About the Fort

The fort was previously a mud fort and it was later constructed into a fort made of stone. This fort has witnessed the invasions of various rulers. The fortress is said to have been built on a 120 meters of high granite which was surrounded by massive ramparts.

The fort is also known as the Shepherd’s Hill ir the Gollo Konda in the local language of the place, which is Telugu. The story behind such a name of the fort dates back to somewhere around the 1143 AD when a shepherd boy took notice of this piece of rock architecture on a hill. This piece of architecture was actually an idol which was placed on the hill. The little boy told the ruler who was ruling this region at that point of time about the idol and the King Kakatiya immediately built a mud fort around the holy idol. About 200 years later, the Bahamini rulers took possession of the place and the fort too. The mud fort then got converted into a stone fortress by the Qutub Shahi kings somewhere around the 1507 AD.

Features of the fort

The Golconda fort comprises of the four distinct forts and runs over 10 km on the outer wall and has 87 semi – circular bastions. The bastions are mounted with cannons and the fort has eight gateways, four drawbridges and several royal apartments, temples, mosques, halls and stables inside. The primary structure of the fort is believed to be laid out in a series of enclosures which holds the public and the administrative structures of the royal halls and the residences. The Nagina Bagh, which is one of the major gardens here is also located in the same area.

The Fort a main tourist destination

The fort is said to be one of the main attractions in the area and also one of the foremost importance. This fort has some amazing architecture which have been done on the walls. The Rani Mahal here is known to be one of the most side of the fort. The tombs of the Qutub Shahi are also placed in the fort here and these are considered to be great places where you can visit. The tombs are known for their remarkable design and implementation. This fort is said to have been the burial place for the Shahi family. This place is known to be one of the most interesting places to visit in the Golconda Fort.

The Golconda Fort is known to be one of the most interesting and an amazing tourist destination to visit in Hyderabad. This place is known to be one of the major tourist areas in Hyderabad and attracts tourists from all over the world.

There are many places here where you can avail some accommodation.

Accommodation

There are a couple of resorts and hotels in the area. Also, in the nearby city of Hyderabad, you can find some great hotels and resorts to stay in. These places are simply the best ones, since they are nearer to the tourist locations in the city.

Dining

Hyderabad is known for its biriyanis (colored and flavoured rice with meat and vegetables). If you are visiting this place in India, then it is recommended that you do not forget to try your hands on this delicacy.

Around 29 tiny caves were carved at Ajanta between 2nd Century BC and 6th Century AD. And a bunch of 34 caves at Ellora were whittled between 6th and 11the Century AD.

These caves are located in northern region of Maharashtra, India, around 250 miles (400 kms) away from Mumbai.

Reaching Ajanta and Ellora Caves is as adventurous as the cave itself. If you plan to visit the site through local train there, the nearest railway station is Aurangabad, which is 45 minutes away from the caves. Or you can opt to directly take a flight to Aurangabad, and take a two-hour ride to the Caves.

If you plan to visit both the caves, Wednesday-Sunday would be the best time to visit, as Ajanta Caves India, is closed on Mondays, and Ellora Caves is closed on Tuesdays. Both the caves are open on all national holidays. However, if you wish to have a peaceful experience, avoid holidays, as crowd could be maddening. The caves are open from 9am to 6 pm.

To enter Ajanta Caves, you will have to pay USD10, while entry to Ellora is free. For children below age 15 years, entry is free at both places.

People from all over the world visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves to witness the marvelous structure carved only with chisel and hammer, by hand. Ajanta is known for its sculpture and paintings, while Ellora is well-known for its architecture. It would take an entire day to explore this structure, as the size is twice the area of Pantheon in Athens, and one and half time high. Once you enter the caves, it gets dark and visibility gets poor. Hence, it’s advisable to carry a torch with you.

These well known monumental caves are a cluster of rock cut monuments. It is located deep in the lush green pristine forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. This nature reserve is situated towards the north of Borivali, in the western outskirts of Mumbai, India. Distance wise it is 7 km away from borivali railway station and 6 km from the National park gate. Tourists are allowed inside the park after 7:30am. Transport to the caves is available by bus every hour.

Kanheri caves depict the Buddhist influence on the art and culture of India. The word Kanheri is from the Sanskrit word ‘krishnagiri’ which generally means black in color. These caves were designed from a huge basaltic rock formation.

History:

The origin of the caves is from the first century BCE to the ninth century BCE. A Hundred and nine caves have been carved in the basalt rocks. A stone plinth adorns each cave as a bed. These caves are very different when compared to the elegant nearby Elephanta caves.

The Buddhist shrine known as stupa is founded in the congregation hall which has huge stone pillars. As you go up the hills, there are remains of ancient canals, cisterns and water systems. These collected and channeled the harvested rainwater into huge reservoirs.

As the caves became Buddhist monasteries intricate carvings of Buddha and bodhisattvas were made in the cave walls. It was a crucial Buddhist monastery in the konkan coastal region in the third century AD.

In most of these caves Buddhist monks lived, studied and practiced meditation. The large caves were called chaityas which were the congregational worship halls. Rock cut stupas, intricate Buddhist pillars, sculptures and reliefs lined the walls of the chaityas for worship. The most important figure is of Avalokiteshwara. He is a bodhisattva who encompasses the compassion of all the Buddhas. He is widely worshiped in Mahayana Buddhism.

These caves provide clues to the once well established world of Buddhist monks. It was connected to trade centers such as ports of Kalyan, Nasik, Paithan, Sopara, and Ujjain. During the time of Kushan and Maurayan Empire, Kanheri was a university center. Also in the later tenth century, Atisha, the Buddhist teacher came to Kanheri to practice Buddhist meditation under rahulgupta.

Drawings and Inscriptions:

In Kanheri inscriptions are found in the ancient languages of Devanagari, Brahmi. Fifty one inscriptions are found at Kanheri. Three Phalvi epigraphs are seen in the cave 90. In all there are twenty six epigraphs. In one crucial inscription marriage of the daughter of Rudradaman with Satavahana ruler Vashishtiputra Satakarni is craved.

Gujarat is a state of India, which offers amazing life, culture, and attractions. The Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park comprises among the vestiges, palaces, fortifications, religious buildings, agricultural structures, residential precincts, and water installations that are dating from the 8th to the 14th centuries. While exploring the site, you will come across a famous Kalikamata Temple, located on the top of the Pavagadh Hill and is considered as an important shrine. This temple draws huge crowd of pilgrims year round. You will feel yourself very lucky to explore a site, which is the only complete and untouched Islamic pre-Mughal city.

Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park lies in Panchmahal district, which is in Gujarat. It was inscribed in the list in the year 2004. The park is the home to a largely unexcavated city, which was built during late 15th century and early 16th century. Even though, the site is an early Islamic, pre-Mughal city, but its architecture explains the transition between two religions of Hindu and Muslim traditions. The monument lies at the foot and around the Pavagadh Hill, where the measurement of the hill is nearly 800 meter. It was once standing as a fortress of the Hindus, when Solanki Kings were in power and after that, the Khichi Chauhans has ruled the area.

