Variety is the main spice in India. There is probably not a single thing that you cannot find in this country. We all have an idea about the 7 Wonders of the World. But how many of us know about the 7 Wonders of India? If you are one of the people who have not explored India enough then you can start off with exploring the 7 Wonders in India. There are specific reasons why these places are a part of the list of Wonders of India. The sculptures, the formations, architecture and vastness of these places made them the finest pieces of Indian Art and Culture. Everyone needs to visit these places otherwise they would miss out on these majestically impressive sites in India.
In the year 2007, Times of India conducted a survey and a voting where 20 sites were included for the 7 wonders list, and out of them these 7 places have secured the position of Top 7. The survey was conducted through SMS responses by the general public. These Seven Wonders of India are famous tourist spots and are visited by a lot of travel enthusiasts on a daily basis. If you want to know everything about these 7 sites then keep on reading this article.
List of 7 Wonders of India
Gomateshwara
Location: Shravanabelagola , Vindhyagiri Hill, Karnataka
Timings: 6:30 am to 11:30 am and 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
Best time to visit: October to March
How to reach Gomateshwara
How to reachby Air: Mysore Airport at a distance of 95km is the closest Airport. Bangalore International Airport is also the nearest airport that is connected to the majority of the world.
How to reach by Train: The closest major railhead is the Shravanabelagola Stop and is well connected to major cities like Mangalore, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Pune and Mysore.
How to reach by Road: The distance from Bangalore is 144km by road via NH 75.
This is a statue dedicated to the Jain God Bahubali. He was the son of Rishabhadeva and the brother of Chakravartin. It is believed that he stood at one place for 12 years and meditated in that motionless posture. Climbers started growing around his legs during that time. This is a monolithic statue that is carved out of a single granite block. It stands tall at a height of almost 58 feet. This statue is one of the largest free standing statues of the world and looks magnificent.
One of the special festivals here is the Mahamastakabhisheka which takes place every 12 years. At that time the statue is polished with ghee, milk, sandalwood, turmeric, vermillion and saffron to preserve the shine and gloss of the formation and also to show respect toward the God. The last time this festival took place was in 2018 and the next one is due in the year 2030.One must visit this place once to witness the larger than life statue and appreciate the beauty of this formation. This is one of the most popular tourist spots and one of the prominent structures you can find in India.
Nearby places to visit from Gomateshwara:
You can visit the Akkana Basadi temple, Bhandari Basandi Temple, Mini Gomateshwara Statue nearby.
Hampi
Location: Vijayanagara District, Hampi, Karnataka
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm
Entry fee: Rs. 30 for Indians and Rs. 500 for foreigners for entering the Vitthala Temple and Zanana Enclosure.
Best time to visit Hampi: October to March
How to reach Hampi
By Air: The Bellary Airport is the closest domestic Airport at a distance of 60 km. Bangalore International Airport at a distance of 350 km is the nearest International Airport.
By Train: Hospet is the nearest railway station located 13 km away.
By Road: Hampi Bazaar is the main bus stand and there are intercity buses from all major cities.
Hampi is popular for the ruins and relics of the Vijayanagar kingdom. Hampi is popularly known as Hampi Group of Monuments. It is a popular historical site and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The area is huge, spreading across 4100 hectares. The importance of this site goes back to the 13th century. Hampi is also known as the Temple Town because of the presence of over 500 monuments and temples. This temple town is also known by different names like Pampa Kshetra, Bhaskara Kshetra, Kiskinda Kshetra. The area is massive with historical evidence at every other corner. A walk down the village will be historically enriching and a history buff will enjoy the heritage site a lot. This is one of the locations with maximum ruins of the last Hindu South Indian Kingdom.
Hampi is also famous for the Purandara Festival. It is a festival held during the months of January to February every year. This festival is celebrated on the birth anniversary of famous medieval poet and composer Purander.
