India as it exists today is a new phenomenon. In the thousands of years before partition, India was a lush peninsula comprised of princely states. The rise and fall of kingdoms; their cultural and social reforms; and their artistic, linguistic and religious systems have all contributed to the India of today. India's recorded history goes back over 5000 years to the time of the Indus Valley Civilization. Understanding India with its long history of conquests and complex social and religious systems can be daunting. Our unique Cultural & Heritage travel packages bring you closer to understanding India and its complex history.
Some of the tours that we have offered in the past include a tour of South Indian Temple towns, as well as the beautiful and ornate architecture of southern temples. You could explore some of the towns that are known for their dance heritage; like Kutiyattam, a dance form that is over 2000 years old and recently declared a 'masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity' by UNESCO. You may choose instead to go on a 'Land of the Maharajas' tour and marvel at the sheer might and magnificence of India's forts and palaces. Whether in ruin, or restored in recent times, the stories of strength and opulence are abundant and reveal a bygone era.
Perhaps a religious experience is what you are searching for? A holiday to Buddhist sites across the country may be for you. You can visit Buddhist architecture in Sanchi, or the Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya: both designated 'World Heritage Sites' by UNESCO. The excavated site at Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh contains innumerable relics ranging from the early Stone Age to the late medieval period. This site is considered one of the most extensive remains of Buddhist heritage found anywhere in the world.
Whether you want to leave the planning up to us or consult your travel guide and give us your preferences, with a country as vast and diverse as India, your options are limitless! Mughal Architecture, Indian craftsmanship, Yoga ashrams, Indian classical music or immersing yourself in the vibrancy and colour of Indian festivals are just a few more themes for a heritage holiday of a lifetime.
Agra Fort
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
An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.
Fatehpur Sikri
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.
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Ajanta Caves
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.
Buddhist Monuments at 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.
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Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
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 the 14th centuries. The Kalikamata Temple on top of the Pavagadh Hill is considered to be an important shrine, attracting large numbers of pilgrims throughout the year. The site is the only complete and unchanged Islamic pre-Mughal city.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(Victoria Terminus)
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus in Mumbai, is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. The building, designed by the British architect F.W. Stevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’ and the major international mercantile port of India. The terminal was built over ten years starting in 1878 according to a High Victorian Gothic design based on late medieval Italian models. 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 forging a new style unique to Bombay.
Churches and Convents of Goa
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.
Elephanta Caves
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 relief’s in the main cave.
Ellora Caves
These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. 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.
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Great Living Chola Temples
Two great Chola Temples of the 11th and 12th centuries have been added to the 11th century Brihadisvara temple of Thanjavur, inscribed in 1987. The Great Living Chola Temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire, which stretched over all of South India and the neighbouring islands. The site now includes the three great 11th and 12th century Chola Temples: the Brihadisvara temple of Thanjavur, the Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram. The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram, built by Rajendra I, was completed in 1035. Its 53-m vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with the straight and severe tower at Thanjavur. It has six pairs of massive, monolithic dvarapalas statues guarding the entrances and bronzes of remarkable beauty inside. The Airavatesvara temple complex, built by Rajaraja II, at Darasuram features a 24-m vimana and a stone image of Shiva. The temples testify to the Cholas brilliant achievements in architecture, sculpture, painting, and bronze casting.
Group of Monuments at Hampi
The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries. Conquered by the Deccan Muslim confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months before being abandoned.
Group of Monuments at 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.
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
Pattadakal, in Karnataka, represents the high point of an eclectic art which, in the 7th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty, achieved a harmonious blend of architectural forms from northern and southern India. 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.
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
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.
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. 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.
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains on the southern edge of the central Indian plateau. 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.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment. The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries. It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, still standing in India, from the late Gupta period.
Mountain Railways of India
Still operational today, these hill passenger railways crossing regions of great beauty are outstanding examples of bold, ingenious engineering solutions for the problem of establishing an effective rail link through a rugged, mountainous terrain. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway opened in 1881, while the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, though proposed in 1854, was begun in 1891 and completed in 1908 due to the difficulty of the mountainous location which scales an elevation of 326m to 2,203m. It was highly significant in facilitating population movement and the social-economic development in the British colonial era.
Sun Temple, Konarak
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.
Kaziranga National Park
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.
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Keoladeo National Park
This former duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas is one of the major wintering areas for large numbers of aquatic birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China and Siberia. Some 364 species of birds, including the rare Siberian crane, have been recorded in the park.
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
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.
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
These are some of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the Himalayas. Dominated by the peak of Nanda Devi, which rises to over 7,800 m, Nanda Devi National Park has remained more or less intact because of its inaccessibility. It is the habitat of several endangered mammals, especially the snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer and bharal. The Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty, and is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya, praised by mountaineers and botanists for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer.
Sundarbans National Park
The Sundarbans covers 10,000 sq. km of land and water(more than half of it in India, the rest in Bangladesh) in the Ganges delta. It contains the world's largest area of mangrove forests. A number of rare or endangered species live in the park, including tigers, aquatic mammals, birds and reptiles.
List of World Heritage Sites in India
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Cultural
- Agra Fort(1983)
- Ajanta Caves(1983)
- Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi(1989)
- Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park(2004)
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(formerly Victoria Terminus)(2004)
- Churches and Convents of Goa(1986)
- Elephanta Caves(1987)
- Ellora Caves(1983)
- Fatehpur Sikri(1986)
- Great Living Chola Temples(1987)
- Group of Monuments at Hampi(1986)
- Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram(1984)
- Group of Monuments at Pattadakal(1987)
- Humayun's Tomb, Delhi(1993)
- Khajuraho Group of Monuments(1986)
- Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya(2002)
- Mountain Railways of India(1999)
- Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi(1993)
- Red Fort Complex(2007)
- Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka(2003)
- Sun Temple, Konarak(1984)
- Taj Mahal(1983)
Natural
- Kaziranga National Park(1985)
- Keoladeo National Park(1985)
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary(1985)
- Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks(1988)
- Sundarbans National Park(1987)
Properties submitted on the Tentative List
- Temples at Bishnupur, West Bengal(1998)
- Buddhist Monastery Complex, Alchi, Leh, known as Alchi Chos-kor(1998)
- Golconda Fort, Hyderbad, Andhra Pradesh(1998)
- Dholavira : a Harappan City, Gujarat, Disstt, Kachchh(1998)
- Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen's Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat(1998)
- Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala(1998)
- Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, Sasaram, Bihar(1998)
- Group of Monuments at Mandu, Madhya Pradesh(1998)
- Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh(1998)
- Hemis Gompa(1998)
- Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab(2004)
- River Island of Majuli in midstream of Brahmaputra River in Assam(2004)
- Kalka Shimla Railway(2004)
- The Matheran Light Railway(extension to the Mountain Railways of India)(2005)
- Western Ghats(sub cluster nomination)(2006)
- Namdapha National Park(2006)
- Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch(2006)
- Kangchendzonga National Park(2006)
- Urban and Architectural Work of Le Corbusier in Chandigarh(2006)