More than 100 monuments at the site are designated under the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This includes fortifications, water installations, and many other standing structures. At the site, you will get five mosques, which are still in outstanding state. The most remarkable and important out of all five mosques is the Jama Masjid, built by Sultan Begada. This is a striking structure on high pedestal along with a central dome, 172 pillars, two minarets that have height of about 30 metres, seven mihrabs, and the carved entrance gates.

The Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park lies at a distance of 50 kilometres from Baroda. The nearest airport lies in Baroda. So from there take a taxi or other means to reach to this fantastic site. The place remains open to public from sunrise to sunset. To explore the site, you have to pay an entry fee of 5 Rupees. Summers in Gujarat remain warm and rainfall occurs between the months of June and August. If you want to enjoy the site during winter then visit there between November and March.

Well, the best time to visit the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is between the months of October and June. The best option for your accommodation is in Baroda, as you will get plenty of choices to stay.

Sanchi lies at a distance of 46 kilometres towards the northeast of Bhopal and 10 kilometres from the Besnagar and Vidisha. It is situated in the center of the state. This location is known for many Buddhist monuments that are dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th century CE and is among the significant places of Buddhist pilgrimage. Sanchi is also popularly recognized as Kakanava, Kakanaya, Kakanadabota, and Bota-Sriparvata. The city is actually a religious destination that features historical and archaeological significance. The village is famous in the entire world because of its stupas, temples, monolithic Asokan pillar, monasteries, and sculptural wealth.

The stupas in Sanchi are remarkable for their gateways, as they holds ornamented portrayal of the incidents right from the life of Buddha as well as his earlier incarnations as Bodhisattvas, which was included in the famous Jataka tales. At this site, you can see Gautam Buddha is portrayed by the symbols like as the wheel that represents his teaching. Since from the 13th century, Sanchi was almost forgotten. In the year 1818, the village received its importance and worth when the General Taylor who was a British Officer, rediscovered the place that was half buried under the surface. After the excavation, the area is well preserved even today, and serves as a well-known pilgrimage and tourist destination in India.

In the year 1912, Sir John Marshal who was a Director General of Archaeology was ordered for the restoration work at this site that further boosted its importance and worth to explore. During the Sunga period, many structures were raised at this place and at its nearby hills. Well, the Asoka stupa was further enlarged and faced with stones. It was also adorned with balustrades, staircase, as well as a harmika on the top. Along with this, the reconstruction work of the Temple 40 and the erection of the Stupas 2 as well as the 3 were dated back from the same period.

During the first century BC, the Andhra-Satavahanas has elongated their sway by carbing the gateways to Stupa 1 over the eastern Malwa. Then from the 2nd to 4th century AD, Sanchi and Vidisha entered and passed the further process to the Guptas. At the Gupta period, few of the temples were constructed and sculptures were also added that raised the beauty of this place. Well, with long procedure and long journey handled by various ruling groups, the village has received incredible amount of significance that is still preserved very well and offer the ancient limelight.

A railing with four carved gateways bound the major stupa that is recognized as the Great Stupa in the site. The gateways are faced every four corner of the compass. This gateway is believed to be carved during 100 AD. Stupas are nothing, but the large hemispherical domes that include a central chamber. The chamber holds wonderful relics of the Buddha that could be found placed inside. The stupas are actually considered as the Buddhist architecture. So exploring the architecture and the sculpture here is simply breathtaking. You will be amazed by its beauty and wonder how those ancient civilization would have created such enormous attraction that worth more than anything else would in this world.

Among the most inspiring features out of all the sculptures at the site is the lack of Buddha’s images in human form. All the carvings at every stones and pillars hold exceptional vitality and feature a world where humans and animals survive together happily. As the site is blooming under the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you will feel lucky to see the inanimate figures of Lord Buddha. While exploring Sanchi, do explore the Satdhara, which has also been excavated and is conserved well by developing the area environmentally.

The major attractions in the city are its several temples and rock-cut monuments that exhibit a stunning fusion of memorable past and inborn splendor. Most of these monuments are built according to the Dravidian temple style and Pallava sculpture. Constructed from the finely cut local granite, the shore is the live testimony of the Indian royal legacy.

The Pallava ruler Narasimha Varman II Rajasimha (700 – 728 A.D.) built the temple. The builder and artisans has inlaid the temple with the royal style of Pallava dynasty; as the Pallava art and architecture was at its peak during the period of construction. Among the oldest structural stone temples as against the rock-cut temples of South India, the unique layout of the temple, unlike other temples, was designed for a purpose. It was aimed at arresting the first beams emerging from the rising sun and lighting up the waters after the dusk. Wrecked currently by the wind and seawater, this temple marks the first Pallava structure to be constructed of stone instead of being carved from stone.

Considered among the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram to recognize the genius talent, the temple has its name in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most snapped temples in India, the temple has seen many historical proceedings of India. The significance of the Shore Temple is that its arrangement of the two Shiva shrines that hold a small Vishnu shrine in its middle signifies an effort to strike the stability level among the different but challenging religious needs.

Architecture

A five-storeyed structural monument exhibiting the Dravidian temple architecture, the Shore Temple stands differently than its other accompanying monuments at the place, as they are rock cut. One of the important temples in the ancient times due to its structural feature in South India, the temple is shaped as a pyramid that is 60 feet high standing on a 50 feet square plinth. Initially forming the porch of the temple, a small temple located at the facade invites the visitors. Considered as one of the most key temples in South from the point of view of not only tourism but also from the view of archaeological discoveries, recent excavations have found new monuments hidden below the sandy dunes.

Been outstandingly designed is the Shikhara or the spire that appears like a towering and staged style instead of looking like a common spherical Vihara. These shikharas are two in number wherein each tier is unique with hanging attics that cast shadows. Besides the exclusively decorated spires with carvings and sculptures, the other prominent features of this temple are its outer and inner side of the walls pinnacled with big images of Nandi (the divine vehicle – cow of Lord Shiva) and two pyramidal towers adorned with octagonal domes.

The roof decoration of the temple is in alignment with the embellishment of the pancha rathas (5 chariots) been observed in the past temples. But currently, you will not be able to see this ornamentation as it is worned. Further as another distinguishing feature, the finials cover the roofs from top, which is a sign of the completeness and operational aspects of the temple. Percy Brown has described the Shore Temple as ‘a landmark by day and a beacon by night’.

Located in the east direction and facing the sea is the chief shrine within the area. The Shore Temple is devoted to both Lord Shiva, the perpetuator of truth and destroyer of the evil and Lord Vishnu, the perpetuator of life. Further, the temple’s three sanctuaries below the towers are also devoted to these two Hindu gods. The walls of the sanctuaries are not much ornamented, except that only their connected columns are inlaid with lion bases.

However, the exterior wall of the Lord Vishnu shrine and the inner edge wall are intricately engraved and sculpted. The sculpted panels show the scenes of real daily life. Further, the temple’s exterior walls are split into bays with plasters and its lower region is impressively carved with fostering lions. Last, but not the least; you will see a stone wall that is built in the current time to guard the complex from further erosion due to seawaters. However, the artwork is unbelievably lively and stunning.

