Seven Wonders of India Which Every Indian Must Visit
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India is a land of diversity, art, and culture and it is reflected in the Seven Wonders of India. Yes, while everyone knows about the Seven Wonders of the World, India has its own Seven Wonders to boast of and they are symbols of pride for the country. They reflect the heritage and rich history of the nation and its archives the greatness of the country as a whole. Here is a list of these very special seven wonders in India:
Seven wonders of India:
1.Gomateshwar in Karnataka
2.Hampi in Karnataka
3.Harmandir Sahib Gold Temple in Punjab
4.Khajuraho
5.Konark Sun Temple in Odisha
6.Nalanda in Bihar
7.Taj Mahal in Agra
1. Gomateshwar in Karnataka
Gomoteshwar is a monolithic statue and it is dedicated to Lord Bahubali who is considered to be an important leader of the Jains. This huge statue is located in the Shravanabelagola region of Karnataka and happens to be one of the largest free standing statues in the entire world. The statue looks very serene and calm and thousands of visitors come here every day. The statue is a staggering 160 feet tall and is a sight to behold. The temple of the statue holds the Mahamastakabhishek festival each year which happens once in 12 years. During this festival, the figure of the statue is washed and polished with milk, saffron and ghee so that the luster and sheen of the rock it is carved from is maintained and also as a sign of reverence. You must visit this statue once in your lifetime to gaze upon this huge work of art.
How to Reach: The site of the statue is about 94.5 km away from Mysore Airport. It can also be reached via NH 75.
2. Hampi in Karnataka
Hampi, also in Karnataka, is located by the great river Tungabhadra and happens to be the most famous of all the historical places in India, still more or less perfectly preserved. The historical ruins and relics are from the medieval times and were built during the great Vijaynagar Empire. The ruins of Hampi are already a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the monuments and temples in the complex are breathtaking. Do not forget to visit the Monkey Temple, Vijaya Vittala Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Queen’s Bath and other notable places within the village premises.
How to Reach: The Hubli Airport is about 167.3 km away and the Hospet railway station is 13 km away. One can also reach by driving via NH 48 and NH 50.
3. Harmandir Sahib Gold Temple in Punjab
This dazzling temple is the holy seat of the Sikhs all over the world. It is popularly known as the Golden Temple or the Durbar Sahib. The Holy Granth Sahib is kept here and the gold plated temple has stunning copper domes and a body of pristine white marble. The motifs have Islamic influence and the floral patterns are intricate and exquisite. The place is very calm and serene and although the daily footfall is very high, everyone maintains discipline and offers their prayers with utmost serenity. If you are in search of inner peace, this is perhaps one of the few places in the world where you may end up finding it. The temple complex is very clean and visitors are requested to maintain the hygiene of the place. Everyone should enter the temple complex with their head covered. The langar of the temple feeds about a million people every single day and is run entirely by volunteers. Within the temple complex, you must also visit the Hari Mandir, Amrit Sarovar, and the Central Sikh Museum.
How to Reach: Guru Ram Das International Airport is about 11 km away only from the city center. Buses are available from Delhi, Shimla and Jammu.
4. Khajuraho
Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh is known for its great and marvelous Hindu and Jain temples and because of their jaw dropping statuettes. The artwork is spectacular and the sculptures depict romance, love and spirituality at the same time. It is a monument dedicated to art work worldwide. There are several temples here like the Kendriya Mahadev Temple and the Devi Jagaambi Temple, along with the Chausath Yogini Temple, Chitragupta Temple and Nandi Temple, among various others. A sound and light show takes place here which depicts the reign of the Chandela dynasty. You must come here with enough time on your hands to explore all the temples.
How to reach: With its own airport and railway station, Khajuraho is easy to reach.
5. Konark Sun Temple in Odisha
The Sun Temple is located in Konark in Orissa and is a cluster of ancient temples with jaw-dropping artwork and sculptures. The stone structure is immense and it is hard to imagine how such intricate artwork was depicted here. The temple is built in the Kalinga style and was commissioned by King Narsimhadeva the First of the Ganga Dynasty. The most notable feature of the temple is the three statues of the Sun God where the sun rays hit at dawn, noon, and dusk. The sundial has 12 wheels which are pulled by seven horses and depict the time of the day.
How to reach: Bhubaneshwar Airport is 64 km away and Puri station is 31 km away. Buses are also available from Puri.
6. Nalanda in Bihar
Nalanda University, located in today’s Patna happens to be one of the most ancient and brilliant seats of learning in the country. It is one of the oldest universities in the entire world and it is believed that even students from China, Greece, Tibet and Persia came to learn here. The university had a very strict entrance exam even in those days and various subjects like mathematics, astronomy, geography and medical science were taught here, apart from languages and philosophy. The excavated ruins of Nalanda have excited historians from all over the world and they visit this huge university complex which was complete with huge classrooms, libraries for various departments and dormitories for students. There is an important place to visit like the Pavarika mango grove, Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall, the Great Stupa and Surya Mandir.
How to reach: The Lok Nayak Jayaprakash International Airport is about 97 km away and the Rakgir railway station is about 12 km away. One can also take a bus from cities like Patna, Bodh Gaya, and Pawapuri among others.
7. Taj Mahal in Agra
Last but not least is the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra. The mausoleum was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mamtaz Mahal. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the entire world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well. The mausoleum is made entirely in white marble and there is inlaid work. The huge building had real gemstones encrusted in the walls, which were later pillaged by intruders and invaders. The words of the Holy Quran are engraved on the walls while in the center of the mausoleum, the empress and the emperor lay side by side in eternal peace. The grand entrance is in itself a sight to behold.
How to Reach: The Indira Gandhi International Airport is 220 km away and the Agra Cantonment is about 20 km away and is connected to every Indian metro city and most Tier-II cities. Buses are also regularly available for Delhi, Jaipur, and other cities.
These India ke 7 Ajoobe will make you feel proud to be a part of this great country and make you interested all over again in India’s history. (Seven Wonders of India )
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