100 Beautiful Places in India (Part-7)

http://www.thrillophilia.com/blog/part-2-beautiful-india

100 Beautiful Places in India    (Part-7)

61. Fateh Prakash Palace

Source: commons.wikimedia.org/

Udaipur is a city of lakes and many beautiful palaces, the most opulent of which is the Fateh Prakash Palace. The palace was built by Maharana Fateh Singh, ruler of Mewar, and was specifically reserved for royal functions only. A tour of the palace gives you an insight into royal artifacts, miniature paintings and Mewar armory, taking you to the times gone by. If you have the moolah, you can even organize celebrations or conferences in this opulent palace, thus being an important of the history of Rajasthan.

62. Calangute Beach

The mother of all beaches in Goa is the Calangute Beach. While some complain of the beach being overcrowded during the peak season, nothing can take away from the beauty of the beach. If you are looking for some lone time under the sun, visit Calangute sometime in the months of February to April, when the beach is relatively less crowded. If you are more interested in seeing eye-candy, visit the beach during Christmas and New Year.

[Check out some of the must stay beach resorts in goa]

63. Basilica of Bom Jesus

Source: arquitectosportuguesesnomundo.blogspot.com

An iconic building of the state of Goa is the Basilica of Bom Jesus. This magnificent church is located in the old part of the state and houses the remains of St. Francis Xavier. It is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque style construction in the country. You cannot miss the understated elegance of the church, and the relative calmness of the design itself. When in Goa, it is a must-visit.

64. Vivekanand Rock Memorial

Source: http://bharatdiscovery.org/

Located about 500 meters off the southernmost tip of India in Kanyakumari is the Vivekanand Rock Memorial. The memorial was built in 1970 in order to honor spiritual leader Swami Vivekanand who once visited the land. The memorial is built on a rock. It is believed that Swami Vivekanand attained enlightenment while meditating on the rock. It is considered to be a sacred place by the Hindus. The calm and tranquility that surrounds the memorial puts you at ease. There is even a meditation hall here where you can meditate.

65. Pamban Bridge

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/digital_journey/

Connecting Rameswaram to rest of the parts of the country is Pamban Bridge. It is the second longest sea bridge of the country, and the first one to come up. Built in 1912, this 2.3 km bridge was first opened to railway traffic in 1914. The bridge can be raised to allow ships to pass underneath. If you are looking for beautiful train journeys in India, consider taking the one through Pamban Bridge. It stands for its understated elegance.

66. Auroville

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Auroville, which literally translates to “City of Dawn”, is an experimental township in Tamil Nadu. As part of the ongoing experiment, the residents of Auroville have account numbers connected to a central database instead of the usual currency. Each month, the residents of the township are encouraged to contribute to the central fund. People of Auroville who are in need are given a monthly amount out of this central fund to meet their basic needs. Set up to meet the vision of united humanity, Auroville is a beautiful part of the world to be in. Despite people from several different castes and religions residing here, you can feel the peace and the harmony. Of course, the beautiful surroundings of the township make it an out of the world experience.

67. Gold Temple Vellore

Source: hawaiidermatology.com

A gorgeous sight in the city of Vellore is the Gold Temple, also known as the Mahalakshmi temple. The temple is located in Sripuram Park, which lies at the foot of a hill range in Malaikodi. The temple has a coating of real gold, with intricate carvings and gold sculptures on the inside too. According to records, a whopping 1500 kg gold was used to build the temple. While some may term that as wasteful expenditure, nothing can take away from the fact that the temple is a stunning sight. It is frequented by lakhs of tourists round the year who come here to seek blessings or just to see this architectural marvel.

68. Taj Mahal

Source: http://indiaaria.blogspot.in/

Taj Mahal is the icon of India and the epitome of love around the world. This magnificent monument was built by Shah Jahan in the loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The white marble and the intricate carvings of the monument have mesmerized many around the world. Quite rightly, the monument finds a place in the Seven Wonders of the World. It is believed that Shah Jahan ordered that the hands of all the laborers who built the monument be severed so that they can never build a monument so beautiful ever again.

69. Buland Darwaza

Mumbai has the Gateway of India, Delhi has the India Gate, and Uttar Pradesh has the Buland Darwaza. The “gate” is located in Fatehpur Sikri, about 40 km away from the city of Agra. The iconic monument was built by Akbar in 1601 AD in order to celebrate his victory on Gujarat. The red sandstone and the carvings on the monument make it s quintessential Mughal masterpiece.

70. Kibber Monastery

Source: http://www.thinkingparticle.com

A trip to Kibber Monastery is almost like a trip to another world. Kibber Monastery lies close to the town of Kibber, which has about 80 odd homes only. The stone structure of the monastery blends well with the khaki colored rocks in the background, while the snow capped peaks in the distance make it stand out. The monastery is understated, and some might even miss it if they don’t pay enough attention. But if you can brave the tough trek to it, you will be greeted with some magnificent views of the Himalayas and Spiti Valley.