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India UNESCO world heritage sites

Assam state [capital = Dispur]

Kaziranga National Park in Golaghat @
In the heart of Assam, this park is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.

Manas National Park in Gobardhana @
On a gentle slope in the foothills of the Himalayas, where wooded hills give way to alluvial grasslands and tropical forests, the Manas sanctuary is home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, such as the tiger, pygmy hog, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant.

Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty in Bokopukhuri Habi at Charaideo Maidam
For 600 years, the Tai-Ahom created moidams (burial mounds) accentuating the natural topography of hills, forests and water, thus forming a sacred geography. Banyan trees and the trees used for coffins and bark manuscripts were planted and water bodies created. Ninety moidams – hollow vaults built of brick, stone or earth – of different sizes are found within the site. They contain the remains of kings and other royals together with grave goods such as food, horses and elephants, and sometimes queens and servants.

Bihar state [capital = Patna]

Nalanda Excavated Site in Bargaon on Nalanda University Site Road
It comprises the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE. It includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone and metal. Nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the Indian Subcontinent.

Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya @
The present Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya comprises the 50 m high grand Temple, the Vajrasana, sacred Bodhi Tree and other six sacred sites of Buddha's enlightenment, surrounded by numerous ancient Votive stupas, well maintained and protected by inner, middle and outer circular boundaries. A seventh sacred place, the Lotus Pond, is located outside the enclosure to the south.

Goa state [capital = Panaji]

Churches and Convents in Panaji see detail
The churches and convents of Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies, particularly the Church of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of St Francis-Xavier, illustrate the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia where missions were established.

Gujarat state [capital = Gandhinagar]

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park in Champaner @
A concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage properties cradled in an impressive landscape which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16th-century capital of the state of Gujarat. The site also includes, among other vestiges, fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, residential precincts, agricultural structures and water installations, from the 8th to 14th centuries.

Historic City of Ahmadabad @
The walled city of Ahmadabad, founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in the 15th century, on the eastern bank of the Sabarmati river, presents a rich architectural heritage from the sultanate period, notably the Bhadra citadel, the walls and gates of the Fort city and numerous mosques and tombs as well as important Hindu and Jain temples of later periods. The urban fabric is made up of densely-packed traditional houses (pols) in gated traditional streets (puras) with characteristic features such as bird feeders, public wells and religious institutions.

Rani Ki Vav in Patan at Mohan Nagar Socity
Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of high artistic quality; more than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often referencing literary works. The fourth level is the deepest and leads into a rectangular tank 9.5 m by 9.4 m, at a depth of 23 m.

City of Dholavira @
Occupied between ca. 3000-1500 BCE, the archaeological site, one of the best preserved urban settlements from the period in Southeast Asia, comprises a fortified city and a cemetery. Two seasonal streams provided water, a scarce resource in the region, to the walled city which comprises a heavily fortified castle and ceremonial ground as well as streets and houses of different proportion quality which testify to a stratified social order.

Haryana state [capital = New Delhi]

Red Fort in Delhi at Shantivana Marg, Lal Qila, Chandni Chowk
The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which, under the Shah Jahan, was brought to a new level of refinement. The planning of the palace is based on Islamic prototypes, but each pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions.

Humayun's Tomb in Delhi at Nizamuddin, Nizamuddin East
Humayun's Tomb stands within a complex of 27.04 ha. that includes other contemporary, 16th century Mughal garden-tombs such as Nila Gumbad, Isa Khan, Bu Halima, Afsarwala, Barber's Tomb and the complex where the craftsmen employed for the Building of Humayun's Tomb stayed, the Arab Serai.

Qutub Minar in Delhi at Seth Sarai, Mehrauli
Built in the early 13th century a few kilometres south of Delhi, the red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5 m high, tapering from 2.75 m in diameter at its peak to 14.32 m at its base, and alternating angular and rounded flutings. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311), and two mosques, including the Quwwatu'l-Islam, the oldest in northern India, built of materials reused from some 20 Brahman temples.

Capitol Complex in Chandigarh at Sector 1
Chandigarh Capitol Complex, located in the sector-1 of Chandigarh city in India, is a government compound designed by the architect Le Corbusier and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is spread over an area of around 100 acres and is a prime manifestation of Chandigarh's architecture. It comprises three buildings, three monuments and a lake, including the Palace of Assembly or Legislative Assembly, Secretariat, High Court, Open Hand Monument, Geometric Hill and Tower of Shadows.