Nearby places to visit from Hampi:
Hampi is like a museum and there are so many things to see there. Some of the notable are Sculpture of Lord Narasimha, Virupaksha Temple, Temple Town at Hemakuta Hill, Lotus Mahal, Queen’s Bath, Vittal Temple, Kamalapuram Archeological Museum etc.
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Harmandir Sahib Golden Temple
Location: Golden Temple Road, Atta Mandi, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar, Punjab
Timings: 4 am to 11 pm
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
Best time to visit: October to March
How to reach Harmandir Sahib Golden Temple
Air: The Raja Sansi International Airport in Amritsar also known as the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport is the closest airport at a distance of 11 km.
Train: Amritsar Junction Railway Station is the nearest railway station which is 2 km away.
Road: There are intercity buses available from major cities like Shimla, Delhi etc and Amritsar Bus Stand is the nearest Bus Stand.
Golden Temple is one of the most important religious sites for the Sikh Community. The temple holds a lot of relevance for the Sikhs. The shrine here is considered the holiest by the devotees. The upper structure of this temple is gold plated and the walls are made of white marble. The architecture style reflects some Islamic floral patterns. The ambience here is very serene and soothing. The temple is built over a man made artificial water body. Nearly 1 lakh visitors visit the Golden Temple daily.
The temple is also known for the famous Guru Ka Langar. It is the grand feast that serves 35000 people on a daily basis at free of cost. There is a Central Sikh Museum, Akal Takht, Teja Singh Samundri Hall and Clock Tower as well.
Nearby places to visit from Harmandir Sahib Golden Temple:
Some of the popular places to visit nearby are Jallianwalabagh War Memorial, Wagah Border, Durgiana Temple, Bathinda Fort etc.
Khajuraho
Location: Madhya Pradesh
Timings: 8 am to 6 pm
Entry fee: Rs. 40 for Indians and Rs. 600 for foreigners
Best time to visit: November to February
How to reach Khajuraho
By Air: The closest Airport is Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport.
By Train: Khajuraho Junction is the closest railway station which is 5 km away.
Khajuraho is a cluster of several Hindu and Jain Temples and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The monuments are constructed in ancient Nagara style of architecture and date back to 950-1050 CE. Previously there were a total of almost 85 structures here but out of them only 20 structures could be preserved. The artwork here depicts the supreme form of eternal romance, passion and love and is one of the most acclaimed sites in the whole world.
One of the main attractions for tourists over here is the Light and Sound Show that is depicted through classical Indian Music and visuals using floodlights regarding the Chandela Dynasty. Surely do visit this place and witness the jaw dropping architectural work.
Nearby places to visit from Khajuraho:
Devi Jagadambi Temple, Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Chausath Yogini Temple, Viswanath Temple, Chitragupta Temple, Varaha Temple, Nandi Temple, Khajuraho Archeological Museum, Ken Ghariyan Sanctuary, Panna National Park etc.
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Konark Sun Temple
Location: Puri District, Odisha
Timings: 6 am to 8 pm
Entry fee: Rs. 40 for Indians and Rs. 600 for foreigners
Best time to visit: November to March
How to reach Konark Sun Temple
By Air: Bhubaneswar Airport is the closest airport which is 64 km away. The Biju Patnaik International Airport is another airport nearby that is connected to most of the major cities in the world.
By Train: Puri Junction is the closest Railway station at a distance of 31km
By Road: Konark Bus Station is the nearest bus stop. There are Odisha State Public Transport buses from all major cities like Puri, Bhubaneswar etc.
The Konark Sun Temple is basically a cluster of multiple ancient temples. This is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The main structure was built by Narasimhadeva I. the temple is made in traditional Kalinga style of architecture. The main point of attraction in this temple is, the deity inside the temple is placed in such a way that the sun rays hit the idol of Sun God during the dawn, dusk and noon.
