1/The Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF), located in the south-west of Bangladesh

between the river Baleswar in the East and the Harinbanga in the West, adjoining to the Bay of Bengal, is
the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world. Lying between latitude 21° 27′ 30″ and 22° 30′ 00″
North and longitude 89° 02′ 00″ and 90° 00′ 00″ East and with a total area of 10,000 km 2, 60% of the
property lies in Bangladesh and the rest in India. The land area, including exposed sandbars, occupies
414,259 ha (70%) with water bodies covering 187,413 ha (30%).
The three wildlife sanctuaries in the south cover an area of 139,700 ha and are considered core breeding
areas for a number of endangered species. Situated in a unique bioclimatic zone within a typical
geographical situation in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal, it is a landmark of ancient heritage of
mythological and historical events. Bestowed with magnificent scenic beauty and natural resources, it is
internationally recognized for its high biodiversity of mangrove flora and fauna both on land and water.
The immense tidal mangrove forests of Bangladeshs’ Sundarbans Forest Reserve, is in reality a mosaic
of islands of different shapes and sizes, perennially washed by brackish water shrilling in and around the
endless and mind-boggling labyrinths of water channels. The site supports exceptional biodiversity in its
terrestrial, aquatic and marine habitats; ranging from micro to macro flora and fauna. The Sundarbans is
of universal importance for globally endangered species including the Royal Bengal Tiger, Ganges and
Irawadi dolphins, estuarine crocodiles and the critically endangered endemic river terrapin (Batagur
baska). It is the only mangrove habitat in the world for Panthera tigris tigris species.
): The Sundarbans provides a significant example of on-going ecological processes as it represents the
process of delta formation and the subsequent colonization of the newly formed deltaic islands and
associated mangrove communities. These processes include monsoon rains, flooding, delta formation,
tidal influence and plant colonization. As part of the world’s largest delta, formed from sediments
deposited by three great rivers; the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna, and covering the Bengal Basin,
the land has been moulded by tidal action, resulting in a distinctive physiology.

2/The Taj Mahal is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden that
encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh. It was built by Mughal Emperor
Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal with construction starting in 1632 AD and completed in
1648 AD, with the mosque, the guest house and the main gateway on the south, the outer courtyard and
its cloisters were added subsequently and completed in 1653 AD. The existence of several historical and
Quaranic inscriptions in Arabic script have facilitated setting the chronology of Taj Mahal. For its
construction, masons, stone-cutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome builders and other
artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from the Central Asia and Iran. Ustad-
Ahmad Lahori was the main architect of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-
Islamic architecture. Its recognised architectonic beauty has a rhythmic combination of solids and voids,
concave and convex and light shadow; such as arches and domes further increases the aesthetic aspect.
The colour combination of lush green scape reddish pathway and blue sky over it show cases the
monument in ever changing tints and moods. The relief work in marble and inlay with precious and semi
precious stones make it a monument apart.
The uniqueness of Taj Mahal lies in some truly remarkable innovations carried out by the horticulture
planners and architects of Shah Jahan. One such genius planning is the placing of tomb at one end of the
quadripartite garden rather than in the exact centre, which added rich depth and perspective to the distant
view of the monument. It is also, one of the best examples of raised tomb variety. The tomb is further
raised on a square platform with the four sides of the octagonal base of the minarets extended beyond
the square at the corners. The top of the platform is reached through a lateral flight of steps provided in
the centre of the southern side. The ground plan of the Taj Mahal is in perfect balance of composition, the
octagonal tomb chamber in the centre, encompassed by the portal halls and the four corner rooms. The
plan is repeated on the upper floor. The exterior of the tomb is square in plan, with chamfered corners.
The large double storied domed chamber, which houses the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah
Jahan, is a perfect octagon in plan.

3/The Ajanta Caves are 30 (approximately) rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date
from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India.[1][note
 The caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving
1]

examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotion through
gesture, pose and form.[3][4][5]
According to UNESCO, these are masterpieces of Buddhist religious art that influenced the Indian
art that followed.[6] The caves were built in two phases, the first phase starting around the 2nd
century BCE, while the second phase was built around 400–650 CE, according to older accounts, or
in a brief period of 460–480 CE according to later scholarship.[7] The site is a protected monument in
the care of the Archaeological Survey of India,[8] and since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Ajanta Caves constitute ancient monasteries and worship-halls of different Buddhist traditions
carved into a 75-metre (246 ft) wall of rock.[9][10] The caves also present paintings depicting the past
lives and rebirths of the Buddha, pictorial tales from Aryasura's Jatakamala, and rock-cut sculptures
of Buddhist deities.[9][11][12] Textual records suggest that these caves served as a monsoon retreat for
monks, as well as a resting site for merchants and pilgrims in ancient India.[9] While vivid colours and
mural wall-painting were abundant in Indian history as evidenced by historical records, Caves 16,
17, 1 and 2 of Ajanta form the largest corpus of surviving ancient Indian wall-painting.[13]

