Ahichhatra: Originally Ahikshetra in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh, it was once the capital of the Panchalas.
Aihole: In Karnataka contains the chief sites of Chalukyan architecture-nearly 70 structural stone temples important in the development of Hindu architecture and sculpture.
Ajanta Caves: 66 miles north of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State. These are rock-cut Buddhist caves, 29 in number. These caves represent a record of unique painting, sculpture and architecture of the period from about the 2nd century B.C. to 7th century A.D.
Amaravati: It is the legendary capital of Svarga. Also a historical site near modern Vijaywada, believed to have flourished under the Satavahana dynasty.
Arikamedu: It was a sea-port near Pondicherry in Chola times.
Ayodhya: A few miles from modern Faizabad, near Lucknow, it was the capital of the Kosala and the Solar kings of ancient India. Rama was the most prominent among them.
Badami (or Vatapi): In Karnataka it is well-known for Chalukyan sculpture found in the cave temples here. These are groups of Hindu temples dating back to 7th or 8th century and are examples of pure Dravidian architecture. Besides cave temples and rock-cut pillared halls, there is also the famous Malegitti Shivalaya temple.
Belur: In Karnataka it is famous for its elaborately sculptured Cheena Kesava temple of the Hoysala period.
Bhubaneswar: In Orissa it is known for ancient temples viz., Rajarani; Lingraja; Brahmesvara.
Bodh Gaya: It is situated 6 miles south of Gaya in Bihar State on the western bank of Falgu river and connected by two metalled roads. It is famous as the place where Buddha got enlightenment. There are modern monasteries, rest houses and a museum here.
Chidambaram: A town 150 miles south of Chennai known as Tillai in ancient times, it was once the capital of the Chola kingdom. Its temples are among the oldest in India and are gems of Dravidian architecture. It is famous as the abode of Natraja, the Dancing Shiva.
Daulatabad: Situated near Aurangabad in Maharashtra State it is famous for rock-cut fortress of 12th century near the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Elephanta Caves: On the island of the same name about 6 miles from Mumbai harbour these are rock-cut caves of the 7th and 8th centuries. The name Elephanta is due to the Portuguese, who were apparently struck by the stone elephants which were once found in their landing place.
Ellora Caves: About 15 miles north-west of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State these are about 34 caves excavated in the face of a hill.
Fatehpur Sikri: 23 miles from Agra in Uttar Pradesh it was the city founded by Akbar in 1571 but abandoned soon after. The place contains a number of palaces, shrines, mosques. The most notable among them is Buland Darwaza, 176 feet high and built to commemorate the conquest of Gujarat.
Halebid: In Karnataka, 10 miles from Belur it is well-known for its elaborately sculptured temples of the Hoysala period. The monuments rank among the masterpieces of Hindu art.
Hampi: In Karnataka, 9 miles from Hospet railway station it is the ruined capital of the Vijayanagar Empire.
Harappa: In Montgomery district of Punjab, now in West Pakistan it is known for excavations carried out here showing signs of Indus Valley Civilization.
Junagadh: In Gujarat State it is one of the most ancient cities of India. It is situated below the Girnar Hill. The temples on the Hill are known for their architecture and paintings.
Kalibangan: In Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan where excavations brought to light the varied achievements of Indus Valley Civilisation-town planning and use of burnt bricks.
Kannauj: Capital of Harshavardhana.
Kanchipuram: Or the “Golden City”, 45 miles south- west of Chennai it is known for Kailashnath temple. It was the capital of successive dynasties of Hindu rulers.
Kanheri: 20 miles from Mumbai it is known for its Buddhist caves dating back to the 1st century A.D.
Kanyakubja: Or modern Kannauj is an ancient city. It was the cultural centre of northern India from the seventh century to the time when the Muslims came.
Kapilvastu: A small ancient kingdom in the north of India; associated with Mahatma Buddha..
Khajuraho: In Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh it is famous for its group of highly ornate medieval Hindu temples.
Kusinagar: In the district of Deoria (UP) it is the place where Buddha died.
