The Ajanta Caves are 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the second century BCE to about 480 CE in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra state in India. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contain well-preserved paintings and sculptures of Buddhist art and culture. What is the exact location of Ajanta Caves? The caves are situated in the district of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India. They are near Fardapur, on the road that connects Jalgaon and Aurangabad. A semi-circular ridge on the western ghats or the Sahayādri is where the Waghora river runs. Ancient Buddhists carved the caves into this ridge. When do Ajanta caves were made? The caves were built in two phrases with a gap of five centuries. The first phrase, known as the Early phrase, lasted from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. Five caves (Caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15A) belong to this phrase. The Satavahana kings ruled the region at this time. These caves are simple in design. They consist of two chaityag...

The Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous monuments in India. It is a white marble mausoleum built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is located in Agra, a major city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Timings for visitors: You can visit the Taj Mahal from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm every day except Friday. The entry fee is Rs. 50 for Indian citizens and Rs. 1100 for foreign tourists. The Taj Mahal is also open for night viewing every full moon from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., plus two days before and after the full moon, i.e., for a total of five days. This is a rare and magical opportunity to see the Taj Mahal under the moonlight, but it requires advance booking and security clearance. History of Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal has a rich and fascinating history. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who...

Red Fort, Old Delhi The Red Fort is a historic fort in Old Delhi that was the main residence of the Mughal emperors. It was built by Shah Jahan in the mid-17th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fort has many palaces, halls, baths, gardens and a mosque inside its red sandstone walls. You can visit the fort from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm every day. The name Red Fort is a translation of the Hindustani word Lāl Qila, which means red fortress. The word lal comes from Hindustani and means red, while the word qila comes from Arabic and means fortress. The fort is named after its red sandstone walls, which were built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century. How to witness the Independence day celebrations at Red Fort? If you want to witness the Independence Day celebrations at the fort, you can book online tickets from aamantran.mod.gov.in. History of Red fort, New Delhi The Red Fort was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as his palace and the seat o...

India Gate, New Delhi India Gate is a monument in New Delhi that honors the Indian soldiers who died in World War I and other wars. It is located on Rajpath, a ceremonial avenue that connects the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the president’s residence) and the National Stadium. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Delhi and a common picnic spot for locals and visitors. You can visit India Gate from 9 am to 5 pm on any day of the week. History of India Gate Construction of India Gate  #Bing AI Generated The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens, a British architect who also planned the layout of New Delhi. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. The monument was originally called the All India War Memorial and was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It has the names of more than 13,000 soldiers inscribed on its walls. In 1971, an et...

Jama Masjid, old Delhi Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. It is located in Old Delhi, near the Red Fort. It can accommodate up to 25,000 people and has three domes and two minarets. It is also known as Masjid-i-Jehan-Numa, meaning "the mosque commanding a view of the world" in Persian. History of Jama Masjid Jama Masjid was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal, in 1644. It took 14 years to complete and was designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahori and Ustad Khalil. It was inaugurated by its first Imam, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari. It served as the imperial mosque of the Mughal emperors until the end of their rule in 1857. Architecture of Jama Masjid Jama Masjid is built with red sandstone and white marble, following the Indo-Islamic and Mughal styles of architecture. It has a rectangular courtyard that can hold up to 25,000 people. It has three domes with black and wh...

It doest not have enough proof about the person who built the temple. Historians believe the temple is at least 5000 years old. According to the book "Aythihyavum Charithravum" (Legend and History), the temple was made before a long time ago. But we know for sure that a man named Vilwamangalam Swamikal (also known as Divakara Munikal) lived around 13th century AD. Here's the story: Vilvamangalam was praying at Ananthapuram Temple in Kasargod, and a boy came there every day. Vilvamangalam liked the boy and asked him to come during prayer time. The boy agreed. One day, Vilvamangalam playfully hit the boy, and the boy said that if Vilvamangalam wanted to see him, he should go to Ananthankadu. The boy disappeared, and Vilvamangalam set off to find this place. He wandered through forests and hills, built temples, and did prayers. He finally reached an area now called Thiruvananthapuram. A person from the Pulaya community helped him find Ananthankadu. There, Vilvamangalam saw S...