Kalka Shimla Railway in Kalka on Kalka - Shimla Rd
The Kalka-Shimla railway is a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge railway in North India which traverses a mostly-mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla. It is known for dramatic views of the hills and surrounding villages. The railway was built in 1898 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the rest of the Indian rail system. During its construction, 107 tunnels and 864 bridges were built along the route.

Himachal Pradesh state [capital = Shimla]

Great Himalayan National Park in Banjar @
The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area is home to 805 vascular plant species, 192 species of lichen, 12 species of liverworts and 25 species of mosses. Some 58% of its angiosperms are endemic to the Western Himalayas. The property also protects some 31 species of mammals, 209 birds, 9 amphibians, 12 reptiles and 125 insects. The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area provides habitat for 4 globally threatened mammals, 3 globally threatened birds and a large number of medicinal plants.

Karnataka state [capital = Bengaluru]

Keshava Temple in Somanathapura on T Narasipura - Srirangapatna Road
The Keshava temple at Somanathapura faces east and is enclosed in a walled courtyard with a major gate (mahadvara). Outside the walls before the gate stands a tall pillar, which once had a Garuda statue on top, now missing. Inside the gate, to the left are vertical standing inscription stones. These stones have the form of the hero stones, with the top decorated with Hindu iconography as well as miniature reliefs of Keshava, Janardhana and Venugopala.

Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in Kumbarahalli on Subramanya Road
Mandalpatti peak, Kote betta and Makkalagudi betta are mountains fall in the sanctuary. Mallalli falls and Kote abbe waterfalls (also called as Mukkodlu falls) are located inside the sanctuary.

Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in Heggala on Makutta, Kannur - Mattannur - Coorg Road
The area has mainly evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, and in the higher altitudes, there are grasslands with shola forest patches. Bamboos are well represented in these forests. Brahmagiri River passing through Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. The top of Brahmagiri Hill is well forested and has a lot of wildlife.

Greater Talacauvery National Park in Karike on Panathoor Bhagamandala Inter State Road
The main roads are Kanhangad-Panathur, Karike to Bhagamandala (through the dense Coorg forest) and another connects Panathur & Karike to Sullia through KPC and Kallapally.

Hoysalesvara Temple in Hassan on Temple Road
The Hoysaleswara temple is a twin-temple dedicated to Hoysaleswara and Santaleswara Shiva lingas, named after the masculine and feminine aspects, both equal and joined at their transept. It has two Nandi shrines outside, where each seated Nandi face the respective Shiva linga inside. The temple includes a smaller sanctum for the Hindu Sun god Surya.

Chennakeshava Temple in Belur on Temple Road
The Chennakeshava complex at Belur consists of a 443.5 feet by 396 feet court with several Hindu temples and minor shrines inside a walled compound.

Kudremukh National Park in Kuduremukha @
The whole scenery of grassland interspersed with narrow strips of forests provides a fantastic vista.

Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Nadpalu on State Highway 65
The sanctuary is home to several animals including Barking Deer, Bonnet Macaque, Common Langur, Gaur, Jackal, Leopard, Lion Tailed Macaque, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Tiger, Wild Dog, and Wild Pig. There are also a few exquisite birds like Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Malabar Trogon, and Malabar Whistling Thrush which can be found in the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. Reptiles like pythons, Monitor lizards, and King Cobras abound in the forest. The forest is also a butterfly lover's paradise.

Reserve Forest in Agumbe at Suralihalla
Steep valleys with an evergreen rainforest and cloud-laden peaks, Agumbe Ghat offers spectacular views of the Western slope of this pristine landscape.

Group of Monuments in Hampi see detail
Among these, the Krishna temple complex, Narasimha, Ganesa, Hemakuta group of temples, Achyutaraya temple complex, Vitthala temple complex, Pattabhirama temple complex, Lotus Mahal complex, can be highlighted. Suburban townships (puras) surrounded the large Dravidian temple complexes containing subsidiary shrines, bazaars, residential areas and tanks applying the unique hydraulic technologies and skilfully and harmoniously integrating the town and defence architecture with surrounding landscape.

