UNIT 9: INDIA
India is a vibrant land of startling contrasts where both the traditional and modern worlds meet. The world's
seventh largest nation by area and the second largest in terms of population, India boasts a rich heritage
that's the result of centuries of different cultures and religions leaving their mark. Things to do for travelers
include the opportunity to experience an array of sacred sites and spiritual encounters, while nature lovers
will enjoy its sun-washed beaches, lush national parks, and exciting wildlife sanctuaries.
From the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra to the holy sites of Harmandir Sahib (formerly the Golden Temple)
in Amritsar and the Mecca Masjid mosque in Hyderabad, visitors to this exotic country will discover a trove
of spiritual, cultural, and historical treasures.
1. Fill in the table in your e-portfolio on the places of interest in India and their highlights. You can
also include their pictures pasted on your e-portfolio
2. Record using voice notes your experience in visiting a place of interest and the highlights of that
place. Share in your ‘Around the World in 10 weeks’ WA group.
Places of Highlights Picture
Interest
The Taj - Incorporating many
Mahal, elements of Islamic design
Agra including arches, minarets,
an onion-shaped dome, and
black calligraphy inlaid
around the entrance.
- The Taj Mahal is largely
constructed of white marble
decorated with delicate
inlaid floral patterns and
precious and semi-precious
stones such as jade, lapis
lazuli, diamonds, and
mother of pearl.
Harmandi - the focus of a complex of
r Sahib: buildings that form the heart
The of Sikhism.
Golden - the chief gurdwara, or
Temple house of worship,
of of Sikhism and the Sikhs’
Amritsar most important pilgrimage
site. It is located in the city
of Amritsar, Punjab state,
northwestern India.
- The first Harmandir Sahib
was built in 1604 by Arjan,
the fifth Sikh Guru
- The foundation stone was
laid by Mian Mīr, a Muslim
divine of Lahore (now
in Pakistan).
- The temple was destroyed
several times by Afghan
invaders and was finally
rebuilt in marble and copper
overlaid with gold foil during
the reign (1801–39) of
Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
(source : https://www.britannica.com/topic/Harmandir-Sahib )
Mecca - The construction of this
Masjid, mosque started in the year
Hyderaba 1614 by Sultan Muhammad
d Qutb Shah and was
Aurangzeb completed in
1693.
- Built with local granite, it
finds place among largest
mosques in India and is the
most important and largest
one in the city.
- The arched gallery displays
the tombs of all the Nizam’s
from the year 1803.
(source :
https://telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/heritage-
spots/hyderabad/mecca-masjid.html )
The Holy
City of - known as Benares or Kashi.
Varanasi The city is one of the oldest
continuously inhabited cities
in the world and is not only
the spiritual capital of India,
but also the holiest of seven
sacred cities in Hinduism,
and it played a significant
role in the development
of Buddhism.
- Buddha is said to have
founded Buddhism in
Varanasi around 528 BC
when he gave his first
sermon at Sarnath, a (source : https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/the-holy-city-
nearby city located about of-varanasi/ )
10km away. The city
continued to grow in its
religious significance and
was under Muslim rule for
three centuries from 1194,
until a tolerant emperor
restored some religious
respite to Varanasi, which
still remains a center of
activity for Hindus.
The Red
Fort, New - In 1638, the Mughal
Delhi Emperor Shah Jahan
moved the capital of his
empire from Agra to a newly
constructed city in Delhi that
he called Shahjahanabad.
- Foundations of his palace,
the Red Fort or Lal Qila.
This massive walled citadel
with red sandstone walls
took nearly a decade to
complete. It is considered to
be better planned than the
Agra Fort. (Source : https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/red-fort-a-
- This fort was the seat of the walk-through-history/ )
Mughal empire for around
200 years, until it fell into
British hands.
- The last Mughal Emperor
Bahadur Shah Zafar was
coronated here in 1837,
during which time it is said
that his powers did not
extend beyond the
boundaries of his palace.
Agra Fort
- called Red Fort, large 16th-
century fortress of
red sandstone located on
the Yamuna River in the
historic city of Agra, west-
central Uttar Pradesh,
north-central India.
- established by
the Mughal emperor Akbar
and, in its capacity as both
a military base and a royal
residence, served as the
seat of government when
the Mughal capital was in
Agra.
- The fort complex was Source : https://www.britannica.com/topic/Agra-Fort )
designated
a UNESCO World Heritage
site in 1983.
- called Amba Vilas
Palace, is one of the
most magnificent and
Mysore largest palaces in India.
Palace Situated in the southern
state of Karnataka, it
used to be the official
residence of the Wodeyar
Dynasty, the rulers of
Mysore from 1399 to
1950.
- foundation laid way back
in the 14th century by the
Source : https://www.fabhotels.com/blog/mysore-palace-mysore/ )
Wodeyars or Wadiyars,
the royal family of
Mysore. It is believed that
Yaduraya Wodeyar, the
first ruler of the Mysore
Kingdom, built a palace
in Puragiri aka the Old
Fort during his reign.
- This palace, which is
believed to be the
predecessor of the
current palace, has been
demolished and
reconstructed multiple
times over a period of six
centuries.
