Top 5 Historic Cities of India

Dating back to the ancient times of the Ramayana, the city is considered to be built by the gods as described in the Atharveda. The city is located at the banks of the Ganges River and is said to be the birthplace of Lord Rama the 7th avatar of Lord Vishnu. Ayodhya is currently located in the State of Uttar Pradesh and one of the 7 holy cities of India. Owing to its pilgrim significance, Ayodhya houses several ancient temples and forts which are visited by a huge number of tourists every year.

Hampi is an archaeological site and is located within the ruins of Vijaynagar in the State of Karnataka and is a UNESCO world heritage site. The site is also a major pilgrim spot in India and its ancient temples are a marvel to behold. The city, although predating the time of the Vijaynagar Kingdom had its golden days during the Kingdom and its various temples and other structures exemplify that fact. The Virupaksha Temple is one of the most illustrious structures of the site and its marvelous Dravidian styled architecture and its religious significance attracts a huge number of visitors each year.

Located in the State of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is a medieval town that is famous for its various monuments and temples which are significant to the Hindu and Jain communities of India. The Temples are attributed to the Chandelas who ruled the region from 500 to 1300 AD. The group of monuments at Khajuraho is a UNESCO world heritage site and is visited by tourists from all around the globe. The temples are made in sand stone and the stone carvings are intricate and marvelous.

One of the oldest spiritual and cultural learning centers, the Nalanda is located in the State of Bihar and dates back to the 5th century AD and the Gupta Dynasty. The Nalanda University is spread in an area of 14 hectares and attracted scholars and pupils from Greece, China, Tibet and Persia in the ancient times. The university functioned as a cultural learning center till 1193 till it was plundered and destroyed by the Turkic Muslim general Bakhtiyar Khilji. The ruins are a protected archaeological site which has been proposed to be restored under the Nalanda International University with associated countries like China, Japan, Singapore and India.

Currently a ghost town that only serves as a tourist spot, Fatehpur Sikri was a bustling and marvelous capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. It was founded in 1569 by Akbar and is located in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Fatehpur Sikri served as the Mughal?s capital till it was shifted to Agra and then Delhi. Fatehpur Sikri contains several palaces, massive gateways and holy tombs and is one of the best examples of the Mughal Architecture in India. The stone carvings and the various painting and craftsmanship is simply marvelous and the architectural style combines the Persian and Hindu architecture. While the aforementioned 5 places are just a small example of the grandeur that has influenced the historical Indian culture, a visit to them is a must. The various monuments, forts and ancient temples and other archaeological findings have attracted the attention of several historians and tourists who like to experience the diverse culture of India.