To decide the winners, they used an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide over a 12 month period.
This year’s TripAdvisor awards recognize 759 monuments spread in 68 countries globally. India’s landmarks as diverse at its heritage and are among some of the most iconic structuresin the world. The list presents fantastic gems ranging from poignant memorials to sheer architectural marvels that are great options for travelers.
Mumbai’s sole entry to the list, the RGBWSL is one of its most prominent modern landmarks and an infrastructure marvel of a cable-stayed bridge cutting through the Arabian Sea to connect Bandra with Worli.
The top 10 Travelers Choice Landmarks of Asia include: Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple in India, Temple of Reclining Buddha in Thailand, Great Wall of China, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine of Japan, Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar, Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, and the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam. Similarly, the Top 10 landmarks worldwide are: Angkor Wat, Plaza de Espana in Spain, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in UAE, St. Peters Basilica of The Vatican, Mesquita Cathedral de Cordoba in Spain, Taj Mahal in India, Duomo di Milano in Italy, Alcatraz Island and Golden Gate Bridge both in US, and the Parliament of Hungary.
The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World which is considered as the most photogenic destinations of India. It is one of the most exquisite structures ever built by any emperor. It was constructed by the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the fond memory of his favorite wife Mumtaj Mahal. The Taj Mahal in terms of architecture, is one of the most symmetrical structures in the world, constructed using pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. The construction started in 1631 and got completed in 1653 AD; 20,000 workers worked day and night together for 22 years.
Women all over the world have created history in whatever field they have entered. In Indian history too they are equal contributors in the field of administration, art, culture, religion and architecture. The best known iconic marvels constructed by women in India are:
1. Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi
Humayun’s eldest wife Bega Begam took initiative to build the tomb of her husband. In 1569, she employed Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect to build this wonderful monument. This red sandstone tomb is built amidst a square garden divided into four main parterres known as charbagh. At the center of this garden a shallow water-channel can be seen. There are two double-storied gateways on the west and south of the monument. The center of the western wall is occupied by a baradari (pavilion) and a hammam (bathroom) is found at the center of northern wall. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 1993.
2. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal
Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal
This monument is different from the Virupaksha Temple at Hampi. The Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal was built by Queen Loka mahadevi in 740 AD to commemorate her husband King Vikramaditya II’s victory over the Pallava rulers. A beautiful mixture of the north Indian Nagara style and the south Indian Dravida style of temple architecture, the magnificent temple is also called the Lokeshwara Temple.
3. Jama Masjid, Bhopal
Jama Masjid, Bhopal
The gold spikes crowning the squat minarets of the Jama Masjid Mosque, built in the 1830s by Qudsia Begum, glint serenely above the dome and veils swirling through the bazaar.
4. Itmad Ud Daula, Agra
Itmad Ud Daula, Agra
Nur Jahan, her original name was Mehr-un-Nissa born on the 31st May 1577 was Empress consort of the Mughal Empire from 25 May 1611 to 28 October 1627 as the eighteenth and last wife of the fourth Mughal emperor Jahangir. Due to her power and position, she was able to construct Itimad-Ud-Daulah, a tomb in the memory of her parents at Agra. It is the first monument in India made up of pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. Later, she also constructed the tomb of Jahangir at Lahore. She is also credited to have started the fashion of embroidery on clothes, lace work and invented rose perfume by distillation process. She also started embroidery schools for girls, so that they can support their families.
5. Rani Ka Vav, Patan
Rani Ka Vav, Patan
Rani-Ki-Vav step well in Patan as an exceptional example of utilizing ground water resources in a single component and water management system as it illustrates the exceptional capacity to break large built spaces into smaller volumes following ideal aesthetic proportions. Rani ki vav, or Ran-ki vav (Queen’s step well) was constructed during the rule of the Chaulukya dynasty. It is generally assumed that it was built in the memory of Bhima I (r. c. 1022–1064) by his widowed queen Udayamati and probably completed by Udayamati and Karna after his death. A reference to Udayamati building the monument is in Prabandha Chintamani, composed by the Jain monk Merunga Suri in 1304 AD
6. Khayr al-Manazil, Delhi
Khayr al-Manazil, Delhi
An imposing two-storied structure located directly opposite the Purana Qila, Khayr-al-Manazil mosque was built in 1561 by Maham Anga, a powerful wet nurse of Emperor Akbar. An influential woman of the court, she briefly ruled the Mughal empire during Akbar’s childhood. The mosque has five high arches that lead into the main prayer hall. The hall has beautiful inscriptions but the most impressive feature of the mosque is its massive red sandstone gateway.
