India, with its rich history covering a period of more than 5000 years, boasts of several fascinating monuments that represent various dynasties, cultures, religions and eras. These monuments that depict the rich heritage and historical past of India are wonderful and real epitomes of Indian culture, heritage and civilization.
For the sake of convenience, the various monuments of the country are here categorized under these two key heads--religious & spiritual monuments, and colonial monuments.
Religious and Spiritual monuments
Khajuraho Temples (Madhya Pradesh), Jain Shrines (Dilwara), Jagannath Temple (Puri), Sun Temple (Konark), Kailasnath Temple (Ellora), Qutub Minar (Delhi), Taj Mahal (Agra), and Jama Maszid (Delhi) are some of the main religious and spiritual monuments of India.
Colonial Monuments
India remained under the colonial rule for more than 350 years. The British, the French, the Portuguese, besides the Dutch and the Danes, ruled over India or at least a part of it, at one or the other time during this period. Even though most of them did not really make India their home (except the British), and badly plundered the country making India a poor nation, they, especially the British, gave India some of the most beautiful monuments.
The British made beautiful buildings and administrative centres at several places throughout the country, especially at Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Patna employing different styles of architectures, such as Gothic, Imperial, Christian, and Victorian. The architectural brilliance and symmetrical beauty of these amazing monuments even now dazzle people. Rajabai Tower (Mumbai), Victoria Memorial (Kolkata), Law Courts (Chennai)... these are just some of the many magnificent monuments that are the legacy of the British Empire.