Monuments in Pattadakal @
An impressive series of nine Hindu temples, as well as a Jain sanctuary, can be seen there. One masterpiece from the group stands out, the Temple of Virupaksha, built c. 740 by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband's victory over the kings from the South.

Kerala state [capital = Thiruvananthapuram]

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kallikkad @
This sanctuary has a substantial natural vegetation cover. The diversity of its flora makes the sanctuary an ideal gene pool preserve.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary in Mannoorkara on Peppara Dam Road
Peppara Dam is where the sanctuary got its name from and the trek here gives one a gorgeous panoramic view of the entire valley.

Palode Forest Range in Palode on Thiruvananthapuram Thenmala Road,
Moderating the tropical climate of the region, the site presents one of the best examples of the monsoon system on the planet. It also has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism and is recognized as one of the world's eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity.

Kerala Forest Research Station in Kulathupuzha
Its forest constitutes predominantly of tropical wet - and semi - evergreens and moist deciduous types. Apart from settlements some parts are occupied by Forest departmental plantations mainly of teak, eucalyptus and acacia.

Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Thenmala @
Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest cover a major area of the sanctuary. It has a presence of lion-tailed macaque, a highly endangered species. A brood of the highly elusive nocturnal forest bird, the Great Eared Nightjar was spotted for the first time at Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Kollam, Kerala.

Achankovil Forest Division in Achankovil on Konni Achankovil Road
Epiphytic angiosperm flora is one of the important components of tropical montane rain forests.

Konni Reserve Forest in Aruvappulam on Konni Achankovil Road
The reserve is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Some of the popular tourist attractions in the reserve include the tea plantations, wildlife, and the beautiful landscapes.

Ranni Forest Division in Chittar-seethathodu on Gavi-Moozhiayar Road
With an area of 1,059 square kilometres (409 sq mi), the Ranni Forest Division is one of the best ecosystems in Kerala state.

Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kumily on Kumily Thekkady Road, Thekkady
The protected area covers an area of 925 km2 (357 sq mi). 305 km2 (118 sq mi) of the core zone was declared as the Periyar National Park in 1982. The park is a repository of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and the Pamba.

Eravikulam National Park in Idukki on Udumalpet Road
The terrain consists of high altitude grasslands interspersed with sholas. Anamudi, 2,695 meters, the highest peak in India south of the Himalayas is inside this park. Many perennial streams criss-cross the park. They merge to form tributaries of the Periyar river in the west and of the Cauvery River in the east. See: Lakkom Water falls is in this region.

Mankulam Range in Mankulam at Viripara
Forest department have an echo tourism trip here to deep dive into the "Dark forest" of Mankulam.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Munnar on Munnar - Udumalpet Road
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki is home to the Great Grizzled Squirrel of India. Numbering less than 200, they are among the most endangered species on the planet. Its unique location in the Western Ghats has ensured it gets less than 2 months of rainfall annually. The wildlife along with the deciduous trees makes it an ideal spot for trekking aficionados.

Mannavan Shola (part of Anamudi Shola National Park) in Kannan Devan Hills on Kanthalloor-Perumala Road
The giant tree ferns found in the forest are unique and believed to have existed from the time of dinosaurs. The Red Admiral butterflies which had become extinct in majority of the places in South India as the climate became warmer and also due to the disappearance of moist forests, could be seen only in the Anamalai Hills, Palani Hills, Meghamalai and Mannavan Shola.

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in Muthalamada South on Parambikulam Road
From the elusive tiger to the fiery leopard or the majestic Indian elephant or fresh water crocodiles, the breathtaking landscape is home to a plethora of endemic flora and fauna.

Reserve Forest in Attappadi
Attappadi Reserve Forest is a protected area covering the westernmost part of the Attappadi block of Mannarghat Taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala, south India.

Silent Valley National Park in Padavayal on Silent Valley - Mukkali Road
The park gradually slopes southward down to the Palakkad plains and to the west it is bounded by irregular ridges. The altitude varies from 658 m to 2328 m at Anginda Peak, but most of the park lies within the altitude range of 880 m to 1200 m. Soils are blackish and slightly acidic in evergreen forests where there is good accumulation of organic matter.

