The Taj Mahal is probably the most famous site in India and is considered one of the wonders of the world. Shah Jihan promised his favorite wife on her deathbed that he would build her a monument as beautiful as she was. Construction on the Taj Mahal started in 1631. More than three centuries later, UNESCO put the mausoleum on its World Heritage Site list, describing it as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage." Located in Agra, the Taj Mahal is made of white marble.
Goa, on the Indian Ocean, is called the beach capital of India for its many golden-sand beaches. Popular with honeymooners and nature lovers alike, Goa has 81 miles of beaches. Because of this and its colonial atmosphere, Goa is sometimes referred to as the "Pearl of the East." Goa, which dates back to the third century, is the former capital of the Portuguese Indies, and is also known for its old churches and convents. Among them is the Church of Born Jesus where St. Francis Xavier is buried. UNESCO, which named the Goa churches to its World Heritage Site list, says they represent the "evangelization of Asia."
Buddhism ranks with the Muslim and Hindu faiths in India. Dharamsala is the most important Buddhist stronghold in India since it is the site where the Dalai Lama located his Tibetan capital-in-exile after fleeing from Chinese rule in 1959. But Dharamsala, in the foothills of the Himalayas, was well known before that. It was at one time a British military post and then became a popular summer resort for the British when they ruled India. Dharamsala also has popular hikes into the nearby Himalayas, which offer outstanding views of the valleys below.
India is also famous for its wildlife and has several parks where tourists can view animals. Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, which became a wildlife sanctuary in 1955, is considered one of the best places to see wild animals in their native habitat. Wild animals in the park include tigers, leopards, deer, jackals, sloths, civets, mongoose, snub-nosed marsh crocodiles, cobras, pythons and turtles.
