Towns and Places of Historical Importance

Aihole : It is in Karnataka. It contains chief sites of Chalukyan architecture – nearly 50 structural stone temples important in the development of Hindu architecture and sculpture.

Ajanta Caves : 66 miles north of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State. These are rock-cut. Buddhist caves, 29 in number. These caves represent a record of unique painting, sculpture and architecture of the period from about the 2nd century B.C. to about 7th century A.D.

Amaravati : is the legendary capital of Svarga. Also a historical site near modern Vijaywada, believed to have flourished under the Satavahana dynasty.

Ayodhya : a few miles from modern Faizabad, near Lucknow, was capital of the Kasala and the surya kings of ancient India. Rama was the most prominent among hem.

Badami (or Vatapi) : in Karnataka, it is well-known for Chalukyan sculpture found in the cave temples. These are groups of Hindu temples dating back to 7th or 8th century and are examples of pure Dravidian architecture. Besides cave temples and rock-cut pillared halls, there is also the famous Malegitti Sivalaya temple.

Belur : in Karnataka, It is famous for its elaborately sculptured Cheena Kesava temple of the Hoysala period.

Bodh Gaya : is situated six miles south of Gaya in Bihar State on the western bank of the Lilajan river and connected by two metalled roads. It is famous as the place where Buddha got enlightenment. There are modern monasteries, rest houses and museum.

Daulatabad : near Aurangabad in Maharashtra State and is famous for rock-cut 12 century fortress near the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Elephanta Caves : on the island of the same name about 6 miles from Mumbai harbour. There are rock-out caves of the 7th and 8th century.

Ellora Caves : about 15 miles north-west of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State. There are about 34 caves excavated in the face of a hill.

Fatehpur Sikri : 23 miles from Agra in Uttar Pradesh was the city found by Akbar in 1569 but abandoned soon after. The place contains a number of places, shrines, mosques. The most notable among them is Buland Darwaza, 176 feet high and built to commemorate the conquest of Khandesh.

Hampi : in Karnataka, 9 miles from Hospet railway station. It is the ruined capital of the Vijayanagar Empire.

Junagadh : in Gujarat State and is one of the most ancient cities of India. It is situated below the Girnar Hill. The temples on the Hill are known for their architecture and paintings.

Kanchipuram : or the ‘Golden City’, 45 miles south-west of Chennal is known for Kailashnath temple. It was the capital of successive dynasties of Hindu rulers.

Kanheri : 20 miles from Mumbai and is known for its Buddhist caves dating back to the 1st century A.D.

Kapilvastu : a small ancient kingdom in the north of India; associated with Mahatma Buddha.

Khajuraho : in Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh and is famous for its group of highly ornate mediaeval Hindu temples.

Lothal : An ancient town, situated on the sea-plain of former Saurashtra, 450 miles south-east of Mohenjo-Daro. The excavation made here represent Indus Valley Civilization.

Madurai : popularly known as the ‘City of Festivals’, was till the 14th century the capital of the Pandyan kingdom which had sea-borne trade with Rome and Greece. It is famous for Minakshi temple.

Mamallapuram (now Mahabalipuram) : Situated 53 miles from Chennai, it is known for rock-cut temples, monolithic figures and carvings of the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. The chief points of interest here are the Five Rathas or temples modelled as chariots–‘Arjuna Ratha’. ‘Draupadi Ratha’, ‘Dharmaraja’s chariot’ etc. Also famous for Shore temple.

Mandu : In Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the largest medieval city sites. It has extensive remains–fortifications and palaces–a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim style in architecture and painting; Jama Masjid (of Mandu).

Mithila : was the home of three scholar sages–Gargi, Maitreya and Kapila. It was the capital town of Raja Janak’s territory.

Mohenjo-daro : in the Larkana district of Sind (now in Pakistan). It is the site of excavation revealing pre-Aryan Indus Valley Civilization.

Nalanda : in Bihar, It was the seat of an ancient Buddhist University. It contains a group of Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Pandharpur : is in Sholapur district (Maharashtra State). It stands on Bhima river and is one of the most sacred places of pilgrimage in the State.

Pragjyotishpur : was the capital of an ancient tribal kingdom in Kamarupa or modern Assam. (It is the new capital of Assam State).

Rajgir : It is 8 miles south-west of Nalanda by road. It is an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. It was the capital of Bimbisara in ancient times. Buddha preached at Rajgir, and so did Mahavir, the great preceptor of the Jains.

Sanchi : in Madhya Pradesh and is famous for the largest and the most well-preserved Buddhist Stupa (108-foot in diameter and 42-foot in height).

Sarnath : near Varanasi is the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after he became the ‘Enlightened One’. The place is known for Buddhist temples and remains.

Seringapatam : in Karnataka and was the ancient capital of Tipu Sultan. (Now known as Seringapatnam).

Somnathpuram : in Karnataka and is known for temples Hoysala period, Kesave temple.

Sravanabelgola : in Karnataka is famous for its Jain temples and the colossal statue of Gomateswara–65-foot high erected in A.D. 983. It is the tallest monolithic in the world.

Srirangam : an island on the Cauvery river two miles north of Tiruchirapalli. It contains one of the largest temples in south India of the Vijayanagar period.

Tanjore : was the capital of Cholas. It is situated in the delta of the Cauvery in Tamil Nadu. Also known for Brihadeswara temple.

Taxila : ancient capital of Gandhara and one of the most renowned cities of ancient north-west India.

Tirupati : in Andhra State, situated about 100 miles to north west of Chennai and is one of the holiest places in South India. This hill temple of Sri Venkateswara is an example of early Dravidian architecture and is one of the finest in the south.

Ujjain : known to be the seat of king Vikrama. It is situated on the Sipra in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the seven sacred cities also known as Avanti. The Oriental Museum here has some valuable manuscripts and pieces of sculpture. Mahakaleshwar temple here is known as a pilgrimage centre.

Vaishali : in the district of Muzaffarpur in Bihar and was the capital of famous Vaishali kingdom in ancient times. It was the capital of Lichchavis also.

Vikramasila : was a great Tantrik University established by the Pala King Dharampala in AD 810. It was a hotbed of moral corruption, socery and idolatry. In AD 1198, the soldiers of Ikhtiar Khalji raised the structure to the ground and killed all the monks in the university.