New Amarambalam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kavalamukkatta at Nilambur, Via Nedumkayam-Nilambur Road
Amarambalam comprises almost all mammals found in the Western Ghats: 25 mammals, including the endemic and threatened Lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) and Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius)

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur at Valayamchal Near Peravoor
One of the unique feature of the sanctuary is the existence of five species of diurnal primates (primates that are active during the day and sleep at night) - Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Black Footed Grey Langur, Common Langur, Bonnet Macaques and one variety of nocturnal primate, the Malabar Slender Loris.

Madhya Pradesh state [capital = Bhopal]

Bhimbetka rock shelters in Bhojpur Raisen @
Within massive sandstone outcrops, above comparatively dense forest, are five clusters of natural rock shelters, displaying paintings that appear to date from the Mesolithic Period right through to the historical period. The cultural traditions of the inhabitants of the twenty-one villages adjacent to the site bear a strong resemblance to those represented in the rock paintings.

Buddhist Monuments in Sanchi @
On a hill overlooking the plain and about 40 km from Bhopal, the site of Sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments (monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in different states of conservation most of which date back to the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. It is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence and was a major Buddhist centre in India until the 12th century A.D.

Group of Monuments in Khajuraho @
Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different religions; Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Temple of Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art.

Maharashtra state [capital = Mumbai]

Wildlife Sanctuary in Radhanagari @
Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary well known for being a 'Bison Sanctuary' , this sanctuary is home to the 'Indian Bison' or 'Gaur' which is found here in abundance, the sanctuary covers an area of about 351.16 square kilometers and it's terrain is undulating with steep ridges.

Chandoli National Park in Mandur at Taluka Shirala, Distrcit Sangli
Scenic places like Kandhardoh and Kandhardoh Falls, Tanali falls and Vasant Sagar Reservoir are places of tourist importance in the park. Scenic points like Kokan darshan, Zolambi sada and the virgin forest of Rundiv add to the recreation value.

Kaas Plateau in Satara @
Kaas Plateau has become famous for the various shades of the carpet and the tiny flowers that grow on the Kas Pathar Satara.

Wildlife Sanctuary in Koyna at Koyna Nagar
The sanctuary has a diverse variety of mammals including the keystone species, Bengal tigers (>6). Also, Indian leopards (14), Indian bison (220-250), sloth bears (70-80), sambar deer (160-175), barking deer (180-200) and mouse deer, common gray langurs, smooth-coated otters and Indian giant squirrels are common. Many species of birds are found in the sanctuary including the distinctive heart-spotted woodpecker, rufous woodpecker, and brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, Asian fairy bluebird, long-tailed nightjar and crested goshawk. Large Indian pythons and king cobras are found here. An endemic frog Bufo koyanansis has its only habitat in this protected area.

Caves on Island of Elephanta @
The 'City of Caves', on an island in the Sea of Oman close to Bombay, contains a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Shiva. Here, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high reliefs in the main cave.

Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles in Mumbai at Oval Maidan + Marine Drive
The first expansion included the construction in the 1880s of a group of Victorian Gothic public buildings and the creation of the Oval Maidan. The second expansion was the Backbay Reclamation Scheme in the early 20th century, which offered a new opportunity for Bombay to expand to the west with Art Deco residential, commercial and entertainment buildings and the creation of the Marine Drive sea front.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai on Fort
Its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are close to traditional Indian palace architecture. It is an outstanding example of the meeting of two cultures, as British architects worked with Indian craftsmen to include Indian architectural tradition and idioms thus forging a new style unique to Bombay.

Caves in Ellora, Aurangabad on Ellora Cave Road
Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. Not only is the Ellora complex a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.

Ajanta Caves in Thana at MH MSH 8
The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence.

Odisha state [capital = Bhubaneswar]

Sun Temple in Konarak on Kasia-Tamkuhi Road
On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya's chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, it is one of India's most famous Brahman sanctuaries.

Rajasthan state [capital = Jaipur]

Fort in Jaisalmer on Fort Road, Manak Chowk, Amar Sagar Pol
The fort's massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion colour during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sun sets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason it is also known as the Sonar Quila or Golden Fort. The fort stands amidst the sandy expanse of the great Thar Desert on Trikuta Hill.

Fort in Kumbhalgarh @
The fortifications of the fort extend to the length of 36 kilometers and this fact has made this fort to be in the international records. It is stated to be the second longest wall in the world, the first being ''the Great Wall of China''. The huge complex of the Fort has numerous palaces, temples and gardens making it more magnificent.

