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Agra Fort, also known as the Red Fort of Agra, represents the opulence and power of the Mughal Empire of 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 entire complex was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.
The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1653 to honor the memory of his favorite wife. Located 200 km (125 mi) from New Delhi in Agra, it took nearly 22 years, 22,000 workers, and 1,000 elephants to complete the white marble mausoleum. The structure became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The Taj Mahal's reflecting pool is flanked by Cypress trees and provides a reflection of the mausoleum. The marble tomb complex in Agra was constructed in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan in homage to his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal.
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. The area surrounding the minaret contains funerary buildings, two mosques, towers and the Alai Darwaza Gate. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.
The Dhamek Stupa located in Sarnath, India, is the location where the Buddha preached his first sermon to his first five disciples. Originally constructed in 249 B.C. by Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty in an effort to spread Buddhism, it was replaced in A.D. 500. The cylindrically shaped Dhamek Stupa was built of red bricks and stones and stands 43.5 m (143 ft) and is 28 m (92 ft) wide, with carvings of flowers, birds, and humans on the walls. For Buddhists, the Dhamek Stupa is one of the four most sacred places associated with Buddha.
Varanasi, located on the west bank of the River Ganges in the state of Uttar Pradesh, 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 has continued into the 20th century. The fort is situated 125 m (410 ft) above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. 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, although most of its tea is consumed within India itself. A number of renowned teas, such as Assam and Darjeeling, are grown in India. Tea gardens in Assam do not follow Indian Standard Time (IST), which is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka. The local time in Assam's tea gardens, known as "Tea Garden Time" or Bagantime, is an hour ahead of IST, to allow for farming productivity.
Although the tiger is the largest of the world's big cats, it remains under threat from poaching, conflict with humans, and habitat loss. There are several sub-species of tigers, including Bengal tigers such as shown in this photo. The country with the most tigers in the wild is India. There are actually more tigers in captivity than in their natural habitat. Image courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.
A view inside a mango grove. 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 largest mangrove forest in the world is found in Sundarbans National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in West Bengal. The tangled roots of the mangrove forest protect many organisms from predators, strong heat, and forceful tides. Mangrove forests also remove five times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than terrestrial forests.
The 45.52-carat blue-violet (9.104 g) Hope Diamond was extracted in the 17th century from the Kollur Mine in Guntur, India; its blue in color is due to trace amounts of boron. The diamond has had a succession of owners including the crowned heads of France and the United Kingdom. In 1839, the stone received its name when it was purchased by Henry Phillip Hope of the Hope banking family. Decades later, Pierre Cartier bought it at auction in 1909 and reset it to its present look of being encircled by 16 pear- and cushion-cut white diamonds. Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean, a socialite from Washington, D.C., purchased it from Cartier and later reset it to the now familiar necklace. After Mrs. Mclean’s death in 1947, Harry Winston, Inc. purchased the Hope Diamond and exhibited it for 10 years at shows and charitable events worldwide before donating it the Smithsonian Institution on 10 November 1958 where it remains a premier attraction in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum / Chip Clark.
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