On the southern edge of Delhi, the Qutb Minar spears the sky, marking the site of Delhi's oldest incarnation, Qila Rai Pithora.

In AD 1191, the Afghan sultan Mohammed Ghuri led his army south across the Hindu Kush mountains. Fired by their faith, the conquerors swept Cthrough the plains destroying Hindu temples and razing Buddhist monasteries.

temples and razing Buddhist monasteries. And when, after a year, they reached the arid plains of Delhi, the general who had led the assault, a slave called Qutbuddin Aibak, decided to dedicate Qila Rai     
Pithora to Islam's victory over the infidel.

Succeeding Muslim dynasties added to the complex over the next five centuries, making it the cradle of Islamic architecture
in India

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As one of the first important buildings the Mughals erected in India, Humayun's Tomb introduced purely Persian features to the subcontinent, but it also drew several elements from the land it was built in. The red sandstone and white marble, for instance, was a common feature of 14th century architecture of the Delhi Sultanate.

Symmetrical plan, three gardens setting and a bulbous double dome on an elongated drum are the main features of Humayun's Tomb. Each of these had strong Timurid associations for the Mughals, who gloried in their dynastic descent from Timur.

Most 15th century Timurid architecture was built to symmetrical plans. These was built to symmetrical plans. These included monuments such as the Ghur-i-Mir (1404) built by Timur for his grandson at Samarkand, and which was his own final resting place as well; Ishrat Khaneh also at Samarkand (c.1460-64); and the shrine of Abu Nasr Parsa in Balkh (c. 1460-64). The Ghur-i-Mir also had a bulbous dome and high drum that was repeated in Humayun's Tomb, the first mausoleum for an emperor of the Mughal dynasty.

Welcome to the Imperial Palace Complex of Fatehpur Sikri. Diwan-i-Am or the hall of public audience is the first building beyond the entrance of Fatehpur Sikri and was one of the earliest structures to be finislhed courtyard of the Diwan-i-Am or the public enclosure runs 112 metres from north to south and 55 metres from east to west. The colonnade of 111 bays runs around the court, broken at the west by the emperor's pavilion from beyond the entrance of Fatehpur Sikri and was one of the earliest structures to be finished. The colonnaded courtyard of the Diwan-i-Am or the public enclosure runs 112 meters from north to south and 55 meters fromeast to west. The colonnade of 111 bays runs around the court, broken at the west by the emperor's pavilion, from where Akbar would dispense justice to one and all.

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A high, red sandstone wall looms over the river Yamuna. Behind this row of battlements and bastions lies a refined world of marble pavilions, landscaped gardens and serene mosques. The Fort in Agra, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is one of the earliest surviving Mughal buildings in the city. Babur is said to have laid out gardens here but no sign S of them remains.

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For centuries, the Taj Mahal has inspired poets, painters and musicians to try and capture its elusive magic in word, colour and song. It is one of the most flawless architectural creations of the world. Since the 17th century, travellers have crossed continents to come and see this ultimate memorial to love, and few have been unmoved by its incomparable beauty.

Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in the Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the river Yamuna. It was built in the memory of the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum, who won the heart of a Mughal prince. She was married at 21 to Emperor Jahangir's third son Prince Khurram and stayed loyally by his side through good times and bad in the luxurious royal palaces of Agra as well as the transient tents of war camps.

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Velha Goa, popularly known as Old Goa, is famous for its architectural masterpieces in forms of churches, cathedrals, chapels and convents. Housing the finest examples of superb architectural magnificence, the Church Complex has churches built in 16th and 17th centuries.

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stradding the mouth of the river Palar, the sleepy town of Mamallapuram served the Pallava dynasty (AD 600-900) as its most important port on the Coromandel coast. It was from here that ships laden with spices and silks sailed across the Bay of Bengal to the islands of Java, Sumatra and to Cambodian.