Shrines and Deities

The Shore temple is fortunate enough to encompass the configuration of three shrines. Considered as the key shrine, the second smaller temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. In the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), you will view a Shivalinga, the phallic form of Lord Shiva. There is also a small mandapa accompanied by an arduous external wall. At the rear of this sanctum sanctorum, you will find the temple’s other parts such as the gateway, forecourt, and the assembly hall. Further, there are two shrines in front of each other where the inner one is dedicated to Ksatriyasimnesvara and other to Lord Vishnu that faces outwards. Both can be worshipped through a passage. The shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu is the third shrine small in size between the two orthogonal shrines of Lord Shiva. Here, Lord Vishnu is reclined on the Sheshnag, who is the divine snake king symbolizing consciousness according to the Hindu mythology.

The Mother Goddess Durga is carved on her divine vehicle called vahana, which is a lion. A noticeable unique feature here is a hollow cavity carved in the chest of the lion that might have been utilized as a miniature shrine.

It can be observed that the water channels might have been passed through the temple and the Vishnu shrine. The slanting barrel cryptic gopuram forms the entrance to the temple.

Somaskanda

This refers to the sanctuary that holds a family photograph of Shiva, Uma (wife) also known as Parvati, and baby Skanda. One can notice that this image might is worshipped informally due to the presence of garlands. This is because a formal worship involves a Brahmin and an emblem flying over the temple area.

Festivals

The Dance Festival is organized from January 15 to Februaruy 15 with the Shore Temple as its background is a famous tourist attraction. Famous artists from distant places perform beautifully through the cultural dances of Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, and Odissi. Further, tribal dances, puppet shows, and classical and traditional music shows will just augment your joy even if you are a spectator. Further, January 14 or 15 also marks the grand festival of Pongal, a thanksgiving and harvesting festival.

Reaching the Temple

By air, the nearest domestic and international airport is Chennai at 76 km. By rail, Chengalpattu is the nearest station at 29 km from Mahabalipuram. By road, a good network exists from Mahabalipuram to major cities such Chennai, Tirukkalikundram or Pakshithirtham, Kanchipuram, and Pondicherry. In fact, you can reach the temple from anywhere in Tamil Nadu through a bus or taxi.

Taking your tour to a land of fantasy, the exemplary Pallava art and Dravidian style of temples are depicted in the monuments of Mahabalipuram. Locking its natural charm in its monuments, this seaside town attained its glory during the reign of Mamalla and forms a part of the golden triangle of South India due to its historic and architectural era. Holding the largest count of ancient temples and its unique rock-cut style in palaces, pavilions, and chariot-like shrines, the town has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1984.

The UNESCO World Heritage site has divided the Pallava art sprouted as vegetation into the following four categories of monuments:

• Ratha Temples as chariots each made from a single boulder totaling to nine

• Mandapas or Man-made Caves, which are cave sanctuaries enclosed with bas-reliefs and the famous ones are the Varaha Cave Temple, Krishna Cave Temple, Pancha Pandava Cave Temple, and the Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple
• Giant Open Air Rock (Bas) Relief that includes the temple of Rivage that exhibits the glory of Lord Shiva (the perpetuator of life) and Descent of the Ganges also known as the Arjuna’s Penance or Bhagiratha’s Penance
• Structured Temples, each made from single rock cut and thousands of carvings dedicated to Hindu mythology’s gods and goddesses, especially Lord Shiva – the famous one being the Shore Temple with its high pyramidal tower.

Mahabalipuram holds two hills that are approximately 400 m above the sea level. On both sides, 11 excavated temples called Mandapas are the jewels of the city. Nearby, is a carved big rock temple, called a ‘Ratha’. 200 m to the south of the other hill are the small stylish five rathas with other three in the west carved side by side. Atop the larger hill, a structural temple, Vijayanagar Gopura, and relics of a palace can be seen; while to its north is the famous temple – Sthalasayana Perumal.

History

Dated back to 1st century, the town earned its fame as a seaport at the time of the Periplus when several Indian colonists used this port to travel to South East Asia. Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram, also called as the city of Mamalla, has received its this name after the heroic Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman-I Mamalla from 630 A.D. to 638 A.D. It was during his reign that most of the monuments came into existence including the rock-cut rathas, carved episodes on open-air rocks, the Govardhanadhari and Mahishasuramardini caves, and the Jala-Sayana Perumal temple behind the Shore Temple complex. However, there are proofs stating some carvings during the period of 600 A.D. to 630 A.D. where the father of Mamalla Mahendravarman-I was ruling.

Monolithic sculpturing, cutting inwards and outwards, was on its peak that can be seen in Atiranachanda cave, Pidari rathas, and Tiger cave; until the advent of structural architecture. This architecture began to spread its wings during the period of Pallava Rajasimha from 700 A.D. to 728 A.D, whose last monument was the popular Shore temple. However, after Rajasimha, stillness took its hold in the architectural activity, which just had a few added structures during the later-Pallava and Chola Dynasties.

The Ratha Temples

In Mahabalipuram, there are total nine monolithic temples holding chariots, out of which the five chariots are known as Pancha Ratham or Panch Pandava Rathas. Named after the five Pandava brothers mentioned in the epic of Mahabharata, the Panch Ratham is actually a set of six partial structures located at 1 km from the town on the way to Kalpakkam. Truly holding the Pallava art in its stone architecture, the five chariots represent five Pandavas; while the sixth one is that of Draupadi, the consort of Pandavas and sister of Lord Krishna.

Carved in the 7th century from just a single rock, the rathas are named as Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Draupadi Ratha, Ganesa Ratha, and Nakul Sahadev Ratha. Influenced by the Buddhist style of viharas and chaityas, each ratha has its own unique feature.

• Layout
  The Dharmaraja, Arjuna, and Draupadi rathas has a square layout, while the Bhima and Ganesa rathas have a rectangular plan and that of Nakula-Sahadeva carrying an apsidal plan.
• Look
  The Draupadi ratha looks like a simple cottage holding a thatched roof similar to that of the kutagara shrine, while the Bhima ratha holds a salakara wagon-vaulted covering. On the other hand, the Arjuna ratha appears as a dvitala vimana holding a mukhamandapa and the Dharmaraja ratha is a tritala vimana holding shrines.

The three-storeyed Dharmaraja ratha is the biggest among the rathas, while that of Draupadi holding one storey is the smallest. Religiously, the Arjuna and Draupadi rathas are devoted to Lord Shiva and Mother Goddess Durga, correspondingly. You will also notice three big carvings of a Nandi (the divine cow as a vehicle of Lord Shiva) behind Draupadi ratha and Arjuna, a lion (the divine vehicle of Goddess Durga), and an elephant prior to Draupadi ratha.

Mandapas or Cave Temples

Other finest example of Pallava art rock-cut architecture, the hall’s Mandapas or pillars exhibit sculptures of Hindu deities. Carved from a solid rock on hillside, each mandapa is adorned worth elite detailed carvings. Among these, the most famous are the Ganesha Mandapa, Varaha Mandapa, and Pandava Mandapa, Varaha mandapa, Mahisamardini mandapa, Paramesvara Mahavaraha Vishnugriha (Adivaraha cave). Except for the Adiranchanda cave, all are in Mamalla style. Evident from the relics, the artisans had plastered and tinted the caves.

