In 1982, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) announced, 18 April as the “World Heritage Day”, approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO to enhance awareness of the importance of the cultural heritage of humankind. Let’s explore some awe inspiring monuments and wonders of India
1.The walls and floor of this ruinous palace reveal a thousand stories of power and glory. This was the second capital of ancient Sikkim, the first one being Yuksom. Its stone pathways and by lanes give one a chilling thrill; its stairs lead to the top of the fort from where the breathtaking Mount Kangchenjunga the highest peak in India. The place is known for the revered ‘Three Chortens’ where the Royal family of Sikkim used to offer prayers to their deities. Which monument are we talking about?
2.There is a beach in India which disappears twice a day. It is popularly known as Hide & Seek beach where water recedes between 2-5 kilometers during ebb tide (the time between the high tide and the low tide) and returns to seashore at the time of high tide. Many venture to walk into the sea-bed in very shallow depth of water just to get the thrill out of it. The musical sway of the casuarinas trees and creepered white sand dunes add to its seductive beauty. Which beach are we talking about?
3.The pillar in this temple does not rest on the ground but hangs in the air, with enough space between its base and the ground to pass a sheet of paper or a small twig through it! There are about 70 pillars at this fabulous 16th-century temple of stone in Vijayanagara style. This is the famous Hanging Column or Pillar. Much of the temple is built on a low, rocky hill called Kurmasailam which translates to tortoise hill in Telugu. This temple also has the finest specimens of mural paintings of the Vijayanagara kings. In which temple can you see this?
4.The people travelling to this place for the first time get confused as they won’t see a tall museum or the remains of a ruin because it is built inside an opening in the ground. It is on the banks of the Saraswati River and was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century. As one goes down, you will see over 800 sculptures in the seven galleries. It is amongst the finest step wells in India. It has been inscribed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Identify the monument.
5.t is the only palace of its kind in the whole eastern region of India. It is set in the midst of the Rudrasagar Lake near Agartala, Tripura. The name of the monument was given by none other than Rabindranath Tagore. It was built by the Martin and Burn Company way back in 1930. It served as the summer resort of the erstwhile King Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur. Its renovation has been neglected in the past and in 2015, one of the 10 minarets of the building representing the blend of Islamic and Hindu architectural design collapsed. Identify the monument.Identify the phrase.
For the readers
QMandu is a hill fort in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. It is famous for a double-storey structure situated on a narrow strip of land between Munj Talao and Kapur Talao. Surrounded by pond water, the whole thing looks like a floating structure or a ship. It was primarily constructed during the reign of Ghiyas-ud-din Khilji, the Mandu Sultan and served as the harem of the Sultan. It has the famous ‘Andheri Baori’ (dark well). Identify the monument
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Answers: 1. Rabdentse, Sikkim, 2. TChandipur Beach,Odisha, 3. Lepakshi temple, 4. ‘Rani-Ki-Vav’, 5. ‘Neer Mahal’, Jahaz Mahal (Ship Palace)
