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India is the homeland for many marvelous and
historical monuments. Described by the
classical poet Tagore as a “tear on the
face of eternity”, the Taj
Mahal is undoubtedly the zenith of
Mughal architecture and one among the world’s
most marvelous buildings. Situated at Agra,
the walled complex is built by Emperor Shah
Jahan to the memory of his beloved wife
Arjumand Begum, better known as Mumtaz
Mahal (elect of the palace).
Ajanta
and Ellora caves of Maharashtra are
wonder in itself. They contain amazing
wealth of sculptures, of Buddhist, Hindu and
Jain caves. The mural paintings of the caves
are also equally fascinating. Madhya Pradesh
superbly restores temple’s fame for erotic
carvings. Puritan’s eyes have been
hypnotized by the unabashed erotica of ‘Khajuraho’
ever since the rediscovery of the site in
1838. Most
of the carvings are the mythical
characters of Hindu legends, displaying the
perfection of consummation.
 Konark
temple of Orissa a legend in itself for its
erotic sculptures, are astonishing sights to
behold. Palitan temples of Gujarat,
is a famous Jain pilgrimage site. There are
almost 900 temples crowing the hills of Saurashtra.
Many of the temples are two, or even three
storied high with perfectly proportioned
pavilion crowning balconies, looming conical
Shikharas (spires), and within,
ceiling rising to the highest point,
swarming with carved figures that flow in
concentric circles outwards from a central
lotus blossom.
Down
south in Karnataka, are the ruins of Hampi/Vijayanagar.
This great empire of Indian cult and culture
is required for the study of the country in
depth.
Mammallapuram,
south of Madras on the Bay of Bengal has
some of India’s most sublime rock-cut art,
for which it has been declared a World
Heritage site by UNESCO. There are also
numerous forts and palaces, rock-cut pillars
like Qutab Minar & Charminar,
temples of various architect models of
different dynastic periods, and uncountable
monuments and tombs of aesthetic beauty and
historical relevance.
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