The document provides information about 5 important World Heritage sites in India - Qutb Minar in Delhi, Taj Mahal in Agra, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, and Brihadeeswarar Temple in Tamil Nadu. For each site, brief introductions are given along with highlights of their history, importance, and basic visitor information. The sites represent important architectural and cultural landmarks showcasing India's rich history and diversity of religions.

2. Some
World heritage
sites

3. S.NO NAMES
1.
QUTB MINAR , NEW DELHI
2.
TAJ MAHAL , AGRA ,UTTAR PRADESH
3.
MANAS WILDLIFE SANCTURY , ASSAM
4.
AJANTA CAVES , MAHARASHTRA
5.
BRIHADEESHWARAR TEMPLE , TAMIL NADU

4. 1. QUTB
MINAR

5. INTRODUCTION
Built in the early 13th century a few kilometres south of Delhi, the red sandstone
tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5 m high, tapering from 2.75 m in diameter at its peak
to 14.32 m at its base, and alternating angular and rounded flutings.
ITS HISTORY: The Qutb Minar complex are monuments and buildings from
the Delhi Sultanate at Mehrauli in Delhi, India.[1] Construction of the Qutub
Minar "victory tower" in the complex, named after the religious figure Sufi Saint
Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, was begun by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who later
became the first Sultan of Delhi of the Mamluk dynasty (Gulam Vansh).
ITS IMPORTANCE: The Qutb Minar is inspired by the Minaret of Jam in
Afghanistan, it is an important example of early Afghan architecture, which later
evolved into Indo-Islamic Architecture. The Qutb Minar is 72.5 metres (239 ft)
high, making it the tallest minaret in the world built of bricks.[13] It has five distinct
storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony carried on muqarnas corbel and
tapers from a diameter 14.3 metres at the base to 2.7 metres at the top, which is
379 steps away. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with
surrounding buildings and monuments.

6. Visitor Information:
•
•
•
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Best Time to Visit:
Since Delhi experiences really hot summers, it would be much better if the place is visited
during the winter months i.e. from October to March. The best time to walk around the
grounds would be during the evenings as the effect of the heat is lessened and makes the
visit a much more pleasant experience.

7. 2. TAJ
MAHAL

8. INTRODUCTION
The Taj Mahal is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden
that encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh. The
existence of several historical and Quaranic inscriptions in Arabic script have facilitated
setting the chronology of Taj Mahal.
ITS HISTORY: An immense mousoleum of white marble, built in agra between 1631-
1648 by order of the mughal emperor shah jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj
Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in india and one of the universally admired masterpieces
of the world's heritage.
ITS IMPORTANCE: The Taj Mahal is widely considered one of the most beautiful
buildings ever created. The exquisite marble structure in Agra, India, is a mausoleum,
an enduring monument to the love of a husband for his favorite wife. It's also an eternal
testament to the artistic and scientific accomplishments of a wealthy empire.

9. VISITORS INFORMATION
• Opening hours: 6:00 am to 7:00 pm for day visits (and 8:30
pm to 12:30 pm for night visits, two days before and after
every full moon).
• The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is during the early
summers in India – from March to June. Avoid going in the
winter months from November to February as you won’t be
able to catch the Taj Mahal in all its beauty because of the
fog. Even if you stand just a few meters away, you won’t be
able to see it clearly and won’t get any good pictures. The
best days to go are between Monday and Thursday. On
Fridays, the Taj Mahal is closed for prayers, and if you
happen to visit on weekends and public holidays, then the
place will be really crowded.

