Since the ancient ages, India has been known all over the world for its numerous wonders. The Indian sub continent has been the cradle for some of the oldest civilizations of the world. Over a period of thousands of years, India has developed into one of the most fascinating countries of the world. The wonders of India include breathtaking natural beauty, its rich wildlife, the varied and dynamic population, and the numerous historic buildings that have been built by the erstwhile rulers of this vast land. Tourism in India has been ever growing due to the immense popularity of the wonders of India all over the world.

Ancient India developed into a rich land of thriving kingdoms that were ruled by kings who patronized the arts liberally. The art and architecture of India flourished in the ancient era, as the kingdoms were wealthy and faced no major threat from foreign invaders for a long time. This period (roughly 2nd century BC to 10th century AD) has seen the blossoming of some of the best examples of architecture, sculpture, painting, and developments in the other fields like mathematics, astronomy and science. The caves at Ajanta and Ellora, the temples at Khajuraho, Mahabalipuram, the Buddhist Stupas, and numerous other temples, shrines, and palaces date back to this period. The Gandhara and Mathura schools of art contributed significantly towards the growth of the arts of ancient India.

The medieval period saw a major political upheaval in India. This was brought about by the invasions and immigration by the Muslims from central Asia. This had a major impact on the art and architecture of India too. New and often radically different cultural influences gave birth to a new wave of creations. Turkish, Persian and other central Asian styles found their way into the mainstream of Indian art and architecture. The early Turkish and Afghan rulers (12th � 16th century AD) brought with them their traditions which blended with the traditional Indian patterns to form the Indo-Islamic style. The Qutb Minar, Quwwat ul Islam Mosque, and the other famous monuments of the Mehrauli complex in Delhi are famous examples of this period. The later Islamic rulers, most significantly, the Mughuls (16th � 19th century) brought about tremendous advances in terms of the grandeur and scale of their buildings, and other forms of arts. This period saw the building of famous forts, palaces, and mausoleums like the Humayun�s tomb, Agra Fort, Old Fort in Delhi, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort in Delhi and the magnificent palaces at Mandu and Jaunpur. The temples of Dilwara, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Vijayanagar also belong to this period.

This period also saw the flourishing of painting, frescoes and other intricate art forms that were extensively used for decorating the interiors of the grand forts, palace sand temples. The above mentioned monuments, especially the Taj and the other Mughul monuments feature amazing artistry unmatched ever since. The 16th and 17th centuries saw the advent of the Europeans. They in turn brought with them remarkably different architectural patterns. The British, in particular brought with them their grand and classical European architecture, reflected by the numerous buildings, palaces, churches, and other British structures all over India.

Ancient India belonged to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The ancient wonders of India are heavily influenced by the practices of these three religions. The medieval era saw a synthesis of Islamic and Hindu patterns. The period after 17th century saw the emergence of other patters, fuelled by newer religions like Sikhism and Baha�ism. The golden temple in Amritsar and the Lotus temple in New Delhi are proof of this.

The wonders of India also include its amazing wildlife, fairs and festivals, music, dances, and other attractions like the luxury trains. Together, they form the core of Indian tourism. Millions of tourists from all parts of the globe arrive in India every year to witness these wonders of India.

Seven Wonders of India