A PRESENTATION ON

WORLD HERITAGE SITES

BY: A.NIVEDITHA

SIGNIFICANCE OF TOURISM

Tourism is an important source of income for many

countries.

Its importance was recognized in the Manila declaration

on World Tourism of 1980 as “ an activity essential to

the life of nations because of its direct effects on the

social, cultural, educational and economic sectors of

national societies and on their international relations.

The service industries benefit from tourism: Transportation services - Airlines, Cruise and

Taxicabs.

Hospitality services -Accommodation, including hotels.

Other services - Shopping malls, music

venues, amusement parks,

casinos and theaters.

WORLD HERITAGE SITESo There are 32 world heritage sites in India that are

recognized by UNESCO.

o 32 sites

o India’s 1st two world heritage sites are: 1) Agra fort2) Ajanta caves

25 are cultural sites

7 are natural sites

o 30 more sites have been inscribed.o The latest – The great Himalayan National Park in 2014.o These are the places of importance of Cultural or

natural heritage as described in the UNESCO.

TAJ MAHAL

TAJ MAHAL (CROWNED PALACE)

• An immense mausoleum of white marble.• Built in Agra between 1631 and 1648.• Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of

his favorite wife, Mumtaz (Arjumat BhanuBegum).• Located on the bank of the river Yamuna.

INTERIOR DECORATIONThe Taj interiors:1. Mausoleum At the north end of the Taj is the mausoleum of

Mumtaz Mahal. It is central element of the Taj Mahal complex.

THE TOMB CHAMBER

THE LOWER TOMB CHAMBER

THE CENOTAPHS

AMBULATORY ROOM(SHISH MAHAL)

HISTORY

• Constructed over a period of 22 years.• The walls are inscribed with verses from the QURAN

in Arabic in black calligraphy.

MUST VISIT• Attracts over 7 to 8 million visitors annually.

• Most tourists visit in the cooler months.

LOCATION: on the right bank of the Yamuna river, Agra,

Uttar Pradesh.

TIMINGS : 6:00 am – 6:00 pm, excluding Fridays (because

the complex is open for prayers at the mosque on Fridays).

• OPENED: 1648

• HEIGHT: 171 meters (561 feet)

• ARCHITECTS: Ustad Ahmad Lahouri and Ustad Isa.

• BURIALS: Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan.

• ARCHITECTURAL STYLES: Mughal architect and Iranian architect.

HIGHLIGHTS

• One of the 8 wonders of the world.• Taj is built entirely of white marble.• The Taj seems to glow in the light of full moon.

STRUCTURE OF TAJ

RED FORT

• Original name – Quilla – I – Mullah.• Built by – Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

• Also called as Lal-Qilla.• Named for- Massive enclosing walls of red

sandstone.

MAIN STRUCTURESLAHORE GATE

Main entrance of the Red Fort.

DIWAN - I - AAM

Hall of audience

DIWAN – I – KHAS

Hall of private audience

NAHR-I-BEHISHT

Private apartments at the back of the throne, on the east side of the fort.

ZENANAThe women’s quarters towards the west of the Red Fort.

MOTI MASJID

Means Pearl Mosque, towards the west of the Red Fort.

KHAS MAHAL

Private room of the emperor.

HAYAT BAKHSH BAGHLife – Bestowing Garden was designed round the Red

Fort.

MOTHI MAHAL

Built by AURANGAZEB

HISTORY

Built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad-the new

capital of the Emperor, Shah Jahan.

It was built in 1648 AD.

Architects - Ustad Hamid and Ahmed.

MUST VISIT• Sound and light show – every evening inside the Red

Fort.• Naqqar Khana (Drum house) - famous for the

collection, musical instruments, museum having items used by Mughal Queens and kings.

HIGHLIGHTS

Every year on the Independence day, the Prime Minister hoists the National Flag addressing the Nation.

LOCATION : Netaji Subhash Chowk, Chandini Chowk in Old Delhi. TIMINGS : 9:30 am to 4:30 pm daily (except Monday’s).

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

• MUMTAZ MAHAL (Jewel Palace) 0.2 km

• CHHATTA CHOWK BAZAR 0.2 km

• ARCHELOGICAL MUSEUM 0.2 km

• DIGAMBAR JAIN TEMPLE 0.1 km

ROOT MAP OF RED FORT

GOLKONDA

FORT

• Also known as Golla Konda(Shepherds Hill).

• It is one of the most Magnificent Fort complex in

India.

• It is also a mandal of Hyderabad District.

• Known for mines – worlds famous gems, Kohinoor,

Hope Diamond and Nassak diamond.

MAIN STRUCTUREFATEH DARWAZA

Victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb’s triumphant army marched in through this gate.