Mahishashuramardini Cave

Among 10 cave temples, the Mahishashuramardini Cave will catch your eyes due to its splendid bas-reliefs inscribed on the panels. A masterpiece of suggestion, you will love to view the sleeping pose of Lord Vishnu emitting the aura of peace, power, and wisdom on one of the sides – the Somaskanda sculpture. On the other hand, a huge dramatic panel exhibits the battle scene of Goddess Durga fighting with the demon king Mahishasura, which gave her the name of Destroyer of Evil (Inner Enemies) and Protector of the Truth. On this scene, the cave has got its name, ‘Mahishashurmardini’ meaning the divine killer of Mahishahsur symbolizing the inner enemies of pride, greed, attachment, and anger.

Varaha Cave

The Varaha Cave is small rock-cut gem holding the two avatars or incarnations of Lord Vishnu (the Perpetuator of Life) namely, Vishnu-Varaha, the boar and Vishnu-Vamana, the dwarf. The most remarkable feature of this cave is its four panels depicting the renowned Pallava door guards. The cave is an abode of four worth mentioning carvings of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Gakalakshmi, Shree Trivikama, and Goddess Durga. The other cave known as the Dharmaraja Cave was found during an excavation that holds three empty shrines.

Krishna Mandapa

This is famous for its idyllic serene scene where Lord Krishna has lifted the Govardhan Mountain to safeguard his townsfolk from the rage of the Lord Indra, the God of Rain.

Tiger’s Cave

At 600 m north of Mahabalipuram, Saluvankuppam holds many excavated temples besides which there is a rock mandapa whose edges are adorned with tiger heads. This is called the “Tigers Cave”. Currently famous as the picnic point erected from a huge boulder, this is a royal sanctuary of sculptures. Made in the 7th century, the Tiger’s cave is devoted to Goddess Durga.

Bas-reliefs

The largest bas-relief panel in the world is the Arjuna’s Penance, an even figure on a rock wall. Measuring 27 m by 9 m, it has excellently carved episode of the Mahabharata epic and hundreds of deities, semi-divine beings, men, beasts, and fables from Panchtantra. In addition, it exhibits the legendary event of descending of the River Ganges from its source in the Himalayas. This is adorned by a creative vertical crevice. Besides this monument, the Raja Gopurams and the Sthala-Sayana temple exhibit the flamboyant art of the Vijayanagara times.

Structured Temples

Located at 50 km south of Chennai exhibiting the end of the structural Pallava art, the Shore temple is a complex of temples wrecked by sea and wind overlooking the Bay of Bengal. It is the home of three temples namely:

• Rajasimhesvara
  A small tritala vimana looking towards the west
• Kshatriyasimhesvara
  A larger vimana looking towards the east
• Nripatisimha Pallava Vishnugriha
  A quadrilateral and flat-roofed temple of resting Lord Vishnu looking towards the east

Elevating above the waves at the rear of guarding breakwater, these temples are pleasantly organized, which is not seen in other temples of the Dravidian architecture. Polygonally domed and listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, one shrine is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the remaining two are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Two prakara walls whose openings marked the later period surround all the three shrines. Once adorned with the panel sculptures in its inner side, the walls’ this ornamentation is now damaged. The other eye-catching features of this temple complex are vimana, Gopuram, and animals’ structures carved on its walls.

Recently, excavations have been done in the north and south areas of the Shore Temple. During these excavations, rock-cut monuments of religious themes dating back before the erection of this temple have been found. Further, a monolithic Bhuvaraha, a resting picture of Lord Vishnu, the pedestal of Durga shrine with deer and a socket perhaps for installing a mahastambha are also found. Lastly, a footstep ghat looking towards the sea is also exposed towards the south of the temple.

Other structural temple named Mukunda Nayanar is situated between Saluvankuppam and Mahabalipuram, which stands below 200 m from the sea level.

Note on Visiting Monuments

You can visit the monuments from morning 6 to evening 6 with a minimal entrance fee. However, there is no entrance fee for children who are under 15 years of age.

Festivals

Organized by the Department of Tourism, the Dance Festival is the famous occasion celebrated here from mid January to mid Februaruy. Beautifully keeping the Shore Temple as its background, during this period, far fame artists from all parts of the country spread a feeling of joy and captivate your hearts with their talent and performance. State-specific dances such as Kathakali from Kerala, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh, Bharatnatyam, and Odissi are well staged and synchronized on the traditional beats of music. Besides dance shows, tribal dances, puppet shows, and classical music performances offer you a traditional aura in the serene environs.

Other prominent festival is that of Pongal, a harvesting festival, that falls on either January 14 or 15. This is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm as it is the day to thank the nature, sun, and rain for bountiful crops and pray for another prosperous time in the upcoming year.

Reaching Mahabalipuram

By air, the nearest domestic and international airport is Chennai at a distance of 60 km. By rail, Chengalpattu is the closest station at a distance of 29 km. By road, the town is linked with major cities in Tamil Nadu and India including Chennai, Tirukkalikundram or Pakshithirtham, Kanchipuram, and Pondicherry, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. In fact, you can approach the town by a bus or taxi irrespective of the location in the state.

The name of the village comes from the Pampa, the ancient name of the Tungabhadra River. Since several years until now, the rural metropolitan is also called Vijayanagara and Virupakshapura, as it holds the famous shrine of Virupaksha, the supporter deity of the Vijayanagara monarchs.

Covering an area of over 25 square km, the Hampi ruins, it current fame, is stuffed with mammoth temples, market streets, palaces, aquatic edifices, and fortifications along with other historic structures. These ruins form a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002 known as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, which is a well-known tourist destination. The region is also a mining site of many mineral deposits such as iron-ore and manganese.

The Archaeological Survey of India is still excavating the area to seek more relics and temples.

History/Legend

The epical history of Hampi starts with Ramayana and ends with its empirical history after the Vijayanagara Dynasty. It is considered the capital city of Kishkindha, which was the mighty vanara (monkey) kingdom specified in the epic of Ramayana. This is in fact evident with several materialistic items found in Hampi.

Ramayana

Hampi is the birthplace of Shree Hanuman, the monkey headed devotee of Lord Ram and the meeting place of Hanuman and Lord Ram. There are other legends too with this place that form a part of the Ramayana.

The monkey kings, Vali and Sugriva, ruled Kishkindha. However, due to quarrel, Sugriva was forced to leave the town who then took shelter on the Matanga Hill along with Hanuman, which is on the south of Tungabhadra and to the east of Hampi. In search of his abducted divine consort, Sita, by the demon Ravana; Ram along with his brother Laxman reached south where they met Sugriva and Hanuman. On listening to the injustice done to Sugriva, Lord Ram killed Vali and gave Sugriva his kingdom back. After this, Lord Ram resided on the Malyavanta Hill to know the outcome of the Hanuman’s seek for Sita in Lanka. This hill is on the way to Kampili from Hampi hosting the Raghunatha temple dedicated to Lord Ram with its huge image.

Further, it is believed that the huge heap of ash in the close by town of Nimbapuram is the remains of Vali. A cave on the south of Tungabhadra is believed to be the place where Sugriva buried Sita’s jewels for security and that the marks on the nearby rock are held to be that of Sita’s garments. The Anjanagiri (place where Shree Hanuman’s mother Shrimati Anjani did penance) and Rishyamukha hills are also on the north of the river.

Therefore, Hampi and its surroundings are holy and an important pilgrimage centre in the south India.