The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is one of the richest temples in the world and is one of the 108 Divya Desams, or holy sites, of Vishnu. The temple is built in the Kerala style of architecture and has a seven-storey gopuram (tower) at the entrance. The gopuram is decorated with sculptures and statues of Hindu deities and mythical creatures.  Inside the temple, the sanctum sanctorum houses the reclining image of Vishnu, which is 18 feet long. The image is made of salagramam, a type of stone that is said to have originated in the Himalayas. To the left of the sanctum sanctorum is a temple dedicated to Narasimha, a fearsome incarnation of Vishnu. To the right of the sanctum sanctorum is a temple dedicated to Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort. The temple also has a number of other shrines dedicated to other Hindu deities, including Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, and Hanuman. Th...

Methanmani (Mohammedan's Bell)  The Methanmani (Mohammedan's Bell) is located in the beautiful Karuvelam Pura Palace complex. The word "Karuvela" means treasury. That treasury office once operated here. Inside the Karuvelam Pura Palace is the Navarathri Mandapam. During Navratri, the idol of Goddess Saraswathi brought from Padmanabhapuram Palace in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu is kept and worshipped at the Navarathri Mandapam. The attractive clock, Methanmani, comprises a head of a man, and two lambs. When the clock strikes, the figure tries to laugh, and two young goats ram on his face. This clock was installed during the reign of Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (Dharma Raja). Further modifications were made by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. Padma Theertham It was Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the king of Travancore from 1729 to 1758, who renovated Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the Padma Theertham (temple pond). The water to this pond wa...

The idol of this temple was once owned by the Travancore Nair Army based in Kalkulam, the capital of Venad. When the army was moved to Trivandrum, this idol was re-installed in Pazhavangadi by the Nair Army. When India gained independence, the Nair Army ceased to exist and the administration of this temple was taken over by the Indian Army in Pangode. The main offering is breaking coconuts. Devotees perform this offering to fulfill their desires or to ward off obstacles. In some cases, devotees offer coconuts before starting any new work or before the commencement of any ceremonies. Facing the Mahaganapathy Temple is a large park known as "Putharikandam". Once there was a large paddy field in its place. The rice from this field was offered as "Naivedyam" to Sree Padmanabhaswamy. Putharikandam is a part of the legend and history of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Now this park is used for political and social meetings, and for commercial exhibitions. Next to the Ganapat...

Are you visiting Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala State, to have a darshan at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple? If so, here is a guide to help you. Regardless of which platform you get off at Thampanoor railway station, exit the station through the easternmost platform via the railway overbridge. Walk 15 feet ahead and you will see a road next to a stone-built canal. Follow that road to reach the famous Sree Mahaganapathy Temple at Pazhavangadi within 10 minutes.  Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala, India. It is widely considered as the world's richest Hindu temple. The name of the city of 'Thiruvananthapuram' in Malayalam and Tamil translates to "The City of Ananta" (Ananta being a form of Vishnu). The temple is built in an intricate fusion of the Kerala style and the Dravidian style of architecture, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century gopura. The ma...

Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, is a coastal town in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu. It is famous for its ancient temples and monuments that are carved out of rock. Some of the most notable attractions are the Shore Temple, the Five Rathas, the Arjuna’s Penance, and the Krishna’s Butter Ball. Mahabalipuram is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination. Mahabalipuram has a rich history and culture that dates back to the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries CE. The Pallavas were patrons of art and architecture and commissioned many of the sculptures and buildings that are still standing today. They also developed a unique style of painting called the Pallava painting, which used bright colors and natural motifs to depict scenes from Hindu mythology and literature. Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu Contents ≡ Places you need to know in Mahabalipuram The Shore Temple The Pancha Rathas Arjuna's Penance Krishna's Butter Ball The T...

Araku Valley is a hill station in the Eastern Ghats mountain range in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located about 111 kilometers west of Visakhapatnam city. The valley is surrounded by lush green forests and coffee plantations. It is a popular tourist destination for its natural beauty, tribal culture, and adventure activities. ' Contents ≡ Best places to be visited in Araku Best Time to visit Araku Transportation available Best Places to be visited in Araku Valley Borra Caves Borra Caves Bora caves are a series of limestone caves that are home to a variety of stalactites and stalagmites. They are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Araku Valley. Padmapuram Gardens Padmapuram Gardens These are a beautiful garden with a variety of flowers, plants, and trees. The garden also has a few hanging cottages that offer stunning views of the surrounding valley. Chaparai Waterfalls ...