“Cultural differences should not separate us from each other,
but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity”
- Robert Alan
India’s culture is among the world's oldest; civilization in India began about 4,500 years ago. Every culture is valuable to that particular population largely for emotional and territorial reasons. Because of the population diversity, there is immense variety in Indian culture.
The Indian culture is a blend of various cultures belonging to belonging to diverse religions, castes, regions follow their own tradition and culture. But do you know some amazing stories behind the culture of our country?
Let us have a look at some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the stories behind them!
1. Sundarbans
The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site is located at the Southeastern tip of the 24 Paraganas district about 110 km from Kolkata. It got its name from one of the mangrove plants known as Sundari (Heritiera Minor). Sundarbans are a part of the world's largest delta, formed by the mighty rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna.
Situated on the lower end of Gangetic West Bengal, the Sundarbans is crisscrossed by hundreds of creeks and tributaries. It is one of the most attractive and alluring places remaining on earth, a truly undiscovered paradise.
The Sundarbans is the largest single block of tidal, halophytic mangrove forests in the world. It is the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park.
2. Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Built between 950-1050 CE by the Chandela dynasty, Khajuraho Temples are one of the most important specimens of Indian art. These sets of Hindu and Jain temples took around a hundred years to take shape. Originally a collection of 85 temples, the number has come down to 25. The temples were built near Mahoba which used to be the seat of the Chandela empire.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temple complex is divided into three spheres: the Western, Eastern, and the Southern.
The Western group consists of the majority of temples, the Eastern comprises carved Jain temples while the Southern group has only a few temples. The Jain temples in the Eastern Group of temples were built for the flourishing Jainism in the region during the Chandela rule. The temples in the Western and Southern parts are dedicated to various Hindu gods and goddesses.
Out of these eight temples are dedicated to Vishnu, six to Shiva, and one each to Ganesha and Surya while three are for Jain Tirthankaras. The Kandariya Mahadeo temple is the largest of all the temples that remain.
3. 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 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers.
The construction of the Agra fort was started around 1565, when the initial structures were built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, and subsequently taken over by his grandson Shah Jahan. Agra Fort is a labyrinth of Mahals, Court, rooms, gardens, secret passway, and many other incredible architects to keep you spellbound throughout the trip. It is interesting to study how cleverly the king designed the massive fort interlinking and making a pavement to smoothly sneak away during an emergency!
4. Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves, a horseshoe-shaped collection of rock-cut cave temples stands around the Wangorah River in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Discovered by chance in 1819 by a British officer, the Ajanta Caves have since then been in the archaeological and historical limelight of the country.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site today, the caves fell to disuse soon after the Ellora, about 103 kilometers from Ajanta, rose to prominence, home to Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist rock-cut caves. The desolation of Ajanta for nearly a millennium with the Deccan forest coming into their own and choking the sculptures, further expedited its downfall.
The Ajanta murals, owing to their inherent fragility and an abundance of destructive natural and maleficent human agents, have suffered considerable damage. The great religious art of Ajanta through all its sincerity and refinement acts as crucial markers towards the journey within.
6. Sun Temple of Konark
The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Hindu temple dedicated to the Sun God. Shaped like a giant chariot, the temple is known for the exquisite stone carvings that cover the entire structure.
It is located in the village of Konark, which is 35 kilometers north of Puri on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Frequently referred to as the Black Pagoda, the Konark Temple was constructed in the mid-13th century by Raja Narasinghs Deva-I of the Ganga Dynasty. There are beautiful carvings on the wall of the main temple, and then there is the Natya Mandap.
It is the best-known tourist destination in Orissa and has been a World Heritage Site since 1984.
Read more about Black Pagoda for more insights.
Conclusion
The significance of Indian culture is that it is a scientific process towards human liberation and well-being. No other culture has looked at a human being with as much depth and understanding as this culture has.
Indian culture is incredibly complex and resembles chaos of mind-boggling proportions.
Are you a travel lover? And if you stop by in Delhi, do check out these amazing places in North Delhi!
Written By - Riya Garg
Edited By - Neha Kundu
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