7. Roshanara Bagh, Delhi
Roshanara Bagh, Delhi
Roshanara Bagh is a Mughal-style garden built by Roshanara Begum, the second daughter of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It is counted as one of the biggest gardens in Delhi with a huge variety of plants, some even imported from Japan. There is also a lake inside the gardens, which is flocked by migratory birds during cold season.
8. Mirjan Fort, Kumta
Mirjan Fort, Kumta
Located on a bank of the river Aganashini, Mirjan Fort is a lofty fort enclosed by a double layer of high walls and towering bastions. Queen Chennabhairadevi of Gersoppa established and lived in this mighty fort during the 16th century for about 54 years. Nicknamed ‘Raina de Pimenta’ or ‘The Pepper Queen’ by the Portuguese because she ruled over lands that grew the best pepper, she gave refuge to several artisans fleeing from wars in distant lands. In turn, they helped the queen build a strategically strong fort of her own.
9. Lal Darwaza Masjid, Jaunpur
Lal Darwaza Masjid, Jaunpur
Constructed in 1447 by Rajye Bibi, queen of Sultan Mahmood Sharqi of Jaunpur, the Lal Darwaza mosque is dedicated to Saint Sayyid Ali Dawood Kutubbudin. Built as almost a replica of the Atala Masjid, the Lal Darwaza mosque is smaller and gets its name from the imposing vermilion painted gate. The queen also founded the first school for girls in the region during her husband’s reign and a madrasa built by her, Jamia Hussainia, still stands.
10. Mohinishwara Shivalay Temple, Gulmarg
Mohinishwara Shivalay Temple, Gulmarg
Constructed in 1915 by Maharani Mohini Bai Sisodia, wife of the then king of Kashmir, Raja Hari Singh, Mohinishwara Shivalay Temple stands proudly on a small hill, right in the middle of Gulmarg. Named in honor of the queen who built it, the Maharani Temple was the royal temple of the Dogra dynasty of Kashmir. With its bright red sloping roof framed against a background of snowy peaks, the picturesque temple is visible from almost every corner of Gulmarg town.
11. Mahim Causeway, Mumbai
Mahim Causeway, Mumbai
The princely sum of Rs 1.67 million used to build the Mahim Causeway in 1843 was almost entirely provided by Lady Avabai Jamshedjee, the wife of famous Parsi businessman Jamshedjee Jejeebhoy. A tragedy, in which 20 boats capsized in the marshy swirling waters of the Mahim creek, compelled Avabai to commission the linking of Bandra Island with mainland Bombay through a causeway. The Mahim Causeway later became and still is an important lifeline of the city of Mumbai.
After arrival at the International Mumbai airport, you will be transferred to hotel. Mumbai is the financial capital of India and with around 21 millions of inhabitants is the second largest city of the country after Delhi. It is even bigger than Kolkata and Chennai. Mumbai is the capital of the state Maharashtra. Located on the west coast of the Arabian Sea the city has more than 50 percent of India’s cargo go through the harbor, making it the busiest and largest harbor city of the Indian subcontinent. An overnight stay in Mumbai.
Day 2Mumbai
After breakfast proceed for half day tour of Mumbai covering The Gateway of India – The stone archway designed by Wittett in the 16th century Gujarati style, Prince of Whales Museum. Later, you will also visit Chowpatty Beach, Dhobhi Ghat and Marine Drive. An overnight stay in Bombay.
Day 3Flight from Mumbai to Goa
In the morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to airport for flight to Goa. On arrival you will be transferred to hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. An overnight stay in Goa.
Day 4Goa
After breakfast, you will proceed for a half day sightseeing tour of Goa, visiting Miramar Beach, Church of Basilica of Bom Jesus and the city of Panjim-bustling with shops and tourists. The afternoon is at leisure to relax on the beach. An overnight stay in Goa.
Day 5Goa
The day is at leisure. You can also indulge yourself in water sports, go for swim, explore the shops for cashewnuts or stay at the hotel. An overnight stay in Goa.