Vijaynagara Era

Two brothers namely, Harihara and Bukkaraya discovered Hampi in 1336 A.D. who were guided by their Guru Vidyaranya. This then became the capital due to its tactical location whose one side is surrounded by the pouring Tungabhadra River and the other three sides with the impregnable hills. At those times, the largest Hindu empire and the trading centres in the world; the markets remained throng with merchants across the globe to exchange their goods with spices and cotton, the bountiful production in Hampi. Not only this, but also rubies, diamonds, and all precious stones were held for sale with gold and silver as the currencies.

Apart from traders, devotees and poets also found it of utmost importance due to presence of more than 100 temples. Many festivals and occasions were celebrated on a grand scale without losing its true significance. The place also draws the famous names such as Shri Purandhara Dasa and Tenali Rama.

This golden era at the time of the King Krishna Deva Raya (1509 – 1529) vanished since 1565 after the attacks from the Deccan Sultans of Bidar, Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar, and Berar. During these attacks, the city was plundered for 6 months wherein the temples were demolished and the markets were robbed.

Tourists Attractions

Maximum relics exist on the way from Kamalapura to Hampi. Listed below are the local sights in and around Hampi.

• Virupaksha Temple (Pampapathi Temple)
  This is the most famous pilgrimage centre dedicated to the Hindu god of destruction at the bank of the river towards the west of the Hampi market. The temple is among the oldest temples dated back to the 7th century and has the shrines of Lord Shiva and two Goddesses named Pampa and Bhuvaneswari. Equally thronged with the tourists, the complex offers the god’s sanctum, pillared halls, and several mammoth entrance towers. This is among the best place to view the religious festivals with propinquity situated at the foot of the Hemakuta Hill.

• Vittala Temple
  Dedicated to Vittala who is a form of Lord Vishnu, the perpetuator of life; this shrine is an architectural marvel. Comprising of many halls and shrines in the campus and a mantapa in its front, the halls hold the astonishing pillars inlaid with the lively carvings. A noticeable feature here is a series of 56 pillars that when hit reverberates in the environs due to which they are known as ‘musical pillars’. The campus of this temple is full of several smaller lavish temples along with a unique stone chariot. Erected on a lavish platform, the shrine’s roof stands on giant granite pillars each having a middle pillar enclosed by disconnected shafts. All this is carved amazingly from a single block of stone.
• Stone Chariot
  This is a huge eye-captivating chariot on revolving wheels that is in front of the Vittala temple towards the east of the hall.

• Royal Enclosure
  This is a fortified complex known as the seat of the previous kings. It is an extensive portion holding the relics of many structures such as the Mahanavami Platform that was used by the king to view the annual parade of royal dignity and military power. Other attractive structures here are several palace bases, underground temple, and aquatic structures.
• Riverside Trek Path
  Linking the ancient Hampi market with the Vittala temple, this walkway is full of shrines, carved relics, and ruins of ancient structures such as the 1008 Shiva lings, the phallic form of Lord Shiva, in a matrix form on a sheet of rock at the shore.
• Hemakuta Hill Temples
  A stretch of rocky mass with remarkable ripples, this hill holds many temples dated prior to the Vijayanagara Empire. The attractive feature of these temples is the triple chambering with pyramid-shaped roofs of granite. This place is a key legendary site.
• Kadalekalu Ganesha
  This refers to a gigantic statue of Lord Ganesha, who is an elephant-headed deity capable of destroying obstacles. 14 feet tall sculpture carved on the Hemakuta Hill, the slim pillars of granite along with several legendary themes adorn the front hall. The statue is named so because of its shape as a gram seed that is known as Kadalekalu in the local language.
• Sasivekalu Ganesha
  This is another huge statue of Lord Ganesha situated within an open pavilion. This four-handed Lord’s carving is a superb archetype of the Vijayanagara’s artisans. The statue is named so because of the shape of the God’s potbelly as a mustard seed that is known as Sasivekalu in the local language
• Balakrishna Temple
  Dedicated to the infant age of Lord Krishna who is one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu (the perpetuator of life), this temple complex offers the shrines of the goddesses, the chariot/market street, and the temple tank. The primary hall comprises of a sequence of carved pillars inlaid with mythical wild animals. Built in 1513 A.D. by Krishnadeva Raya, this shrine marked his victory against Prataparudra Gajapati, the ruler of Orissa. At the time of battle, he took away an image of child Krishna, which is enshrined here.
• Lakshmi Narsimha
  The largest emblem in Hampi, this is a monolithic statue of the Hindu deity Narsimha, who is lion-headed with human body and among the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is also known as Ugranarasimha, which means Narasimha of frightening countenance and is made out of a rock in-situ. An inscription near to it informs that this structure was erected only from a single rock in 1528 A.D. at the time of Krishnadeva Raya. Seated in a cross-legged position, a popular belief holds that the originally his consort Goddess Lakshmi was depicted on his lap. However, this carving was demolished at the time of attacks from the enemies that leaves only a hand of the goddess on his waist.
• Queen’s Bath
  A royal area of the village that seems to be an indoor swimming pool, the courtly women utilized it on a large scale. Surrounded by a big veranda with projecting balconies facing the middle pool, this structure exhibits the Indo-Islamic hybrid style. Arched corridors and lotus-like fountains sprouting fragrant water surround the 50 feet long and 6 feet deep pool.
• Lotus Mahal
  A lavish structure shaped like lotus atop, it was once the office of the army chief and a delightful porch of the queens of the palace. The porch exhibits Islamic architecture in its arches and roofs; while the base reveals the style of Hindu temples. This royal mansion comprises of two storeys adorned with splendid symmetrical arc ways. For the queens, it was an air-conditioned summer palace.

• Hazara Rama Temple
  The king’s private temple, it is an exceptional structure adorned with unusual carved outer walls and carved epics of Ramayana on all walls of mandapa in form of strips of comics. Another striking feature is the four polished pillars in the interior inlaid with fine sculpting of religious themes.
• Elephant Stables
  A long structure made as the shelter of the royal elephants, it is a sequence of chambers each spacious enough to hold two elephants. Adorned with domical roofs, the structure has a central hall with an intricate tower. It is a huge stable that exhibits Hindu-Muslim style of architecture.
• Pattabhirama Temple
  An extensive campus devoted to Lord Ram, the notable features are pillared halls and tall legendary beats in form of sequential pillars.
• Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy
  Situated 3 km away and created in the Dravidian style, its worth visiting feature are the carvings of unusual fishes and aquatic monsters along its outer walls.
• Hampi Bazaar
  An attractive street with beautiful houses, it is nearly 800 yards long.
• House of Victory
  Commemorating Krishnadeva Raya’s victory against the King of Orissa, this was the place where the King used to sit on a royal throne and view the nine-day celebrations of the Dusshera festival. The noticeable feature here is the carving of the spaces amidst the rows of the plinth-moldings.
• King’s Balance
  Located to the southwest of Vittala Temple and comprising of two high-carved granite pillars, this was the place where kings were weighed besides grain, gold, or money. The gathered cash in money or kind was given to the poor.
• Noblemen’s Palace
  Recently discovered, it is believed that this palace was made for the nobles and high-ranking officials.
• Daroji Bear Sanctuary
  Located near Hampi and opened in 1994, this is the home of Indian Sloth Bears in the eastern plains of Karnataka.
• Water Channels
  The palace area holds several water tanks varying in sizes. To be elaborative, the entire Hampi ruins offer many water tanks.
• Stepped Tank
  This is an attractive relic in the Durbar area and is a tiled structure built in chlorite schist. It was utilized by the imperials and at the time of performing religious rituals.

