Yojana Magazine June 2024 - 3 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


61 June 2024
ver 750 cultural, natural, and mixed sites have been inscribed on the unesco World Heritage 
List. t heir splendour enriches our lives and illustrates the diversity of our planet and its 
inhabitants. 
t he c onvention c oncerning the Protection of the World c ultural and natural Heritage, 
an international agreement adopted by the general conference of unesco in 1972, was founded 
on the premise that certain places on earth are of outstanding universal value and as such should 
form part of the common heritage of humankind. t he nations or states Parties that adhere to the 
c onvention have become part of an international community, united in a common mission to identify 
and safeguard our world’s most outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Whilst fully respecting the 
national sovereignty, and without prejudice to property rights provided by national legislation, the 
s tates Parties to the c onvention recognise that the protection of the World Heritage is the duty of the 
international community as a whole. A total of 42 properties from india are inscribed on the World 
Heritage List. 
India on the 
UNESCO World Heritage List 
O
Page 2


61 June 2024
ver 750 cultural, natural, and mixed sites have been inscribed on the unesco World Heritage 
List. t heir splendour enriches our lives and illustrates the diversity of our planet and its 
inhabitants. 
t he c onvention c oncerning the Protection of the World c ultural and natural Heritage, 
an international agreement adopted by the general conference of unesco in 1972, was founded 
on the premise that certain places on earth are of outstanding universal value and as such should 
form part of the common heritage of humankind. t he nations or states Parties that adhere to the 
c onvention have become part of an international community, united in a common mission to identify 
and safeguard our world’s most outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Whilst fully respecting the 
national sovereignty, and without prejudice to property rights provided by national legislation, the 
s tates Parties to the c onvention recognise that the protection of the World Heritage is the duty of the 
international community as a whole. A total of 42 properties from india are inscribed on the World 
Heritage List. 
India on the 
UNESCO World Heritage List 
O
62 June 2024
a gra Fort
near the gardens of the taj Mahal stands the important  
16
th
-century Mughal monument known as the red Fort of Agra. 
this powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its  
2.5 km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. 
it comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace 
and the Khas Mahal, built by shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the  
Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.
a janta Caves
t he first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2
nd
 
and 1
st
 centuries Bc During the gupta period (5
th
 and 6
th
 centuries 
AD), many more richly decorated caves were added to the 
original group. t he paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered 
masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable 
artistic influence.
a rchaeological site of nalanda m ahavihara at nalanda, Bihar
the nalanda Mahavihara site is in the state of Bihar, in  
north-eastern india. it comprises the archaeological remains of a 
monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3
rd
 century Bce 
to the 13
th
 century ce . it includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential 
and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone 
and metal. nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the 
indian subcontinent. it engaged in the organised transmission of 
knowledge over an uninterrupted period of 800 years. t he historical 
development of the site testifies to the development of Buddhism 
into a religion and the flourishing of monastic and educational 
traditions.
Buddhist monuments at s anchi
on a hill overlooking the plain and about 40 km from Bhopal, 
the site of sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments 
(monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in 
different states of conservation most of which date back to the 
2
nd
 and 1
st
 centuries Bc. i t is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in 
existence and was a major Buddhist centre in india until the  
12
th
 century AD.
Champaner-pavagadh a rchaeological park
A concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic 
and living cultural heritage properties cradled in an impressive 
landscape which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill 
fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16
th
-century 
capital of the state of gujarat. t he site also includes, among other 
vestiges, fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, residential 
precincts, agricultural structures and water installations, from the 
8
th
 to 14
th
 centuries. t he Kalikamata t emple on top of Pavagadh Hill 
is considered to be an important shrine, attracting large numbers 
of pilgrims throughout the year. t he site is the only complete and 
unchanged islamic pre-Mughal city.
Page 3


61 June 2024
ver 750 cultural, natural, and mixed sites have been inscribed on the unesco World Heritage 
List. t heir splendour enriches our lives and illustrates the diversity of our planet and its 
inhabitants. 
t he c onvention c oncerning the Protection of the World c ultural and natural Heritage, 
an international agreement adopted by the general conference of unesco in 1972, was founded 
on the premise that certain places on earth are of outstanding universal value and as such should 
form part of the common heritage of humankind. t he nations or states Parties that adhere to the 
c onvention have become part of an international community, united in a common mission to identify 
and safeguard our world’s most outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Whilst fully respecting the 
national sovereignty, and without prejudice to property rights provided by national legislation, the 
s tates Parties to the c onvention recognise that the protection of the World Heritage is the duty of the 
international community as a whole. A total of 42 properties from india are inscribed on the World 
Heritage List. 