Fort in Chittorgarh on Chittor Fort Road
It sprawls over a hill 180 m (590.6 ft) in height spread over an area of 280 ha (691.9 acres) above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort precinct has several historical palaces, gates, temples and two prominent commemorative towers.

Fort in Gagron on Hadoti, Jhalawar
The setting couldn't have been more picturesque or dramatic, and one would think that Gagron Fort would be impregnable and unconquerable. History, however, tells us otherwise as Gagron has seen many battles, sieges, two jauhars (or self-immolation by women) and change of rulers.

Ranthambhore Fort in Sawai Madhopur on Ranthambore Fort Road
It is a formidable fort having been a focal point of the historical developments of Rajasthan. The fort is known for the glory and valor of Hammir dev of the Chauhan dynasty.

City of Jaipur see detail
The city's urban planning shows an exchange of ideas from ancient Hindu and modern Mughal as well as Western cultures. The grid plan is a model that prevails in the West, while the organization of the different districts refers to traditional Hindu concepts.

Palace and Fort in Amer on Amer Road, Devisinghpura
Cradled on the top of a hill near Jaipur lies the Amer Fort, one of the most magnificent palaces in India. Also commonly known as the Amber Fort, this majestic building with its maze-like passages and serpentine staircases is an architectural masterpiece and with significant importance in Indian history.

Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur on Mathura-Bharatpur Road, Krishna Nagar
The park was the only known wintering site of the central population of the critically endangered Siberian Crane, and also serves as a wintering area for other globally threatened species such as the Greater Spotted Eagle and Imperial Eagle. During the breeding season the most spectacular heronry in the region is formed by 15 species of herons, ibis, cormorants, spoonbills and storks, where in a well-flooded year over 20,000 birds nest.

Sikkim state [capital = Gangtok]

Khangchendzonga National Park in Sakkyong @
Located at the heart of the Himalayan range in northern India (State of Sikkim), the Khangchendzonga National Park includes a unique diversity of plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers and spectacular, snow-capped mountains covered with ancient forests, including the world's third highest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga.

Tamil Nadu state [capital = Chennai]

Monuments in Mahabalipuram @
This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges', and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva.

Brihadeeswara Temple in Gangai Konda Cholapuram @
In addition to the main shrine, the temple complex has a number of smaller shrines, gopura, and other monuments, with some partially ruined or restored in later centuries. The temple is famed for its bronze sculptures, artwork on its walls, the depiction of Nandi and the scale of its tower.

Airavatesvara Temple in Kumbakonam at Gurunathan Pillai Colony, Darasuram
The stone temple incorporates a chariot structure, and includes major Vedic and Puranic deities such as Indra, Agni, Varuna, Vayu, Brahma, Surya, Vishnu, Saptamtrikas, Durga, Saraswati, Sri devi (Lakshmi), Ganga, Yamuna, Subrahmanya, Ganesha, Kama, Rati and others. Shiva's consort has a dedicated shrine called the Periya Nayaki Amman temple.

Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur on Membalam Road, Balaganapathy Nagar
The Brihadisvara temple continued the Hindu temple traditions of South India by adopting architectural and decorative elements, but its scale significantly exceeded the temples constructed before the 11th century. The Chola era architects and artisans innovated the expertise to scale up and build, particularly with heavy stone and to accomplish the 63.4 metres (208 ft) high towering vimana.

Mukurthi National Park in Ooty at Mount Stuart Hill
The park is characterised by montane grasslands and shrublands interspersed with sholas in a high altitude area of high rainfall, near-freezing temperatures and high winds. It is home to an array of endangered wildlife, including royal Bengal tiger and Asian elephant, but its main mammal attraction is the Nilgiri tahr.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Ooty on Mysore Road, Kathadimattam
The route features different geographic forms making it an unforgettable journey. Wavy paddy fields cover a 7-km long stretch from Mettupulayam to Kallar. The next part of the route spanning for a distance of 21 km from Kallar to Coonoor is dotted with rocky terrains. This rocky track has many twists and turns through 13 tunnels. Then, there is a steep rise from Coonoor to Fern Hill, the highest point on the route.