Other worth visiting places are listed below.

• Achyutaraya Temple/Tiruvengalanatha Temple

• Akka Tangi Gudda
• Anegondi
• Anjeyanadri Hill
• Aqueducts and Canals
• Archaeological Museum at Kamalapura
• Badava Linga
• Chandramauleshwar Temple
• The Underground Temple
• Uddana Veerabhadra temple
• Yeduru Basavanna
• Yentrodharaka Anjaneya temple
• Zenana Enclosure
• Virupapura
• Madhavan Palace having over 10,00,000 pillars

Fairs and Festivals

The best time to visit Hampi is from October to March due to its numerous festivals.

• Hampi Festival
  The largest festival of the town for 3 days held in the first week of November, the celebrations include programs on music, dance, puppet shows, fireworks, and a ceremonial procession forming the grand finale highlighting the cultural heritage. Additional programs include rock climbing, water sports, and rural sports.

• Purandaradasa Aradhana
  The traditional musical festival held for 2-3 days in January/February to mark the birthday of the historic poet of Humpi, Purandaradasa; the celebration include world wide musicians’ participation whose voice fills the environs with the vibrations of music and rhythm.
• Virupaksha Car Festival
  The largest religious festival held in March/April marking the ritual marriage of the god and goddess, its attraction is the procession wherein the image of the god and goddess is put on the huge wooden chariot (temple car) carried along the chariot street.
• Phalapuja Festival
  Held in December at the Virupaksha temple, this festival commemorates the ceremonial betrothal of the sacred couple.
• Diwali Festival
  Celebrated across the world, Hampi is no exception to it. Usually coming in October/November, the major attractions here are the Hampi Bazaar where all the celebrations are held, lit nights with firecrackers, and the Virupaksha temple holding special ceremonial functions in evening that involves a procession.
• MahaShivratri
  Celebrated in February/March, this is one of the important festivals celebrated in all temples of Lord Shiva with nightlong offering at Virupaksha Temple.
• Vijaynagar Festival
  Held in December by the Government of the State, it exhibits the opulence of the historic era of Hampi.
• Hampi by Night
  This refers to the splendid view of the lit ruins at night including dinning with music.

Reaching Humpi

By air, the closest airport is at Tornagallu in Sandur Taluka, 32 km away from Hospet; the nearest rail head at 13 km from Hampi. The other convenient airports are Bellary at 74 km, Belgaum at 190 km, and Bangalore at 353 km. Hospet is well connected to other parts of state and major cities of India. By road, Hampi is approachable from Hospet, Bangalore, Bellary, Hubli, Guntakal, and Bijapur.

Ordered by Humayun’s wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562 at an investment of 15 lakhs rupees (now 1.5 million) and planned by the Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyath; this complex of buildings was the first garden-tomb in India. Situated and near Purana Qila founded by Humayun in 1533, this architectural wonder is also the first monument to utilize red sandstone on a great scale. In 1993, the site became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and since then, it is under extensive renovation that is yet not over.

This splendid cenotaph acted as a model based on which the subsequent Mughal architecture of imperial mausoleum were designed, which actually achieved its peak with the Taj Mahal at Agra. In brief, it signified a jump in the Mughal artwork, as it was accompanied by the typical Persian gardens, Charbagh (Four-square gardens) the first step of such an art in India. Surprisingly, this structure was completely different from the mausoleum of Humayun’s father and the first Mughal Emperor, Babur named as Bagh-e Babur in Kabul, Afghanistan despite he was the pioneer of starting the paradise garden for the burials.

Modeled on Gur-e Amir and reflecting the theory of Paradise as per the Islamic cosmology, the place of construction was on the banks of the River Yamuna. This was purposely chosen as it was near to the Nizamuddin Dargah, the tomb of the most worshipped Sufi saint of Delhi, Nizamuddin Auliya whose abode, Chilla Nizamuddin Auliya, is towards the northeast of the tomb.

History

Humayun died on January 20th 1556 and his body was originally buried at his royal palace of Delhi. Then, Khanjar Beg took it to Sirhind, in Punjab. In 1558, his son and the later Mughal Emperor, Akbar, visited his resting place. Finally, on the order of Humayun’s widow wife, Hamida Banu Begum; the current monument beholding the tomb laid its foundation in 1562, which was completed after nine years in 1571. However, she is mistakenly referred to as Haji Begum who actually as per the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th century detailed document of the Akbar reign; was the daughter of maternal uncle of and was then given the charge of the tomb.

Architect

As per the Abd al-Qadir Bada’uni who has cited about the structure, the Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, also called as Mirak Ghiyathuddin, was fetched from Heart in northwest Afghanistan and had a good experience of designing many buildings in Herat, Uzbekistan, and India. However, he died before the completion of the monument and his son Sayyed Muhammad Ibn Mirak Ghiyathuddin took over the work.

Changes in the Structure

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar chose this monument as his retreat along with three princes, all four were then exiled to Rangoon.
The most famous Charbagh gardens covering 13 hectares around the monument also saw a rapid change after the exile that indicated worse experience ahead. Even previously, in the early 18th century, the rich gardens’ beauty was now converted into the garden of vegetable charm for which the people settled in the walled area were responsible. After the exile, the British captured Delhi completely and in 1860, the Persian design was transformed into English garden-style wherein the four middle water pools on the axial lanes were replaced and were lined by the freely planted trees in flowerbeds. This mistake was later rectified in early 20th century due to Viceroy, Lord Curzon’s order to restore the original garden somewhere between 1903-1909.

Later in August 1947 during the Partition of India, the Purana Qila and the Humayun’s Tomb were the major sites of the Muslim refugee camps migrating to the newly created Pakistan for five years. During this period, reasonable damage was made to its grand gardens, water channels, and other main parts. Later to prevent wreckage, the main parts were enclosed in bricks. However, the Archeological Survey of India took care and tried restore the building and its gardens. Until 1985, the original water features were yet remain inactivated despite of four tough attempts.

Architecture

The rubble stonework structure is reachable through two grand double-storeyed doorways, one in the west and other in the south. These high gateways are comprised of rooms on their both sides and courtyards on their higher floors. Stars of six sides, the cosmic sign, decorate the primary gateway and the iwan (high arc) of the main tomb erected of rubble stones and red sandstone. White marble is used as a shield in the tomb and in flooring, lattice screens (jaalis), doorframes, roof space (chhajja), and dome.

Tomb

The tomb stands on a raised arched base of 8 m height and appears square with octagonal edges. The podium of rubble crux hosts 56 cells on all sides and holds more than 100 tombstones. The tomb itself is of 47 m in height and 300 feet in width, hosts the Persian spherical double-layered dome, and is crowned by high finial ending of brass. The double dome’s exterior is in white marble and the interior opens the door for the echoing and spacious volume. Except for this dome in pure white marble, the remaining structure is built with red sandstone whose repetitiveness is reduced by the white and black marble and yellow sandstone.