India on the 
UNESCO World Heritage List 
O
62 June 2024
a gra Fort
near the gardens of the taj Mahal stands the important  
16
th
-century Mughal monument known as the red Fort of Agra. 
this powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its  
2.5 km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. 
it comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace 
and the Khas Mahal, built by shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the  
Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.
a janta Caves
t he first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2
nd
 
and 1
st
 centuries Bc During the gupta period (5
th
 and 6
th
 centuries 
AD), many more richly decorated caves were added to the 
original group. t he paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered 
masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable 
artistic influence.
a rchaeological site of nalanda m ahavihara at nalanda, Bihar
the nalanda Mahavihara site is in the state of Bihar, in  
north-eastern india. it comprises the archaeological remains of a 
monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3
rd
 century Bce 
to the 13
th
 century ce . it includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential 
and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone 
and metal. nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the 
indian subcontinent. it engaged in the organised transmission of 
knowledge over an uninterrupted period of 800 years. t he historical 
development of the site testifies to the development of Buddhism 
into a religion and the flourishing of monastic and educational 
traditions.
Buddhist monuments at s anchi
on a hill overlooking the plain and about 40 km from Bhopal, 
the site of sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments 
(monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in 
different states of conservation most of which date back to the 
2
nd
 and 1
st
 centuries Bc. i t is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in 
existence and was a major Buddhist centre in india until the  
12
th
 century AD.
Champaner-pavagadh a rchaeological park
A concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic 
and living cultural heritage properties cradled in an impressive 
landscape which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill 
fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16
th
-century 
capital of the state of gujarat. t he site also includes, among other 
vestiges, fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, residential 
precincts, agricultural structures and water installations, from the 
8
th
 to 14
th
 centuries. t he Kalikamata t emple on top of Pavagadh Hill 
is considered to be an important shrine, attracting large numbers 
of pilgrims throughout the year. t he site is the only complete and 
unchanged islamic pre-Mughal city.
63 June 2024
Chhatrapati s hivaji t erminus (formerly victoria t erminus)
the chhatrapati shivaji terminus, formerly known as victoria 
t erminus s tation, in Mumbai, is an outstanding example of v ictorian 
gothic r evival architecture in india, blended with themes deriving 
from indian traditional architecture. t he building, designed by the 
British architect F W s tevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the 
‘gothic city’ and the major international mercantile port of india. 
t he terminal was built over 10 years, starting in 1878, according to a 
High victorian g othic design based on late medieval italian models. 
its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric 
ground plan are close to traditional indian palace architecture. 
it is an outstanding example of the meeting of two cultures, as 
British architects worked with indian craftsmen to include indian 
architectural tradition and idioms thus forging a new style unique 
to Bombay.
Churches and Convents of Goa
the churches and convents of goa, the former capital of the 
Portuguese indies – particularly the church of Bom Jesus, which 
contains the tomb of st Francis-Xavier – illustrate the evangelisation 
of Asia. these monuments were influential in spreading forms of 
Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia 
where missions were established.
d holavira: a harappan City
t he ancient city of Dholavira, the southern centre of the Harappan 
civilisation, is on the arid island of Khadir in the state of gujarat. 
o ccupied between ca. 3000-1500 Bce, the archaeological site, one of 
the best preserved urban settlements from the period in southeast 
Asia, comprises a fortified city and a cemetery. two seasonal streams 
provided water, a scarce resource in the region, to the walled city 
which comprises a heavily fortified castle and ceremonial ground 
as well as streets and houses of different proportion quality which 
testify to a stratified social order. A sophisticated water management 
system demonstrates the ingenuity of the Dholavira people in 
their struggle to survive and thrive in a harsh environment. t he site 
includes a large cemetery with cenotaphs of six types testifying to 
the Harappan’s unique view of death. Bead processing workshops 
and artefacts of various kinds such as copper, shell, stone, jewellery of 
semi-precious stones, terracotta, gold, ivory and other materials have 
been found during archaeological excavations of the site, exhibiting 
the culture’s artistic and technological achievements. evidence for 
inter-regional trade with other Harappan cities, as well as with cities 
in the Mesopotamia region and the oman peninsula have also been 
discovered. 
elephanta Caves
the 'city of caves', on an island in close to Mumbai, contains a 
collection of rock art linked to the Lord shiva. Here, indian art has 
found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high 
reliefs in the main cave.
