Konark Sun Temple – History lives

Plan to visit one of the most sublime architectures of India, the Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha state. Sun temple was built in thirteen century in the form of solar chariot with twelve pairs of intricately ornamented wheels pulled by Seven horses. The temple dedicated to Sun God houses exquisitely wonderful structures of sculptures and ornaments, a beauty to behold forever.

The architectural grandeur and the flawless proportions can be witnessed in every part of this temple despite the ruins due to the tests of time. The huge temple compound houses another structure by Mayadevi Temple, and Goddess Mayadevi is believed to be one of the wives of Sun God. Another smaller temple excavated in 1956 is found to have the statues of Lord Balarama and Trivikarama which has a large relevance to the philosophies and divine figurines followed in Sri Vaishnavism and this smaller brick structure is known as Vaishnava temple. Though the roof structures are missing in many of these structures, the entire Sun temple stands as a strong testimony to the craftsmanship of yesteryears’ artisans.

Visit Sun temple at Konark, the epitome of architecture in Odisha !

What you need to know while planning a visit to Konark Sun Temple:

Entry Timings: From Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Cash Payment
1	Visitors from India, SAARC* & BIMSTEC*	Rs.40
2	Visitors from other countries	Rs.600

• * SAARC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan
• ** BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar

Mountain Railways of India

The three mountain railways of India,  the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka Shimla Railway dating back to 18^th century are still fully functional, entertaining thousands of global travellers every year.

Unlike the regular train travel, toy trains will take you more closer to nature and it is an engineering marvel to construct the rails through the less inhabited regions of the mountains, which everyone is enjoying today. All the tree trains are an emblematic of the technical efforts put in to network the mountains with the plains.

Plan for a joyous ride in any of the three mountain railways India, Enjoy the moments of fun unlimited !

Mohabodhi Temple Complex at BodhGaya

One of the oldest religions practiced in India is Buddhism, founded by Lord Gautama Buddha. The Mahabodhi temple complex at Bodh Gaya deserves a special mention as it is believed that, Bodh Gaya is the place where Lord Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment and started preaching his principles. The Bahabodhi temple complex is more than thousand years old build as an elegant structure, highly venerated by the Buddhists. The seven storeyed temple and other structures inside the temple complex is listed under the World Heritage site by UNESCO.

The most renowned Bodhi tree is at the west side of this temple, under which Lord Gautama Buddha had his revelations. The present tree is believed to be the direct descendant of the ancient one, another place of reverence for the Buddhists and others.

Plan a visit to Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bihar, an ancient spiritual monument.

Group of Monuments at Khajuraho

Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh is the one of the most prominent tourist destination frequented by travellers from all corners of the globe. Group of monuments at Khajuraho includes gorgeously sculpted temples with mostly of erotic sculptures and intricately designed carvings. The cultural grace and architectural splendour can be felt in every part of the group of monuments at Khajuraho.

The temples are largely admired for the lofty terraces and ornamentally designed plans including arthamandapa, garba griha and huge pillars and halls. The exterior of the temples are found to have rich variety of sculptures and you can also find some simpler creations for few of the Hindu Gods like Lord Brahma. On the whole, the figurines are universally admired for their ravishing beauty , wisdom grace and charm.

Plan a visit to the 9^th century wonders at Khajuraho !

What you need to know while planning a visit to Group of Monuments at Khajuraho:

Entry Timings: From Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Cash Payment
1	Visitors from India, SAARC* & BIMSTEC**	Rs.40
2	Visitors from other countries	Rs.600
3	Children below 15 years	Free

• * SAARC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan
• ** BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar

World Heritage Buddhist Monument at Sanchi

Visit Sanchi, acclaimed as the nucleus for larger establishment of Buddhism across India since 1^st century. Built during the reign of Emperor Asoka, the stupa at Sanchi still remains as an architectural wonder receiving universal admirations. This wonderful structure served as a base for the rise of many edifices, stupas, monasteries and other buildings largely related to Buddhism.

Many of the wonderfully carved works in these Stupas relate to the events of Lord Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism and Buddhist Jataka Stories. Though, Sanchi was under different rulers of different religious backgrounds, the stupa got even refurbished and enhanced as a testimony to the coexistence of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs.