The exclusive art of pietra dura, a marble inlay pattern, gazed all around the fascia is the symbol of the Indo-Islamic architectural style. Further, you will notice small canopies, the famous Rajasthani style chhatris around the central dome, which were initially decorated with blue tiles.

Chambers

The exterior’s symmetry and design contrasts with the inner chambers’ floor layout being a square ninefold plan. As per the plan, eight two-storyed arched chambers spread out from the middle, white-domed chamber double in altitude. In this domed chamber below the white dome, the middle octagonal mausoleum housing the single grave of Humayun rests. However, the real grave is still further in the basement precisely below the visible cenotaph. This is reachable via a different channel lying in the exterior of the building, which is actually closed for the public.

Concept of Paradise in Chambers

The upper cenotaph, the main chamber, can be reached via the opening iwan on the south whose sides holds complex jaalis known as the stone lattice piece. Built to reveal the concept of Islamic paradise, the central marble latticework called jaali in the chamber holds a symbol of Mihrab that is tactically facing Mecca in West, the holy place of Muslims. Inscribed on this symbol is the An-Noor of Quran that allows light ray to find way to penetrate into the chamber from the direction of Mecca (Qibla). This sacred layout signifies the elevation of the Emperor close to the divine power.

The high-ceiled main chamber also includes four other chief octagonal chambers at the diagonals located on two floors with vaulted lobbies connecting them. In addition, there are four other secondary chambers amidst them. This theory of eight side chambers is not only common in Sufism and in Mughal royal tombs, but also holds religious importance due to its display of the Paradise concept as per the Islamic cosmology.

This means that each main chamber gives away other eight smaller chambers that reveal the fact that the monument contains 124 vaulted chambers in all. Several of these chambers house the cenotaphs of other Mughal royal members, which figures out to 100 graves in the complex with maximum on the first level terrace without any inscription or identification.

Char Bagh Garden

Quadrilateral in layout, this was a Persian-style, geometrical, and Paradise garden divided into four four-sided figures lined by pathways (khiyabans) and two intersecting middle water outlets. This layout actually exhibits the four rivers in jannat, the Islamic theory of paradise. Further, each of the squares is split into minor squares that results in 36 squares, a typical pattern of Mughal gardens. The water channels are made in such a way that seem to vanish below the tomb and appearing in a straight manner on the other side. This tactic erection of the channels depicts the Quranic verse that has mentioned about the flowing rivers underneath the Garden in Paradise.

Rubble walls surround the structure and the garden on three sides. The central walking passages take you to the two gates namely, a big and primary gate at the southern wall and other one at the western wall. In the middle on the eastern wall, a baradari – a structure of 12 doors that was built to allow the breezy air to penetrate it. On the northern wall, you can see a hammam that is a bathing chamber.

In the southeast corner, another worth visiting tomb is the Nai-ka-Gumbad, the Barber’s Tomb (1590) on an elevated base approachable after climbing seven steps. This structure is square in design and holds only one chamber with a double-layered dome. In the chamber, there are two graves inscribed with the Quran verses.

Other Attractions on the Way to the Humayun’s Tomb

• Tomb of Isa Khan Niyazi (1547) with a Garden
  An Afghan aristocrat in the kingdom of Sher Shah Suri of the Sur era, this historic hero battled against Mughals and his complete family is buried here. On its western side, a wide mosque built in red sandstone is quite attractive.
• Bu Halima’s Tomb
  With an enclosed garden, this is another mausoleum of an unknown historic woman, as very little could be found about her.
• Arab Sarai (Arab Rest House)
  This was actually built upon the order of Humayun’s wife for the artisans who erected the Humayun’s tomb. This last site holds the Afsarwala tomb and mosque dedicated to a patrician in the Akbar’s court.

• Nila Burj or Nila Gumbad (Blue Dome)
  Inlaid with blue striking tiles outside the complex and famous for its sculpt work, this was built by Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, the son of Bairam Khan who was a noble in the Akbar’s court. Abdul dedicated to his servant, Miyan Fahim, who was brought up with him since childhood and finally died with his son in the rebellion of Mughal general Mahabat Khan in 1625/26. Contrast patterns of internal octagon and exterior square, its ceiling is inlaid with painted and split plaster above which rests a high single dome, the typical dome of that period.
• Other Monuments
  These include Bada Bateshewala Mahal, Chote Bateshewala Mahal, and Barapula, a bridge made up in 1621 of 12 piers and 11 domed openings.

Qutbuddin then was the first monarch of the Slave Dynasty. After his demise, the descendants Iltutmish and later Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a Tughlaq Sultan of Delhi in 1368 A.D., Alauddin Khilji, and the British added to the Minar. The Qutub Minar complex had attracted more visitors as compared to the Taj Mahal in 2006, which earned it the fame of the India’s most visited monument in 2006, ahead of the Taj Mahal.

Originally adorned with a complex of 27 Jain shrines, these temples were damaged and their rubble was utilized in building the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, which is besides the Qutub Minar. The entire complex was built on the debris of Lal Kot Fort built by Tomar Rajput ruler in 739 A.D. and Qila-Rai-Pithora, city of the Rajput king – Prithviraj Chauhan who was killed by the Ghori’s armies in the Second Battle of Tarain. Currently, the complex covering over 100 acres, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has developed it as the Mehrauli Archeological Park wherein 40 structures are renovated.

Apart from the Qutub Minar, the other worth visiting structures in the complex are the Alai Darwaza; the Alai Minar; Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque; the Iron Pillar; and the tombs of Iltutmish, Alauddin Khilji, and Imam Zamin enclosed by relics of Jain shrines. Let’s go through these beautiful ornaments of the complex.

The Alai Darwaza (Alai Gate)

The primary domed entrance to the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque from its south, it is the first monument to exhibit the principles of the Islamic architecture in India. Initially, the Slave Dynasty utilized false domes and arches not really representing the Islamic style. This earns the fame to the structure of using true Islamic domes and arches.

Erected in 1311 A.D with the help of Turkish artisans, the red sandstone, inlaid white marble embellishments, inscriptions in Naskh script, and latticed stone screens form the beauty of this structure. The first Khilji Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khilji was the historic hero who built this magnificent structure and a court on its east. Among the key buildings in the Delhi sultanate era, sharp arches and lotus buds further augment its beauty.

The Qutub Minar

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site including the adjacent monuments, Qutub Minar is known as the Victory Tower to mark the victory against the Rajput king known for its intellect and bravery – Prithviraj Chauhan. It also signified the culmination of the Hindu empires and advent of the Muslim era in India, which ended only after the arrival of the British in the 19th century. The tallest brick minaret on Earth exhibiting both Afghan and indo-Islamic architecture, the monument was based on the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan.

Storeys

Comprising of five distinct storeys, each one holds a balcony on muqarnas corbel and shrinks from the diameter of 14.3 m at the base to 2.7 m atop, at a distance of 379 steps. However, Aibak could only build the first storey, which is full of praise to Mohammed Ghori. Aibak’s son-in-law and descendant, Iltutmish, built the other three storeys. After bring smacked by lightning in 1368 A.D. for the first time, its top storey was blown off. Then, Firoz Shah Tughlaq, the later Sultan of Delhi (1351-1388) built the current two floors of white marble and sandstone, a distinct multicolored style in contrast with the lower three storeys. Therefore, the minar exhibits clear deviation of the architectural styles of the Tughlaq era and that of the Aibak’s time.

