An important pilgrimage destination for Buddhists, Bodh Gaya, is said to be the place where the Buddha reached enlightenment. This event is commemorated by the site of the Mahabhodi Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in India, built between 400 and 200 B.C. The temple is located in northeastern India in the the city of Gaya.
The ruins of the university at Nalanda represent an early outpost of Buddhist education. Founded around 500 B.C., the university is said to have been visited by the Buddha. It thrived for centuries and at its height could accommodate up to 10,000 students. The remains of the university, monasteries and temples can be visited.
The Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, central India, are a network of 32 man-made caverns constructed over a period of centuries beginning around 200 B.C.. The caves were a retreat for the Mahayana Buddhist sect and functioned as a monastery. They are ornately decorated with carvings, pillars and vaulted roofs.
A coastal town near Chennai, Mahabalipuram is famous for a series of rock-cut monuments, including the Panch Ratha complex. This is a series of carved chariots representing characters from the ancient epic known as the "Mahabarata." It is also the location of the Hindu Shore Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, built out of local stone and carved with representations of Hindu gods.
Mount Abu in Rajasthan, western India, is the location of a series of Jain temples built from the 9th to 11th centuries. Jainism, founded in the sixth century B.C. by the sage Mahavira, is practiced by a small minority of Indians. The temples were constructed by wealthy Jain merchants and prominently feature marble decoration. Marble represents the bright light of wisdom and divinity.
The Qutub or Qutb Complex refers to a collection of monuments found at Mehrauli near Delhi. The most prominent is the Qutub Minaret, a 12th century brick tower standing over 230 feet high. The nearby Iron Pillar is a much older monument with an inscription in Sanskrit dedicating it to Lord Vishnu. The complex also includes tombs of Muslim rulers and Jain temple ruins.
The 17th century Taj Mahal is a grand mausoleum in Agra built by emperor Shah Jahan of the Mughal dynasty to house the tomb of a favorite wife. The decoration mainly features abstract designs carved into sandstone or marble, but also features calligraphy representing passages from the Koran. The facade is reflected in a long pool stretching from the entrance through a decorative garden.
