A country with breathtaking views, India offers a perfect mix of culture, religion and history. Travellers from all over the world flock to the ‘Golden Bird’s’ land to capture the beauty of places that withstood the ravages of time. However, they only see the ‘modern’ reflection of India’s past. So, here are pictures of iconic places in India that will take you on a trip back in time and show what India really was decades ago.
Delhi
Red Fort is a reminder of India’s past as the historic fort was known as the official residence of Mughal Emperors
Hyderabad
Char Minar literally translates to “four pillars” and houses a mosque on its top floor which is more than 400 years old
Maharashtra
The Gateway of India was erected to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen-Empress Mary, the first British monarchs to visit India
Uttar Pradesh
This ancient monument in Agra was commissioned in the 15th century by Shah Jahan to symbolize his love for Mumtaz Mahal
Punjab
The most significant shrine in Sikhism is located in Amritsar and is called Harmandir Sahib i.e. abode of god
Kolkata
Formerly known as ‘Ghorustan ka Rasta’ the history of this famous thoroughfare in Kolkata can be traced back to 1760
Uttarakhand
This stunning picture of Nainital was taken by Samuel Borne in 1865. It is home to Naini lake which is believed to be one of the 51 Shakti Peeths.
Jammu and Kashmir
Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir . It may have drawn its name from two Sanskrit words Sri and Nagar which would make it the “City of Wealth”.
Kerala
Probably the only mode of transport available at that time, The House Boats transported people via the picturesque backwaters of Kerala.
Karnataka
The seat of the state legislature of Karnataka’s construction style is described as Mysore Neo-Dravidian, and incorporates elements of Dravidian styles.
Odisha
The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu.
Tamil Nadu
The ancient city of Tanjore is home to the great living Chola temples which are also UNESCO world heritage monuments.
West Bengal
Nestled in the laps of Himalayan foothills, Darjeeling was once a resort town of the British elite.
Sikkim
Gangtok was initially established as a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the 1840s and became capital of an independent monarchy after British rule ended.
Himachal Pradesh
Shimla was formerly known as the summer capital of British India. The Hill station was named after a Hindu goddess, Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of Kali.
Goa
The former Portuguese capital is known 17th century churches and tropical spice plantations
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh is a reflection of different eras in Indian history. The Jain and Hindu temples are known for their carvings of erotic depictions
Assam
This Northeastern state is known for old archaeological ruins, ancient pilgrimage sites and abundant flora and fauna
Nagaland
Nagaland is a land-locked state that is home to diverse indigenous tribes and markets celebrating different tribes’ culture
Rajasthan
Rajasthan is home to two polar opposite landform of lands. One is Udaipur the ‘city of lakes’ and other is the hot and inhospitable Thar Desert
Curated by Ruchit Rastogi
