When planning a heritage India tour, whether you’re booking everything yourself or going with a guide, we definitely recommend seeing whether you can visit some of the country’s less explored locations. Not only will this mean that there are less people at the site (giving you more room to explore and better photo opportunities), it will give you a different look at India.
1. Deccan Edge (Burhanpur), Madhya Pradesh
This region is actually home to a number of heritage sites that are relatively unexplored, including: monuments that reflect the Moghul era (such as the Sarai and Ahukhana, which were originally used as royal leisure pavilions), the Jama Masjid mosque, Raja ki Chatri, and Dargah-E-Hakimi (which is one of the Islamic pilgrimage sites).
2. Devrani & Jethani Temple Ruins, Bilaspur
This temple complex (which is mostly in ruins) is located around 30km from the town of Bilaspur and is believed to date back to the sixth century AD. The complex features sculptures that conform to Shilpa Sastra, as well as to various other mythological beliefs. The detailed carvings depict reptiles, mammals, insects, humans and even demons.
3. Domkhar, Ladakh
Scholars have actually quite recently discovered an open-air museum in the highlands of Domkhar. Inside, you will discover petroglyphs that date back to the second and third millennium BC (also known as the Iron Age). To find this location on heritage India tours, you will need to travel along the Khaltse-Batalik route (about 120km from Leh).
4. Farrukhnagar Relics, New Delhi
You don’t need to travel far in order to find unexplored sites either. This is a medieval gallery that showcases the Mughal era. The town itself features a number of different monuments, including: Sheesh Mahal, Baoli and Jama Masjid. There are also a variety of memorials to visit. The architecture of the town is also worth the visit.
5. Laxman Temple, Sirpur
Known for being one of the finest brick temples in the region, the Laxman features a stone doorframe and detailed carvings. Since its discovery in 1872, excavations of the site have revealed 12 Buddha Viharas, a Jain Vihara, numerous monolithic statues of Buddha and Mahavira, 22 Shiv temples and 5 Vishnu temples – truly amazing!
6. Terracotta Works, Bishnupur
This region is home to some of the finest examples of terracotta temples in the world. There are 21 to visit, many of which date back to the mid seventh century. The temples are dedicated to various Hindu deities and depict scenes from some of the ancient stories. Travelling a bit further on will allow you to see even more works up close.
We hope that the above list of locations has given you some idea of the more unexplored sites that you would like to visit on heritage India tours. If you’re booking with a guide, make sure you ask them about the sites that they plan to take you and enquire whether any of these would be possible. You might be surprised at how willing they are to accommodate you.
1. Deccan Edge (Burhanpur), Madhya Pradesh
This region is actually home to a number of heritage sites that are relatively unexplored, including: monuments that reflect the Moghul era (such as the Sarai and Ahukhana, which were originally used as royal leisure pavilions), the Jama Masjid mosque, Raja ki Chatri, and Dargah-E-Hakimi (which is one of the Islamic pilgrimage sites).
2. Devrani & Jethani Temple Ruins, Bilaspur
This temple complex (which is mostly in ruins) is located around 30km from the town of Bilaspur and is believed to date back to the sixth century AD. The complex features sculptures that conform to Shilpa Sastra, as well as to various other mythological beliefs. The detailed carvings depict reptiles, mammals, insects, humans and even demons.
3. Domkhar, Ladakh
Scholars have actually quite recently discovered an open-air museum in the highlands of Domkhar. Inside, you will discover petroglyphs that date back to the second and third millennium BC (also known as the Iron Age). To find this location on heritage India tours, you will need to travel along the Khaltse-Batalik route (about 120km from Leh).
4. Farrukhnagar Relics, New Delhi
You don’t need to travel far in order to find unexplored sites either. This is a medieval gallery that showcases the Mughal era. The town itself features a number of different monuments, including: Sheesh Mahal, Baoli and Jama Masjid. There are also a variety of memorials to visit. The architecture of the town is also worth the visit.
5. Laxman Temple, Sirpur
Known for being one of the finest brick temples in the region, the Laxman features a stone doorframe and detailed carvings. Since its discovery in 1872, excavations of the site have revealed 12 Buddha Viharas, a Jain Vihara, numerous monolithic statues of Buddha and Mahavira, 22 Shiv temples and 5 Vishnu temples – truly amazing!
6. Terracotta Works, Bishnupur
This region is home to some of the finest examples of terracotta temples in the world. There are 21 to visit, many of which date back to the mid seventh century. The temples are dedicated to various Hindu deities and depict scenes from some of the ancient stories. Travelling a bit further on will allow you to see even more works up close.
We hope that the above list of locations has given you some idea of the more unexplored sites that you would like to visit on heritage India tours. If you’re booking with a guide, make sure you ask them about the sites that they plan to take you and enquire whether any of these would be possible. You might be surprised at how willing they are to accommodate you.
