Category — Heritage of India
Heritage of India - Hampi
Published in : May 2012 Edition
A series of explorations of the World Heritage sites of India as adjudged by the World Heritage Committee of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Hampi was the capital of Vijayanagara empire, the biggest empire that ruled the Deccan, or Dakshin Bharath, in other words South India. It was also the richest kingdom in the world during that time, according to contemporary European visitors from Portugal and Italy. Anybody from South India would have grown up hearing stories of Vijayanagara and its most famous king Krishna Deva Raya. Unfortunately, most of these stories are part of legends and folktales;...
Heritage of India - The Elephanta Caves
Published in : April 2012 Edition
The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves on Elephanta Island. The island, located 11 kms from the Gateway of India, consists of two groups of caves—the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, and, second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Bahadur Shah of Gujarat was the last indigenous ruler of Elephanta Island before Mumbai and its surroundings were surrendered to the Portuguese in 1534. The island was originally called Gharapuri
(literally “the city of caves”) and was a Hindu place of worship until...
Heritage of India - Chola Temple
Published in : March 2012 Edition
This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by ourpanel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits.
The Great Living Chola Temples were temples built during the Chola rule in the south of India. These temples are the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Temple of Gangaikonda Cholisvaram at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Oarasuram.
In all three temples traditional religious rituals continue to be performed there by the general public.
The Brihadisvara Temple was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987; the Temple of Gangaikonda Cholisvaram and...
Heritage of India
Published in : February 2012 Edition
This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits.
There are 911 sites on the World Heritage List as ofJuly 2010, ‘inscribed’ as properlies by the World Heritage Committee of United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The list includes 704 cultural, 180 natural, and 27 mixed sites
in 151 States Parties . These are ‘considered to be of outstanding value to humanity’ and belong to all mankind. The preservation of this shared heritage concerns all of us. India is...