Best Historical Places in India

Indulge in extensive sightseeing to know more about the history, enjoy the city tours and witness the vibrant culture that thrives in the small lanes and regional markets. Discover the hidden gems at these destinations and don’t forget to click a lot of pictures to decorate your Instagram feed. Once you are done touring the heritage destination, take a part of that city with you by shopping for souvenirs for your friends from the regional markets, where handicrafts and wooden articles can easily be found. Try out the various popular dishes of the region, hop lanes for the best street-food and enjoy fine-dining for a mouth full of the local cuisine. Take out some time to explore the off-beat parts of the heritage destination too, for pleasant surprises and everlasting memories. With special heritage destination trip ideas, have the picture-perfect break that you dream of.

A journey to historical places is an experience that is unique in many ways. It is a glimpse into tradition, culture, way-of-life in the past and our heritage. A visit to a historical place allows you to travel back in time and discover surprising treasures. On one hand, gaining special knowledge benefits you and on the other, you support the preservation of heritage. It is a big gain for kids if they take a trip to historical places. While such a trip reminds you of the culture of the bygone era, it helps kids see the bigger picture and understand concepts such as slavery, freedom etc. A tour of the historical places in India would make you proud of the achievements of your ancestors. Just look for ‘historical places near me’ to have a quick trip abound with cultural relics and honoured heritage.

Aurangabad, India

Feel the vibe of spartan piousness on your tour of historical places by visiting Ajanta and Ellora caves. Just a one-hour drive from the city of Aurangabad are the incredible rock-cut caves of Ajanta and Ellora. The Buddhist caves of Ajanta date back to the 2^nd century BC to the 6^th century AD. It demonstrates old cave paintings and sculptures on the life of the Buddha. The Ellora caves, on the other hand, depicting Buddhist, Hindu and Jain religion display exceptional architecture. These were built between the 6^th and 11^th centuries AD. This location stands out among most historical places in Maharashtra for being UNESCO certified World Heritage Site.

Hampi, India

Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site when touring historical places in Karnataka. The last capital of the Vijayanagar empire, Hampi was destroyed in 1565. The captivating city planning and the fascinating ruins are worth exploring. What makes Hampi one of the most intriguing historical places are the unusually scattered boulders that do not roll downslope even during monsoons or when pushed. Though pillaged and abandoned, Hampi retains an atmosphere of energy within its almost 500 temples, monuments and palaces.

Agra, India

When you start listing the unmissable historical places in India, the Taj Mahal will definitely feature there. The monument that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, has a romantic charm that attracts tourists from all over the world. Emperor Shah Jahan had it constructed between 1632 and 1648. The intricately carved marble mausoleum sits on the banks of river Yamuna. The white structure seems to change hues with the changing light of the day. The short-lived capital of Fatehpur Sikri is near Agra. Emperor Akbar built it in 1569 to honour the Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. Now, it joins the list of overlooked historical places.

Delhi, India

Delhi ranks top among most Indian historical places. If you can afford the time, there is a plethora of historical places in Delhi, the capital of India. The Red Fort is the most important monument in Delhi, even from a political point of view. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan instructed its construction in 1638. Old Delhi, then called Shahjahanabad, grew around this structure. Since independence, the Prime Minister hoists the national flag on this building every 15^th August. Delhi also houses the unique iron pillar called Qutub Minar built almost 2000 years ago.

Konark, India

One of the must-visit historical places in Odisha, Konark is a blend of sculptural beauty and spiritualism. Konark is famous for the Konark Sun Temple built in the 13^th century. This magnificent temple is a UNESCO-certified World Heritage Site. A giant Sun chariot within the temple was carved with seven horses and 12 giant wheels by King Narasimhadeva I. Parts of the temple crumbled bringing ruination to it. Now, a part of the temple has been removed and reinstated in the Jagannath Temple in Puri. When visiting various Indian historical places, don’t miss Konark.

Patan, India

Though Patan has entered the list of historical places in Gujarat newly, it is one of the most exceptional of them all. This small location is famous for its recently excavated stepwell known as Rani Ki Vav. Built by the widowed queen of King Bhimdev I, the stepwell was silted over by the floods in river Saraswati. This stepwell has almost 500 major and 1000 minor sculptures. The amazing feat of not leaving any stone uncarved is commendable. The well was dug out and cleared recently adding one more location to India’s historical places.

Petra, Jordan

Here you embark on a visit to a historical place that stuns you as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Also called The Rose City, Petra was once the capital of the Nabataean empire. Established around the 6^th century BC, the city had an incredible water conduit system and rock-cut architecture. Carved into the mountainside of the red sandstone, the remains of the city still shows the huge amphitheatre, caves, temples, tombs and El Deir monastery. The 147-foot tall façade turns out to be one of the most awe-inspiring of all historical places.

Giza, Egypt

If you are looking for spellbinding architectural wonders in historical places of the world, visit Giza. Constructed around 2500 BC, these unbelievably giant structures have lasted the ravages of time. The pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure had them built to last an eternity. The complex includes three large pyramids, three small pyramids, the statue of the Great Sphinx, palaces, cemeteries and workers’ villages. The sheer majesty of these pyramids will make your tour of historical places worthwhile.

Machu Picchu, Peru

This city from the Inca empire will make you feel like a discoverer stumbling upon a hidden treasure during travel to historical places. Nestled between two lofty Andean peaks, more than 2400 metres above sea level, the structures were built in the 15^th century. Agricultural terraces and natural springs of water surround the 5 square miles remarkable town making it self-sufficient. Built to either study astronomy or as a sacred place, the sturdy granite walls do not have mortar. These make Machu Picchu an ancient wonder among the historical places of the world.

Rome, Italy

Rome stands out among all historical places due to its incredibly long involvement in the rise and fall of empires. Of the many monuments and structures of historical importance that you must visit while in Rome, the most spectacular is The Colosseum. This largest amphitheatre was built around 70-80 AD. It could host 50,000 spectators at once when gladiator matches, public spectacles and executions were organised. While there, make quick visits to The Pantheon, The Roman Forum, Saint Peters Basilica, Baths of Caracalla and the Gladiator School.

With the global rise in tourism, we should travel with some purpose. What better purpose than to appreciate and promote historical places? The exposure to an unknown heritage and culture does enrich us and broadens the minds of the next generation. If the purpose seems worthwhile, quickly type ‘historical places near me’ and embark on an eye-opening journey.