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India’s rich cultural diversity and traditions are visible in its historical monuments. The real supporting foundations of exceptional artistic ability in India are these monuments. India is a country rich in historical buildings, temples, palaces, and regal homes. In India, a great deal of the historical works are remnants of the country’s cultural past. This article talks about Important Monuments in India that candidates would find highly useful when getting ready for the GK Section of Competitive Exams.
For example: On October 2, 2019, Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel declared that single-use plastic will not be permitted on historical monument properties or within 100 meters of them. The UPSC posed numerous factual questions in the IAS Prelims test concerning Indian monuments. An essential static GK topic is Important Monuments in India. Read this article to go through the list of important monuments in India, which will help in the preparation for competitive exams such as Railways, SSC, UPSC, Defence Exams (AFCAT, NDA, CDS ), and more.
Table of Contents
Practice Questions on Important Monuments in India
Here we have listed out several questions to practice on Important Monuments in India:
1. Golghar, located in Patna, Bihar, was built by:
A) British Govt.
B) Pervez Shah
C) Mir Muhammad Aliwal Khan
D) Rani Ahilyabai
Answer: A) British Govt
2. Who is credited with the construction of Charar-E-Sharif in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir?
A) Zainul Abedin
B) Asaf Ali
C) Jahangir
D) Gupta rulers
Answer: A) Zainul Abedin
3. The famous Gateway Of India in Mumbai was built by:
A) Mahatma Gandhi
B) British Govt.
C) Rashtrakuta rulers
D) Buddhists
Answer: B) British Govt
4. Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, was founded by:
A) Guru Ramdas
B) Qutubuddin Aibak
C) Raja Surajmal Singh
D) Guru Nanak
Answer: A) Guru Ramdas
5. The historic City of Palaces, Mysore, features which famous monument?
A) Red Fort
B) Mysore Palace
C) Gateway of India
D) Gol Gumbaz
Answer: B) Mysore Palace
6. Who built the famous Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmadabad, Gujarat?
A) Mahatma Gandhi
B) Raja Bhagwan Das
C) Mir Muhammad Aliwal Khan
D) Qutubuddin Aibak
Answer: A) Mahatma Gandhi
7. Which ruler constructed the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, Rajasthan?
A) Sawai Jai Singh
B) Maharaja Pratap Singh
C) Rao Jodha
D) Maharana Kumbha
Answer: A) Sawai Jai Singh
8. The famous Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha, was built by:
A) Zainul Abedin
B) Raja Surajmal Singh
C) Narasimhadeva I
D) Asaf Ali
Answer: C) Narasimhadeva I
9. Who is credited with the construction of Qutub Minar in Delhi?
A) Shahjahan
B) Qutubuddin Aibak
C) Ferozshan Tughlaq
D) Alauddin Khilji
Answer: B) Qutubuddin Aibak
10. The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, West Bengal, was built during the colonial era by: –
A) Swami Vivekananda
B) Rabindranath Tagore
C) British Govt.
D) Shahjahan
Answer: C) British Govt
Must Read: Basic General Knowledge of Competitive Exams
Top 10 Important Monuments in India
India boasts a rich cultural history with UNESCO-recognized monuments like the iconic Taj Mahal, the sacred Golden Temple, and the cultural marvel of Hawa Mahal. These historical gems showcase India’s diverse heritage. Explore the history through these must-see landmarks that stand as testaments to the country’s profound cultural legacy.
| Monument | Location | Description | |
| 1. | Taj Mahal | Agra | A white marble monument was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. Enlisted in the Seven Wonders of the World. |
| 2. | Golden Temple | Amritsar | Holiest shrine and pilgrimage place for Sikhs. Known as Harmandir Sahib, is adorned with a rich history and gold-gilded exterior. |
| 3. | Meenakshi Temple | Madurai | Dedicated to Parvati and Shiva, visited by Hindu and Tamil devotees. Known for its 33,000 sculptures in 14 gopurams. |
| 4. | Mysore Palace | Mysore | A famous historical monument in Karnataka is known as the City of Palaces. Features spacious halls, art paintings, and Indo-Saracenic style architecture. |
| 5. | Gateway of India | Mumbai | A popular gathering spot in Mumbai, built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay. Known as the Taj Mahal of Mumbai. |
| 6. | Red Fort | New Delhi | UNESCO World Heritage Site in the center of Delhi. Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, housing museums and red sandstone walls. The best time to visit on Independence Day. |
| 7. | Hawa Mahal | Jaipur | Known as the Palace of Winds, a unique five-story structure built from red and pink sandstones by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. Prominent tourist attraction in Jaipur. |
| 8. | Qutub Minar | New Delhi | One of the tallest towers in the world, and the second tallest Minar in India. Stands at 72.5 meters with 379 stairs, representing rich Indian architecture. UNESCO World Heritage Site with red sandstone and inscriptions. |
| 9. | Sanchi Stupa | Sanchi | Also known as the Great Stupa, a world-renowned Buddhist monument in Sanchi, constructed by Emperor Ashoka. Houses Buddhist Stupas, monasteries, and temples. |
| 10. | Charminar | Hyderabad | A majestic mosque with four minarets, constructed in 1591. The most recognizable symbol in the city of Hyderabad. |
List of Other Important Monuments in India
India is an amazing travel destination that offers a wide variety of experiences to its guests. India offers a multitude of cultural monuments built hundreds of years ago, ranging from the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, to palaces and forts.