Panoramic view of Ajanta Caves from the nearby hill

The Ajanta Caves are mentioned in the memoirs of several medieval-era Chinese Buddhist
travellers to India and by a Mughal-era official of Akbar era in the early 17th century.[14] They were
covered by jungle until accidentally "discovered" and brought to Western attention in 1819 by a
colonial British officer Captain John Smith on a tiger-hunting party.[15] The caves are in the rocky
northern wall of the U-shaped gorge of the river Waghur,[16] in the Deccan plateau.[17][18] Within the
gorge are a number of waterfalls, audible from outside the caves when the river is high.[19]
With the Ellora Caves, Ajanta is one of the major tourist attractions of Maharashtra. It is about 6
kilometres (3.7 miles) from Fardapur, 59 kilometres (37 miles) from the city
of Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India, 104 kilometres (65 miles) from the city of Aurangabad, and 350
kilometres (220 miles) east-northeast of Mumbai.[9][20] Ajanta is 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the
Ellora Caves, which contain Hindu, Jain and Buddhist caves, the last dating from a period similar to
Ajanta. The Ajanta style is also found in the Ellora Caves and other sites such as the Elephanta
Caves, Aurangabad Caves, Shivleni Caves and the cave temples of Karnataka.[21]

4/Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a collection of cave temples
predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.[1][2][3] They are located on Elephanta Island,
or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the
city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Mahārāshtra. The island, located offshore about 2 kilometres
(1.2 mi) west of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, consists of five Hindu caves and a few Buddhist stupa
mounds that date back to the 2nd century BCE,[4][2][5] as well as a small group of two Buddhist caves
with water tanks.[6][7]
The Elephanta Caves contain rock cut stone sculptures that show syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist
ideas and iconography.[5][8][9] The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. Except for a few exceptions,
much of the artwork is defaced and damaged.[10] The main temple's orientation as well as the relative
location of other temples are placed in a mandala pattern.[2] The carvings narrate Hindu mythologies,
with the large monolithic 20 feet (6.1 m) Trimurti Sadashiva (three-faced Shiva), Nataraja (Lord of
dance) and Yogishvara (Lord of Yoga) being the most celebrated.[2][11][12]
The origins and date when the caves were constructed have attracted considerable speculations
and scholarly attention since the 19th century. These date them between 5th and 9th century, and
attribute them to various Hindu dynasties.[1][2] They are more commonly placed between 5th and 7th
centuries. Most scholars consider it to have been completed by about 550 CE.[3][13][14]
They were named Elefante – which morphed to Elephanta – by the colonial Portuguese when they
found elephant statues on it. They established a base on the island, and its soldiers damaged the
sculpture and caves. The main cave (Cave 1, or the Great Cave) was a Hindu place of worship until
the Portuguese arrived, whereupon the island ceased to be an active place of worship.[2] The earliest
attempts to prevent further damage to the Caves were started by British India officials in 1909.[15] The
monuments were restored in the 1970s.[2] In 1987, the restored Elephanta Caves were designated
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is currently maintained by the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI).[8][9]

5/Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century CE sun temple at Konark about 35 kilometres

(22 mi) northeast from Puri on the coastline of Odisha, India.[1][2] The temple is attributed to
king Narasimha deva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE.[3][4]
Dedicated to the Hindu sun god Surya, what remains of the temple complex has the appearance of a
100-foot (30 m) high chariot with immense wheels and horses, all carved from stone. Once over 200
feet (61 m) high,[1][5] much of the temple is now in ruins, in particular the large shikara tower over the
sanctuary; at one time this rose much higher than the mandapa that remains. The structures and
elements that have survived are famed for their intricate artwork, iconography, and themes, including
erotic kama and mithuna scenes. Also called the Surya Devalaya, it is a classic illustration of the
Odisha style of Architecture or Kalinga Architecture.[1][6]
The cause of the destruction of the Konark temple is unclear and remains a source of
controversy.[7] Theories range from natural damage to deliberate destruction of the temple in the
course of being sacked several times by Muslim armies between the 15th and 17th
centuries.[1][7] This temple was called the "Black Pagoda" in European sailor accounts as early as
1676 because its great tower appeared black. [6][8] Similarly, the Jagannath Temple in Puri was called
the "White Pagoda". Both temples served as important landmarks for sailors in the Bay of
Bengal.[9][10] The temple that exists today was partially restored by the conservation efforts of British
India-era archaeological teams. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984,[1][2] it remains a
major pilgrimage site for Hindus, who gather here every year for the Chandrabhaga Mela around the
month of February.[6]
6/Kaziranga National Park (pronounced Assamese pronunciation: [kaziɹɔŋa ɹast(ɹ)iɔ uɪddan]) is
a national park in the Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India. The
sanctuary, which hosts two-thirds of the world's great one-horned rhinoceroses, is a World Heritage
Site.[2] According to the census held in March 2018 which was jointly conducted by the Forest
Department of the Government of Assam and some recognized wildlife NGOs, the rhino population
in Kaziranga National Park is 2,413. It comprises 1,641 adult rhinos (642 males, 793 females, 206
unsexed); 387 sub-adults (116 males, 149 females, 122 unsexed); and 385 calves.[3] In 2015, the
rhino population stood at 2401. Kaziranga is home to the highest density of tigers among protected
areas in the world, and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006 (now the highest tiger density is in
Orang National Park, Assam) . The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild
water buffalo, and swamp deer.[4] Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife
International for conservation of avifaunal species. When compared with other protected areas in
India, Kaziranga has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation. Located on the edge of
the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, the park combines high species diversity and visibility.
Kaziranga is a vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf
forests, criss-crossed by four major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, and the park includes
numerous small bodies of water. Kaziranga has been the theme of several books, songs, and
documentaries. The park celebrated its centennial in 1998 after its establishment in 1905 as
a reserve forest.

