A nation’s cultural and ecological legacy, as manifested in buildings, monuments, and natural attractions, is evidence of its past. Additionally, no matter where they are located, distinctive buildings and monumented national assets trace humanity’s evolution. As a result, jet travel makes the world’s most potent civilizational and natural treasures available to an ever-increasing number of students, academics, and ordinary people worldwide.
The United States of America in 1965 asked to establish a World Heritage Trust to encourage international collaboration in preserving the world’s magnificent natural and scenic regions and historical monuments for the future and current generations of global citizens. Environment protection organizations supported the notion. In 1968, the International Union for Natural Resources Conservation prepared an identical idea. Which was delivered at the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm. The concept was forwarded to the United Nations Scientific, Academic, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by the General Assembly of the United States. In the same year, UNESCO created an international agreement under the style and name of the Conference Concerning the Safeguarding of the World Heritage of Culture and Nature.
The treaty’s primary objective is to promote the identification, protection, and preservation of historical and natural heritage properties worldwide that are thought to be of exceptional significance to humankind.
All you need to know about the Top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North India:
1. Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun’s Mausoleum, the Indian subcontinent’s first garden tomb, was constructed by the Emperor’s principal wife, Bega Begum. The building in Nizamuddin East is near the Old Fort and may be visited as one of Delhi’s numerous tourist attractions (and one of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites).
Humayun’s Tomb contains not just the Emperor’s burial but also the graves of countless others, including Bega Begum, Dara Shikoh, and Hamida Begum. Muhammad Kam Bakhsh, and many others. The groomed grounds are a pleasant area to roam about, and the monument is enjoyable to examine.
Location: Nizamuddin East, Delhi
Timing: Open daily from sunrise to sunset
Entry Fees: INR 40 (Indians), INR 600 (foreigners)
Nearby Places: India Gate, Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar
Activities: Exploring the tomb complex, photography, guided tours
2. The Complex of Red Fort
The Red Fort is the third UNESCO World Heritage Site in India’s capital city of Delhi. Another Mughal construction was created as the residential palace for Shahjahanabad, the capital city of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Red forts’ distinctive red appearance is due to the Fort’s long, enormous red sandstone walls and structures.
Mughal, Hindu, and Timurid influenced the design and other inspirations, and its vast gardens and palaces are an excellent spot to spend hours researching India’s history.
Location: Old Delhi
Timing: Open daily from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, closed on Mondays
Entry Fees: INR 35 (Indians), INR 550 (foreigners)
Nearby Places: Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Raj Ghat
Activities: Light and sound show, exploring museums, guided tours
Old & New Delhi Full-Day Sightseeing Trip
3. Qutub Minar
The Qutub Minar, a 73-meter-tall tower in Delhi’s Mehrauli neighborhood, was constructed by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the city’s first Mughal monarch. The tapering construction has five floors, with balconies on every floor. The minor’s development was continued by Aibak’s successors, Firoz Shah Tughlakand Iltutmish.
Who completed the tower to what it is now? The architecture is typical of Islamic construction, although it also incorporates elements from Jain and Hindu temple structures. The neighboring monuments include Iltutmish’s Mausoleum, the Quwwatu’l-Islam mosque, its extension, Alauddin Khilji’s mahal, and other systems that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site in North India.
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Location: Mehrauli Area of South Delhi
Timing: Open daily from sunrise to sunset
Entry Fees: INR 40 (Indians), INR 600 (foreigners)
Nearby Places: Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Iron Pillar, Lotus Temple
Activities: Exploring the Qutub complex, photography, guided tours
4. Agra Fort
The Army owns a big chunk of the Agra Fort, but what remains is one of the numerous attractive sights that should be seen. The Fort, which is adjacent to the Taj Mahal, takes around an hour or two to visit entirely and is made up of red sandstone walls and buildings, giving it the nickname “Red Fort of Agra”.
The 2.5-kilometer-long enclosure walls of the Mughal monument house various palaces, including the Palace of Jahangir and the Khas Mahal, in addition to the Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Aajam, and two exquisite mosques.
Location: Rakabganj, Agra, UP
Timing: Open daily from sunrise to sunset
Entry Fees: INR 50 (Indians), INR 650 (foreigners)
Nearby Places: Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb
Activities: Exploring the fort, visiting the palaces within, guided tours
5. Nanda Devi and Its Valley of Flowers
The spectacular panoramas of the Nanda Devi mountain and the Valley of Flowers combine to form one of the most stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North India, filled with gorgeous flowers complementing the rugged yet magnificent Himalayan peak of the Nanda Devi.
Both zones are rich in biodiversity, with various rare and uncommon animals, including the Asian black bear, snow leopard, brown bear, Himalayan musk deer, and many plant species.
Location: Chamoli, Uttarakhand
Timing: Open daily from June to October
Entry Fees: INR 150 (Indians), INR 600 (foreigners)
Nearby Places: Auli, Joshimath, Hemkund Sahib
Activities: Trekking, photography, wildlife spotting, exploring the valley
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6. The Kalka Shimla Railway
The Kalka-Shimla Railway is one of India’s three mountain railway lines on the UNESCO World Heritage List in North India—the picturesque 96.6-kilometer Kalka-Shimla road winds across the majestic Himalayas. The railway was constructed in the mid-nineteenth century to boost transportation to Shimla and demonstrates the brilliance of construction at the time.
The railway is still running, and the route provides a terrific experience with picturesque scenery that varies with the seasons—from snow-covered paths to fallen rhododendron blooms covering the ground to diffused sunshine peeking through the trees.