Lothal: Ancient town, situated on the sea-plain of former Saurashtra, 450 miles south-east of Mohenjodaro. The excavation made here represents the Indus Valley Civilization.
Madurai : Popularly known as the “City of Festivals”, it was till the 14th century the capital of the Pandyan kingdom which had sea-borne trade with Rome and Greece. It is famous for Minakshi Temple.
Mammalapuram (now Mahabalipuram): Situated 53 miles from Chennai, it is known for rock-cut temples, monolithic figures and carvings of the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. The chief points of interest here are the Five Rathas or temples modelled as chariots-“Arjuna Ratha”, “Draupadi Ratha”, “Dharamraja Ratha” etc. also famous for Shore Temple.
Mandu: In Madhya Pradesh, it is one of the largest medieval city sites. It has extensive remains-fortifications and palaces a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim styles in architecture and painting; Jama Masjid (of Mandu).
Mithila: It was the home of the three scholar sages Gargi, Maitreya and Kapila. It was the capital town of Raja Janak’s kingdom.
Mohenjodaro: In the Larkana district of Sindh (now in Pakistan) it is the site of excavation revealing Indus Valley Civilization.
Nalanda: In Bihar it was the seat of an ancient Buddhist University. It contains a group of Buddhist temples and monasteries.
Palitana: In Saurashtra it is famous for its holly hill Shatrunjaya. It is the most sacred place for Shvetambara Jains.
Pandharpur: It is in Sholapur district (Maharashtra State). It stands on Bhima river and is one of the most sacred places of pilgrimage in the State.
Prabhaspatan (or Somnath): In Gujarat State it is the site of the famous Somnath temple which was destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni.
Pragjyotishpur: The capital of an ancient tribal kingdom in Kamarupa or modern Assam.
Rajgir: 8 miles south-west of Nalanda by road it is an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. It was the capital of Bimbisara in ancient times. Buddha preached at Rajgir and so did Mahavira, the great preceptor of the Jains.
Sanchi: In Madhya Pradesh it is famous for the largest and the most well-preserved Buddhist Stupa (108-foot in diameter and 42-foot in height).
Sarnath: Near Varanasi it is the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon after he became the “Enlightened One”. The place is known for Buddhist temples and remains.
Seringapatam: In Karnataka it was the ancient capital of Tipu Sultan. (Now known as Seringapatnam.)
Somnathpuram: In Karnataka it is known for temples of Hoysala period, Kesava Temple.
Sravanbelgola: In Karnataka it is famous for its Jain temples and the colossal statue of Gomateswara (Babubali) 65-foot high erected in A.D. 983, the tallest monolithic statue in the world.
Srirangam: An island on the Cauvery river two miles north of Tiruchirapalli. It contains one of the largest temples in south India of the Vijayanagar period.
Sringeri: In Karnataka it is a place of pilgrimage on the banks of Tung river where the great philosopher Sankara founded one of the principal maths (monasteries).
Tamralipti: A flourishing sea port in ancient India.
Tanjore: It was the capital of Cholas. It is situated in the delta of the Cauvery river in Tamil Nadu. Also known for Brihadeeswara temple.
Taxila: Ancient capital of Gandhara and one of the most renowned cities of ancient north-west India.
Tirupati : In Andhra Pradesh state, situated about 100 miles to the north-west of Chennai it is one of the holiest places in South India. This hill temple of Sri Venkateswara is an example of early Dravidian architecture and is one of the finest in the south.
Ujjain: Known to be the seat of king Vikrama it is situated on the bank of Sipra river in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the seven sacred cities also known as Avanti. The Oriental Museum here has some valuable manuscripts and pieces of sculpture. Mahakaleshwar Temple here is known as a pilgrimage centre.
Vaishali : In the district of Vaishali in Bihar it was the capital of the famous Vajji kingdom in ancient times.
Vikramasila: A great Tantrik University established by the Pala King Dharampala in A.D. 810. It was a hotbed of moral corruption, sorcery and idolatry. In AD 1198, the soldiers of Ikhtiar Khilji destroyed the structure to the ground and killed all the monks in the university.