Check out the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North India before you plan your next trip, and witness the variety of natural and cultural beauty India has to offer. By Anushka Goel
If you love to travel, one thing that should be a must on your bucket list is exploring the UNESCO World Heritage sites. India, with its rich past and cultural history, has a large number of forts, ancient temples, delicately carved caves and even national parks filled with exotic flora and fauna.
A lot of these sites across the country come under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), while a number of them are also UNESCO World Heritage sites spread across the various regions of India – North, South, East, West, and even the North-East. So, for the nature and history buffs, these sites are a great way to explore the country, and witness sites that the world comes to see, in your homeland.
Check out the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North India
Himachal Pradesh
Kalka Shimla Railway Line
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The Kalka-Shimla Railway is one of the three mountain railway routes in India that feature on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the only one in North India. The scenic Kalka-Shimla route takes one through the mighty Himalayas, in its 96.6-kilometre long route. The single-track railway was built in the mid-19th century to improve transportation services to Shimla and speaks of the brilliance of engineering at the time. The railway is still operational, and the route makes for a great experience complete with scenic views that vary as the seasons change — from snow-covered routes to fallen rhododendron flowers carpeting the ground to the filtered sunlight that peeks through the trees.
The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
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Lying in the Western Himalayas, the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area consists of a variety of Himalayan landscapes — from high, alpine peaks to glaciers, riverine forests, and more. It features distinct conifer and broad-leaf trees and is a compact, natural, and biodiverse protected area with 25 forest types and rich fauna.
Uttarkhand
Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Parks
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The breathtaking landscapes of the Nanda Devi peak and Valley of Flowers make for one of the most stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North India, which is complete with beautiful flowers that complement the rugged yet majestic Himalayan peak of the Nanda Devi. Both the regions are rich in biodiversity and have several endangered and rare species such as the snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer, Asiatic black bear, brown bear and a multitude of plant species.
Uttar Pradesh
Taj Mahal, Agra
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The seventh wonder of the world is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in North India. The white marble structure, built by Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, is visited by tourists and is one of the most scenic dedications of love that have ever been made. The Taj Mahal makes for a breathtaking sight, with the white marble offsetting the blue skies, the red sandstone structures, and the lush green gardens. It reflects the many moods of the day and even the seasons and is a beautiful spot that one must visit.
Agra Fort
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A large chunk of the Agra Fort is with the Army, but what remains is one of the many scenic sites that one should visit. Located in close proximity to the Taj Mahal, the Fort takes about an hour or two to see completely, and consists of red sandstone walls and structures, earning it the name ‘Red Fort of Agra’. The Mughal monument has 2.5 kilometre long enclosure walls, and consists of several palaces including the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, along with the Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-i-Khas, and two beautiful mosques as well.
Fatehpur Sikri
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Also located in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri is yet another structure that has made it to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North India, and can be visited on the same tour as one’s visiting Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Also called the City of Victory (hence, the name Fatehpur Sikri), the place served as the Mughal capital for some 10 years and was the first planned city by the Mughals to be marked by magnificent administrative, residential, and religious buildings, including palaces, public buildings, mosques, living quarters for the court, army, servants and the city.
Delhi
Humayun’s Tomb
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The first garden-tomb of the Indian subcontinent, Humayun’s Tomb was commissioned by the Emperor’s chief consort, Bega Begum. The structure, located in Nizamuddin East, is close to the Old Fort and can be covered as one of the many tourist spots (and among the three World Heritage Sites) in Delhi. Humayun’s Tomb not only has the grave of the emperor but also of several others including Bega Begum, Hamida Begum, Dara Shikoh. Muhammad Kam Bakhsh, and more. The manicured gardens make for a great place to walk around, while the structure in itself is a pleasure to walk around and explore.
Qutub Minar and its monuments
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Built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the first Mughal ruler of Delhi, the Qutub Minar is a 73-metre tall minaret that stands tall in Delhi’s Mehrauli area. The tapering structure is five storeys high, marked by balconies on each level. The construction of the minar was carried on by Aibak’s successors Iltutmish and Firoz Shah Tughlak, who finished the structure to what it is today. The architecture is characteristic of Islamic structures but has influences from Jain and Hindu temple structures as well. The surrounding monuments feature the tomb of Iltutmish, the Quwwatu’l-Islam mosque with its extension, Alauddin Khilji’s madarsa and more, which collectively form this UNESCO World Heritage Site in North India.
Red Fort Complex
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The third World Heritage Site in India’s capital city, Delhi, is the Red Fort. Yet another Mughal structure, it was built as the residential palace for Shahjahanabad, the capital of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Its characteristic red structure is courtesy of the long, massive red sandstone walls that enclose the fort, as well as the structures inside. The architecture is inspired by Mughal, Hindu, Timurid and other influences, and its vast gardens and palaces make for a great place to spend hours exploring the history of India.
Rajasthan
Hill forts of Rajasthan
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Rajasthan is yet another state in North India that boasts of several UNESCO World Heritage sites and even cities. Among the most popular is the hill forts of Rajasthan, comprising six structures – Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Jaisalmer, Amber (Amer) and Gagron Forts – which speak of the Rajput rule in India, the various wars fought between the Rajput kings and the Mughals, and stories of victory and failure.
The long, fortified walls encased vast homes, palaces, army cantonments, and more of these Rajput kings. Chittorgarh is known largely for the battle between king Ratan Singh and Alauddin Khilji, which led to his wife Padmavati and thousands of other women committing Jauhar. The same has been depicted in the movie Padmaavat as well. Kumbhalgarh, on the other hand, has a different history. Folklore suggests that every construction of the fort was demolished by natural calamities, until Bhairon Singh, a monk, decided to give up his life in order for the construction to go smoothly. The fort features the largest man-made wall in India and the second-largest in the world, the first being the Great Wall of China.
Ranthambore Fort is a forest hill fort and its remains are among the oldest surviving ruins of Indian history, while Gagron is a river-protected fort. Amber Palace in Jaipur is representative of the Rajput-Mughal architectural style, which can be seen in the structure of its various gardens, mahals, courtrooms and more. The Jaisalmer Fort is a hill fort amid the desert, and the township within it is inhabited even today. It also contains a series of important Jain temples.
Jaipur city
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Jaipur is an example of how an entire city has the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag attached to its name. The city, which is relatively young (being almost 300 years old), was painted a beautiful terracotta pink hue by Sawai Ram Singh to welcome Albert Edward, the then Prince of Wales, in 1876.
The city is a great example of planned architecture, with beautiful chaupars, grid-like structures of its markets, houses and streets, places of worship, havelis, and more. It also features structures such as the Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal and the City Palace, which encapsulate the history of the city and its past.
Jantar Mantar
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The Jantar Mantar was built in the 19th century as an astronomical observation site, with its 20 fixed instruments, masonry and heart-shaped structure. Constructed by prince Jai Singh II, the observatory served as the meeting point of different scientific cultures. It also acted as a clock and was a symbol of royal authority and the control of time.
Keoladeo National Park
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The Bird sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, is among the natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North India. It is known for housing a multitude of bird species, right from migratory avians that come from Afghanistan, Siberia, Turkmenistan and China to those local to India’s habitat. An evening here can be very informative about the movement patterns of these creatures and is a great way to spend some time in nature.
Hero and Featured Image: Courtesy of @indian.backpacker/Instagram
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