7wondersofindia

7 Wonders of India: Ajanta Ellora Caves

Order: Reorder
Duration: 9:04
Updated: 10 Jan 2013

Located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the 29 caves at Ajanta are situated in a horseshoe-shaped ravine. The cave walls are covered with painted narratives of the Jataka tales. The 34 caves at Ellora are excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Ajanta_Ellora_Caves

7 Wonders of India: Tirupati

Order: Reorder
Duration: 5:42
Updated: 24 Dec 2012

Located on the Venkatachalam hill that forms part of the seven hills of Tirumala, the temple complex comprises of a smaller traditional temple building along with a number of modern queue and pilgrim lodging sites. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Venkateswara, also known as Balajior Srinivasa. In Vaishnava tradition, the temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desam sites. As a tradition, pilgrims shave off their hair on visiting the temple. Also known as Seshachala. It is the most visited Hindu place of worship, and is the world's second richest in terms of the offerings made by pilgrims to the God. It is the second most visited holy place after the Vatican.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Tirupati

7 Wonders of India: Taj Mahal

Order: Reorder
Duration: 3:43
Updated: 13 Jan 2013

The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj"), located in Agra, is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. The focus of the Taj Mahal is the white marble tomb, which stands on a square plinth consisting of a symmetrical building with an iwan, an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658), grandson of Akbar the great, in the memory of his queen Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled 'Mumtaz Mahal'. The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab and gateway. A labour force of 20000 workers was recruited across northern India.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Taj_Mahal

7 Wonders of India: Ujjain

Order: Reorder
Duration: 2:40
Updated: 30 Dec 2012

Ujjain, situated on the right bank of River Shipra, is among many other Indian sacred and holy cities. According to ancient Hindu scriptures, it was originally called Avantika. Later King Shiva of Avanti commemorating his triumph over the demon king of Tripuri, changed it to Ujjaiyini (one who conquers with pride). It is one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, and the Kumbh Mela religious festival is held here every 12 years. It was governed by the likes of Vikramaditya and Ashoka. Kalidas wrote his souls stirring poetry here. The Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain: Mahakal of Ujjayini is known among the 12 celebrated Jyotirlingas in India. The glory of Mahakaleshwar temple has been vividly described in various Purans. Starting with Kalidasa, many Sanskrit poets have eulogised this temple in emotive terms. Ujjain used to be the central point for calculation of Indian time and Mahakala was considered as the distinctive presiding deity of Ujjain.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Ujjain

7 Wonders of India: Rameshwaram

Order: Reorder
Duration: 3:59
Updated: 05 Jan 2013

Situated on an island off the Sethu coast of Rameswaram in Ramanathpuram district, Tamil Nadu, is an important pilgrimage site for the followers of Hinduism. It is believed that a visit to this temple washes away one's sins and brings salvation (moksha). Being situated in Rameshwaram, the Ramanathaswamy Mandir is popularly known as the Rameshwaram Temple. The construction of this temple began in the 12th century; nonetheless it was completed much later, during the reign of various rulers. Rameshwaram Temple is famous for embracing one of the twelve Jyotirlingas (lingam of light) of Lord Shiva. The temple is also accredited for being the southern most 'jyotirlinga' of India.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Rameshwaram

7 Wonders of India: Nalanda University

Order: Reorder
Duration: 7:46
Updated: 12 Jan 2013

Located 55 miles from Patna in Bihar, Nalanda was the largest residential centre of learning in the world with a nine-storeyed library. The monasteries are built in old Kushan architectural style, in a row of cells around a courtyard. It was the Buddhist centre of learning from 427 to 1197 CE partly under the Pala Empire. It is believed that Buddha visited Nalanda during his last tour through Magadha, and it was there that Sariputta uttered his lion's roar, affirming his faith in the Buddha. University of Nalanda was established in 450 CE under the patronage of the Gupta emperors, notably Kumara Gupta. Nava Nalanda Mahavihara is devoted to the study and research in Pali Literature and Buddhism.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Nalanda_University

7 Wonders of India: Thanjavur Chola Temple

Order: Reorder
Duration: 5:52
Updated: 13 Jan 2013

Located in Tamil Nadu, the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur was built by the great ruler Rajaraja Chola of the Chola dynasty. The 10th century AD site is an example of Dravidian temple architecture. The central temple called the Periya Koyil, or big temple, stands inside a fort whose walls were built later on in the 16th century. The Great Living Chola Temples consist of the 11th century Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur, the 11th century Brihadisvara temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram, and the 12th century Airavateswara temple at Darasuram. Temple consists of the garbhagriha, ardhamandapa, mahamandapa and mukhamandapa and aligned on the east- west axis. This site is recognised by UNESCO.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Thanjavur_Chola_Temple