Karian Shola National Park in Pollachi
This is an important area for the Asian elephant, and among the numerous mammals are various deer, wild boar, tiger, leopard and smaller carnivores. There are several primates, sloth bears, mongooses, otters, squirrels, rats, hares, shrews, porcupines and pangolins. Besides these there are numerous species of bird, reptile and amphibian as well as butterflies, moths, beetles, mantises, ants, termites and spiders.

Grass Hills National Park in Anamalai @
The landscape is a combination of peaks and high plateaus above 2000m MSL composed of montane shola-grassland ecosystem that is unique to the higher ranges of the Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary in Srivilliputhur @
In addition to grizzled giant squirrels, other animals seen here are barking deer, bonnet macaque, common langur, elephants, flying squirrels, gaur, Indian giant squirrel, leopard, lion-tailed macaques, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur, Nilgiri Tahrs, palm civets, porcupine, sambar, slender loris, sloth bear, spotted deer, tree shrews, wild boar and wild cats.

Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tirunelveli at NGO Colony
KMTR has at least 150 endemic plants, 33 fish, 37 amphibians, 81 reptiles, 273 birds and 77 mammal species. A 1997 Census by Project Tiger produced the following wildlife counts: tiger 73, leopard 79, jungle cat 1 755, wild dog 1 718, elephant (N/A), gaur 232, sambar 1 302, chital 1 966, Nilgiri tahr 8 780, wild pig 187, mouse deer 172, sloth bear 123, lion-tailed macaque 37, bonnet macaque 61, Nilgiri langur 61, common langur 61, slender loris 61, giant squirrel 61, and crocodile 61.

North Forest in Tirunelveli on Moondradaippu, NH-7, Madurai Highway Road
Assorted types of woodlands from southern thorn scrub forests to lush tropical wet evergreen woodlands are found in Tirunelveli.

Telangana state [capital = Hyderabad]

Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple in Telangana on Palampet
The building features decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite with a distinctive and pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower) made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called ‘floating bricks’, which reduced the weight of the roof structures. The temple’s sculptures of high artistic quality illustrate regional dance customs and Kakatiyan culture.

Uttarakhand state [capital = Dehradun]

Valley of flowers National park in Ghangaria @
The virgin beauty of this valley lures the botanists, nature lovers and adventure lovers as well. It is the home of over 500 species of wildflowers.

Nanda Devi National Park in Joshimath @
Within the National Park lies the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, a glacial basin surrounded by a ring of peaks between 6,000 metres (19,700 ft) and 7,500 m (24,600 ft) high, and drained by the Rishi Ganga through the Rishi Ganga Gorge, a steep, almost impassable defile.

Uttar Pradesh state [capital = Lucknow]

Fort in Agra at Rakabganj
Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.

Taj Mahal in Agra on Fatehabad Road, Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj
Its recognised architectonic beauty has a rhythmic combination of solids and voids, concave and convex and light shadow; such as arches and domes further increases the aesthetic aspect. The colour combination of lush green scape reddish pathway and blue sky over it show cases the monument in ever changing tints and moods. The relief work in marble and inlay with precious and semi precious stones make it a monument apart.

Complex of monuments and temples in Fatehpur Sikri at Buland Gate, Dadupura
Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.

West Bengal state [capital = Kolkata]

Sundarbans National Park in Gosaba at Dayapur
The mangrove habitat supports the single largest population of tigers in the world which have adapted to an almost amphibious life, being capable of swimming for long distances and feeding on fish, crab and water monitor lizards. They are also renowned for being "man-eaters", most probably due to their relatively high frequency of encounters with local people.

Santiniketan in Bolpur at Uttarayan Complex
Distinct from the prevailing British colonial architectural orientations of the early 20th century and of European modernism, Santiniketan represents approaches toward a pan-Asian modernity, drawing on ancient, medieval and folk traditions from across the region.

Himalayan Railway in Darjeeling on Hill Cart Road, Limbugaon
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the DHR or Toy Train, is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway based on zig zag and loop-line technology which runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. Built between 1879 and 1881, with six zig-zags and five loops, the railway is about 88 km (55 mi) long. Its elevation varies from about 100 m (328 ft) at New Jalpaiguri to about 2,200 m (7,218 ft) at Darjeeling. Although four diesel locomotives handle most scheduled service, the daily tourist trains (from Darjeeling to Ghum, India's highest railway station, and the Red Panda, from Darjeeling to Kurseong) and steam-enthusiast specials are hauled by vintage British-built B-Class steam locomotives.