One example of an architectural masterpiece is the Statue of Unity. On October 31, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Statue of Unity in celebration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 143rd birthday.
It took 11 years to construct and is 177 feet taller than the second-highest Buddha statue in the world, located in China’s Spring Temple. With a height of 182 meters, the Statue of Unity is the highest building in the world. Below we have listed down some of the major historical monuments in India.
| State | Monument | Place | Built by |
| Bihar | Golghar | Patna | British Govt. |
| Pathar Ki Masjid | Patna | Pervez Shah | |
| Sher Shah’s Tomb | Sasaram | Mir Muhammad Aliwal Khan | |
| Vishnupad Temple | Gaya | Rani Ahilyabai | |
| Delhi | Feroz Shah Kotla | Delhi | Ferozshan Tughlaq |
| Hauz Khas | Delhi | Alauddin Khilji | |
| Humayun Tomb | Delhi | Empress Bega Begum | |
| Jama Masjid | Delhi | Shahjahan | |
| Jantar-Mantar | Delhi | Sawai Jai Singh | |
| Khirki Masjid | Delhi | Ghyasuddin Tughlaq | |
| Lakshmi Narayan Temple | Delhi | Birla Family | |
| Moti Masjid | Delhi | Aurangzeb | |
| President House | Delhi | British Govt. | |
| Purana Qila | Delhi | Sher Shah Suri | |
| Qutub Minar | Delhi | Qutubuddin Aibak | |
| Red Fort | Delhi | Shahjahan | |
| Safdarjung Tomb | Delhi | Shuja-ud-daula | |
| Gujarat | Sabarmati Ashram | Ahmadabad | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Charar-E- Sharif | Budgam | Zainul Abedin |
| Nishat Garden | Srinagar | Asaf Ali | |
| Shalimar Garden | Srinagar | Jahangir | |
| Karnataka | Gol Gumbaz | Bijapur | Yaqut of Dabul |
| Maharashtra | Ajanta- Ellora Caves | Aurangabad | Gupta rulers |
| Bibi Ka Maqbara | Aurangabad | Aurangzeb | |
| Elephanta Cave | Mumbai | Rashtrakuta rulers | |
| Gateway Of India | Mumbai | British Govt. | |
| Kanheri Fort | Mumbai | Buddhists | |
| Odisha | Jagannath Temple | Puri | Anantavarman Ganga |
| Sun Temple | Konark | Narasimhadeva I | |
| Punjab | Golden Temple | Amritsar | Guru Ramdas |
| Rajasthan | Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra | Ajmer | Qutubuddin Aibak |
| Bharatpur Fort | Bharatpur | Raja Surajmal Singh | |
| Ajmer Sharif Dargah | Ajmer | Sultan Shyasuddin | |
| Dilwara Jain Temple | Mount Abu | Siddharaja | |
| Hawa Mahal | Jaipur | Maharaja Pratap Singh | |
| Jaigarh Fort | Jaipur | Sawai Jai Singh | |
| Jodhpur Fort | Jodhpur | Rao Jodha | |
| Nahargarh Fort | Jaipur | Sawai Jai Singh | |
| Vijaya Stambha | Chittorgarh | Maharana Kumbha | |
| Tamil Nadu | Saint George Fort | Chennai | East India Company |
| Telangana | Char- Minar | Hyderabad | Quli Qutub Shah |
| Makka Masjid | Hyderabad | Quli Qutub Shah | |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra Fort | Agra | Akbar |
| Akbar Rsquo Tomb | Sikandra | Akbar | |
| Anand Bhawan | Allahabad | Motilal Nehru | |
| Aram Bagh | Agra | Babur | |
| Bada Imambara | Lucknow | Asaf-ud-daula | |
| Chhota Imambara | Lucknow | Muhammad Ali Shah | |
| Deewan-E- Khas | Agra Fort | Shahjahan | |
| Fatehpur Sikri | Agra | Akbar | |
| Tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daula | Agra | Nurjahan | |
| Jama Masjid | Agra | Shahjahan | |
| Moti Masjid | Agra | Shahjahan | |
| Sati Burj | Mathura | Raja Bhagwan Das | |
| Shish Mahal | Agra | Shahjahan | |
| Taj Mahal | Agra | Shahjahan | |
| West Bengal | Shantiniketan | West Bengal | Rabindranath Tagore |
| Belur Math | Kolkata | Swami Vivekananda | |
| Victoria Memorial | Kolkata | British Govt. |
FAQs
The top 10 Important Monuments in India include the Taj Mahal, Golden Temple, Meenakshi Temple, Mysore Palace, Gateway of India, Red Fort, Hawa Mahal, Qutub Minar, Sanchi Stupa, and Charminar.
The five national monuments of India are the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Humayun’s Tomb, and Rashtrapati Bhavan.
India is home to numerous important monuments, ranging from ancient temples to Mughal forts. The exact count may vary, but there are thousands of significant monuments.
The Sanchi Stupa, constructed by Emperor Ashoka, is considered one of the first monuments in India, dating back to the 3rd century BCE.
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