Page 4


61 June 2024
ver 750 cultural, natural, and mixed sites have been inscribed on the unesco World Heritage 
List. t heir splendour enriches our lives and illustrates the diversity of our planet and its 
inhabitants. 
t he c onvention c oncerning the Protection of the World c ultural and natural Heritage, 
an international agreement adopted by the general conference of unesco in 1972, was founded 
on the premise that certain places on earth are of outstanding universal value and as such should 
form part of the common heritage of humankind. t he nations or states Parties that adhere to the 
c onvention have become part of an international community, united in a common mission to identify 
and safeguard our world’s most outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Whilst fully respecting the 
national sovereignty, and without prejudice to property rights provided by national legislation, the 
s tates Parties to the c onvention recognise that the protection of the World Heritage is the duty of the 
international community as a whole. A total of 42 properties from india are inscribed on the World 
Heritage List. 
India on the 
UNESCO World Heritage List 
O
62 June 2024
a gra Fort
near the gardens of the taj Mahal stands the important  
16
th
-century Mughal monument known as the red Fort of Agra. 
this powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its  
2.5 km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. 
it comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace 
and the Khas Mahal, built by shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the  
Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.
a janta Caves
t he first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2
nd
 
and 1
st
 centuries Bc During the gupta period (5
th
 and 6
th
 centuries 
AD), many more richly decorated caves were added to the 
original group. t he paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered 
masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable 
artistic influence.
a rchaeological site of nalanda m ahavihara at nalanda, Bihar
the nalanda Mahavihara site is in the state of Bihar, in  
north-eastern india. it comprises the archaeological remains of a 
monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3
rd
 century Bce 
to the 13
th
 century ce . it includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential 
and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone 
and metal. nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the 
indian subcontinent. it engaged in the organised transmission of 
knowledge over an uninterrupted period of 800 years. t he historical 
development of the site testifies to the development of Buddhism 
into a religion and the flourishing of monastic and educational 
traditions.
Buddhist monuments at s anchi
on a hill overlooking the plain and about 40 km from Bhopal, 
the site of sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments 
(monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in 
different states of conservation most of which date back to the 
2
nd
 and 1
st
 centuries Bc. i t is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in 
existence and was a major Buddhist centre in india until the  
12
th
 century AD.
Champaner-pavagadh a rchaeological park
A concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic 
and living cultural heritage properties cradled in an impressive 
landscape which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill 
fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16
th
-century 
capital of the state of gujarat. t he site also includes, among other 
vestiges, fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, residential 
precincts, agricultural structures and water installations, from the 
8
th
 to 14
th
 centuries. t he Kalikamata t emple on top of Pavagadh Hill 
is considered to be an important shrine, attracting large numbers 
of pilgrims throughout the year. t he site is the only complete and 
unchanged islamic pre-Mughal city.
63 June 2024
Chhatrapati s hivaji t erminus (formerly victoria t erminus)
the chhatrapati shivaji terminus, formerly known as victoria 
t erminus s tation, in Mumbai, is an outstanding example of v ictorian 
gothic r evival architecture in india, blended with themes deriving 
from indian traditional architecture. t he building, designed by the 
British architect F W s tevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the 
‘gothic city’ and the major international mercantile port of india. 
t he terminal was built over 10 years, starting in 1878, according to a 
High victorian g othic design based on late medieval italian models. 
its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric 
ground plan are close to traditional indian palace architecture. 
it is an outstanding example of the meeting of two cultures, as 
British architects worked with indian craftsmen to include indian 
architectural tradition and idioms thus forging a new style unique 
to Bombay.