Architecture

Interiors inlaid with overlaid cylindrical shafts and exterior with the fluted columns, the exterior is further adorned with thick finishing of red and off-white sandstones enclosed by strips of elaborated sculpting done in Kufic style of Islamic calligraphy. An Arabic inscription on it indicates that it was the place for the muezzin to gather the loyals for namaz (Islamic prayer), as the monument is near the Quwwatul mosque. Inscriptions further inform that the minaret witnessed more repairs in 1503 ordered by Sultan Sikander Lodi after it was again affected by lightning. Another sign of progress in architecture in those times are the inscriptions in a bold and cursive Thuluth script of calligraphy that are set apart from the thick strokes atop.

In 1803, an earthquake damaged the structure with the fall of the cupola atop on the ground. Later in 1829, Major R. Smith of the Royal Engineers reinstated the monument where the Bengali-style chhatri (canopy) replaced the cupola. This actually did not suit and so in 1848, the Governor General, Lord Hardinge ordered to take it to the external lawns of the complex now called as the Smith’s Folly.

Since 1981, only the Qutub archaeological area is allowed to visit after an accident in the minaret. The striking phenomenon is that the seismic monitors on the minar since 2004 showed no signs of damage in the 2005 earthquake due to lime mortar, rubble stonework, and rocky soil that have the capability of grasping the tremors.

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque

Literally meaning the Might of Islam and also called as the Qutb Mosque, Jami Masjid – Friday Mosque, and the Great Mosque of Delhi, this is the first mosque in Delhi built after the advent of the Muslim era in India. Erected by Aibak in 1193 A.D. who was the pioneer of the Mamluk or Slave Dynasty, this is the most ancient exemplary structure exhibiting Ghurids architecture in India. During the period of construction, Aibak was the leader of Muhammad Ghori’s battalion who seized Delhi.

Aibak also ordered to build the Qutub Minar along with the mosque as the ‘Minar of Jami Masjid’ where Qutb means an Axis or Pole of Islam. Its style and design is based on the Arhai-din-ka Jhompra or Ajmer Mosque at Ajmer in Rajasthan, which was also erected on the orders of Aibak simultaneously by destroying the former temples and a Sanskrit school. The remains of the demolished 27 Jain temples built during Tomars and Prithviraj Chauhan formed the material of construction of the mosque; while certain parts of the temples were still intact. This is evident on a Persian inscription on the inner eastern domed gateway.

Erected on a smoothly elevated courtyard, later additions include the enclosing pillared cloisters by Iltutmish somewhere between 1210 and 1220 A.D. and the stone screen amidst prayer hall and the courtyard in 1196 A.D. The five-corbelled arched screens with Arabic inscriptions, floral motifs, and geometric design welcoming you, the entrance exhibits lavish mandap dome from the temples whose pillars withstand in the entire structure including in the sanctuary beyond the arched screens. These screens once acted as a series of walkway comprising of low-domed ceilings for the devotees.

Additions to the mosque were done even after Aibak when his successor Iltutmish expanded the prayer hall screen by additional three arches of the Muslim style. This time the materials were not the rubbles of the demolished temples, but were true materials to exhibit the Islamic style. The next one in the line to make the additions was Alauddin Khilji who made the Alai Darwaza. The west side of this mosque holds the tomb of Iltutmish built in 1235 A.D.

The Iron Pillar

Situated in the courtyard behind the arched screens of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, this pillar with a bell is among the world’s primary marvels. 7.21 m high and carrying six tonnes of weight, Chandragupta II Vikramaditya built this pillar in 402 A.D. at Udayagiri before a Vishnu Temple complex. Later, Iltutmish brought the pillar to its current location somewhere in 1233 A.D.

The weight of the decorative bell being 646 kg and the main body of 5865 kg, there is an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script of 4th century A.D. According to this, the pillar was a Vishnudhvaja, flag of Lord Vishnu (the perpetuator of life) established on the Vishnupada hill as a tribute to Chandragupta II. Atop the pillar is a deep socket that indicates the place of an image of Garuda fixed earlier.

The Tomb of Iltutmish

Iltutmish was the second Sultan of Delhi from 1211 to 1236 A.D. and his tomb was built in his presence in 1235 A.D. The central chamber was adorned with a dome, which had collapsed later indicated by squinches. In the middle of the chamber is the tomb of white marble built on an elevated platform. The front part is decorated with elaborate carving, while the interior west wall is adorned with a prayer place and mihrab of marble and lush Hindu motives such as bell-and-chain, lotus, and diamond crests.

The Tomb of Imam Zamin

Erected on an elevated courtyard adjacent to the Alai Darwaza, is the tomb of Imam Muhammad Ali or Imam Zamin. A sandstone masterpiece with a dome, its interior is embellished in polished white plaster and detailed jalis or lattice screens in the style of Sikander Lodhi’s architecture. There is an inscription on its eastern entrance that informs about Imam Zamin as a saint from Turkistan who came in India in around 1500 A.D. Built when he was alive, he was buried in this tomb in 1539 A.D.

The Alauddin Khilji’s Tomb and Madarsa

This is an L-shaped structure at the rear of the complex in the southwest direction of the mosque. It houses the Alauddin Khilji’s tomb made in 1316 A.D. and a madarsa that is an Islamic college; the first one in India of such a unique combination. Both made by Alauddin Khilji, he was the second Sultan of Delhi from 1296 to 1316 A.D. representing the Khilji Dynasty. The middle room holding the tomb is now without the dome and many college rooms are still unbroken.

The Alai Minar

Near to the Khilji’s tomb and towards the north of the mosque, is the incomplete Alai Minar that is a passionate tower to rival the Qutub Minar. Started by Alauddin Khilji after doubling the size of the mosque, he imagined this tower double than the height of the Qutub Minar. This all is evident in the work, Tarikh-i-Alai, of the famous Sufi poet and saint at his time, Amir Khusro who has written about Aladdin’s goal to expand the mosque and build another huge minar.

However, due to his death in 1316 A.D. even before the current storey of 24.5 m was completed, the construction was discarded. None of his successors of Khilji dynasty took up the further construction. The current first storey is a huge rubble masonry.

To be marked as the second tower of victory in his Deccan campaign, Alauddin’s plan was to compete with the Qutub Minar, In case of the mosque, he planned to expand the size by four times with traditional gateways and a great minar (Alai Minar).

Fairs and Festivals at the Complex

The annual three-days ‘Qutub Festival’ drag many visitors in November-December when the musicians and dancers exhibit the cultural heritage of India.

Other nearby Attractions

• Tomb of Adham Khan
  Lies to the west of the complex. According to the legend, Adham Khan forced the Hindu singer Roopmati to suicide after seizing Mandu in Madhya Pradesh. On his this cruel act, Akbar threw him down from the terrace of the Agra Fort.

• Palaces
  These summer palaces are Zafar Mahal, Jahaz Mahal next to Hauz-i-Shamsi Lake, and the tombs of the Mughal kings of Delhi.
• Other Monuments
  These include the Balban’s tomb and Jamali Kamali mosque and tomb.