World Heritage Day: Beautiful pics of world heritage sites in India

World Heritage Day: Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has endeavoured to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. India has a total of 36 world heritage sites that have been recognised by UNESCO. As we celebrate World Heritage Day, here are some of them. (Text: Whc.unesco.org)

Agra Fort: Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. (Source: Wikipedia)

The Nalanda Mahavihara site, located in Bihar, comprises the archaeological remains of a scholastic and monastic institution dating from the 3rd century BC to the 13th century AD. The most ancient university of the Indian subcontinent, the historical development of the site testifies to the development of Buddhism into a religion and the flourishing of monastic and educational traditions, according to UNESCO. It includes stupas, shrines, viharas – residential and educational buildings – and important art works in stucco, stone and metal. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka: These are in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains on the southern edge of the central Indian plateau. Within massive sandstone outcrops above comparatively dense forest, are five clusters of natural rock shelters, displaying paintings that appear to date from the Mesolithic Period right through to the historical period. (Source: Wikipedia)

Qutub Minar and its monuments: Built in the early 13th century a few kilometres south of Delhi, the red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5m high, tapering from 2.75 m in diameter at its peak to 14.32 m at its base, and alternating angular and rounded flutings. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311), and two mosques, including the Quwwatu'l-Islam, the oldest in northern India, built of materials reused from some 20 Brahman temples. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

Taj Mahal: An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. (Source: Express Photo)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, in Mumbai, is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. The building, designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’ and the major international mercantile port of India. (Source: Express Photo by Prashant Nadkar)

Mountain Railways of India: This includes three railways — The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (in pic) was the first, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the Kalka Shimla Railway. All three railways are still fully operational. (Source: PTI)

Elephanta Caves: The 'City of Caves', on an island in the Sea of Oman close to Bombay, contains a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Shiva. Here, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high reliefs in the main cave. (Source: Mouthshut.com)

Ellora Caves These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from AD 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. (Source: Express photo)

Fatehpur Sikri: Built during the second half of the 16th century by Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for 10 years. The complex monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, include one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. (Source: Express Photo)

Group of Monuments at Hampi: The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries. (Source: Express Archive Photo)

Humayun's Tomb: This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. (Source: Express archive photo)

The Jantar Mantar: The Jantar Mantar, in Jaipur, is an astronomical observation site built in the early 18th century. It includes a set of some 20 main fixed instruments. They are monumental examples in masonry of known instruments but which in many cases have specific characteristics of their own. (Source: Express Photo by Rohit Jain)

Khajuraho Group of Monuments: The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different religions – Hinduism and Jainism. (Source: Express archive photo)

Konarak Sun Temple: On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya's chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, it is one of India's most famous Brahman sanctuaries. (Source: Templedetails.com)

Known for the UNESCO world heritage site Rani Ki Vav (Queen’s step well) from the 11th century, Patan is a small town located on the banks of River Saraswati. It is a spiritual town and has a lot of historical value. The best time to visit Patan is from October to April. (Source: PTI)