The formation looks like a huge chariot with massive wheels on all sides. The wheels look spectacular and the formation is made in a way where the chariot is pulled by seven horses. The wheel in the chariot is used as a sundial which means astronomically the time can be predicted according to the rays of the sun touching the three massive sculptures of Sun God during the dawn, noon and dusk.
Nearby places to visit:
Some of the popular nearby tourist attractions here are Konark Archeological Museum, Archeological Excavation of Buddhist Site, Astaranga Beach, Ramchandi Temple etc.
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Nalanda
Location: Patna, Bihar
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Entry fee: Rs. 15 for Indians and Rs. 200 for foreigners.
Best time to visit: November to February
How to reach Nalanda
By Air: Gaya International Airport is the closest international Airport. The other airport nearby is the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash International Airport at a distance of 97 km from Patna.
By Train: At a distance of 12 km the Rajgir Railway Station is the nearest railway station. Gaya Railway station at a distance of 95 km and Nalanda Railway Station connects to most of the major cities.
By Road: There are buses available from all the major cities like Rajgir, Patna, Gaya, Bihar etc.
This is one of the oldest educational centers found in India. This is also one of the world’s oldest Universities. This was a Buddhist monastery and Mahavihara and centre for spiritual learning in the 17th century. It was believed that previously students from all over the world like China, Tibet, Greece and Persia used to travel here to enhance their learning skills and attain educational qualifications. Even during that time there were entrance exams to get admission in this university and they included subjects like mathematics, geography, astronomy and medical.
The ruins of Nalanda were excavated and now stand as a great source to know and understand the history. The formation is mostly in ruins now and a lot of the ruins are also included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Nearby places to visit:
The Great Stupa, The Pavarika Mango Garden, Surya Mandir, Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall and Nalanda Archeological Museum are some of the popular tourist attractions here.
Taj Mahal
Location: Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Timings: 6 am to 7 pm. On full moon night it is also open from 8:30 pm to 12:30 along with the regular timing. Closed on Fridays.
Entry fee: Entry fee for Indians is Rs. 50 and Rs. 1100 for foreigners. Additional Rs. 200 charges for visiting the mausoleum.
Best time to visit: November to February
How to reach Taj Mahal
By Air: Kheria Airport is the nearest airport which is at a 5km distance. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is the closest International Airport that connects to all the major cities in the world.
By Train: Raja ki Mandi, Agra cantonment, Agra Fort are the closest railway stations. Agra Cantonment is located at a distance of 5km.
By Road: Central Bus Station Agra is the nearest bus stop. There are many buses that connect Agra with major cities like Delhi. Kanpur, Jaipur etc.
Taj Mahal needs no introduction when it comes to a historic monument. This white marble architecture is one of the 7 Wonders of the World as well as one of the 7 Wonders in India. This is one of the sites for UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well. The structure was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his loving 3rd wife Mumtaz. Around 20,000 artisans built this magnificent monument over two decades. This beauty stands tall with its grandeur and is one of the historical monuments that everyone must visit at least once in their whole lifetime. Taj Mahal looks splendid during the day and during night too as it changes the color according to the lighting. It is a spectacular sight to witness this beauty on a full moon night.
Nearby places to visit:
You can visit the Agra Fort, Mehtab Garden, Akbar’s Tomb, and Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah etc nearby. Also do visit the nearby marketplace in Agra to see a beautiful collection of clothing and other items.
Conclusion:
The royal heritage, the rich historical past, the diverse topography and the massive monuments stand as evidence of the ever charming country, India. These historical monuments deserve a special mention and are included in the list of 7 Wonders in India, for a reason. One needs to witness these structures with their own eyes to understand the magnificence of these places. These 7 Wonders of India are the examples of the finest art, sculptures and artistry that have been a part of the vast Indian heritage. So next time you visit any of the cities or states where one of these 7 Wonders are situated, you simply cannot miss out on experiencing that. Do let me know if you have knowledge about these 7 Wonders in India. Also do let me know if you ever have had a chance to visit any of these.
