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List of Important Monuments of India
April 26 2024

India's Monuments show a great deal of cultural heritage and the deep historical glory of our country. Exam point of view, questions on Monuments of India can be expected in the Static Gk section of MBA exams like IIFT, XAT, CMAT, etc.

GK quiz

 

What is a Monument? 

A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, historical, political, technical, or architectural importance.

State-wise list of Monuments:

1) Maharashtra

A)  Gateway of India

   

  • Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Architect: George Wittet 
  • Architecture style:  Indo-Saracenic with Muslim influences
  • Year of construction: 1913 
  • The Gateway of India is a monument that was built to commemorate the landing of King-Emperor George V and Queen-Empress Mary, the first British monarch to visit India. The monument stands guard facing the Arabian Sea.
B) Ajanta-Ellora Caves

   

  • Location: Aurangabad, Maharashtra
  • Built By: Gupta Dynasty 
  • Year of construction: 1983 
  • The Ajanta and Ellora caves are UNESCO-registered World Heritage Sites. The murals in these caves depict stories from the Jatakas. Later caves reflect the artistic influence of the Gupta period, but there are differing opinions on which century in which the early caves were built.
C) Bibi Ka Maqbara

   

  • Location: Aurangabad, Maharashtra
  • Built By: Aurangazeb 
  • Architect: Ata-Ullah, Hanspat Rai 
  • Architecture style: Mughal Architecture 
  • Year of construction: 1660 
  • The Bibi Ka Maqbara was built by Mughal Emporer Aurangazeb in the memory of his beloved wife ‎Dilras Banu Begum. The monument is also called Dakkhani Taj due to its striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal.
D) Shanivar Wada

   

  • Location: Pune, Maharashtra
  • Built By: Peshwa Baji Rao I 
  • Architecture style:‎ Maratha Imperial Architecture
  • Year of construction: 1732 
  • The Shaniwar Wada was the royal abode of the Peshwas. The fort shows the glorious culture and pride of the Maratha Dynasty. 

    Also read: How to prepare G.K for MBA Exams

2) Delhi

A) Qutub Minar

   

  • Location: Old Delhi, Delhi
  • Built By: Qutb ud-Din Aibak 
  • Architecture style:  Indo-Islamic architecture
  • Year of construction: 1192 
  • The Qutub Minar was built as a victory tower/ as a minaret to the muezzins. It is one of the highest minarets in India with a height of 73 meters. Built in red sandstone consists of five storeys and a spiral staircase with 379 steps is a real masterpiece of Mughal Islamic craftsmanship.
B) Red Fort

   

  • Location: New Delhi, Delhi
  • Built By: Emporer Shah Jahan 
  • Architect:  Ustad Ahmad Lahori
  • Architecture style: Mughal Architecture 
  • Year of construction: 1638 
  • The Red Fort is also known as the Lal Quila because it is made up of red sandstone. Mughal Emporer Shah Jahan but the fortress when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. Today the Red Fort is used as an army cantonment. Every year on India's Independence Day (15 August), the prime minister of India hoists the national flag at the Red Fort and delivers a nationally broadcast speech from its ramparts.

3) Rajasthan

A) Hawa Mahal

   

  • Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
  • Built By: Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh
  • Architect: Lal Chand Ustad Architecture style: Blend of Hindu Rajput architecture and the Islamic Mughal architecture 
  • Year of construction: 1799 
  • The Hawa Mahal is a monument built for royal women to enjoy the events and festivals in the street. The Hawa Mahal means "Palace Of Winds". The structure built in red and pink sandstone consists of about 953 windows. These windows are known as "Jharokhas". decorated with intricate latticework.
B) Dilwara's Jain Temple

   

  • Location: Mount Abu, Rajasthan
  • Architect: Vimal Shah, Vastupala-Tejpal
  • Architecture style: Jain Temple Architecture 
  • Year of construction: 1031 AD 
  • The Dilwara's Temples are famous for their use of white marble and intricate marble carvings. The Dilwara temples are named after the ministers of the then Vaghela ruler of Gujarat who built them in 1230 A.D.

