Five Art and Architecture Destination in India

From lotus temple in Delhi to wondrous Taj in Agra and marvelous sculptures & painting at Elephanta Island, India has a great number of destinations which entice architecture-lovers from far corners of globe. Here's my list of India's top 5 places to admire artistic creations. The list, however, has not been endorsed by any magazine or survey.

Agra: It may seem obvious, but it's not without a reason why Agra in state of Uttar Pradesh tops my list of places for art-lovers. Home to Taj Mahal: one of Seven Wonders of World, Agra is India's most talked-about tourist place. Taj Mahal, with its unique blend of Persian, Islamic and Indian architecture styles, is one of the most attention-grabbing manmade monuments on this earth. Amazing work of stone-cutting, carvings, paintings and calligraphy on white marvels leave all the visitors stunned. Even the domes & structures alongside the main complex add to the architectural beauty of this wonder. Beyond the Taj, visitors can experience flawless Mughal architecture at Red Fort. Fatehpur Shikri and other ancient buildings in the city are also worth exploring.

Delhi: Nothing beats a Delhi trip if you're the one inclined towards arts & cultures. One of the oldest cities in the world has turned to be a vibrant metropolis in India, but its age-old architectures & grand history still has a charismatic charm and never fails to impress architecture-admirers. The city has a long list of historical monuments with many of them designated as UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. From forts to monuments to religious sites, the city is like a museum of master architecture work. Mammoth Red Fort, towering Qutub Minar, impressive structure of Rasatrapati Bhawan and unique design of Lotos temple is sure to leave folks breathless. You can visit to Akashrdham Temple to view amazing carving & paint work of modern artisans.

Ajanta-Allora Caves: Stunning structures made by rock-cutting, Ajanta Caves hold an immense collection of sculptures and artworks pertaining to great Bhuddhist religion. This includes some famous paintings too, which remind us of Sigiriya paintings in Sri Lanks. As old as 2nd century BCE, these cave monuments have been a dream destination for artisans and archeologists. They are a world heritage site by UNESCO and are must-visit tourist spot in Indian state of Maharashtra.

Mahabalipuram: Mahabalipuram is undisputedly the most picturesque town of South India in sense of architectural beauty. Monolithic rock curved temples are the center of attraction, which are architectural masterpieces founded by Pallava kings. Wonderful Dravidain architectures backed with unsurpassable history & spiritualism in Mahabalipuram keep art-lovers and history-admirers flocking the city year-round. There are eight rathas in the town, which are made of rock-cutting and named after five pandawas of Mahabhartha and their wife Drupadi.