Location: Himachal Pradesh
Timing: Train schedules vary; check local listings
Entry Fees: Train ticket prices vary depending on the class
Nearby Places: Shimla, Solan, Chail
Activities: Scenic train ride, photography, exploring hill stations
7. Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar was constructed in the nineteenth century as a celestial observation point, with its twenty pieces of fixed equipment and a heart-shaped structure.
The observatory, built by Prince Jai Singh II, functioned as a gathering spot for diverse scientific cultures. It also worked as a clock and served as a sign of royal power and time management.
Location: Modern City of New Delhi
Timing: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Entry Fees: INR 50 (Indians), INR 200 (foreigners)
Nearby Places: City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall Museum
Activities: Exploring the instruments, guided tours, learning about astronomy
Photography Tour Delhi Monuments
8. Keoladeo National Park
The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan is one of the environmental UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North India. It is recognized for holding a diverse range of bird species, including migratory birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Siberia, and those native to India’s ecosystem.
An evening spent here may be enlightening about these critters’ migration patterns and is a terrific opportunity to spend time with nature.
Location: Bharatpur, Rajasthan
Timing: Open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entry Fees: INR 75 (Indians), INR 500 (foreigners)
Nearby Places: Lohagarh Fort, Bharatpur Palace, Deeg Palace
Activities: Bird watching, nature walks, photography, guided tours
9. The Hill Forts of Rajasthan
Rajasthan’s hill forts are mainly in the Aravalli Mountain Range. They include the Chittor Fort in Chittorgarh, the Amer Fort in Jaipur, the Gagron Fort in Jhalawar, the Jaisalmer Fort, the Kumbhalgarh Fort, and the Ranthambore Fort in Sawai Madhopur.
Many of the forts were built by many Rajput monarchs between the 5th and 18th centuries. Many forts still have intact urban centers and use water collection technologies.
Location: Rajasthan
Timing: Varies for each fort; generally open from sunrise to sunset
Entry Fees: Varies for each fort; generally INR 50-200 (Indians), INR 200-500 (foreigners)
Nearby Places: Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur
Activities: Exploring forts, photography, learning about history, guided tours
10. Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri also referred to as the City of Victory, is said to have been created to give relaxation & luxury to Akbar, the Mughal emperor.
The complex includes the Buland Darwaza (lofty entrance), mosques, an elephant tower, tombs, and a drum chamber where musicians could proclaim the Emperor’s approach. A space in Pachisi Court has been designated for a human version of Ludo!
Location: About 36 km from Agra’s headquarters
Timing: Open daily from sunrise to sunset
Entry Fees: INR 50 (Indians), INR 610 (foreigners)
Nearby Places: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra
Activities: Exploring the complex, photography, guided tours
Conclusion
Exploring the UNESCO World Heritage sites should be on everyone’s bucket list if they enjoy traveling. With its rich history and culture, India features a plethora of forts, ancient monuments, intricately carved caves, and even nature reserves teeming with unique flora and animals.
Many of these sites are managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Some are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites dispersed across India’s regions – north, south, east, west, and northeast. So, for nature and history fans, these locations are a terrific opportunity to tour the country and see things that the rest of the world comes to see in your own country.
Find out more details on North India here:
- 10 Famous Reasons You Should Visit North India
- Top 18 Destinations to See North India In November
- 12 Must-Visit Historical Destinations In North India
- Top 15 Places North India to Visit in September
- 7 Most Romantic Honeymoon Places in North India
- 15 Destinations to Visit North India in October
FAQs
1. What makes a site qualify as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
A site qualifies as a UNESCO World Heritage Site if it meets at least one of the ten selection criteria, which include exhibiting outstanding universal value, representing a masterpiece of human creative genius, or containing superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty. These sites must also demonstrate authenticity and integrity, ensuring they maintain their historical, cultural, or natural significance.
2. How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in North India?
North India is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each with its unique historical, cultural, and natural significance. Prominent ones include Humayun’s Tomb, The Complex of Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Agra Fort, Nanda Devi and Its Valley of Flowers, The Kalka Shimla Railway, Jantar Mantar, Keoladeo National Park, The Hill Forts of Rajasthan, and Fatehpur Sikri.
3. What is the best time to visit these UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
The best time to visit these sites generally ranges from October to March, as the weather is pleasant and conducive for sightseeing. However, specific sites like Nanda Devi and Its Valley of Flowers are best visited from June to October when the flowers are in full bloom.
4. Are there any entry fees for these UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Yes, most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North India have entry fees. The fees vary for Indian and foreign tourists. For example, Humayun’s Tomb charges INR 40 for Indians and INR 600 for foreigners, while Agra Fort charges INR 50 for Indians and INR 650 for foreigners.
5. What activities can visitors engage in at these sites?
Visitors can engage in various activities such as exploring historical monuments, participating in guided tours, photography, trekking (in natural sites like Valley of Flowers), bird watching (at Keoladeo National Park), and enjoying cultural shows like the light and sound show at Red Fort.
6. Are guided tours available at these UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Yes, guided tours are available at most UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These tours provide detailed historical and cultural insights, making the visit more enriching. Guides are usually well-versed in multiple languages to cater to international tourists.
7. What are some nearby attractions to visit along with these UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Each UNESCO World Heritage Site is often surrounded by other significant attractions. For instance, while visiting Humayun’s Tomb, you can also explore India Gate and Lotus Temple in New Delhi. Near Agra Fort, the iconic Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri are must-visit attractions. In Jaipur, alongside Jantar Mantar, you can visit the City Palace and Hawa Mahal.
