Top 10 Famous Historical Places in India That You Must Visit

As one of the oldest countries in the world, there is no shortage of historical places in India. 

No doubt, the beautiful places in India is the ultimate destination for tourists. From forts to temples, you can find remains that date back to ancient times. Whether it is the Mughal empire, the British empire, or the thousands of Hindu temples, everything is here for you to explore. That’s why you should know about the top 10 historical places in India, so you can make the most out of your trip to India.

How to Make the Most Out of Your Trip to India?

If you are planning a trip to India, whatever time you have allotted won’t be enough, as the number of historical places in India is overwhelming. Seeing how much India has to offer, one trip is never enough, as the exploring can be overshadowed by the feeling of missing out.

This can be daunting to tourists, but there’s no need to worry, as we have prepared this list of the best 10 historical places in India. By visiting these, you can ensure that you will experience the best of India and see an amazing part of the world.

With nothing left to do, check out our list of the top 10 historical places in India:

Top 10 Famous Historical Places in India

Taj Mahal was added to the 7 wonders of the world in 2007, but it has always been one of the most famous historical places in India. Everyone knows the Taj Mahal as the ultimate symbol of love, as it was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in remembrance of his wife, Mumtaj Tagore.

It is the best place to visit from October to March, and the entry fee is only INR 1100 for foreigners, and it is open from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM. The first thing you’ll notice is that the Taj Mahal is made entirely out of white marble and has intricate carvings all over it.

Your trip to India will be incomplete without a visit to the Taj Mahal, that’s why it is at the top of our list of top 10 historical places in India, and you better put it at the top too.

Delhi is probably where you’ll land when you come to India, and there are many famous historical places in Delhi, and Qutub Minar should be on your list. Standing at 73m tall, Qutub Minar is the world’s tallest brick minaret. The surface of Qutub Minar is covered with intricate inscriptions and Urdu verses from Quran. 

When visiting Qutub Minar, make sure to check out the 7 meters tall iron pillar. The pillar was constructed around 2000 years ago by Chandragupta II, and even after all that time, there is no rust on the pillar.

You should definitely visit this place if you are interested in learning about the Mughal empire, as Qutub Minar translates to “victory tower”. It was made in 1192 after Qutb UD-Din-Aibak became the first Muslim ruler of North India. What makes Qutub Minar special is that more and more Mughal rulers kept working on it and making it bigger; it was finally completed in 1220. 

The entry fee is only INR 55O for foreigners. The Qutub complex is filled with historical monuments built by all the Mughal emperors, making Qutub Minar one of the best historical places in India for people who want to see the remains of the Mughal Empire. 

Hawa Mahal is surely the most unique entry and one of the best historical places in India that you can visit. The five-story palace is built from red and pink sandstones. The best part about Hawa Mahal is that it has a total of 953 small windows that make it resemble a honeycomb. These windows are designed to regulate the wind flow to the palace, making the temperature inside way cooler than outside.

Completed in 1799, Hawa Mahal was designed in such a way that royals could observe the busy streets of Jaipur and see how everyone lived their lives. The Hawa Mahal everyone sees is only the back side and the extended part of a whole complex. Hawa Mahal is a prominent landmark of Rajasthan and is one of the most famous historical places in India. So make sure to visit this and experience the unique blend of Mughal, Rajput, and Islamic architectural styles.

The entry fee for Hawa Mahal is only INR 200 for foreigners.

India Gate is one of the most iconic landmarks of Delhi, and one of the best historical places in India to visit in April month. Unveiled in 1931, the India Gate is the largest war memorial in India. The memorial contains the names of 82,000 Indian and British soldiers who died during the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

The 42-meter tall monument is similar to the Arch de Triomphe from Paris and the Arch of Constantine from Rome. India Gate is one of the most visited landmarks in Delhi, and you can find both locals and tourists visiting the brick monument.

There is no fee required to visit India Gate.

Jallianwala Bagh is a 6.5-acre big public garden. The reason why this public garden is one of the most important historical places in India is because of the massacre that took place here more than a hundred years ago. 

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13th April 1919, when General Dyer ordered a mass shooting of the people gathered at the park to protest against the Rowlatt Act. Ordered by the General, the troops blocked the only exit of Jallianwala Bagh and started shooting at the protestors, and kept shooting till they ran out of ammunition. 

It was estimated that around 379 to 1500 people died during the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, as the real number wasn’t revealed.

Being one of the most important historical places of India, Jallianwala Bagh played a special part in the fight for independence, as the massacre pushed revolutionaries to fight for India’s freedom from the British Empire.

