India's Heritage Bucketlist!

Turn the page on India’s glorious history and you will be amazed with how rich this country is—in imagination and in the sheer diversity of its culture. The ultimate India heritage list would probably cross a thousand, so here’s just a glimpse…

- Priya Bala

1 Mysore Palace Once the royal residence of the rulers of Mysore, this edifice stands out with its opulence and grandeur, combining Hindu, Muslim, Gothic and Rajput styles. When the palace is illuminated on special occasions it makes a splendid sight.   

2 Aihole Once the capital of the Chalukya dynasty, Aihole in north Karnataka, is packed with a string of ancient temples. One of the major attractions here is the Aihole Inscription. Composed in Sanskrit and old Kannada script, it dates back to 634 BC and serves to reconstruct the events of that time.

3 Undavalli Caves This site, 6 km from Vijayawada, is an outstanding example of the temple architecture of the 4th and 5th centuries AD. Carved out of solid sandstone, the cave temples contain frescoes and sculptures, including a massive reclining Vishnu.

4 Tawang Monastery India’s largest monastery, and the world’s second-largest, this magnificent structure sits atop a mountain in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. It was established in the late 17th century on the request of the 5th Dalai Lama and is revered by Buddhists.

5 Lal Qila A symbol of India’s nationhood—it was here that the first Independence Day was celebrated—the Red Fort Complex was built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad, the new capital of Shah Jahan. Built of red sandstone, it is held up as a pinnacle of Mughal architecture.

6 Rang Ghar One of the oldest surviving amphitheatres in Asia, this two-storeyed structure in Assam, once served as a royal pavilion from where the Ahom rulers of the region watched sports such as buffalo fights. The Rang Ghar is located 3 km from Sibsagar.