Plan a visit to the 1^st century Buddhist monument at Sanchi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What you need to know while planning a visit to Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi:

Entry Timings: From Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Cash Payment
1	Visitors from India, SAARC* & BIMSTEC**	Rs.40
2	Visitors from other countries	Rs.600
3	Children below 15 years	Free

• * SAARC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan
• ** BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar

Prehistoric Rock Shelters at Bimbetka

Plan to visit the region documented for human existence during the paleolithic and Mesolithic period and even prior to that. The prehistoric rock shelters of Bimbetka in Madhya Pradesh is truly a treasure housing more than 700 rock caves and the metallic and stone tools used by the early mankind believed to have existed.

The diverse paintings on these caves make Bimbetka very special to every traveller visiting here. The prehistoric paintings on these rocks are simply beautiful and still attractive. The paintings on different genres give variety of inferences to the type of travellers including historians, researchers, photo fanatics and travel freaks. One such painting depicts a mythical horned boar, chasing a man relatively much smaller than its size and the rock itself bears the name Boar Rock.

Visit the World Heritage Monument at Bimbetka, getting you deeper into the history of mankind.

Entry Time: From Sunrise to Sunset

Elephanta Caves

Ajanta Caves – History still remains

Visit the 2^nd century caves and get astonished with the wonderful paintings and sculptures all around. The Ajanta Caves near Aurangabad of Maharashtra state is a year round tourist destination, attracting photo fanatics, historians and archaeologists from across the globe. The secluded places where once Buddhist monks were busy with their religious pursuits.

Every traveller visiting Ajanta caves get surprised by the awesome paintings dating back to 2^nd century, still in the unspoiled condition. Painting made with earthly materials enunciate various incidents from life of Lord Gautama Buddha and also various scenes from Jataka Stories.

Visit the finest examples of Indian Art and Culture illustrated in Ajanta Caves.

What you need to know while planning a visit to Ajanta Caves:

Entry Timings: From 9AM to 5PM

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Cash Payment	Online Payment
1	Visitors from India, SAARC* & BIMSTEC**	Rs.40	Rs.35
2	Foreign Nationals	Rs.600	Rs.550
3	Children below 15 years	Free

• * SAARC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan
• ** BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar

Note: The Monument Ajanta Caves is closed on Mondays

Ellora Caves – Rock Hewn Wonders

Plan to visit world’s largest monolithic rock hewn structures near Aurangabad of Maharashtra state. The Ellora caves, renowned among the global tourists and the local residents alike attract huge crowd especially during the monsoon season when the entire region is with the full bloom of nature in the form of lush green carpets and streams with gushing water springs.

The Ellora caves, dating back 6^th century, are the prominent illustrations of Indian art, culture, religion and architecture. Historians record that as Ellora resides close to the popular trade routes from India to other countries, most of the enthused travellers and royal personages used to visit the caves, as recorded by historians. The arch shaped monastic site houses cave temples for Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism and out of which the Kailasa temple at Cave no.16 is world’s largest monolithic excavation cave.

Ellora caves is a never to be missed monument during your trip to India, where the endless list of surprises await you.

What you need to know while planning a visit to Ellora Caves:

Entry Timings: From Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Cash Payment	Online Payment
1	Visitors from India,SAARC* & BIMSTEC**	Rs.40	Rs.35
2	Foreign Nationals	Rs.600	Rs.550
3	Children below 15 years	Free

• * SAARC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan
• ** BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar

Note: The Monument Ellora Caves is closed on Tuesdays

Elephanta Caves

Plan to visit the island hill near the shore of the mainland in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The excavations dating back to 6^th century reveals the splendid figurines and sculptures, largely related to the Gods of Hinduism. The huge halls with stone pillars and the sculptures are uniquely amazing for their uncompromised geometric proportions flawlessly carved.

Visit Elephanta Caves, an UNESCO listed World Heritage Monument.

What you need to know while planning a visit to Elephanta Caves:

Entry Timings: From 9AM to 5PM

S.No	Category	Cash Payment	Online Payment
1	Visitors from India, SAARC* & BIMSTEC**	Rs.40	Rs.35
2	Foreign Nationals	Rs.600	Rs.550
3	Children below 15 years	Free

• * SAARC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan
• ** BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar

Note: Elephanta caves are closed on Mondays

Chatrapati Sivaji Terminus

Visit one of the grandest railway station illustrating the Gothic Architectural style built during the British Raj. More than three million commuters use this terminus, making it one of the icons of India’s financial capital.

Chatrapati Sivaji, the great Emperor, after whom Indian Subcontinent’s first terminus station is named exhibits the traditional Indian style palace architecture built in the Gothic Revival style. It also reflects some of the late medieval Italian models.