Churches and Convents of Goa
the churches and convents of goa, the former capital of the 
Portuguese indies – particularly the church of Bom Jesus, which 
contains the tomb of st Francis-Xavier – illustrate the evangelisation 
of Asia. these monuments were influential in spreading forms of 
Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia 
where missions were established.
d holavira: a harappan City
t he ancient city of Dholavira, the southern centre of the Harappan 
civilisation, is on the arid island of Khadir in the state of gujarat. 
o ccupied between ca. 3000-1500 Bce, the archaeological site, one of 
the best preserved urban settlements from the period in southeast 
Asia, comprises a fortified city and a cemetery. two seasonal streams 
provided water, a scarce resource in the region, to the walled city 
which comprises a heavily fortified castle and ceremonial ground 
as well as streets and houses of different proportion quality which 
testify to a stratified social order. A sophisticated water management 
system demonstrates the ingenuity of the Dholavira people in 
their struggle to survive and thrive in a harsh environment. t he site 
includes a large cemetery with cenotaphs of six types testifying to 
the Harappan’s unique view of death. Bead processing workshops 
and artefacts of various kinds such as copper, shell, stone, jewellery of 
semi-precious stones, terracotta, gold, ivory and other materials have 
been found during archaeological excavations of the site, exhibiting 
the culture’s artistic and technological achievements. evidence for 
inter-regional trade with other Harappan cities, as well as with cities 
in the Mesopotamia region and the oman peninsula have also been 
discovered. 
elephanta Caves
the 'city of caves', on an island in close to Mumbai, contains a 
collection of rock art linked to the Lord shiva. Here, indian art has 
found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high 
reliefs in the main cave.
64 June 2024
ellora Caves
these 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than  
2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from 
Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence 
of monuments dating from AD 600 to 1000, brings the civilisation of 
ancient india to life. not only is the ellora complex a unique artistic 
creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted 
to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance 
that was characteristic of ancient india.
Fatehpur sikri
Built during the second half of the 16
th
 century by the emperor 
Akbar, Fatehpur sikri (the c ity of victory) was the capital of the Mughal 
empire for only some 10 years. the complex of monuments and 
temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest 
mosques in india, the Jama Masjid.
Great living Chola temples
t he great Living chola temples were built by kings of the chola 
empire, which stretched over all of south india and the neighbouring 
islands. t he site includes three great 11
th
- and 12
th
-century t emples: 
the Brihadisvara temple at thanjavur, the Brihadisvara temple at 
g angaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara t emple at Darasuram. 
the temple of gangaikondacholisvaram, built by r ajendra i, was 
completed in 1035. its 53-m vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed 
corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with 
the straight and severe tower at t hanjavur. t he Airavatesvara temple 
complex, built by r ajaraja ii, at Darasuram features a 24-m vimana 
and a stone image of Lord shiva. t he temples testify to the brilliant 
achievements of the chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and 
bronze casting.
Group of monuments at hampi
t he austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last 
great Hindu Kingdom of vijayanagar. its fabulously rich princes built 
Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers 
between the 14
th
 and 16
th
 centuries. c onquered by the Deccan Muslim 
confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months 
before being abandoned.
Group of monuments at mahabalipuram
t his group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved 
out of rock along the coromandel coast in the 7
th
 and 8
th
 centuries. 
it is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), 
mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 
'Descent of the ganges', and the temple of r ivage, with thousands of 
sculptures to the glory of Lord shiva.
Page 5


61 June 2024
ver 750 cultural, natural, and mixed sites have been inscribed on the unesco World Heritage 
List. t heir splendour enriches our lives and illustrates the diversity of our planet and its 
inhabitants. 
t he c onvention c oncerning the Protection of the World c ultural and natural Heritage, 
an international agreement adopted by the general conference of unesco in 1972, was founded 
on the premise that certain places on earth are of outstanding universal value and as such should 
form part of the common heritage of humankind. t he nations or states Parties that adhere to the 
c onvention have become part of an international community, united in a common mission to identify 
and safeguard our world’s most outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Whilst fully respecting the 
national sovereignty, and without prejudice to property rights provided by national legislation, the 
s tates Parties to the c onvention recognise that the protection of the World Heritage is the duty of the 
international community as a whole. A total of 42 properties from india are inscribed on the World 
Heritage List. 