Little wonder, then, that the Pallava kings chose this town to record their might in stone. The amazing pavilions and temples on the edge of the sea have withstood fourteen centuries of buffeting by the relentless elements, to be hailed as prototypes of Dravidian architecture.

The temples of Mamallapuram, built largely during the reigns of Narasimhavarman and his successor Rajasimhavarman, showcases the largely during the regins of Narasimhavarman and his successor Rajasimhavarman, showcases the movement from rock-cut architecture to structural building. The mandapas or pavilions and the rathas or shrines shaped as temple chariots are hewn from the granite rock face, while the famed Shore Temple, erected half a century later, is built from dressed stone.

The Sun Temple of Konark was conceived as a chariot drawn by seven galloping horses in keeping with the age-old traditions of Hindu mythology and the cosmic siginificance of Sun's movement in the sky.

The Main Temple of Konark (hereafter referred to as Teme1) consists of a sanctuary (deul), its attached porch (jagamohana) and an isolated pillared

The Main Temple of Konark (hereafter referred to as Temiple 1) consists of a sanctuary (deul), its attached porch (jagamohana) arid an isolated pillared edifice (bhoga - mandapa)

The Konark temple, even with its main sanctuary having collapsed over a century ago, dominates the landscaps for many miles.

Set amidst verdant lawns, the magnificent 52-metre high sandstone Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya soars towards the blue skies. As the day dawns, devotees and laymen pour in. A flight of step leads to the inner courtyard through a beautifully-carved granite torana (gateway). A large circular stone with the Buddha's footprints pr Buddhapada is kept in a small shrine on the left. The Mahabodhi Temple stands in the centre, crowned by a pointed spire flanked by four corner turrets.

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Situated about 217 km from Guwahati, capital of Assam, the world’s largest population of rhinoceros lives here. Although there are other animals and birds too but the concentration is more on the protection of this animal. In fact, Kaziranga can also be described as an oasis for wildlife.

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Sundarbans National Park in India is one of the world's largest deltas and the mangrove forest formed by the confluence of three rivers- the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna- covering an area of 2,585 sq km wildlife sanctuary, which extends into Bangladesh too. The Sundarbans Wildlife Sanctuary, the world's largest estuarine sanctuary is really worth a visit. With a series of densely forested islands and saline water channels, Sundarbans is home to 270 Royal Bengal Tigers along with the spotted deers, wild pigs, monkeys, herons, kingfishers and white-bellied eagles.

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Spring is the time for courtship and nestling, when all the species become lovebirds. The rains are for breeding and rearing young, with nests across the treetops brimming with mottled and speckled eggs of many colors. But there is no doubt that it's in the late, deliciously cold winter that the quantum of birdsong rises to a ear-piercing crescendo. Scores of migratory avians undertake a treacherous journey over the Himalayas to make a seasonal hub in this pasty green paradise. And their address is rewritten as Keoladeo National Park, south of Jaipur.

The Nanda Devi National Park is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the Himalayas . It is overshadowed by the peak of Nanda Devi, which rises to over 7,800 m. Nanda Devi National Park was established in the year 1980. The first men on record to have reached this park, whileyet in its pristine form, were the the British Mountaineers Eric Shipton and Bill Tilman. The area had largely remained untouched till then, except for Tilman's successful attempt on Nanda Devi in the year 1936. However, since 1950 the increasing number of treks & climbing expeditions to the area has to some extent affected the virgin characteristic of this place. The main vegetation here is of fir, birch, rhododendron, and juniper.

The only Tiger Project in Assam, Manas is one of the most magnificent National Parks in India. Situated on the backdrop of sub-Himalayan hills, it is well known as one of the World Heritage Sites having its unique combination of scenic beauty and rare wealth of wildlife. The core area is 360 kms. Besides Tigers, the rarest species of Manas are Hispid Hare, Pigmy Hog and Golden Langur. Indian Rhinoceros, Wild Buffalo, Wild Boar, Samber, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer, Elephant etc. are other commonly seen animals.

