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Qutb Minar, built in the early 13th century, is in the south Delhi neighborhood of Mehrauli; it is the world's tallest brick minaret and the second tallest tower in India. The red sandstone structure is 72.5 m (238 ft) high with 379 steps leading to the top.
Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal between 1632 and 1653 to honor the memory of his favorite wife. Located 200 km (125 mi) from New Delhi in Agra, India, it took nearly 22 years, 22,000 workers, and 1,000 elephants to complete the white marble mausoleum.
India's Agra Fort, also known as the Red Fort of Agra, represents the opulence and power of the Mughal Empire in the 16th to the early 18th century. The fortress, located on the right bank of the Yamuna River, is built of red sandstone and covers a length of 2.5 km (1.6 mi). It is surrounded by a moat, which encloses several palaces, towers, and mosques. Shown here is the Jahangiri Mahal, the most prominent building at Agra Fort.
The Dhamek Stupa is located in Sarnath, India, where the Buddha preached his first sermon to his first five disciples. Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty originally built the stupa -- a monument that contains sacred relics -- in 249 B.C. to help spread Buddhism; the structure was replaced around A.D. 500. The cylindrically shaped stupa is composed of red bricks and stones, and it stands 43.5 m (143 ft) high and 28 m (92 ft) wide, with carvings of flowers, birds, and humans on the walls.
Varanasi, located on the west bank of the River Ganges in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and is often referred to as the religious capital of India. Pilgrims journey to Varanasi to cleanse their spirits in the river.
Mehrangarh, located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is one of the largest forts in India. Construction began in 1459 and continued into the 20th century. Inside its boundaries are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards, including galleries of paintings, textiles, and weapons.
India is one of the largest tea producers in the world, and a number of renowned teas, such as Assam and Darjeeling, are grown in India. The local time in Assam's tea gardens, known as "Tea Garden Time" or Bagantime, is an hour ahead of Indian Standard Time (IST) to allow for farming productivity.
The largest mangrove forest in the world is in Sundarbans National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in West Bengal, India.
India has more tigers still living in the wild than any other country. There are several sub-species of tigers, including the Bengal tiger shown in this photo. Image courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.
A view inside a mango grove in India. Mangos have been cultivated in India for more than 5,000 years and are the country's national fruit. India is the top mango producer in the world.
The 45.52-carat blue-violet (9.104 g) Hope Diamond was extracted in the 17th century from the Kollur Mine in Guntur, India. The last of the diamond’s several private owners was Harry Winston, Inc., which bought the diamond in 1947. The diamond was exhibited for 10 years at shows and charitable events worldwide before being donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. It remains a premier attraction at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum / Chip Clark.
Red pandas live solitary lives, except for breeding season, in the rainy mountain forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, northern Burma, and central China. Despite sharing a common name and a love of bamboo, red pandas and giant pandas are not closely related. The name “panda” is believed to come from the Nepali word “ponya,” meaning “bamboo eater.” Red pandas are considered endangered due to habitat loss, fur trapping, and capture for the illegal pet trade. (Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian National Zoo.)
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