at a distance of about 100 kilometers from each other. These caves were declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ajanta and Allora caves are believed to be constructed during two different periods – Ajanta Caves were made during 2nd century BC and 6th century AD while Ellora Caves between 6th and 11th Century AD, built and sponsored by the Indian rulers of that period. The magnificent Kailasa temple here is a perfect example of architectures made out of the single piece of rock.

Quick Info:

• Opening Time: 8 am to 5 pm (Tuesday – Sunday)

• Entry Fee: Foreigners (INR 600)

• Location: Northern Maharashtra, around 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Mumbai.

5. Khajuraho Temples, Madhya Pradesh

Khajuraho Temple

The Khajuraho Temples in India is another architectural wonder, which was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. This group of temples was built around 1st century AD by the Chandela Rajputs. It is the place that will leave you wondering how the ancient people created such architecture without the use of technology. It is the finest example of Hindu Nagara style architecture, and it also shows an unbelievable elevation of profound artistic knowledge of the erotic science of its creators.

Quick Info:

• Opening Time: Sunrise to Sunset

• Light & Sound Show Timings: 7:0 pm to 7:25 pm.

• Dance Show Timings: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm and 8:45 pm to 9:45 pm.

• Entry Fee: Foreigners (INR 500), SAARC/BIMSTEC visitors (INR 35)

•  Location: Chattarpur district, Madhya Pradesh

6. Elephanta Caves, Mumbai

The Elephanta Caves get the name from the island where they are located, Elephanta, situated at a short distance of 11 kilometers of Mumbai, which is the financial center and India's largest city. These rock-cut cave temples contain a huge collections dedicated to Lord Shiva and were declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Although not enough archeological evidence is available, it is believed that these caves were constructed sometime around the 6th century. Elephanta Caves have been renowned as the most significant example of Indian sculpture art.

Qucik Info:

• Opening Time: 9:30 am- 5:30 pm daily (Closed on Mondays)

• Entry Fee: Foreigners (INR 600)

• Location: Island of Gharapuri, Mumbai

7. Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer Fort

Located amidst the golden sand of Thar Desert, Jaisalmer Fort is a 1500ft golden structure that was built in 1156 AD by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rao Jaisal. Jaisalmer Fort is also known as Golden Fort or Sonar Quila, which is quite true as it can be noticed shining during the sunrise and sunset. During the Medieval Era, it remained an important trade center before the emergence of Bombay and Calcutta. Jaisalmer fort is declared as UNESCO World Heritage.

Quick Info:

• Opening Time: 9:00 am- 6:00 pm daily

• Entry Fee: Foreigners (INR 250)

• Location: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Each of these historical places in India is worth visiting, for they have been the witnesses of the rich history and have great tales to tell even today. Make sure to visit a few of these while on your trip to the mystical land of India.