BALA HISSAR GATE

Main entrance to the fort on the eastern side.

DURBAR HALL

Underground tunnel starts from it in the fort to the foot of the hill.

HISTORY• Built on the lines of Kondapalli Fort.• Built on a granite hill.• 120m high.• The fort finally fell into the ruins after a siege and its

fall to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

MUST VISIT• Light and sound show.• The legendary Bollywood actor, Amitabh Bachchan

lent his voice for the show.• It includes English, Telugu and Hindi languages.

HIGHLIGHTSThe sounds of the claps made at the entrance of the fort

can be clearly heard at the top of the hill.

• LOCATION : 11 km west of Hyderabad.

• FAMOUS FOR: Architect, light and sound show every evening.

• TIMINGS : 8:00 am to 6:30 pm (except Fridays).

NEARBY TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

QUTUB SHAHI TOMBS

GANDIPET LAKE

HUSAIN SAGAR LAKE

BRIHADEESWARA

TEMPLE

• Also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil or Raja Rajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram.

• One of the largest temples in India.• One of India’s most prized architectural sites.• Great Living Chola Temples.• Improtant example of Tamil Architecture.

MAIN STUCTURE

BIG NANDI

Weighing 20 tonnes made of single stone.

VIMANA

DWAJA STHAMBHAM

GHOPURAM

THE LINGAM

3.7 m tall

THE PRAKARAM

Outer precincts of the temple

MANDAPA

Assembly hall

HISTORY• Built to grace the throne of the Chola Empire

by Rajaraja Chola I in compliance to a command given to him in a dream.

• It is an architectural exemplar showcasing the pure form of Dravidian

type of Architecture.

MUST VISIT

• The 60 m tall Vimana is the tallest in south India.

• Vimana doesn’t cast a shadow at noon during any

part of the year.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Till date it’s the tallest temple.• 1st Granite Temple. • 108 dance poses known as “KARMAS”

performed by Lord Shiva have been sculpted on the inner walls of the sanctum sanctorum.

• 1000 years old.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

MANORA FORT

THANJAVUR PALACE

SARASWATHI MAHAL

SHIVA GANGA GARDEN

SCHWARTZ CHURCH

• LOCATION: Membalam road, Balaganapathy Nagar, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.

• OPENED: 1010

• ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Dravidian architecture

• HEIGHT: 66 m

• TIMINGS: 6:00 am to 9:00 pm

• ARCHITECT: Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan

• PROPER NAME: Peruvudaiyar Temple

• PRIMARY DEITY: Lord Shiva

• IMPORTANT FESTIVAL: Maha Shivaratri

PARTS OF THE TEMPLE

KONARK

SUN TEMPLE

• It is a monumental representation of the sun god, Surya’s chariot.

• 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs it is led by a team of six horses.

• One of the India’s most famous Brahman Sanctuaries.

• Also known as black Pagoda.• Most renowned temple.

MAIN STRUCTURE

VIMANA (Principal Sanctuary)

JAGANMOHANA (audience hall)

BHOG MANDIR

NATYA MANDIR(dance hall)

HISTORY

• Konark is a combination of two words, KONA (corner) and ARKA (sun).

• Constructed from oxidized and weathered ferruginous sandstone by

Narasimha Deva of Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

MUST VISIT• Built from stone and carefully oriented so as

when the rising sun emerges from the gulf, of Bengal the first rays

of the sun strikes its principle entry.

HIGHLIGHTS• The wheels of the temple (sundials) – can be

used to calculate time accurately to a minute including day and night.

• The temple doesn’t cast any shadow on the ground.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

MAYADEVI TEMPLE

VAISHNAVA TEMPLE

• LOCATION: Konark, Odisha• OPENED: 1250• TIMINGS: 6:00am to 8:00pm

QUTB MINAR

• Highest stone tower in India.• It was erected as a tower of victory to signify

beginning of the Muslim rule in India.• One of the finest monument not only in India,

but also in the world.

MONUMENTS WITHIN THE COMPLEX

QUWWAT – UL – ISLAM MOSQUETHE OLDEST IN NORTH INDIA

TOMB OF ILTUTMISH

ALAI DARWAZA

ALAI MINAR

TOMB OF IMAM ZAMIM

HISTORY

• Qutb-ud-din Aibak commenced the construction of the Qutb Minar, but could only finish the basement.

• Iltutmish(his successor) added three more storey's.

• Finally, Feroz Shah Tughlaq constructed the forth and last storey.

MUST VISIT• Minar is made of red stone.• Covered with incricate carvings and verses

from the Quran.• 1st three storey's are made of red sandstone.• Fourth and fifth storey’s are made of marble

and sandstone.• Each storey is separated by highly decorated

balconies, with pendentives and inscribed bands.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Iron pillar in the mosque compound was brought from elsewhere in India how it was moved remains a mystery.

