Monument – India Gate, Delhi
Built by – Sir Edwin Lutyen
Built in – 1931

“The India Gate or ‘All India War Memorial is the national monument of India and bears immense historical significance. It is situated on Rajpath in the heart of Delhi. India Gate is inspired by ‘Arc De Triomphe’ in Paris, France. It pays tribute to the 90,000 Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War First and the Anglo-Afghan War of 1919.

Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyen, the architect of Delhi, India Gate is a 42-meter high gateway built in pale stone, red stone and granite. This imposing structure is one of the largest war memorials in the country, with the names of over 13,000 soldiers written on it.

India Gate also houses a small structure called Amar Jawan Jyoti, which consists of a marble pedestal with a cenotaph on its top. The cenotaph has the words ‘Amar Jawan’ written on all four sides in golden letters and a reversed rifle, capped by a soldier helmet, installed on it.

Today, India Gate is a symbol of nationalism. Every year, on the 26th of January, the Republic Day parade commences from the gates of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and progresses past the India Gate. Wreaths are placed at the Amar Jawan Jyoti by the Prime Minister of India on that day.”

Photo Courtesy – delhitourism.travel

Monument – Hutheesing Jain Temple, Ahmedabad
Built by –  Sheth Hutheesing
Built in –  1484 AD

“The Hutheesing Jain temple was built in 1484 AD by Sheth Hutheesing, a wealthy merchant of that era. The temple is dedicated to the 15th Jain Tirthankar, Sri Dharmanatha.

Premchand Salat, the chief architect, designed the temple as an amalgamation of modern and old elements to create a picture of the divine union. The temple is a symbol of creativity. Stone has been morphed into wood, and the temple into haveli.

The entrance to the temple porch mirrors the gateway architecture of Havelis of that era. Intricately carved balustrades, balconies, chabutras and jaalis for women to have a quick look with finely carved walls render it a haveli look. The carvings on the walls and the intricate design call for more incredible and more profound attention.

The temple’s main building is double-storeyed with dome-shaped structures at its front and back, decorated with exquisite patterns and designs. There are 11 deities in the Hutheesing Jain Temple. 6 are enshrined in the basement, and the rest five are enshrined in the main hall.

The six-storey-tall victory tower, or Manastambha, is a pillar enshrining the footsteps and idol of Lord Mahavira. It is built to commemorate the two-and-a-half millennium of his birth anniversary. The tower stands as a visual reference to the temple. ”

Photo Courtesy – in.pinterest.com

Monument – Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi
Built by – Hamida Banu Begam
Built in – 1529

“Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi was built with the patronage of Humayun’s son, the great Emperor Akbar. Persian and Indian craftsmen worked together to build the garden tomb, far grander than any tomb built before in the Islamic world.

The Humayun’s Tomb was commissioned in 1526, nine years after the death of Humayun, by his widow Hamida Banu Begum. Built-in the memory of an emperor, Humayun’s Tomb memorializes a queen’s love for her deceased husband.

In 1993, Humayun’s Tomb, the first garden grave in India, was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Humayun’s Tomb is a magnificent fusion of Islamic architecture in Persian, Turkish, and Indian styles. It’s a classic Bagh Char garden with four gateways dividing the garden into four smaller portions.

The Humayun’s Tomb served as an early example for other Mughal tombs which were built over time, such as the Akbar’s tomb in Sikander, the tomb of Ghiyas-ud-Din Tugluq at Tugluqabad, the tomb of Sikander Lodi in the Lodi Gardens and the Taj Mahal.”

Photo Courtesy – www.mapsofindia.com

Monument – Howrah Bridge, Kolkata
Built by – Sir Bradford Leslie
Built in – 1943

Kolkata’s twin city and the second largest city of West Bengal, Howrah is one of the most preferred tourist destinations. Howrah Bridge, the sixth-longest bridge in India, is a kind of cantilever bridge in India.

The bridge was opened to the public in 1943 and was initially called the New Howrah Bridge since it had replaced the pontoon bridge. It links two cities- both Kolkata and Howrah. In 1965, it was given another name called Rabindra Setu and this name was kept in honour of the renowned Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.

The Howrah Bridge today is a proud symbol of Kolkata. It is often called the gateway to Kolkata, and with good reason, as it connects the city with the Howrah Railway Junction. At the other end of the bridge is the colourful chaos of the Mullick Ghat Flower Market.

Photo Courtesy – www.riderescaped.com

Monument – Delhi Darwaja, Ahmedabad
Built by – Britishers
Built in – 1878

“Delhi Darwaja is located on Mirzapur road in Ahmedabad. Also known as Idariyo Gate, the Delhi Darwaja lies towards the north side of the old citadel. Constructed from Ashlar Stone Masonry, it lies in the direction of the national capital Delhi, and that’s why it is called Delhi Darwaja. There are two openings on either side of the main gateway, each 8 feet wide and 16 feet wide.