Jallianwala Bagh was later declared a memorial of national importance. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was painful for the country, but it played a big part in India’s fight for freedom. The Jallianwala Bagh is one of the top 10 historical places in India. It is still around, and you can still find the bullet marks on the walls from the massacre.

Only 5 minutes away from Jallianwala Bagh, the Golden Temple is the world’s most famous Gurudwara. This monument celebrates humanity, tranquility, and brotherhood. The foundation of the Golden Temple was laid by Baba Sai Mian Mir Mohammad Sahab, who was a Muslim. This was done so that people from all religions and backgrounds would feel welcomed at the Golden Temple.

Built-in 1599, Maharaja Ranjit Singh later ordered its renovation with pure gold and white marble in 1830. There is no doubt that you will be mesmerized by the beauty of the Golden Temple, as it is one of the most visually stunning historical places in India.

You’ll surely be surprised by its beauty, but what will shock you is the people who visit Golden Temple. Despite being a religious site for Sikhs, the Golden Temple is open to everyone, and people from all religions and groups can visit. Not to mention there is no entry fee for visiting Sri Harmandar Sahib.

When visiting the Golden Temple, it is recommended that you eat Langar, which is a free meal for visitors. About 100,000 pilgrims are fed daily at Golden Temple, and being one of them is an experience you must be a part of. And, if you’re planning to come here at night, must visit this place during March month because of the pleasant weather and iconic night view of Golden Temple.

Visiting the Golden Temple, make sure to see everything the Gurudwara offers. Don’t forget to visit the Akal Takht, the Sikh History Museum, the Clock Tower, and the Teja Singh Samundri Hall.

Red Fort is among the most visited historical places in India. Constructed between 1638 and 1648, Red Fort was constructed when Shah Jahan decided to shift the capital from Agra to Delhi, and then it was named Qila-e-Mubarak.

The entry ticket for Red Fort is only INR 500 for tourists, and this place is a must-visit as one of the best historical places in India.

Mughal architecture is surely the highlight of Red Fort, as it brings out the beauty of the red sandstone. 

Mehrangarh Fort is a must-visit for people looking for ancient places in India. It was built by Rao Jodha, who was the founder of Jodhpur. This fort is situated on top of a hill, and it is also 400 feet above the ground.

Apart from the features mentioned above, there are many more reasons why Mehrangarh Fort is in the top 10 historical places in India. There is an abundance of attractions that you can visit; these include Jai Pol, Fateh Pol, Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal, Art Galleries, and many more.

No doubt, one day to explore Mehrangarh Fort is not enough, as it is one of the biggest forts in India. You will have a lot of fun exploring this fort, as there are a total of 7 entrances for entering Mehrangarh Fort, and each one has a different purpose.

The ticket for visiting Mehrangarh Fort is INR 700 for tourists.

Apart from being one of the most important historical places in India, Humayun’s Tomb is a must-visit if you like architecture. This was originally made in the 15th century by Hamida Banu Begum for her husband. 

You’ll be surprised to know that Humayun’s Tomb was the inspiration behind the Taj Mahal. Apart from being the final resting place of Humayun, there are around 150 more tombs here that you should visit. 

The entry fees for foreigners are only INR 500, and you should definitely visit Humayun’s Tomb, as it is considered to be one of the most famous historical places in India.

Even most Indians don’t know about Khajuraho Temples, but these are truly among the best historical places in India. There are a total of three complexes in Khajuraho Temples that contain more than 80 Hindu and Jain temples, making this a must-visit for tourists who want to explore the rich ancient Hindu culture.

Made over a millennium ago, these temples will give you a glimpse of what India was like before the British and Mughal invasions. The primary attraction when visiting Khajuraho Temples is the countless sculptures still remaining since they were created.

Visiting Khajuraho Temples, you can see sculptures with rock crawlings portraying dance, music, passion, and eroticism. All the sculptures have a sensual element to them, and seeing them will be a treat for your eyes.

Khajuraho Temples are mostly known for the erotic and sensual sculptures that show what the past was like in India. But, this is only a misrepresentation from everyone’s side, as only 10% of sculptures at Khajuraho Temples are sensual or erotic.

The rest of the sculptures depict the rich Hindu culture of the past, making Khajuraho Temple one of the best historical places in India.

We would definitely recommend a trip to Khajuraho Temples, as you won’t regret your time there and will learn a lot about what the past was like in India.

The entry fee is only INR 250 for foreigners.