Plan to include Chatrapati Sivaji Terminus to be visited during your trip to India.

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

An illustrative set up to exhibit the astronomical and cosmological skills people had during the end of Mughal dynasty in India is Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The Pink City Jaipur attracts global travellers round the year and Jantar Mantar adds to the list of prominent tourist locations in Jaipur.

The equipment setup displayed here would have probably helped the scientists to peep into the astronomical conditions very easily. The architecturally wonderful, flawless innovation in the form of equipments displayed are quite comprehensive and amazing. This astronomic observations is one of the best preserved monuments in India. This is also acclaimed as the best example of Indian Traditions & believes and science coming together.

Plan a visit to the testimony of scientific advancements in ancient times, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur.

Entrance Fee:

S.No	Category	Fee
1	Visitors from India	Rs.50
2	Foreign Nationals	Rs.200
3	Children below 15 years	Free

Hill Forts of Rajasthan

The wonderfully built hill forts of Rajasthan are the standing testimony to the glorious past of Rajput dynasty. They have so brilliantly chosen the locations with natural defensive arrangements like rivers, hills, mountain ranges and the like. Out of the many wonderful structures, the forts in Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Jaipur and Jaisalmer have been identified by UNESCO and listed under the World Heritage Monuments.

The urban centres, palaces, trading centres, religious shrines are found enclosed in these fortifications. The excellent water harvesting management mechanisms deployed in these monuments are still functional receiving larger admirations universally.

Plan a visit to these timeless wonders of hill forts in Rajasthan

S.No	Name of the Fort	Timings	Entry fee for Indian Nationals (in Rs.)	Entry fee for Others (in Rs.)
1	Chittorgarh Fort	10AM – 5PM	35	550
2	Kumbhalgarh Fort	9AM – 5 PM	35	550
3	Kumbhalgarh Fort Light&Sound Show	6.30PM – 7.30PM	300	300
4	Amber Fort	8AM – 6PM	100	500
5	Jaisalmer Fort	9AM – 6PM	50	250

Group of Monuments at Hampi

The group of monuments at Hampi is a “must see” location in the South Indian State Karnataka. The erstwhile capital of Vijayanagara Dynasty, Hampi is found in the history as the second richest town next to Vatican. Sitting on the banks of Thungabadra River, Hampi houses group of monuments dating back to 13^th Century. The resurgence of Hindu Religion, art and culture in a massive scale gets reflected in these monuments exquisitely structured.

The city had been inside seven layers of fortifications and the remnants of the ruins are still awe inspiring.The huge halls, throne platform and the magnificent sculptures of Hindu Gods like Lord Narasimha, Lord Ganesha are noted for their large, yet flawless dimensions.

The Krishna temple, the stone chariot in the Vittala temple complex, beautiful terracotta objects, stucco paintings and the list goes on impressing everyone with the craftsmanship of the artisans. Such phenomenal structures can be found across the ancient city, visiting which will be truly a unique experience.

Plan a tour to Hampi, which has never failed to surpass the expectations!

What you need to know while planning a visit to Group of Monuments at Hampi:

Entry Timings: From 8.30 AM to 6PM

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Cash Payment
1	Visitors from India, SAARC* & BIMSTEC**	Rs.40
2	Visitors from other countries	Rs.600
3	Camera	No Free
4	Video Camera	Rs.25
5	Children below 15 years	Free

• * SAARC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan
• ** BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal

Visit the monuments built from 6^th century onwards, the pinnacle of architecture during Chalukyan dynasty in Deccan Plateau. Out of all in the group of monuments at Pattadakal, the temples for Sangameswara, Virupaksha and mallikarjuna temples receive universal admirations for splendid architectures and elegant figurines and sculptures. The reliefs narrating few of the scenes from the great Hindu epic Ramayana are strikingly wonderful.

Plan a visit to Group of monuments at Pattadakal, a silent page of the vibrant history.

What you need to know while planning a visit to Group of Monuments at Pattadakal:

Entry Timings: From Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Cash Payment
1	Visitors from India, SAARC* & BIMSTEC**	Rs.40
2	Visitors from other countries	Rs.600
3	Children below 15 years	Free

• * SAARC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan
• ** BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar

Mahabalipuram – Stories in Stone

Mahabalipuram, the most frequented destination renowned among the global travelers houses the group of monuments listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site. The coastal resort town is located at a distance of 58kms south of Chennai in Tamilnadu. Dating back to the dynasty of Pallava Kings, Mahabalipuram is home for grand stone structures depicting various events correlated in the epics of Indian Mythology.