Day 6Drive from Goa to Badami en route visit Belgaum (275 kms 6 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Badami enroute visiting Belgaum – a total picture of contrasts. On one side is the old town area and modern on other, in the heart of Belgaum is the Fort. Inside it are most famous Kamala Basti, the Jain Temple & the Jama Masjid. Later, you will also visit The Kapileshwar Temple, and the Ananthashayana. An overnight stay in Badami.
Day 7Badami
Today after an early breakfast you will visit Rockcut cave Temples, Gateways, Forts, Inscriptions, Sculpture that seem to come alive before your eyes. Later you will climb the flight of steps to reach the ancient caves – all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill. Also a must see are Bhutanatha temples that lend their names to the lake just beneath the cave temples. Take a dip in this green tranquil river. It is said to have the healing properties. Badami also has the eighteen inscriptions ranging from 06th to 09th century. An overnight stay in Badami.
Day 8Drive to Hospet en route visiting Badami – Aihole – Pattadakal
After breakfast drive to Hospet enroute visiting Aihole and Pattadakal, and for that nothing can be said as everything is self explanatory. Aihole which is famous as the “cradle of the Indian Architecture”. Also visit Pattadakal – Situated on the left bank of the Malaprabha river, a world heritage centre, has 10 major temples representing early Chalukyan architecture, later continue towards Hospet. An overnight stay in Hospet.
Day 9Hospet
In the morning after breakfast you will explore the beautiful world of Hospet. The touristic importance of this lies in its proximity to Hampi, the site of the Medieval Vijaynagar Empire, (13 kms) is the most evocative of all the ruins in Karnataka. An overnight stay in Hospet.
Day 10Drive from Hospet to Hassan en route visiting Belur and Halebid.
After a relaxed breakfast drive to Hassan. Later, excursion to Belur & Halebid, are beautiful examples of Hoysala architecture. Famous of them is The Chennakesava Temple which took 103 years to complete. The temples of Halebid bear mute testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka. An overnight stay in Hassan.
Day 11Drive from Hassan to Shravanbelagola and back to Hassan
In the morning after breakfast you will visit Shravanbelgola. It is 51 kms south – east of Hassan, one of most important Jain Pilgrim centers. Here is the 17m high monolith of Lord Bahubali – the world’s tallest monolithic statue. Rest of the day you will remain free to explore the surroundings. An overnight stay in Hassan.
Day 12Drive from Hassan to Madikeri
Today in the morning after breakfast, you will go to Madikeri, a place which is called as the “Scotland of India”. On arrival transfer to the hotel, refresh yourself and come with us to visit Madikeri fort, Abbey Falls, Nisargadhama – Known for its calm, serene beauty, this place is an ideal picnic spot visited by hundreds of tourists throughout the year. An overnight stay in Madikeri.
Day 13Drive from Madikeri to Mysore
In the morning after breakfast, drive to Mysore and upon reaching you will be transferred to the hotel. Later you will visit Mysore Palace, Chamundi hills – Towering over the city; these hills are 13 kms away from Mysore. Halfway up is the Nandi bull, a 4.8m monolith. You will love to visit the Brindavan Gardens. The musical fountains & colourful lights transform this place into a fairy land. An overnight stay in Mysore.
Day 14Mysore
After breakfast, you will visit Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery – Housed in the Jag Mohan Palace, the gallery has a collection of exquisite paintings. In the afternoon visit Somnathpur. It is a little village where you can see the famous 13th century temple well known for its great architectural beauty. The star shaped temple with three shrines is the latest & well preserved heritage of Hoysala architecture. An overnight stay in Mysore.
Day 15Drive from Mysore to Bangalore en route visiting Srirangapatnam
In the morning after breakfast, you will drive to Bangalore enroute visiting Srirangapatnam, capital of the warrior – King Hyder Ali & his son Tipu Sultan, has magnificent monuments that are well worth a visit. Continue drive to Bangalore and transfer to airport for onward flight.
