This document provides a summary of a presentation on World Heritage Sites. It discusses several important World Heritage Sites in India including the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Golconda Fort, Konark Sun Temple, Qutub Minar, Ellora Caves, and the ruins of Hampi. It describes the main structures and highlights of each site, their history, when they were built, and importance as cultural or natural heritage locations.

1. A PRESENTATION
ON
WORLD HERITAGE SITES
BY:
A.NIVEDITHA

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. WORLD HERITAGE SITES
o 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 fort
2) Ajanta caves
25 are cultural sites
7 are natural sites

5. 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.

7. 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.

8. INTERIOR DECORATION
The 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.

9. THE TOMB CHAMBER

10. THE LOWER TOMB CHAMBER

11. THE CENOTAPHS

12. AMBULATORY ROOM
(SHISH MAHAL)

13. HISTORY
• Constructed over a period of 22 years.
• The walls are inscribed with verses from the QURAN
in Arabic in black calligraphy.

14. 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).

15. • 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.

16. 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.

18. STRUCTURE OF TAJ

20. • Original name – Quilla – I – Mullah.
• Built by – Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
• Also called as Lal-Qilla.
• Named for- Massive enclosing walls of red
sandstone.

21. MAIN STRUCTURES
LAHORE GATE
Main entrance of the Red Fort.

22. DIWAN - I - AAM
Hall of audience

23. DIWAN – I – KHAS
Hall of private audience

24. NAHR-I-BEHISHT
Private apartments at the back of the throne, on
the east side of the fort.

25. ZENANA
The women’s quarters towards the west of the Red Fort.

26. MOTI MASJID
Means Pearl Mosque, towards the west
of the Red Fort.

27. KHAS MAHAL
Private room of the emperor.

28. HAYAT BAKHSH BAGH
Life – Bestowing Garden was designed round the Red
Fort.

29. MOTHI MAHAL
Built by AURANGAZEB

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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).

33. OTHER ATTRACTIONS
• MUMTAZ MAHAL
(Jewel Palace)
0.2 km
• CHHATTA CHOWK BAZAR
0.2 km

34. • ARCHELOGICAL MUSEUM
0.2 km
• DIGAMBAR JAIN TEMPLE
0.1 km

35. ROOT MAP OF RED FORT

38. • 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.

39. MAIN STRUCTURE
FATEH DARWAZA
Victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb’s triumphant
army marched in through this gate.

40. BALA HISSAR GATE
Main entrance to the fort on the eastern side.

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

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. HIGHLIGHTS
The 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).

45. NEARBY TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
QUTUB SHAHI TOMBS

46. GANDIPET LAKE

47. HUSAIN SAGAR LAKE

50. • 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.

51. MAIN STUCTURE
BIG NANDI
Weighing 20 tonnes made of single stone.

52. VIMANA

53. DWAJA STHAMBHAM

54. GHOPURAM

55. THE LINGAM
3.7 m tall

56. THE PRAKARAM
Outer precincts of the temple

57. MANDAPA
Assembly hall

58. 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.

59. 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.

60. 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.

61. OTHER ATTRACTIONS
MANORA FORT

62. THANJAVUR PALACE

63. SARASWATHI MAHAL

64. SHIVA GANGA GARDEN

65. SCHWARTZ CHURCH

66. • 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

67. PARTS OF THE TEMPLE

69. • 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.

70. MAIN STRUCTURE
VIMANA (Principal Sanctuary)

71. JAGANMOHANA (audience hall)

72. BHOG MANDIR

73. NATYA MANDIR(dance hall)

74. 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.

75. 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.

76. 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.

77. OTHER ATTRACTIONS
MAYADEVI TEMPLE

78. VAISHNAVA TEMPLE

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

81. • 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.

82. MONUMENTS WITHIN THE
COMPLEX
QUWWAT – UL – ISLAM MOSQUE
THE OLDEST IN NORTH INDIA

83. TOMB OF ILTUTMISH

84. ALAI DARWAZA

85. ALAI MINAR

86. TOMB OF IMAM ZAMIM

87. 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.

88. 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.

89. 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.

90. • LOCATION: Mehrauli, New Delhi
• CLOSED: 1981
• HEIGHT: 73 m
• ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Indo –
Islamic architecture.

91. ROOT MAP OF QUTB MINAR

94. 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.

95. MAIN STRUCTURE
LINGAM(at the rear of the hall)

96. SIKHARA(a flat roofed mandapa
supported by 16 pillars)

97. GOPURAM

98. 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.

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

100. • 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.

101. OTHER ATTRACTIONS
THE VISHWAKARMA

102. THE HINDU CAVES (kailasanatha
temple)

103. THE DASHAVATARA

105. THE JAIN CAVES (Indra Sabah)

108. • 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.

109. 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.

110. • Musical Pillars
• Various pillars of the temple produce different
musical sounds.

111. 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.

112. OTHER ATTRACTIONS
VITTALA TEMPLE

113. VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE

114. ROYAL ENCLOSURE RIVERSIDE
RUINS

116. • 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

117. 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.

118. 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.

119. • 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

120. ROOT MAP OF AJANTA CAVES

121. ANCIENT(BC-1205) MEDIEVAL(1206-
1850)
MODERN(AFTER
1850)
HAMPI – 8th C TAJ MAHAL
1631 - 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 CAVES
5th -6th C
GOLKONDA – 17th C KAJURAHO GROUP
OF MONUMENTS
ELLORA CAVES
600 - 1000
KAKATIYA EMPIRE –
1000 Pillar Temple,
Warangal fort,
Hanuma Konda.
MOUNTAIN
RAILWAYS OF INDIA
1881
SUNTEMPLE ROCK SHUTTERS OF
BHIMBETKA - 1957
SUNDARBAN
NATIONAL PARK

122. JANTAR MANTAR – Early modern period

123. Great Himalayan National Park
Recently added to world heritage site.

124. 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.