Some of the prominent structures you can enjoy here are Arjuna’s penance , a monolithic structure carved in stone, Krishna’s butterball and the Five Rathas (stone temples in the form of chariots). These 7^th century structures bring the credit to Mahabalipuram as the most visited City in South India. You have lot more to visit in Mahabalipuram and the list includes various huge halls called mandapas, giant open air rock reliefs and Shore temples dedicated to the Hindu Gods.

The annual dance festival hosted at Mahabalipuram is another highlight here. The Four weeks long cultural extravaganza includes exotic performances with the backdrop of the historic monuments is simple amazing and never to be missed if you happen to be in South India during the December-January.

The UNESCO World Heritage group of monuments at Mahabalipuram is more than perfect for sightseeing and exploration.

What you need to know while planning a visit to Mahabalipuram:

Entry Timings: From 6AM to 6PM

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Fee
1	Visitors from SAARC & BIMSTEC	Rs.40
2	Visitors from other countries	Rs.600

Great Living Chola Temples

Plan a visit to the Great Living Chola Temples standing as a testimony to glorious past of the Great Chola Empire functioning from Tamil Nadu with Tanjore as capital. With boundaries beyond India, the Kings of Chola Dynasty were keen in taking the art, culture and civilization of the citizens to greater heights. The pinnacle of Chola Architecture can be witnessed in these Great Living Chola Temples.

Tanjore Brahadiswara temple, even after Thousand years of its inception, is still wondered for its phenomenal architecture. The strategy behind placing the monolithic stone weighing around 80tonnes on top of the gateway tower, the sanctum is very cool during summer and warm during winter, fixing of such a huge linga idol inside the comparatively smaller sanctum, placing a monolithic huge bull facing the sanctum are some of the questions yet to be answered. Brahadiswara temple or Big Temple in Tanjore was built by the great Emperor Raja Raja Chola I, who has set a strong foot in South Indian history for his bravery and achievements.

Gangaikondacholapuram in Perambalur district houses the replica of Big Temple, built by Rajendra Chola, son of Raja Raja Chola I. Tourists and historians from all corners of the country and globe are awestruck by the stunning beauty of this temple. Though it was built to reflect the Big Temple, this temple has its own unique grandeur and style and the sanctum houses a comparatively larger idol of Lod Shiva in the form of Lingam. The tranquil ambience and the mystic beauty of this temple bundled with the stories from the ancient times add more reasons to visit this temple.

The third Great Living Chola Temple is at Darasuram, a suburb of Kumbakonam. The entire temple is built to resemble the form of a chariot used during the festivals and processions. The façade of the temple welcomes with an 80feet high gateway tower and it is quite surprising to know that the sanctum sanctorum is without any pathway for circumambulation unlike any other Hindu Temple. Adjoining a small shrine for Lord Ganesha, there is a set of three steps not to be missed by any visitor. The significance of these steps is that when one strikes these steps, it gives out the seven basic nodes of music .(Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma,Pa,Dha, Ni) which is still a mystery for many architects.

What you need to know while planning a visit to the Great Living Chola Temples:

Entry Timings: From 06.30 AM to 08.30PM

Entrance Fee : Nil

Approach : Tanjore is well connected by rail and road and is at a distance of 330 kms from Chennai. Gangaikonda Cholapuram is on the road to Kumbakonam which is at a distance of 250km from Chennai. Darasuram is a suburb of Kumbakonam.

Ooty Toy Train

If you are planning to visit Ooty this summer, the Queen of Hill Stations located in the South Indian state Tamil Nadu, don’t afford to miss a wonderful journey from Mettupalayam to Coonoor in the Ooty Toy Train. The exquisite journey will take you through the lush green regions of the Western Ghats. The journey for few hours in this monumental icon of South India will take you out of this world. Ooty Toy Train is functioning from 1908 and the distance covered is 46kms through the scenic locations of the Queen of Hill stations. The panoramic view of the hills around is so enthralling and it is for sure, your vacation will be complete with the awesome experiences traveling in Toy Train .

Ooty Toy Train has first class and second class compartments and the travellers can sit comfortable to enjoy the scenic locations all around.

