Monuments

=**..................................................Monuments.........................................................**=

The rich historical and the cultural heritage of India can be seen in its majestic monuments. Monument means ‘a durable structure or a building or stone erected in the memory of an event in the past’. The Monuments of India show a great assissmilation of different architectural styles. The history of the Indian Monuments begins from the Ancient period consisting of the Indus valley civilization, Vedic period, Mauryan age, Gupta age and mixes with the monuments of the small kingdoms in 7th and 8th century AD. The medieval period is filled with the monuments of Rajput and Persian architectural works. The modern period or the colonial era has several architectural masterpieces of the Victorian Style. **2500-100 BC Indus Valley Civilization**

The City Once a upon a time….. Several thousand years ago between **3300BC and 1700BC** The largest civilization of the ancient world developed along the Sapta Sindhu which had a total drainage area of more than 450,000 sq. miles.Quite a large crandle for a civilization A govt. for the people: civilization for entire city- public baths, drainage systems,granaries, well planned cities –focus was on city works.

(This pic has been taken from the book INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION)

• A town in Rajasthan. • It was was a major provincial capital of civilization. • It is different due to its unique fire altars. • It is the world’s earliest attested ploughed field.
 * Kalibangan **

**Lothal**

• It had a dockyard that suggests trade with other civilizations. • It had different channels for boats to come in.

**5th- 6th BC Buddhism**


 * Bhimbetka Caves **

• The bhimbetka shelters show the earliest traces of human life. • the caves& shelters have number interesting paintings which depict the times & life of people living at that period • It included childbirth, burials, communal dancing.

4th-1st BC Mauryans & Sunga


 * Sanchi **

• It was a town near Varanasi • It was the trade centre during Buddhist period • It is one of the ancient Buddhists buildings. • It has stupas with exclusively structured pillared gateways and monasteries • Every structure on the pillar depicts incidents from the life of Buddha


 * Sarnath **

• It is the holy place lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his disciples • It is the major pilgrimage centre for the followers of Buddhism. • Ashoka, the great installed the **Lion capital pillar.** • It depicts four lions sitting back to back facing the four cardinal directions. • The government of India has adopted this sculpture as the national emblem. • The currency of India has this sculpture marked on it. 2nd-3rd BC Kushanas & Shakas

• These rock cut caves present a serene blend of architecture, sculpture and painting. • It is the world’s greatest historical monument recognized by UNESCO. • All the paintings have religious influences and centre around the life of Buddha, jatakas. 4th-5th BC Gupta
 * Ajanta caves **

**Nalanda University**

• It was the greatest centre of education during that period. • Also, it was first residential international university of the world. • It had ten temples, meditation halls, hostels, classrooms, eight separate compounds, lakes and parks. • It attracted students from Tibet, Japan, and Persia. • There were about 2,000 teachers and 10.000 teachers from all over the world.

**8th –9th century Madurai**

• India’s oldest city Madurai has a history dating back to the pre Christian era. • The temple of par excellence, the Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple covers most of this old yet dynamic city. • Madurai being very famous for its temples, built by kings of several dynasties. • The important ones are the Aappudaiyaar Koyil Tevara Stalam and the Koodalazhagardivya Desam.


 * 9th –12th century Konark **

• Konark is well known for its majestic Sun Temple was built during the reign of Ganga King Narasimha Deva I in 1250. • This temple was based on the firm belief of the people in the Sun God. • This amazing temple complex even changes its colors according to the varying sunlight. • The imposing dimensions and faultless proportions gives, this masterpiece in black stones an outstanding feature. • This religious yet spectacular monument is also known as the Black Pagoda.

**Khajuraho**

• The rulers of the Chandella Dynasty built most of the temples in khajuraho. • The unique factor about Khajuraho is that it has a marvelous blend of sculptured panels into temple architecture. • The temples were divided into two complexes: • The Western side included the Hindu temples whereas the eastern side included Jain Temples. • With beautiful decorations at the gateway, **The Kandariya Mahadev** temple is the most remarkable temple In Khajuraho attributed to King Dhanga. • A shrine of Lord Shiva is seen in the vicinity in the temple of Matangeshvara Temple. • Devi Jagdamba is dedicated to Goddess Durga, which is decorated with exclusive sculptured deities. 14th-16th century Hampi • Hampi in Karnataka is situated near the river Tunghabhadra. • Temples of this city are well known for their huge dimensions, nature related ornamentation, brilliant carvings and magnificent pavilions. • The most scared, oldest and largest temple the Pampapati or the Virupakasha is believed to have witnessed the comic wedding of Shiva and Pampa. • The Vithala Temple has architecture of a typical Hindu wedding site. • The Garuda Ratha has been very delicately and realistically carved that the wheel looks as if it is actually rotating. • The Ramachandra depicts the story of the Hindu epic the Ramayana. • Then comes the royal court that has been decorated with the sculptures of dancers and musicians.

**Fatehpur Sikri** • This New royal city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar. • This site shows a complete assissimilation of the Persian and Hindu architecture. 17th –18th century

**Taj Mahal** • This epitome of love was built by mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631. The monument was completed in 1651. • With The help of 22000 artisans this monument took 20 years to complete this magnificent masterpiece of marble. • The mesmerizing love story of the taj mahal has moved many people around the world and has left the many of them speechless. • This piece of brilliant art depicts each and every scene related to it. • This great Indian monument has even grabbed a position among the Seven Wonders of the World and finally in 2007 crowned as the most beautiful wonder of the world.

**Jama masjid**

• Being one of the last works of the mughal emperor shah jahan, Jama masjid mosque is located in the heart of old Delhi. • This red sandstone porch stands about 30 feet and is the largest mosque in India. 19th-20th century Rastrapati Bhavan • During the reign of the British over India, in1911 the capital of British India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. • Under the British architect Edwin Landseer lutyens, this 400 acres of land was bought for the construction of the viceroy’s house. • Due to cost reduction he decreased the size of this mansion but maintained grandeur in it. • With complete Indian designs, today the Head of the state or the president of India Resides in this mansion of 4 floors and 360 rooms.

**India Gate** • This national monument of India had been originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and had been inspired from the French Arc de Triumph. • This piece of tribute was completed in 1931. • This monument in Red and pale sandstone and granite is also known as the All India War Memorial as it was a tribute to all the soldiers who died while fighting against the British raj and in the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

**Gateway of India** • With a complete Indo-Saracenic architectural style, this monument is located in Mumbai. • The construction was started in 1911 by George sydenham Clarke and the construction was finished in 1924 by George wittet • This arch of this monument is in the Muslim Style whereas the impressions on it are of Hindu Styles. This monument depicts the quality of secularity and assissmilation in India.

(ALL THE OTHER PICS HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM THE BOOK -MONUMENTS OF INDIA BY HAR-ANAND)