Visiting World Heritage Sites in Northern India

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (Delhi)
Registered in: 1993
World Heritage Type: Cultural Heritage
Registration criteria:
• It represents a significant exchange of human values in the development of architecture, technology, monuments, town planning and landscape architecture over a given period or in a given cultural area of the world.
- It is an outstanding example of an architectural style or of an architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates an important stage in human history.

Access: Approximately 16.7 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport, approximately 24 minutes by car

Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (Delhi)
Registered in: 1993
World Heritage Type: Cultural Heritage
Registration criteria:
- It is an outstanding example of an architectural style or of an architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates an important stage in human history.

Access: Approximately 12.3 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport, approximately 19 minutes by car

Red Fort Complex (Delhi)
Registered in: 2007
World Heritage Type: Cultural Heritage
Registration criteria:
• It represents a significant exchange of human values in the development of architecture, technology, monuments, town planning and landscape architecture over a given period or in a given cultural area of the world.
- They bear unique or rare testimony to a cultural tradition or a civilisation, still living or already extinct.
- It has a direct or tangible association with an event, living tradition, idea, belief or artistic or literary work of outstanding universal value (although this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with the other criteria).

Access: Approximately 12.3 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport, approximately 19 minutes by car

Agra Fort (Agra)
Registered in: 1983
World Heritage Type: Cultural Heritage
Registration criteria:
- They bear unique or rare testimony to a cultural tradition or a civilisation, still living or already extinct.

Access: Approximately 220 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport, approximately 2 hours 38 minutes by car

Taj Mahal (Agra)
Registered in: 1983
World Heritage Type: Cultural Heritage
Registration criteria:
- They bear unique or rare testimony to a cultural tradition or a civilisation, still living or already extinct.

Access: Approximately 220 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport, approximately 2 hours 38 minutes by car

Jantar Mantar in Jaipur (Jaipur)
Registered in: 2010
World Heritage Type: Cultural Heritage
Registration criteria:
- They bear unique or rare testimony to a cultural tradition or a civilisation, still living or already extinct.
- It is an outstanding example of an architectural style or of an architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates an important stage in human history.

Access: Approximately 243 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport, approximately 3 hours 22 minutes by car

Enjoy a tour of three World Heritage sites in the capital, Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India, is the gateway to northern India. It has been the capital of many Indian dynasties since the 12th century and is home to three World Heritage Sites that represent India.
Registered as a cultural heritage site in 1993, Humayun's Tomb in Delhi was built as the tomb of Humayun, the second emperor of the Mughal Empire, which flourished from the 16th to 19th centuries. This cultural heritage site, consisting of a symmetrically planned Charbagh garden and a beautiful two-tiered mausoleum, was a milestone in tomb architecture in the Mughal Empire. Its stylistic beauty is said to have been inherited by the Taj Mahal.

Located on the outskirts of New Delhi, Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi, is India's oldest Islamic ruins, which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1993. The most eye-catching feature of this ruin is the minaret (a tower attached to an Islamic mosque) that is about 72.5 meters high. Built at the end of the 12th century by order of Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who later ruled northern India, the five-story tower features magnificent carvings on its red sandstone tower walls. Its graceful appearance is particularly striking at sunset, when the building is painted a deep crimson color. The area around the minaret is dotted with other sights, including India's oldest mosque and an iron pillar built about 1,600 years ago that still remains rust-free.

The Red Fort, which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2007, is one of Delhi's most famous attractions. Located on the banks of the Yamuna River in the center of Delhi, this building was built in the mid-17th century as the residence of Shah Jahan, the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire. As its name suggests, it features walls made of red sandstone, and parts of the building are still used as national facilities today. It is also known as the place where the Prime Minister gives a speech every year on August 15th, India's Independence Day. This World Heritage Site allows you to fully enjoy the beauty of the stately and delicate Mughal architecture, so if you visit Delhi, be sure to check it out.

A beautiful World Heritage Site in Agra

Located about 180km south of Delhi, Agra is an ancient city that has flourished as a key transportation hub since ancient times. The Agra Fort, built by the third Mughal Emperor Akbar when he moved the capital from Delhi to Agra in the 16th century, was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1983. The charm of the Agra Fort lies in the contrast between the massive walls made of red sandstone and the magnificent white marble buildings that spread within. The beauty of the vivid contrast between red and white is a testament to the former prosperity of the empire.

The Taj Mahal, registered as a World Heritage Site in 1983, may be the most famous World Heritage Site in India. This building, also known as the "masterpiece of Mughal architecture," is a beautiful tomb built by Shah Jahan, the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is said that the all-white marble structure took approximately 22 years to build, starting in 1632. The neatly arranged Charbagh Garden, the imposing appearance of the mausoleum crowned by a pure white dome, the intricate reliefs on the walls, and the jewels and minerals scattered throughout... The beauty of the Taj Mahal, filled with love for his beloved wife, continues to overwhelm visitors to Agra even today.

Travel to the mysterious World Heritage sites blooming in Rajasthan

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, located about 260km southwest of Delhi, is also dotted with beautiful World Heritage sites. For example, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, which was registered as a World Heritage site in 2010, is an astronomical observatory built in the early 18th century. Located in a corner of the City Palace, which was built as the palace of the former Rajasthan feudal lord, this observatory is dotted with around 20 pieces of equipment for observing celestial bodies with the naked eye. These intricately designed stone facilities are valuable assets that convey to us today the high level of architectural technology and the precision of astronomical technology at the time.

The Hill Forts of Rajasthan, which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2013, is also a recommended World Heritage Site that you should visit at least once. This cultural heritage site consists of six forts scattered throughout Rajasthan, all of which are huge structures that tell the story of the rise of the Rajput people, who flourished from the 8th to 18th centuries. Among them, Amber Fort, an elegant mountain fort built in the 16th century, located on the outskirts of Jaipur. This place, which served as the capital of the Maharaja for 150 years with repeated expansions and renovations, is dotted with many sights, including the Ganesh Gate decorated with delicate geometric patterns. Jaipur, which is the base for sightseeing at Jantar Mantar and Amber Fort, is also an attractive place. Known as the "Pink City" because the palaces and walls of the old town are painted pink, this city is dotted with sights such as the Palace of the Winds, so take your time to enjoy its beauty.

Travel writer/Toru Yoshihara

The best season to visit the Golden Triangle is from October to March, when there is little rain and the temperature is relatively low. The World Heritage Sites scattered in the three cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur are all large-scale and impressive architecture. If you want to fully enjoy their charm, we recommend a 5-6 day itinerary!