7/Ladakh is a region administered by India, located in the northern part of the Indian
subcontinent, and a part of the larger region of Kashmir, which has been the subject of dispute
between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947.[4][5] It extends from the Siachen Glacier in
the Karakoram range to the main Great Himalayas to the south.[6][7] In August 2019, the Parliament of
Indiapassed an act by which Ladakh will become a union territory on 31 October 2019.[8] It is one of
the most sparsely populated regions in India and its culture and history are closely related to that
of Tibet. Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and culture.
Historically, the region included the Baltistan (Baltiyul) valleys (now mostly in Pakistan), the entire
upper Indus Valley, the remote Zanskar, Lahaul and Spiti to the south, much of Ngari including
the Rudok region and Guge in the east, Aksai Chin in the northeast (extending to the Kun Lun
Mountains), and the Nubra Valley to the north over Khardong La in the Ladakh Range.
Contemporary Ladakh borders Tibet to the east, the Lahaul and Spiti regions to the south, the Vale
of Kashmir, Jammu and Baltiyul regions to the west, and the southwest corner of Xinjiang across
the Karakoram Pass in the far north.
Aksai Chin is one of the disputed border areas between China and India.[9] It is administered by
China as part of Hotan Countybut is also claimed by India as a part of the Ladakh region of the state
of Jammu and Kashmir. In 1962, China and India fought a brief war over Aksai Chin and Arunachal
Pradesh, but in 1993 and 1996 the two countries signed agreements to respect the Line of Actual
Control.[10]
In the past Ladakh gained importance from its strategic location at the crossroads of important trade
routes,[11] but since the Chinese authorities closed the borders with Tibet and Central Asia in the
1960s, international trade has dwindled except for tourism. Since 1974, the Government of India has
successfully encouraged tourism in Ladakh. Since Ladakh is a part of strategically important Jammu
and Kashmir, the Indian military maintains a strong presence in the region.
The largest town in Ladakh is Leh, followed by Kargil.[12] The main religious groups in the region
are Muslims (mainly Shia) (46%), Tibetan Buddhists (40%), Hindus (12%) and Sikhs (2%).[13][14]