Western Ghats

The series of mountain ranges which are older than Himalayas are the Western Ghats which are acclaimed to have immense geographical importance in maintaining the biological diversity. The climatic changes in the Western Ghats changes the monsoon pattern in the South Indian states. The 1600km long route crossing through the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa,Maharashtra and Gujarat has these mountain ranges sprawling across 140,000sq.km. The Western Ghats Mountain Ranges are home to dense forests inhabited with diverse types of fauna. The exceptional flora and animal species found in these mountain ranges make it very special

Red Fort – Lal Qila

The  Red Fort, one of the iconic monuments of India is an enclosure with a rubble stone wall, gates, bastions wickets at intervals. Though it looks like a red stone structure, most of the construction has been done with Marble during the reign of Shajahan of Mughal Dynasty.

Red Fort is an irregular octagon housing Public halls, throne platform, palaces, chambers for private audience, prayer halls and mosques. Road across the Red Fort, you can visit Jami’ Masjid, India’s largest mosque and the final extravagance of Mughal Regal Architecture in India.

Plan a visit to this Palatial complex to travel more into the vibrant pages of history.

Entrance Fee:

S.No	Category	Fee
1	Visitors from India	Rs.35
2	Foreign Nationals	Rs.600
3	Children below 15 years	Free

Humayun’s Tomb – A Persian Architecture

Visit the first exemplary structure embracing the Persian style of architecture at Delhi, the Humayun’s Tomb. Built in 1569, fourteen years after the death of Mughal King Humayun, is admired for the splendid style and charm.

Humayun’s tomb, placed inside a square garden, attracts our attention with the flawless geometrical proportions and grandeur of the cenotaphs. The double domes, alcoves, huge corridors and the perfectly planned kiosks reflect the right blend of Indian Traditions and Persian Architecture.

Visit Humayun’s tomb, place of his eternal sleep!

What you need to know while planning a visit to Humayun’s Tomb:

Entry Timings: From Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Cash Payment	Online Payment
1	Visitors from India, SAARC* & BIMSTEC**	Rs.40	Rs.35
2	Foreign Nationals	Rs.600	Rs.550
3	Children below 15 years	Free

• * SAARC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan
• ** BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar

Qutb Minar & Its Monuments

Visit the tallest tower in India built during the Mughal dynasty, Qutb Minar in Delhi, the country’s capital city. Qutb Minar was raised as a crier (Mu’azzin) to give calls for prayers. Few more floors were added to this structure during 12^th century, and is what we see today. The honey comb designs on the balconies extending from every floors receive larger admirations for the exquisite works.

Several inscriptions are found in Arabic and Nagari characters depicting the events about Qutb Minar and its progressive construction at various stages. The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and a rectangular courtyard adjacent to Qutb Minar are equally popular among the global travellers.

Plan to visit Qutub Minar, a 11^th century World Heritage Monument during your trip to India.

What you need to know while planning a visit Qutb Minar:

Entry Timings: From Sunrise to 6PM

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Fee
1	Visitors from India	Rs.30
2	Foreign Nationals	Rs.600
3	Children below 15 years	Free

Champanar – Pavagadh Archaeological Park

Gujarat has more reasons to be a global tourist destination and one of the prime reasons is the Champanar-Pavagadh Archaeological Park at a distance of 50km from Baroda. One of the oldest hills in India, Pavagadh hills is found to be with reddish yellow colored stone formation. Though the region had temples dating back to 10^th century, the Mughal architectures embracing beautiful blend of Indian- Moslem styles.

Despite the massive ruins, tourists universally admire the five mosques, which are still in good condition. The Champanar – Pavagadh Archaeological park houses temples reflecting Hindu and Jain beliefs, structures of water management and agriculture, deserving a visit.

Know about the regional Sultanates visiting Champanar-Pavagadh Archaeological Park.

What you need to know while planning a visit Champanar – Pavagadh Archaeological Park:

Entry Timings: From Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fee:

S.No	Category	Fee
1	Visitors from India	Rs.40
2	Foreign Nationals	Rs.600
3	Children below 15 years	Free

Rani-ki-Vav – Step Wells of Gujarat

The structures dating back to 3^rd millennium BC depicting the exhaustive water management and storage systems practiced in the Indian Subcontinent are the Step wells. Rani-Ki-Vav in Gujarat are such types of elegant structures found in Gujarat dating back to 11^th Century.

The intrinsic detailing and flawless proportions of these Maru-Gujarat architectures draw admirations from travellers of all verticals including researchers, historians and photo fanatics.

Looking like an inverted temple structure, the step wells include around 500 principal structures and more than thousand structures reflecting religious, social, mythological and secular aspects coming together.

Plan a visit to the architectural wonders at Rani-Ki-Vav