Marvelous Monuments

Shri Vishwanath Mandir also known as Vishwanath Mandir, Vishwanath Temple, New Vishwanath Temple and Birla Temple is one of the most famous temples and biggest tourist attractions in the holy city of Varanasi. The temple is situated in Benaras Hindu University and is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Shri Vishwanath Mandir has the tallest temple tower in the world. Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, was destroyed (and reconstructed) several times; in 1194 by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, between 1447-1458 by Hussain Shah Sharqi and then in 1669 CE by Aurangzeb. In 1930s, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya planned to replicate Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in the campus of Benaras Hindu University. The Birla family undertook the construction and foundation was laid in March 1931. The temple (Shri Vishwanath Mandir) was finally completed in 1966. Shri Vishwanath Mandir's construction took thirty-five years to complete (1931-1966). The temple is one of the tallest in India. Total height of ...

The Ramnagar Fort is a fortification in Ramnagar, Varanasi, India. It is located near the Ganga River on its eastern bank, opposite to the Tulsi Ghat. The sandstone structure was built in the Mughal style in 1750 by Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh. At present, the fort is not in a good shape. It has been the home of Kashi Naresh since the eighteenth century. The current king and the resident of the fort is Pelu Bhiru Singh, who is also known as the Maharaja of Varanasi even though this royal title has been abolished since 1971. The fort is at a scenic location on the eastern right bank of the Ganges River, opposite to the Varanasi Ghats. It is 14 kilometres from Varanasi and 2 kilometres from the Benares Hindu University by pontoon. The pontoon bridge, which provides access to the fort, has rickety planks. During the monsoon season, the fort is accessible across the river by ferry service only. A painted state barge with a twin emblems in the form of horses could be seen moored...

The Galteshwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located at Sarnal village near Dakor in Kheda district, Gujarat, India. The 12th century temple is unique in its style and of its period because it is built in central Indian Malwa style, bhumija, without influence of Paramara architecture and with influence of Gujarati Chaulukya architecture. It has square garbhagriha (shrine proper) as well as octagonal mandapa (dancing hall). The temple is located at the confluence of the Galta or Galti and Mahi rivers near Sarnal village. The temple received its name from the Galta river. Hasmukh Sankalia has identified it with the Chalukya architecture based on its circular shrine proper, crucifix form dancing hall and the ornamentation. Madhusudan Dhaky disputed it and mentioned the Gujarati architectural influence in shikhara and moldings and decorations on its basement and wall proper. Dhaky opines that the temple may have been constructed by someone who did not have first-hand ...

Dada Harir built a mosque in Asarwa area, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.  The mosque, more than 500 years old shows Islamic, Jain & Hindu temple architecture & the stone carvings are unbelievable and like metal sculpture. Just behind Dada Harir Step Well, this Bai Harir Sultani Mosque is located. This was also built about 1500 AD. According to the board outside, she was the chief officer of the female quarters of the Sultan Mahmood Begda of Gujarat. There isn't more information on this place. It had a narrow path of step that lead to the terrace of the mosque, on either sides of the main shrine. Picture Credit:  Parth Vaghela

Dhai Harir, a household lady of Mahmud Begada according to the Persian inscription, built a tomb in which she was buried. It is in Asarwa area, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. This said to be the final resting place of Bai Harir. There are 5 tombs within this structure. Picture Credit:  Parth Vaghela

Dada Harir Step well is a step well in Asarwa area 15 KM off Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The step well was built in 1485 by Dhai Harir, a household lady of Mahmud Begada according to the Persian inscription in the step well. She was the superintendent of the royal harem. The well bears two inscriptions, one in Sanskrit on the south, and one in Arabic on the north wall, of the first gallery.   The Arabic writing reads: This holy and wholesome water; the splendid travelers’ rest-house enclosed on four sides by carved and painted walls, and a grove of fruit trees with their fruit, a well, and a pool of water for the use of man and heist, were built in the reign of the Sultan of the Sultans of the age, established by the grace of God and of the faith, Abul Fath Mahmud Shah, son of Muhammad Shah, son of Ahmed Shah, son of Muhammad Shah, son of Muzaffar Shah the Sultan, may God keep his kingdom. Dated the metropolis of the kingdom the 2nd of Jamadi-ul-awwal in the 26th...

Tomb of Mahmud Begada is a mausoleum located in the village of Makarba, Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, India. Sultan Mahmud Begada or Mahmud Shah I (r. 25 May 1458 – 23 November 1511), was the most prominent Sultan of Gujarat Sultanate. Raised to the throne at young age, he successfully captured Pavagadh and Junagadh forts in battles which gave him his name Begada. He established Champaner as the capital. Sultan Mahmud Begada was fond of Sarkhej and expanded this complex greatly. He dug a large Sarkhej lake, surrounded it with cut stone steps, built on its south-west corner a splendid palace, and finally, opposite to the Ganj Baksh's tomb, raised a mausoleum for himself and his family, where he, his son Muzaffar Shah II and his queen Rajbai are buried. Across the courtyard on the left are two mausoleums with a connecting porch, the east mausoleum containing the tombs of Mahmud Begada, and of his son Saltan Muzaffar II, and the west, the tomb of Rajabai, Muzaff...

Sarkhej Roza is a mosque and tomb complex located in the village of Makarba, 7 km south-west of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, India. Although there are many rozas across Gujarat, the Sarkhej Roza is the most revered. Sarkhej was once a prominent centre of Sufi culture in the country, where influential Sufi saint Shaikh Ahmed Ganj Baksh lived. It was on the saint's suggestion that Sultan Ahmed Shah set up his capital on the banks of the Sabarmati, a few miles away from Sarkhej. Shaikh Ahmed Khattu Ganj Bakhsh of Anhilwad Patan, the friend and adviser of Ahmad Shah I, retired to Sarkhej in his later life and died here in 1445. In his honour a tomb, begun in 1445 by Muhammad Shah II, was, in 1451, finished by his son Qutbuddin Ahmad Shah II. The next Sultan Mahmud Begada was fond of the place and expanded the complex greatly. Entering the covered eastern gateway on the north bank of the Sarkhej Lake, the building to the right with a handsome stone pavilion in ...

Helical Step Well is located at Champaner in Gujarat. It is situated a little outside the town of Champaner, towards Vadodara. This 16th century step well has a 1.2 meter wide staircase that spirals down along the wall of the well shaft, making it quite unusual in design among step wells of the region. These steps are narrower towards the center and wider at the wall. The well wall is made of brick while the steps are made of stone. This step well is unique in that it has a circular stairway leading down to the water. Champaner’s rulers designed a very good water management system, to avoid the water shortage during summers. Champaner (Pavagadh) has a large numbers of small and big Talao, step wells, and other water management systems. The city of Champaner is also otherwise known as "the city of a thousand wells". The Pavagadh hills which overlook the city of Champaner contain a number of pools and ponds and are hence known as "the hills of a hundred p...

The Gateway of India is an arch monument built during the 20 th century in Mumbai, India. The monument was erected to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder on their visit to India in 1911. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the foundation stone for the Gateway of India was laid on 31 st March 1911. The structure is an arch made of basalt, 26 meters (85 feet) high. The final design of George Wittet was sanctioned in 1914 and the construction of the monument was completed in 1924. The Gateway was later used as a symbolic ceremonial entrance to India for Viceroys and the new Governors of Bombay. It served to allow entry and access to India.   The Gateway of India is located on the waterfront at Apollo Bunder area at the end of Chatrapati Shivaji Marg in South Mumbai and overlooks the Arabian Sea. The monument has ...