4) Uttar Pradesh

A) Taj Mahal

   

  • Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh
  • Built By: Emporer Shah Jahan 
  • Architect: Ustad Ahmed Lahori 
  • Architecture style: Mughal Architecture 
  • Year of construction: Between 1632 and 1653 AD
  • The majestic Taj Mahal was built as a memorial to Shah Jahan’s beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal after her death in 1631. The materials the monuments used are white marble for the main mausoleum and red sandstone for fortifying structure and accents. The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The structure houses the tomb of both Mumtaz Mahal as well as Shah Jahan.
B) Fatehpur Sikri

   

  • Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh
  • Built By: Emporer Akbar
  • Architecture style: Indo-Islamic, Mughal Architecture 
  • Year of construction: 1986 
  • The red sandstone built monument was built to honor the Sufi saint Salim Chishti and the entire palace complex is built around the Sufi saint's tomb. Buland Darwaza gate is the entrance to the Jama Masjid mosque.

5) West Bengal

A) Victoria Memorial

   

  • Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
  • Architect: Conceptualised by George Curzon, Viceroy of India 
  • Architecture style: Indo-Saracenic revivalist style 
  • Year of construction: Between 1906 to 1921
  • The Victoria Memorial was built to commemorate the death of Queen Victoria, in 1921.  This huge white-marble museum, made from Makrana marble from Rajasthan, is filled with a vast collection of remnants from the period of British Empire rule in India.
B) Sundarbans National Park:
   
 
  • While not a traditional monument, the Sundarbans National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit for nature lovers.
  • Spanning over 10,000 square kilometers, it's the largest mangrove forest in the world and home to the Royal Bengal tiger.
  • The park offers boat tours through the labyrinthine waterways, providing opportunities to spot a variety of wildlife besides tigers, including crocodiles, deer, and various bird species.

6) Orissa

A) Konark Sun Temple

   

  • Location: Konark, Orrisa
  • Built By: Kalinga Dynasty
  • Architecture style:  Kalinga architecture
  • Year of construction: 13th-century CE 
  • The temple is attributed to king Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. Sailors used to refer to the Sun Temple of Konarak as the Black Pagoda because it was supposed to draw ships into the shore and cause shipwrecks. The wheels of the temple are sundials, which can be used to calculate time accurately to a minute.
B) Jagannath Temple

   

  • Location: Puri, Orissa
  • Built By: Anantavarman Chodaganga
  • Architecture style: Kalinga Architecture 
  • Year of construction: 12th century CE 
  • The Puri temple is one of the greatest monuments of India and is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three principal deities are accompanied by the devotees into a procession on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars.

7) Madhya Pradesh

A) Sanchi Stupa

   

  • Location: Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
  • Built By: Emporer Ashoka 
  • Architecture style: Buddhist Art and Architecture 
  • Year of construction: 3rd century BCE 
  • The Stupas of Sanchi were constructed on the orders of Emperor Ashoka to preserve and spread Buddhist philosophy. The hemispherical structures of Sanchi Stupa made out of locally quarried sandstone, house the relics of Buddha and his followers.
B) Khajuraho Temples:

   

  • This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a group of Hindu and Jain temples located in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Dating from the 9th to the 12th centuries, these temples are renowned for their exquisite carvings, particularly the erotic sculptures that depict various aspects of love and life.
  • The temples showcase the architectural prowess of the Chandela dynasty and are a marvel of design and craftsmanship. The temples are categorized into three distinct groups - the Western, Eastern, and Southern Groups. Each group has its own unique architectural style and set of deities.

8) Telangana

A) Char Minar

   

  • Location: Hyderabad, Telangana
  • Built By: Qutub Shahi Dynasty 
  • Architect: Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah 
  • Architecture style: Islamic Architecture 
  • Year of construction: 1591 CE 
  • Char Minar was built to commemorate the end of the plague. The Charminar was the first monument in the world constructed using lime mortar and granite. The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a mosque on its top floor for more than 400 years.
B) Ramappa Temple: 

   

  • Location: Palampet village, Mulugu district, Telangana
  • Built By: Recharla Rudra, a general of the Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva
  • Architect: Ramappa (possibly the sculptor)
  • Architecture style: Kakatiya style of temple architecture
  • Year of construction: 1213 CE
  • This UNESCO World Heritage Site, also known as the Rudreshwara Temple or Ramalingeswara Temple, is a 13th-century masterpiece located in Warangal, Telangana.  
  • A remarkable example of Kakatiya era architecture, the temple is famous for its intricate carvings, particularly the floating pillars that appear to defy gravity.  
  • The temple complex is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for its serene atmosphere.
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Author
Anisha Mukhija

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