The ruins of Vijayanagar dynasty at  Hampi(Karnataka State) is  spread over an area of 26 square kilometers.  Hampi is full of delightful surprises. The statue of Ugranarasimha, the Temples of Virupaksha the great Mahanavami Dibba and other runis have been attracting the tourists from all over the world.

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The second world heritage centre in Karnataka, where the kings from all over South India came to get  coronated,  has 10 major temples representing  early Chalukyan architecture.  Four of the temples  here in the Dravidian(south Indian) architectural style while four are Nagara-North Indian Style and Papanatha Temple exhibits a hybrid style.

Airateswara or Darasuram Temple built by Raja Raja Chola-II is an excellent example of the 12th century Chola architecture. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.  The temple is located in the town of Darasuram near Kumbakonam in the state of Tamil Nadu.   Brihadeeswarar Temple – Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu ) was built by  Raja Raja Chola I .  The Vimana (Main Tower) of the temple is the tallest in the world(65 metre). It was so designed that the Vimana never casts a shadow at noon  during any period of the year and also the tower of this temple  is build by single rock.  Brihadeeswarar Temple – Gangaikonda Cholapuram-Thanjavur(Tamil Nadu)- has been built  as per the South Indian style of temple architecture.  A fully carved Brihadeeswarar Temple  was designed by the chief architect of Chola court,Sama Varma.  It stands 29 m square baseand rises to a height of around 65 m .

Located 40 kms from Jalgaon City of Maharashtra.  There are 30 caves in Ajanta which were discovered in AD 1819 . most of the paintings in ajanta right from 2nd century  BC-AD and some of them about 5th century AD.  All paintings  illustrates the events in the life of  Prince Gautama Buddha.

The most interesting aspect of the monuments of Ellora (Maharashtra,India) is the fact that they were all carved top to bottom.  The ceiling was built first, then the walls and finally  the base.   Excavated between the 6th and 10th Centuries approximately under the Rashtrakuta dynasty and were designated as a World Heritage Site in 1983.  the caves are classified as Buddhist,Hindu and Jain caves and have been excavated in that order.

Sanchi   comprises a group of Buddhist monuments  including  pillars,palaces,temples and monasteries. Sanchi is situated  about 40 kms from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.    It is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence and was a major  Buddhist centre in India  until the 12th Century AD.   The Great Stupa of Sanchi  was originally commissioned by emperor Ashoka in the third century BCE.

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46 km from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, is surrounded by the northern fringe of the Vindhya mountains.  The range is covered by huge rocks and recent discoveries here of over 600 rock shelters have revealed paintings that go back to the early Stone Age.

The Temples of  Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh, India) are India’s unique gift to the world.  The Khajuraho temples were built in the short span of a hundred years from 950-1050 AD.  Of the 85 original temples, 22 have survived till today to constitute one of the world’s great artistic wonders.

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(formerly Victoria Terminus) –Mumbai (Bombay:  Built in 1887, this is the city’s most celebrated Gothic structure and the Headquarters of Central Railway, the largest and the most complex railway system in  India, lavishly decorated with sculptures.

Elephanta Caves situated on an island just 9 kms adrift of the Mumbai  harbour in the Arabian Sea.  Carved from rock face, these caves are an ideal tribute to the Maurya Dynasty that ruled there.    The caves contain magnificently sculpted statues depicting “Shiva” in various forms of facets.  The most famous being the Mahesmurti where Shiva takes the form of the Creator, The Preserver and the Destroyer. 

The Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park with its ancientHindu architecture, temples and special water retaining installations together with its religious, military and agricultural structures,dating back to the regional Capital City built by Mehmud Begda in the 16th century.

It’s structure represent a perfect blend of Hindu-Muslim architecture. This is a place of worship and continuous pilgrimage for Hindu believers. It is quite vulnerable due to abandonment, forest takeover and modern life.