India on the 
UNESCO World Heritage List 
O
62 June 2024
a gra Fort
near the gardens of the taj Mahal stands the important  
16
th
-century Mughal monument known as the red Fort of Agra. 
this powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its  
2.5 km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. 
it comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace 
and the Khas Mahal, built by shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the  
Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.
a janta Caves
t he first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2
nd
 
and 1
st
 centuries Bc During the gupta period (5
th
 and 6
th
 centuries 
AD), many more richly decorated caves were added to the 
original group. t he paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered 
masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable 
artistic influence.
a rchaeological site of nalanda m ahavihara at nalanda, Bihar
the nalanda Mahavihara site is in the state of Bihar, in  
north-eastern india. it comprises the archaeological remains of a 
monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3
rd
 century Bce 
to the 13
th
 century ce . it includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential 
and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone 
and metal. nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the 
indian subcontinent. it engaged in the organised transmission of 
knowledge over an uninterrupted period of 800 years. t he historical 
development of the site testifies to the development of Buddhism 
into a religion and the flourishing of monastic and educational 
traditions.
Buddhist monuments at s anchi
on a hill overlooking the plain and about 40 km from Bhopal, 
the site of sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments 
(monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in 
different states of conservation most of which date back to the 
2
nd
 and 1
st
 centuries Bc. i t is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in 
existence and was a major Buddhist centre in india until the  
12
th
 century AD.
Champaner-pavagadh a rchaeological park
A concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic 
and living cultural heritage properties cradled in an impressive 
landscape which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill 
fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16
th
-century 
capital of the state of gujarat. t he site also includes, among other 
vestiges, fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, residential 
precincts, agricultural structures and water installations, from the 
8
th
 to 14
th
 centuries. t he Kalikamata t emple on top of Pavagadh Hill 
is considered to be an important shrine, attracting large numbers 
of pilgrims throughout the year. t he site is the only complete and 
unchanged islamic pre-Mughal city.
63 June 2024
Chhatrapati s hivaji t erminus (formerly victoria t erminus)
the chhatrapati shivaji terminus, formerly known as victoria 
t erminus s tation, in Mumbai, is an outstanding example of v ictorian 
gothic r evival architecture in india, blended with themes deriving 
from indian traditional architecture. t he building, designed by the 
British architect F W s tevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the 
‘gothic city’ and the major international mercantile port of india. 
t he terminal was built over 10 years, starting in 1878, according to a 
High victorian g othic design based on late medieval italian models. 
its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric 
ground plan are close to traditional indian palace architecture. 
it is an outstanding example of the meeting of two cultures, as 
British architects worked with indian craftsmen to include indian 
architectural tradition and idioms thus forging a new style unique 
to Bombay.
Churches and Convents of Goa
the churches and convents of goa, the former capital of the 
Portuguese indies – particularly the church of Bom Jesus, which 
contains the tomb of st Francis-Xavier – illustrate the evangelisation 
of Asia. these monuments were influential in spreading forms of 
Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia 
where missions were established.
d holavira: a harappan City
t he ancient city of Dholavira, the southern centre of the Harappan 
civilisation, is on the arid island of Khadir in the state of gujarat. 
o ccupied between ca. 3000-1500 Bce, the archaeological site, one of 
the best preserved urban settlements from the period in southeast 
Asia, comprises a fortified city and a cemetery. two seasonal streams 
provided water, a scarce resource in the region, to the walled city 
which comprises a heavily fortified castle and ceremonial ground 
as well as streets and houses of different proportion quality which 
testify to a stratified social order. A sophisticated water management 
system demonstrates the ingenuity of the Dholavira people in 
their struggle to survive and thrive in a harsh environment. t he site 
includes a large cemetery with cenotaphs of six types testifying to 
the Harappan’s unique view of death. Bead processing workshops 
and artefacts of various kinds such as copper, shell, stone, jewellery of 
semi-precious stones, terracotta, gold, ivory and other materials have 
been found during archaeological excavations of the site, exhibiting 
the culture’s artistic and technological achievements. evidence for 
inter-regional trade with other Harappan cities, as well as with cities 
in the Mesopotamia region and the oman peninsula have also been 
discovered. 
elephanta Caves
the 'city of caves', on an island in close to Mumbai, contains a 
collection of rock art linked to the Lord shiva. Here, indian art has 
found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high 
reliefs in the main cave.
