History

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Being an Indian, I'm very proud of the fact that the Taj Mahal is now listed as one of the seven wonders of the world. It is indeed a beautiful monument made of white marble. Built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in the 17th century, the Taj is a sight to behold on a full moon night, with the waters of the river Yamuna reflecting its shimmering silhouette. But what I would like to say is that apart from being an architectural marvel, the Taj is also considered a monument of love dedicated by the emperor to his queen Mumtaz Mahal. But unlike the Taj, there are other monuments and historical places in India which can equal the Taj but lesser known. For instance, The Ajanta and Ellora caves at Ahmadnagar. The Ajanta caves, for instance, were carved out of rock way back in 200BC. These caves had no royal patronage and it was the disciples of Lord Gautama Buddha who chiselled the fine carvings in the rocks. The caves were built over a period of nearly 600 years until the revival of Hinduism around 500 AD. The Ellora caves relate stories from the Jataka tales and were built by both Buddhist and Jain disciples. Ellora has some magnificent frescoes adorning its walls. These caves, many people feel deserve a better status on the international tourist circuit. A must see for all lovers of ancient history.