8/The Harmandir Sahib, also known as Darbar Sahib (Punjabi pronunciation: [dəɾbaːɾ
saːh(ɪ)b]; "Abode of God", "Exalted Holy Court"), is a Gurdwara located in the city
of Amritsar, Punjab, India.[2][3] It is the prominent pilgrimage site of Sikhism.[2][4] It is usually called
the Golden Temple in English, because it is plated with gold.
The Gurdwara sahib is built around a man-made pool (Sarovar) that was completed by Guru Ram
Das in 1577.[5][6] Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru of Sikhism, requested Sai Mian Mir –
a Muslim Pir of Lahore, to lay its foundation stone in 1589.[1] In 1604, Guru Arjan placed a copy of
the Adi Granth in Harmandir Sahib, calling the site Ath Sath Tirath (lit. "shrine of 68
pilgrimages").[2][7] The Gurdwara was repeatedly rebuilt by the Sikhs after it became a target of
persecution and was destroyed several times by the Muslim armies from Afghanistan and the
Mughal Empire.[4][8] The army led by Ahmad Shah Abdali, for example, demolished it in 1757 and
again in 1762, then filled the pool with garbage.[2] The construction work of the present day
Harmandir Sahib took place in 1764 under the leadership of Sultan-e-Quam Sardar Jassa Singh
1718-1783 and other leading Sikh Misl Sardars and Jagirdars under Kaar Seva, large Sikh
congregations assembled at Amritsar to help rebuild Darbar Sahib. Harmandir Sahib was finally
completed in 1776.[9] Maharaja Ranjit Singh visited Darbar Sahib in 1802 after seizing Amritsar from
Sardar Gurdit Singh Dhillon and his mother Mai Sukkha of Bhangi Sikh Misl. Maharaja laid it in
marble and copper between 1820-1831, and overlaid the sanctum with gold foil by 1830. This has
led to the name Golden Temple.[10][11][12]
The Gurdwara is spiritually the most significant shrine in the Sikh Religion. In the early 1980s, the
temple became a center of conflict between the Indian government led by Indira Gandhi, some Sikh
groups, and a militant movement led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwaleseeking to create a new nation
named Khalistan. In 1984, Gandhi sent in the Indian Army as part of Operation Blue Star, leading to
the deaths of over 1,000 militants, soldiers, and civilians, as well as causing much damage to the
Gurdwara and the destruction of Akal Takht. The Gurdwara complex was rebuilt again after the 1984
damage.[4][13]
The Harmandir Sahib is an open boat of worship for all men and women, from all walks of life and
faith.[2] It has a square plan with four entrances and has a circumambulation path around the pool.
The temple is a collection of buildings around the sanctum and the pool.[2]One of these is Akal Takht,
the chief center of religious authority of Sikhism.[4] Additional buildings include a clock tower, the
offices of Gurdwara Committee, a Museum and a langar – a free Sikh community-run kitchen that
serves a simple vegetarian meal to all visitors without discrimination.[4] Over 100,000 people visit the
holy shrine daily for worship.[14] The Gurdwara complex has been nominated as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, and its application is pending on the tentative list of UNESCO.[15]

9/Kēdārnāth Mandir (Kedarnath Temple) is a Hindu temple (shrine) dedicated to

Lord Shiva. Located on the Garhwal Himalayan rangenear the Mandakini river, Kedarnath is located
in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple is open to the
general public only between the months of April (Akshaya Tritriya) and November (Kartik Purnima,
the autumn full moon). During the winters, the vigrahas (deities) from Kedarnath temple are carried
down to Ukhimath and where the deity is worshiped for the next six months. Kedarnath is seen as a
homogenous form of Lord Shiva, the 'Lord of Kedar Khand', the historical name of the region.[1]
The temple is not directly accessible by road and has to be reached by a 16 kilometres (9.9 mi)
uphill trek from Gaurikund. Pony and manchan service is available to reach the structure. According
to Hindu legends, the temple was initially built by Pandavas, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the
holiest Hindu shrines of Shiva.[2] It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, expounded in Tevaram.
Pandavas were supposed to have pleased Shiva by doing penance in Kedarnath.[3][2] The temple is
one of the four major sites in India's Chota Char Dham pilgrimage of Northern Himalayas. This
temple is the highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas.[4] Kedarnath was the worst affected area during
the 2013 flash floods in North India. The temple complex, surrounding areas, and Kedarnath town
suffered extensive damage, but the temple structure did not suffer any "major" damage, apart from a
few cracks on one side of the four walls which was caused by the flowing debris from the higher
mountains. A large rock among the debris acted as a barrier, protecting the temple from the flood.
The surrounding premises and other buildings in the market area were heavily damaged.[5][6]

10/Manali is a resort town nestled in the mountains of the Indian state of Himachal
Pradesh near the northern end of the Kullu Valley in the Beas River Valley. It is located in
the Kullu district, about 270 km (168 mi) north of the state capital, Shimla, 309 km (192 miles) north
east of Chandigarh and 544 km (338 miles) northeast of Delhi, the national capital. The small town,
with a population of 8,096,[1] is the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and from there over
the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin. It is a popular tourist destination
and serves as the gateway to Lahaul and Spiti district as well as Leh. Manali is named after
the Sanatan Hindu lawgiver Manu. The name Manali is regarded as the derivative of 'Manu-Alaya'
which literally means 'the abode of Manu'. Legend has it that sage Manu stepped off his ark in
Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world. Manali lies in the North of
Kullu Valley. The valley is often referred to as the 'Valley of the Gods'. Old Manali village has an
ancient temple dedicated to sage Manu.
The British introduced apple trees in the area. The first apple orchard was set up by the British near
Patlikuhl, before this, no Apple trees grew in the area. To this day, apple— along with plum and
pear— remain the best source of income for the majority of inhabitants. Both Rainbow and
Brown Trout was also introduced into the rivers and streams of the area by the colonisers.
With the increase in disposable incomes and somewhat owing to the rise of disturbances
in Kashmir in the late 1980s, Manali witnessed a surge in tourist traffic. This once quiet village was
transformed into a bustling town with numerous homestays as well as the occasional boutique hotel.
During the warmer summer months, cafes and restaurants can be seen doing brisk business.[2]