You will arrive at the Delhi International Airport. Delhi is India’s national capital and the second largest metropolis after Mumbai. Delhi has been continuously inhabited since the 6th century BC. Through most of its history, Delhi has served as a capital of various kingdoms and empires. It has been captured, ransacked and rebuilt several times, particularly during the medieval period, and modern Delhi is a cluster of a number of cities spread across the metropolitan region.An overnight stay in Delhi
Day 2Delhi
On your first day, you will explore the old and new city of Delhi. You’ll be mesmerized by the 100-feet, red-stone boundary walls of Red Fort built during the 17th century. Opposite to this ancient structure is Jama Masjid (Mosque), built in 1656 AD, construction of red sandstone and white marble. It is the largest mosque in India where 20,000 people can pray together at a time. You will also tour the city in a Rickshaw. Along the streets of old Delhi you will see the Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation) Memorial, which is close to the river Yamuna. Next, you will visit Humayun’s Tomb, tomb of the second Mughal emperor, which was built by his wife during the 16th century, and then you will visit Qutub Minar, a 220-feet tower made by one of the first Muslim leaders in India, built between 1199 and 1368 AD. It runs counter to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the residence of the President of India. There you’ll also see the Government Buildings, Parliament. An overnight stay in Delhi
Day 3Drive from Delhi to Agra (200 Km/ 4-5 Hrs)
In the morning, after breakfast drive to Agra. On the way, you will visit Sikandra, the amazing grave of Akbar, the most influential of all Mughal emperors. The grave lies 10 km before Agra. Agra is placed on the deposits of the Yamuna River and was under the Mughal rulers during the 16th and 17th centuries. After arrival in Agra, transfer to hotel. Later, you will visit Agra Fort at the west bank of the Yamuna River. The Agra fort was built in the 16th century by Akbar and was completed by his grandsons. Then, you will visit Itmad-ud-daula, also known as baby Taj. Finally you will see Taj Mahal, but now this time from the other side of the river, from the place called Mehtab Bagh. An overnight stay in Agra
Day 4Taj by Sunrise and drive from Agra to Jaipur (200 km, 3-4 hours)
At sunrise, you will visit the world-famous Taj Mahal (built from 1631-1653 A.D). A poem in white marble it was built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan for his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal. Its extravagant architecture reveals its secret of being one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 20,000 workers with experts from Italy, France, Iran and Asia were busied for 22 years with the monument.Return to hotel for breakfast. After the breakfast, you will proceed to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, which is also popularly known as “Pink City” because of its pink houses’ frontal façade and metropolis fence. On the way, you will visit Fatehpur Sikri (UNESCO World Heritage Site), which is 36 km from Agra, the other large city of Akbar, built in 1569. Akbar shifted his cap to Fatehpur Sikri, but after 13 years due to the scarcity of water, it was shifted to Lahore in Pakistan and back again to Agra. Then drive to Jaipur and upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. An overnight stay in Jaipur Note: The Taj Mahal is closed on Friday.
Day 5Full day sightseeing of Jaipur
After an early breakfast you will drive to fort Amber (10 km), the former capital of Kachhawaha Rajputs. On the way, you will stop to visit the city’s landmark: the Hawa Mahal (palace of the winds). Built during the 18th century, the five-story building features 953 windows and niches from which the royal women observed the procession in the street without being seen. Next you will visit Amber fort, which lies on 400-foot-tall hill and is surrounded by the chain of mountains known as Aravalli. You will ascend the fort on an elephant back like a Maharaja. Then you will visit Albert Museum. Afternoon you will visit the Pink city Jaipur. The City Palace, built in 1734, lies in the center of Jaipur and is now the residence of the royal family of Jaipur and a beautiful museum. An overnight stay at Jaipur
Day 6Drive from Jaipur to Delhi
In the morning after breakfast, you will drive to Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel. An overnight stay in Delhi
Day 7Train from Delhi to Haridwar and Drive from Haridwar to Ananda
In the morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to railway station to board the fast air-conditioned train to Haridwar. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. Ananda is an internationally renowned Spa and Resort. Located in the hilly terrain of the mighty and beautiful Himalayas, Ananda provides world-class rejuvenation of body and mind to travellers from all across the globe. This place extends over and area of 21000 sq feet. There are a total of 79 body and beauty treatments available. The treatment pattern integrates the traditional system of ancient Ayurveda and contemporary western spa approach. An overnight stay in Ananda
Day 8Ananda
In the morning after breakfast, you can avail the facilities like Ayurvedic Mind & Body Therapy etc. An overnight stay in Ananda
Day 9Ananda
In the morning after breakfast, you can avail the facilities like Ayurvedic Mind & Body Therapy etc. An overnight stay in Ananda
Day 10Drive from Ananda to Haridwar and then train from Haridwar to Delhi
After breakfast and checkout from the Hotel, you will drive to Haridwar, enroute visiting Rishikesh. Later transfer to Haridwar railway station to Board the fast air-conditioned train to Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.
