Monuments of south india

This is a presentation regarding the famous monuments of South india.

1. MONUMENTS OF SOUTH INDIA Treasure of India By: Bipul kumar 27June 2020

2. SOUTH INDIA @Bipul kumar 2 South India is the area encompassing the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and  Telangana  as well as the union territories of Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and  Puducherry . South India is bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south. The geography of the region is diverse with two mountain ranges - the Western and Eastern Ghats, bordering the plateau heartland. Godavari, Krishna,  Kaveri  rivers are important non-perennial sources of water.

3. Documentary on Culture, Heritage, Monuments of south india @Bipul kumar 3

4. Brihadeeshwarar temple, Thanjavur 4 Built only out of granite, this temple is one of the greatest buildings of the Chola dynasty. Located in the city of Thanjavur , it is a temple dedicated to Lord Brihadeeshwara who was an avatar (form) of Lord Shiva. The most beautiful view is the one inside the temple of Lord Shiva which is one of the biggest idols of the deity. Many say it is one of the temples that showcase Dravidian architecture brilliantly. The temple is also famous for its sculptures of various gods like Dakshinamurthi , Ganesha , Vishnu as well as " Ashta-dikpaalakas " (deities who rule the specific directions of the space) – Indra , Agni, Yama , Nirrti , Varuna , Vayu , Kubera and Isana . @Bipul kumar

5. Hampi , Karnataka One of  India's top historical destinations , the laid-back village of Hampi was once the last capital of Vijayanagar , one of the greatest Hindu empires in India's history. It has some extremely captivating ruins, intriguingly intermingled with large boulders that rear up all over the landscape. The ruins, which date back to the 14th century, stretch for just over 4187 hectares (16 square miles) and comprise more than 1600 monumental remains. An incredible energy can be felt at this ancient place.  Hampi is commonly visited from Goa, as there are a number of transport options from there. 5 @Bipul kumar

6. Mamallapuram ( Mahabalipuram ), Tamil Nadu 6 Mahabalipuram (also known as Mamallapuram ) is a beach town with a thriving backpacker and  surfing scene , an hour or so south of Chennai. It's also renowned for its stone sculpture industry, so set some money aside to shop! Other attractions are the Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas (temples sculptured in the shape of chariots), and Arjuna's Penance (a huge carving on the face of a rock depicting scenes from the Mahabharata). A  classical dance festival  happens there every year from late December to late January. Plan your trip with this  Mahabalipuram beach travel guide.  The many  beach resorts in the area  make Mahabalipuram a  popular getaway from Chennai . @Bipul kumar

7. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai @Bipul kumar 7 Meenakshi temple is the temple of Parvati who is the consort of Shiva. It is also one of the few popular temples celebrating a goddess. What makes the temple so epic is the fact that it has 33000 sculptures and is the largest temple complex in the state of Tamil Nadu. The other highlight of the temple is the 14 differently made Gopurams and the thousand pillar hall that has almost 1000 pillars arranged in a fashion that they appear to be in neat rows and columns, no matter which angle you look at them from.Gopurams are pyramid shaped towers that appear mostly in the entrance of temples. It is, in fact a prominent feature of Dravidian architecture.

8. Badami , Aihole and Pattadakal , Karnataka The heritage sites of Badami (formerly Vatapi ), Aihole and Pattadakal are a worthwhile side trip from Hampi . They're rich in monuments, temples and ruins from the Chalukya empire, which ruled there between the 6th to 12th centuries. The renowned Chalukya style of architecture originated in Aihole and the village is filled with around  125 stone temples , which unfortunately don't get the attention they deserve. Badami is one of the  top places to see caves in India,  with four sets of magnificent ancient rock-cut  cave temples .  Pattadakal is smaller but has one impressive temple complex that's also a  UNESCO Heritage Site . 8 @Bipul kumar

9. Veera Bhadra Temple, Anantapur @Bipul kumar 9 Veerabhadra Temple is located in Lepakshi village, which is 15 km east of Hindupur in the Anantapur district. Dedicated to Lord Veerbhadra , the temple was built back in 16th century. The temple has images, sculptors and pillars carved by hand. The highlight of the temple is the Statue of Nandi Bull, made from a single granite stone.

