Indian Monuments

  

A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, historical, political, technical, or architectural importance. Examples of monuments includes statues, (war) memorials, historical buildings, archaeological sites, and cultural assets. if there is a public interest in its preservation, a monument can for example be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Taj Mahal



The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marblemausoleum on the south bank of the Yamunariver in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor,Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658), to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan, the builder. The tomb is the centerpiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, which includes amosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by acrenellated wall.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example ofMughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year and in 2007, it was declared a winner of new 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.

Ajanta Caves



The Ajanta Caves are 30 (approximately) rock cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India. The caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotion through gesture, pose and form.

                                                                       Konark Sun Temple 



Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century CE suntemple at Konark about 35 kilometers (22 mi) northeast from Puri on the coastline of Odisha, India. The temple is attributed to king Narasingha Deva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE.

An Architecture Marvel of Eastern India and A symbol of India's heritage, Konark Sun Temple, commonly known as Konark is situated in the eastern state of Odisha (earlier known as Orissa), India and is one of the eminent tourist attractions. Konark houses a massive temple dedicated to the Sun God. The word 'Konark' is a combination of two words 'Kona' and 'Arka'. 'Kona' means 'Corner' and 'Arka' means 'Sun', so when combines it becomes 'Sun of the Corner'. Konark Sun Temple is situated on the north eastern corner of Puri and is dedicated to Sun God. Konark is also known as Arka khetra. There are three images of the Sun God at three different sides of the temple, positioned in proper direction to catch the rays of the sun at morning, noon and evening.

All these monuments are visited by millions of tourists across the globe throughout the year. These monuments are among the best in the world for their archaeological value design and historical significance but it is a disturbing fact that we have not looked after these monuments properly.