South India houses a myriad number of monuments, encompassing the richest plethora of Hindu temples in India. Be it the UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Sites of Mahabalipuram monuments and Chola temples, or the opulent palaces that reflect the regal history of Nizams of Hyderabad and Wodeyar Dynasty of Mysore.
Charminar, Hyderabad
The Charminar, located in the Indian capital city of Hyderabad in present day Telangana, is a globally iconic monument and mosque. Listed as an archaeological and architectural treasure on the official "List of Monuments" by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Charminar"s architecture comprises its eponymous four ornate minarets, supported by four grand arches.
Monuments of Mahabalipuram
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated on the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. The monuments constitute nearly 40 sanctuaries including the largest open-air rock-cut relief in the world. The sites date back to the Pallava period, comprising cave temples and structural temples including the Shore Temple.
Monuments at Hampi and Pattadakal
Hampi and Pattadakal in Karnataka are the other World Heritage Sites in South India. Located within the ruins of Vijayanagara city, Hampi is an important religious centre housing the renowned Virupaksha Temple, Vittala temple and other religious buildings. The monuments at Pattadakal showcase the Chalukya style of temple architecture, covering a remarkable series of 9 Hindu temples and a Jain sanctuary.
Great Living Chola Temples
The Great Living Chola Temples of South India were built by the Chola kings scattered all over Tamil Nadu. The UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage site encompasses three great temples of 11th and 12th centuries - the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadeeswarar temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.
Mysore Palace, Karnataka
Mysore Palace is a majestic palace, resplendent in Indo-Saracenic with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades. A treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all across the world, the Mysore Palace was the official residence and seat of the Wodeyars and the Maharajas of Mysore. The palace houses two durbar halls and a mesmerizing gigantic array of courtyards, gardens and buildings.
Bangalore Palace, Karnataka
The Bangalore Palace is an elegant historical palace in the heart of Bengaluru. Designed on the lines of Windsor Castle in England, its construction started in 1862 and got completed in 1944. Bought by the then Maharaja of Mysore Chamarajendra Wadiyar X in 1884, it is today owned by his descendants.
Golconda Fort, Hyderabad
Golconda Fort in Hyderabad is a citadel fortress that was the capital of the medieval sultanate of Qutb Shahi dynasty. An archaeological treasure on the List of Monuments of the ASI, it overlooks the city of Hyderabad in Telangana state.