Built in 1878, it was a transit point to the capital Delhi. It has a roofed platform with doors of iron-plated timber. Delhi Darwaja was a part of the second fortified walls built by Mahmud Begada during the expansion of the walled city.”

Photo Courtesy – heritageofahmedabad.com

Monument – Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Kolkata
Built by – Rani Rashmoni
Built in – 1855

“Located on the banks of the Hooghly River, the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple is one of the most popular places of worship not only in Kolkata but all across eastern India. The temple was founded by Rani Rashmoni in 1855, a philanthropist and an ardent devotee of the goddess Kali.

Built in the navaratna or nine spires style of Bengal architecture, the three-storeyed south-facing temple has nine spires distributed in the upper two stories and stands on a high platform with a flight of stairs. This widely famed temple of Dakshineswar is famous among pilgrims worldwide. It was at this very place that the Rama Krishna Paramhamsa, the highly revered religious thinker attained his spiritual vision and advocated the unity of all religions.

The beauty and charm of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple are such that a trip to Kolkata is often said to be incomplete without a visit to this temple.”

Photo Courtesy – www.viator.com

Monument – CST Station, Mumbai
Built by – Designed by British Architect F. W. Stevens
Built in – 1878

“The Chhatrapati  Shivaji  Terminus in Mumbai, formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India. The architectural style is blended with themes deriving from traditional Indian architecture.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the CST Station was designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens and became an iconic symbol of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’ and the major mercantile port of India. The construction of the terminal took over ten years, starting in 1878. The design was according to the High Victorian Gothic designs based on late medieval Italian models.

The remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches, and eccentric ground plan is close to traditional Indian palace architecture. The CST Station is an outstanding example of the integration of two cultures. The British architects worked with Indian craftsmen, creating an amalgamation of Indian architectural tradition and idioms, thus forging a new style unique to Bombay.

The terminus is the headquarters of India’s Central Railway. This is one of the finest functional Railway Station buildings in the world and is used by more than three million commuters daily.”

Photo Courtesy – commons.wikimedia.org

Monument – Classical Kathakali, Kerala
Built by – Developed under the patronage of the prince of Karnataka
Built in – originated in 17th century

Kathakali, a dance drama play, originated in Kerala between the 16th and 17th centuries under the patronage of the prince of Karnataka. This 300-year-old dance form is known for narrating stories through facial expressions and background music.

The literal meaning of the word Kathakali includes ‘Katha’, which means a traditional tale, and ‘Kali’ means art. Kathakali is a beautiful dance form representing Kerala’s art and culture.

This dance form uses exquisite expressions and hand and feet movements and also consists of a unique costume which is much different from other Indian Classical dance forms. The mask also forms a major attraction to this dance. It not only involves dance, but the name denotes that it also gives vivid importance to acting as the dance is done to explain a mythological story altogether.

According to tradition, there are 101 classical Kathakali stories. Most common among them are the tales from Ramayana and Mahabharata. It combines devotion, drama, dance, music, costumes and make-up into a religious experience for all who view it.

On your next visit to Kerala, visit the traditional theatres to enjoy one of the classical Kathakali stories.

Photo Courtesy – www.utsavpedia.com

Monument – Calico Textile Museum, Ahmedabad
Built by – Gautam Sarabhai and Gira Sarabhai
Built in – 1949

“The Calico Textile Museum was founded in 1949 by industrialist Gautam Sarabhai and his sister Gira Sarabhai. The museum was designed to empower the vast textile heritage of India. Calico Museum is now a famous gallery housing beautiful textiles dating back to the 15th century. Till 1983, the museum was a part of the Calico Mills and was later shifted to Sarabhai House.

There are different types of galleries in the museum. In the Religious Textiles gallery, one can see an extensive collection of Vallabha Sampradaya, a known devotional philosophy. Also, there is a Historical Textile Gallery where Mughal carpets, weapons, and hamlets can be seen. The textile technique gallery and library house many books related to textiles and art.

Calico Museum brings history alive in its vast collection that recalls the grandeur of bygone eras. The museum has the finest collection of attires and fabrics like silk weaving, patolas, patalu shawls, scarves and sarees. Embroidery collections like Adhai Dvipi Pata, Jnana Baji Pata, Sarada Purnima, Govardhana, Dharana, Ramanavami and Gopastami are showcased in Calico Museum.

An exclusive museum collection attracts researchers, designers and tourists from across India.”

Photo Courtesy –  www.calicomuseum.org