7 Wonders of India: Sun Temple, Konark

Order: Reorder
Duration: 4:26
Updated: 09 Jan 2013

Situated at a distance from the famous religious and tourist centre of Puri (35 km) and the capital city of Bhubaneshwar (65 km). The entire temple was designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twenty four wheels, each about 10 feet in diameter, with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. The Sun Temple of Konark marks the highest point of achievement of Kalinga architecture depicting the grace, the joy and the rhythm of life all its wondrous variety. It was built by King Raja Narasinghs Deva-I of the Ganga Dynasty in the thirteenth century. It is a temple to Surya, the sun God.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Sun_Temple,_Konark

7 Wonders of India: Warangal Fort

Order: Reorder
Duration: 4:40
Updated: 01 Jan 2013

Warangal Fort is situated in the Warangal city of Andhra Pradesh. In the mid-13th century, the construction of this colossal structure was initiated by the Kakatiyan king, Ganapatideva. Rani Rudramaa, who was the daughter of the king, further made the efforts to complete the construction work. The ends include commanding gateways and graceful towers that elevate to no less than 50 feet. The main gateway comprises of the four gigantic pillars, which have been crafted out of a single rock. Warangal Fort is one of the architectural wonders of the bygone era. The structure was built in the 13th century by rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Warangal_Fort

7 Wonders of India: Dwarkadhish Temple

Order: Reorder
Duration: 3:30
Updated: 10 Jan 2013

Located at Jamnagar District, Gujarat, it has a five-storey tower and the temple is made of limestone and sand. There are two gateways: Swarga Dwar for entry and Moksha Dwar for exit. From the temple, one can view the Sangam (confluence) of River Gomati flowing towards the sea. The temple was built by Sambha, the grandson of Lord Sri Krishna. The city is believed to have been built by Vishwakarma, who was a celestial architect in Hinduism. Dwarka is considered to be one of the holiest cities in Hindu culture and one of the four main dhams along with Badrinath, Puri and Rameshwaram. The city is especially respected by Vaishnavas.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Dwarkadhish_Temple

7 Wonders of India: Golden Temple

Order: Reorder
Duration: 4:33
Updated: 11 Jan 2013

The Golden Temple is located in Amritsar, Punjab. The door panes are decorated with artistic style. It opens on to the bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is 202 feet in length and 21 feet in width. Its architecture represents a unique harmony between Muslim and the Hindu architecture. The fourth Guru of Sikhism, [Guru Ram Das], excavated a tank in 1577, which subsequently became known as Amritsar (Meaning: Pool of the Nectar of Immortality), giving its name to the city that grew around it. In due course, a Sikh edifice, Harmandir Sahib ( Temple of God), was constructed in the middle of this tank, which became the supreme centre of Sikhism. The Golden Temple, or Darbar Sahib, is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the magnificence and strength of Sikhs all over the world.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Golden_Temple

7 Wonders of India: Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary

Order: Reorder
Duration: 3:11
Updated: 23 Oct 2012

Located in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar, Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is a 50 km stretch of Ganges River from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon. The dolphin population across India is estimated to be a little over 1500. Half of these are found in the Ganga in Bihar. It is the only protected area for these endangered dolphins in Asia.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Vikramshila_Gangetic_Dolphin_Sanctuary

7 Wonders of India: Meenakshi Temple

Order: Reorder
Duration: 4:21
Updated: 03 Jan 2013

Located in the second largest city of Tamil Nadu ie Madurai, the temple complex is within a high-walled enclosure, at the core of which are the two sanctums for Meenakshi and Sundareshwara, surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and grand pillared halls. The original temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya, but the credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the Nayaks. The Nayaks ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Meenakshi_Temple

7 Wonders of India: Khajuraho

Order: Reorder
Duration: 5:02
Updated: 29 Dec 2012

Khajuraho is a village in Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 620 kilometers southeast of Delhi. The Khajuraho temples adhere to a northern Indian shikhara temple style and often to a Panchayatana plan or layout. Kandariya Mahadeva comprises eighty-four shikharas, the main being 116 feet from the ground level. The Khajuraho temples were built over a span of a hundred years, from 950 AD to 1050 AD They were rediscovered during the late 19th century. Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their everyday life sculpture.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Khajuraho

7 Wonders of India: Jama Masjid

Order: Reorder
Duration: 2:59
Updated: 16 Dec 2012

Located opposite to Red Fort in Old Delhi, Jama Masjid has three gates, two minarets - 40 meters in height and four towers. The minarets are made up of red sand stone and white marbles bearing stripes of black colour. With a capacity to accommodate 25000 devotees, it is the largest mosque in India. The main mosque is crowned by three onion shaped domes made of white marble and inlaid with strips of black slate. It has great religious significance as it houses a hair from the beard of Prophet and a chapter of Holy Quran written by the Prophet. Women are not allowed to go up the minaret without a male escort, and during the time of prayer, the minaret is closed.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Jama_Masjid