64 June 2024
ellora Caves
these 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than  
2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from 
Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence 
of monuments dating from AD 600 to 1000, brings the civilisation of 
ancient india to life. not only is the ellora complex a unique artistic 
creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted 
to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance 
that was characteristic of ancient india.
Fatehpur sikri
Built during the second half of the 16
th
 century by the emperor 
Akbar, Fatehpur sikri (the c ity of victory) was the capital of the Mughal 
empire for only some 10 years. the complex of monuments and 
temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest 
mosques in india, the Jama Masjid.
Great living Chola temples
t he great Living chola temples were built by kings of the chola 
empire, which stretched over all of south india and the neighbouring 
islands. t he site includes three great 11
th
- and 12
th
-century t emples: 
the Brihadisvara temple at thanjavur, the Brihadisvara temple at 
g angaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara t emple at Darasuram. 
the temple of gangaikondacholisvaram, built by r ajendra i, was 
completed in 1035. its 53-m vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed 
corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with 
the straight and severe tower at t hanjavur. t he Airavatesvara temple 
complex, built by r ajaraja ii, at Darasuram features a 24-m vimana 
and a stone image of Lord shiva. t he temples testify to the brilliant 
achievements of the chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and 
bronze casting.
Group of monuments at hampi
t he austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last 
great Hindu Kingdom of vijayanagar. its fabulously rich princes built 
Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers 
between the 14
th
 and 16
th
 centuries. c onquered by the Deccan Muslim 
confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months 
before being abandoned.
Group of monuments at mahabalipuram
t his group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved 
out of rock along the coromandel coast in the 7
th
 and 8
th
 centuries. 
it is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), 
mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 
'Descent of the ganges', and the temple of r ivage, with thousands of 
sculptures to the glory of Lord shiva.
65 June 2024
Group of monuments at pattadakal
Pattadakal, in Karnataka, represents the high point of an eclectic 
art which, in the 7
th
 and 8
th
 centuries under the chalukya dynasty, 
achieved a harmonious blend of architectural forms from northern 
and southern india. An impressive series of nine Hindu temples, as 
well as a Jain sanctuary, can be seen there. one masterpiece from the 
group stands out – the temple of virupaksha, built c. 740 by Queen 
Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband's victory over the kings 
from the south.
h ill Forts of r ajasthan
the serial site, situated in the state of rajastahan, includes 
six majestic forts in chittorgarh; Kumbhalgarh; s awai Madhopur; 
Jhalawar; Jaipur, and Jaisalmer. t he eclectic architecture of the forts, 
some up to 20 kilometres in circumference, bears testimony to the 
power of the r ajput princely states that flourished in the region from 
the 8
th
 to the 18
th
 centuries. enclosed within defensive walls are major 
urban centres, palaces, trading centres and other buildings including 
temples that often predate the fortifications within which developed 
an elaborate courtly culture that supported learning, music and 
the arts. some of the urban centres enclosed in the fortifications 
have survived, as have many of the site's temples and other sacred 
buildings. t he forts use the natural defences offered by the landscape: 
hills, deserts, rivers, and dense forests. they also feature extensive 
water harvesting structures, largely still in use today.
h istoric City of a hmedabad
t he walled city of Ahmedabad, founded by sultan Ahmad shah in 
the 15
th
 century, on the eastern bank of the sabarmati river, presents 
a rich architectural heritage from the sultanate period, notably the 
Bhadra citadel, the walls and gates of the Fort city and numerous 
mosques and tombs as well as important Hindu and Jain temples of 
later periods. t he urban fabric is made up of densely-packed traditional 
houses (pols) in gated traditional streets (puras) with characteristic 
features such as bird feeders, public wells and religious institutions. 
t he city continued to flourish as the capital of the s tate of gujarat for 
six centuries, up to the present.
humayun's t omb, delhi
t his tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was 
the first garden-tomb on the i ndian subcontinent. it inspired several 
major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of 
the t aj Mahal.
Jaipur City, r ajasthan
t he walled city of Jaipur, in india’s north-western state of r ajasthan 
was founded in 1727 by sawai Jai singh ii. unlike other cities in the 
region located in hilly terrain, Jaipur was established on the plain 
and built according to a grid plan interpreted in the light of vedic 
architecture. the streets feature continuous colonnaded businesses 
that intersect in the centre, creating large public squares called