10. Gol Gumbaz , Bijapur 10 Gol Gumbaz is the crypt of Mohammed Adil Shah, who was the Sultan of Bijapur . He was the seventh ruler of Adil Shah Dynasty. This magnificent monument was constructed by the architect Yaqut of Dabul , in the year 1656. The monument derives its name from " Gola Gummata " or " Gol Gombadh ", which mean a "circular dome". Constructed as per the Deccan architecture, Gol Gumbaz is one of the most significant monuments of India located in the state of Karnataka. The grand structure of the monument is composed of a cube on each side, which is capped by a dome in external diameter. Inside the gigantic dome, "whispering gallery" runs around. These are named so because even the slightest of the sound can be heard on the other side due to the acoustics of the space. The construction of Gol Gumbaz started in the year 1626 AD, and it took about a span of 30 years to complete its structure. It is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). @Bipul kumar

11. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram @Bipul kumar 11 Built during the 7th century, Shore Temple is one of the oldest South Indian temples constructed in the Dravidian style and depicts the royal taste of the Pallava dynasty. The work of the temple has been listed amongst the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. It is located in Mahabalipuram and is one of the most photographed monuments in India situated on the shores of Bay of Bengal. The Shore Temple's name originated as a result of its overlooking the shore of Bay of Bengal. It is built with blocks of granite which can be dated back to the 8th century AD. It comprises of three shrines, where the prominent ones are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. In the Sanctum Sanctorum an image of Shivalinga is present. Towards the end, two shrines facing each other can be spotted. One shrine out of this is dedicated to Ksatriyasimnesvara and the other one to Lord Vishnu. The image shows Lord Vishnu reclining on the ' Seshanag ' which depicts "consciousness" in Hinduism.

12. Mysore, Karnataka @Bipul kumar 12 Mysore has an impressive royal heritage, with the city's main tourist attraction being the imposing  Mysore Palace. There are many other interesting buildings, palaces, and temples to see. The zoo is notably one of the best in India. Mysore is also an excellent place to shop for sandalwood, and  study Ashtanga yoga.  The annual 10-day  Mysore Dasara festival  is another attraction.

13. Charminar , Hyderabad @Bipul kumar 13 An identifying feature of the city, Charminar is the most prominent landmark located right in the heart of Hyderabad. The monument was erected by Quli Qutub Shah to signify the founding of Hyderabad. Since the construction of the monument in 1591, Charminar  has been synonymous with the culture of Hyderabad standing tall as a reminder of the glorious days of the past era. It is a massive structure which has four minarets which many believe stand for the first four ' khalifas ' (Prophets) of Islam. Towards the north of the monument, there are four gateways known as Char Kaman which have been constructed in the cardinal directions. The structure was intended to serve as a Madrasa or a Mosque. In its present form, Charminar , along with Qutub Shahi Tombs and the Golconda Fort, has been added to the 'tentative list' of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

14. Warangal Fort, Telangana 14 A prominent landmark of the Telangana state and an apt example of architectural excellence and historical richness of the yore, the Warangal fort is situated in Warangal. The city is also known as Oru Kallu , which means 'a single stone'. Locals believe the city was built on a single rock in the medieval era. Sprawlingly spread across a stretch of 19 km between Warangal & Hanamkonda , this 12th-century fort is a prominent historical attraction in Telangana . Every year thousands of enthusiastic tourists flock in to witness the historical and architectural marvel of this region.  The major highlights of Warangal fort are the four ornamental gates, which are now the official emblem of the Telangana state. The fort is in ruins today, still refelecting the historical grandeur and architectural preeminence of the Kakatiya Dynasty.  @Bipul kumar

15. Golconda Fort, Hyderabad 15 Situated in the Western part of the beautiful city of Hyderabad at a distance of approximately 9 km from Hussain Sagar Lake, Golconda Fort is one of the region's best-preserved monuments. The construction of this fort was completed in the 1600s and it is reputed for being the area where once, the mighty Koh-I-Noor diamond was stored. The mines here are known to produce some of the most coveted and popular gems ever known in the world such as Idol's Eye, the Hope Diamond, Darya- i - noor and the famous Koo- i - noor . In the evening, Golconda Fort comes to life with the light and sound show which showcases snippets from its regal past. The grandeur, the rise, and the fall of the fort are all spectacular in their own right. With its fascinating history, the place is definitely worth a visit. @Bipul kumar

16. THANK YOU! Bipul Kumar Email: [email protected]