• The pillar also highlights ancient Indians achievement in the field of metallurgy.

• LOCATION: Mehrauli, New Delhi

• CLOSED: 1981• HEIGHT: 73 m• ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Indo –

Islamic architecture.

ROOT MAP OF QUTB MINAR

ELLORA

CAVES

These are monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad.

MAIN STRUCTURE

LINGAM(at the rear of the hall)

SIKHARA(a flat roofed mandapa supported by 16 pillars)

GOPURAM

HISTORY• Ellora caves bear witness to three great

religions – Buddhism, Brahmanism, Jainism.• Illustrates the spirit of tolerance, characteristic

of ancient India, which permitted these three religions to establish their sanctuaries and their communities in a single place – served to reinforce its universal value.

MUST VISIT• Cave 10 – a single large temple.• Cave 15 – cavern of the Ten Avatars.• Cave 16 – Kailasa temple.• Caves 30-34 – Jain group.

• HIGHLIGHTS: Largest rock monastic temple complex.

• TIMINGS: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (except Monday’s)

• LOCATION: Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

• VISIT DURATION : 2 to 3 hours

• BUILT IN: 5th – 10th century AD

• DYNASTY: Rashtrakuta

• OTHER NAMES: Verul Leni, Ellooru.

OTHER ATTRACTIONSTHE VISHWAKARMA

THE HINDU CAVES (kailasanatha temple)

THE DASHAVATARA

THE JAIN CAVES (Indra Sabah)

HAMPI

• Austere, Grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar.

HISTORY• Hampi was once a pilgrimage place before it

came to be established as the Vijayanagara Kingdom.

MUST VISIT• The enormous size of the monument

symbolize the strong foundation which the Vijayanagara Empire rested for nearly 230 years.

• The structures are carved and built from pieces of rock.

• Musical Pillars• Various pillars of the temple produce different

musical sounds.

HIGHLIGHTS• The temple of Hampi has monolithic

sculptures and monuments.• One can still take glimpses of the mind-

blowing Vijayanagara, one of the largest empires in the history of India.

OTHER ATTRACTIONSVITTALA TEMPLE

VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE

ROYAL ENCLOSURE RIVERSIDE RUINS

AJANTA

CAVES

• Locally known as Ajanta Leni.• 30 rock cut Buddhist cave monuments.• Includes – paintings and sculptures described

by the government archaeological survey of India as “the finest surviving example of Indian art, Particularly Painting.

• Master pieces of Buddha and Depictions of the Jataka Tales.

• Caves – numbered 1 to 28

HISTORY• First group of caves was created in the 2nd century

BC.• Second group of caves was created in 5th and 6th

century AD.

MUST VISIT• The viewing platform across the river affords an

excellent view of the entire Ajanta Cite.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Ajanta caves are a series of 28 Buddhist cave temples encompassing both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions.

• Preserve – best masterpieces of Buddhist art in India.

• LOCATION: 100 km north east of Ellora, 104km from Aurangabad and 52km from Jalgaon railway station.

• TIMINGS: all days of the week except Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

• VISIT DURATION: 2 to 3 hours

ROOT MAP OF AJANTA CAVES

ANCIENT(BC-1205) MEDIEVAL(1206-1850)

MODERN(AFTER 1850)

HAMPI – 8th C TAJ MAHAL1631 - 1648

CHATRAPATHI SHIVAJI TERMINUS - 1878

AJANTA CAVES 2nd – 6th C

RED FORT - 1546 CHURCHES AND CONVENTS OF GOA 1510 - 1961

BRIHADESWAR TEMPLE - 1010

QUTB MINAR - 1311

HILL FORTS OF RAJASTHAN 8th – 18th C

ELEPHANTA CAVES5th -6th C

GOLKONDA – 17th C KAJURAHO GROUP OF MONUMENTS

ELLORA CAVES600 - 1000

KAKATIYA EMPIRE – 1000 Pillar Temple, Warangal fort, Hanuma Konda.

MOUNTAIN RAILWAYS OF INDIA 1881

SUNTEMPLE ROCK SHUTTERS OF BHIMBETKA - 1957SUNDARBAN NATIONAL PARK

JANTAR MANTAR – Early modern period

Great Himalayan National ParkRecently added to world heritage site.

CONCLUSION

• Historic monuments and forts plays a major role in the heritage development of certain country or city. India which is also called incredible India has many such forts and historic monuments which resembles the art, architecture, living style, currency and many other things about early civilizations. These are very important and gives us a vast knowledge about historical events.

THANK YOU