10. 3. MANAS WILDLIFE
SANCTURY , ASSAM

11. INTRODUCTION
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the State of Assam in North-East India, a biodiversity hotspot.
Covering an area of 39,100 hectares, it spans the Manas river and is bounded to the north by the forests of
Bhutan. The site’s scenic beauty includes a range of forested hills, alluvial grasslands and tropical evergreen
forests. The Manas National Park was declared a sanctuary on 1 October 1928 with an area of 360 km2.
ITS HISTORY: Manas bio reserve was created in 1973. Prior to the declaration of the sanctuary, it was a
reserved forest called Manas R.F. and North Kamrup R.F. It was used by the Cooch Behar royal family and
Raja of Gauripur as a hunting reserve. In 1951 and 1955, the area was increased to 391 km2. It was declared
a World Heritage Site in December 1985 by UNESCO.
ITS IMPORTANCE: The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam
roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. ... Manas is famous for its population of the Wild
water buffalo.
Click to add text

12. VISITORS INFORMATION:
October to April are the best months for a visit to the Manas
National Park as the weather is pleasant giving a chance to spot
many wildlife species. The national park experiences semi-tropical
climate, with humid summers, cold winters and heavy rainfall
during monsoon. Avoid the monsoons, i.e. June to September
when heavy rains can flood the park.

13. 4. AJANTA CAVES ,
MAHARASHTRA

14. INTRODUCTION
The Buddhist Caves in Ajanta are approximately 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave
monuments dating from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE in
the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state in India.The caves include
paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving
examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present
emotions through gesture, pose and form. The site is a protected monument
in the care of the Archaeological Survey of India, and since 1983, the Ajanta
Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its history: The Ajanta Caves are generally agreed to have been made in
two distinct phases, the first during the 2nd ceentury BCE to 1st century CE,
and a second several centuries later.
ITS IMPORTANCE: While the main purpose of the caves was to celebrate
the glory of Gautama Buddha's life and achievements, they also provide
an important insight into the Buddhist life and belief system and the reflection
of its values in art. In many ways, the Ajanta caves were a watershed in
subcontinental architecture.

15. VISITORS’ INFORMATION
• Ajanta Caves are open throughout the year on all days of the week except
Mondays. Tourists can visit the caves from 9 am to 5.30 pm. ASI has made
online booking of tickets available on its website and you can book your
tickets before your visit. If you are planning to do a group booking, note
that you cannot book tickets of more than 20 adults and 10 children in one
go on their website.
• Children below 15 years of age have free entry and adults above 15 have
to pay Rs 30. For citizens of SAARC nations like Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, the ticket price is the same as for
Indians. But for foreign nationals of other countries, the ticket price is Rs
250 per visit. You can carry your and still and video camera inside the
caves by paying Rs 5 for them. But note that you cannot do photography
with flash.

16. 5.BRIHADEESHWARAR
TEMPLE , TAMIL NADU

17. INTRODUCTION
Peruvudaiyār Kōvil (Original Name) locally known as Thanjai Periya Kovil, also called as Brihadishvara temple,Rajarajeswaram,
is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in South bank of Cauvery river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.It is one of the largest
South Indian temples and an exemplary example of a fully realized Tamil architecture. It is called as Dakshina Meru (Meru of south).
Built by Tamil king Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as
the "Great Living Chola Temples", along with the Chola dynasty era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple that
are about 70 kilometres (43 mi) and 40 kilometres (25 mi) to its northeast respectively.
ITS HISTORY: A spectrum of Hindu temple styles continued to develop from the 5th to the 9th century over the Chalukya era rule as
evidenced in Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal, and then with the Pallava era as witnessed at Mamallapuram and other monuments. In
the 10th century, within the Chola empire emerged features such as the multifaceted columns with projecting square capitals. This,
states George Michell, signaled the start of the new Chola style.[2][note 1] This South Indian style is most fully realized both in scale and
detail in the Brihadeshwara temple built between 1003 and 1010 by the Chola king Rajaraja
ITS IMPORTANCE: The temple has the world's tallest vimanam (temple tower) and its Kumbam (the structure on the top) weighs
approximately 80 tons. ... Brihadeeswarar temple is the first complete granite temple in the world. Around 60,000 tons of granite
is said to be used to build the temple.

18. VISITOR INFORMATION
Best time to visit Brihadeshwara Temple
The best time to visit Brihadeshwara Temple
is during the early hours when the weather
remains pleasant and cool breeze makes the
tour comfortable. The winter season is the
perfect time to visit the city.