7 Wonders of India: Charminar

Order: Reorder
Duration: 6:15
Updated: 04 Jan 2013

Charminar is in the city of Hyderabad, capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Charminar is a squarish structure with four towers on the four corners of the square, each of whose sides is 20 metres in length. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built the monument in 1591 shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golkonda to what now is known as Hyderabad. The great monument is a synonym for Hyderabad and the pivot around which the glory and history of the city have developed. A thriving market lies around the Charminar, attracting people and merchandise of every description. In its heyday, the Charminar market had some 14000 shops. Today, the market around the Charminar is crowded with shops, which sell glass bangles in rainbow colours. Charminar is the world's largest Talisman.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Charminar

7 Wonders of India: Palitana Temples

Order: Reorder
Duration: 2:49
Updated: 07 Jan 2013

Palitana Temples are situated in Bhavnanagar district of Gujarat. The temples are exquisitely carved in marble, veritable prayers in stone. The temple covered Shetrunjaya hill, 2000 ft over Palitana town, believed to span 863 shrines in all. It has some really exquisite marble temples of great religious and artistic importance, containing arches, carved pillars and bejeweled idols. Palitana was the capital of a princely state of the Gohil Rajput clan. The Palitana temples are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place by the Jain community. Palitana houses perhaps the largest cluster of Jain temples anywhere.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Palitana_Temples

7 Wonders of India: Qutub Minar

Order: Reorder
Duration: 3:13
Updated: 02 Jan 2013

Located in Mehrauli, Qutub Minar is among the tallest and most famous towers in the world. The minaret is 234 feet high and the highest individual tower in the world. It has a number of floors or storeys, which have beautiful carvings. There are inscriptions all round the tower and these inscriptions reveal that Iltutmish finished the tower. Only the first storey was built by Qutub-ud-din. The other storeys were built by Iltutmish and two storeys in white marbles were built in by FirozShah Tuglak. Built to celebrate the victory of Muhammad Ghori over the Rajputs in 1192. Qutub Minar was built not just as a victory tower but also as a symbol of Islamic justice and of the military might of the Slave Dynasty. Qutub Minar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Qutub_Minar

7 Wonders of India: Fatehpur Sikri

Order: Reorder
Duration: 4:45
Updated: 03 Jan 2013

Fatehpur Sikri is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri show a synthesis of various regional schools of architectural craftsmanship. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) near Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire for some 10 years. The complex of monuments, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Fatehpur_Sikri

7 Wonders of India: Puri Beach

Order: Reorder
Duration: 4:36
Updated: 16 Nov 2012

Located on the shores of Bay of Bengal at a mere distance of 35 km from the Sun Temple and 65 km from Bhubaneshwar. Pilgrims from all over India visit Puri to take a dip in the holy water of the rolling waves, which is considered religious. It is renowned for the sand sculptures created particularly by the internationally famed Sudarshan Patnaik. Puri is the abode of Lord Jagannath and considered one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage destinations. The beach is a festive place where people come to relax and be entertained. It serves as the venue of the Puri Beach Festival.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Puri_Beach

7 Wonders of India: Vellore Fort

Order: Reorder
Duration: 3:35
Updated: 26 Dec 2012

Located 125 km west of Madras in Tamil Nadu, the outer length of the Vellore Fort is about 758 m high and 455 m wide. The height of the outer wall is about 9 feet and the breadth is about 8 m. The Sultan of Bijapur seized Vellore by the middle of the 17th century. In 1676, the fort was captured by the Marathas who were in turn ousted by Daud Khan of Delhi in 1708. The temple and the fort were brought under the control of ASI in 1921. The fort is considered to one of the most perfect specimens of military architecture.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Vellore_Fort

7 Wonders of India: Vivekanandan Rock

Order: Reorder
Duration: 4:17
Updated: 06 Jan 2013

Located at the southern most tip of the Indian Peninsula where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, is Kanyakumari, the place famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Here out in the sea, about 400 m from the shore, on a rocky islet lies a magnificent monument, a memorial dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, the Bengali religious leader, philosopher and social reformer. It was built in 1970 by the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee to commemorate the visit of Swami Vivekananda here in December 1892, for deep meditation and enlightenment.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Vivekanandan_Rock

7 Wonders of India: Lakshmi Velas Palace

Order: Reorder
Duration: 5:17
Updated: 24 Dec 2012

Located in Vadodara, Gujarat, the Lakshmi Velas Palace compound is spread across 700 acres and houses a number of buildings, particularly the Moti Baug Palace and museum. It was constructed between 1878 and 1890 by Maharaja Sayaji Rao III. The palace showcases a commendable collection of old armoury, sculptures in bronze, terracotta and marble. It was constructed for the educational purposes of the Maharaja's children. Today, this museum houses a large number of art works belonging to the former princely family.

http://wn.com/7_Wonders_of_India_Lakshmi_Velas_Palace

Make changes yourself !