Famous Historical Temples and

Monuments - GK Notes for SSC Exam

India has a myriad, vast and incredible pool of cultural heritage, historical temples and
monuments. Indian Temples and Monuments give India an admirable identity as
they showcase the skill, devotion, dedication, valour and brilliance of our artists and are
also the bearers of various astonishing fables that are being passed from generation to
generations. Nowadays in exams like SSC CGL, SSC CPO, LIC AO, SSC CHSL &
other exams lot of questions based on Historical Temples and Monuments in
India are frequently asked.

Most of the questions are based on the place, year, creators & significance of all the
famous and historical temples and monuments in India. To help you get a quick access
to them we are providing you with a list of Famous Historical Temples and
Monuments. Moreover, if you are interested in taking any Online Mock Tests then you
can click on the link to begin your preparation for any other Government Exams.

#1. Historical Temples and Monuments - List for SSC Exams

Indian has many ancient temples and monuments which are majestic in structure. Let's
quickly have a look at some of the famous and historical temples and monuments one by
one.

Famous Historical Temples in India

In every corner of India you would find a place to worship be it of any

religion. Considering the long list of temples in India, it is impossible to list all but here
are a list of all important and famous historical temples in India for SSC exams.

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Temple Year Place Built By Significance
Virupaksha 7th Hampi, Queen (1) Dedicated to Lord
Temple century Karnataka Lokhama- Shiva.
hadevi (2) Famous for tall
gopuram, grand
architecture & intricate
carvings.
(3) UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Meenakshi 1623- Madurai Vishwananth (1) Dedicated to Goddess
Temple 1655 C Tamil Nadu a Parvati
E Nayakar & Lord Shiva.
(2) Was on the list of top
30
nominees for “New
7 Wonders
of the World.”
(3)
Rebuilt in 16th Century b
y
Nayak ruler Vishwanantha
Nayakar
Ramanatha 7th– Rameshwara Pandya & (1) One of
swamy 8th m Jaffna Kings the 12 Jyotirlinga temple
Temple century Island, s
Tamil Nadu of the country.
(2) One of the char dhams.
(3) Has one of the longest

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 corridors
among other Indian
temples.
Suchindram 17th Kanyakumari, Nambudiri (1) Legends of Anasuya
Temple century Tamil Nadu Brahmins & Ahalya
are attached to it.
(2) Has 4 musical pillars,
the hanging
pillar & the single Linga
Vitthala 15th Hampi, King (1) Dedicated to Lord
Temple century Karnataka Devaraya Vishnu
II (2) Also known as Shri
Vijaya Vitthala
Temple.
(3) It's said that the pillars
emit
musical notes when played
in a certain manner.
Brihadeshwar 11th Thanjavur, Raja Raja (1) Dedicated to Lord
a century Tamilnandu Chola Shiva
Temple I UNESCO
World Heritage Site
(2) It is 1007 years old.
Airavateswara 12th Darasuram Rajaraja (1) Dedicated to Lord
Temple century Chola Shiva
II (2) Famous for
its exquisite
stone carvings UNESCO

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 World
Heritage site
Venkateswara 300 AD Tirumala, King (1) Dedicated to Lord
Temple Andhra Thondaiman Vishnu
Pradesh (2) Known as Tirupati
Balaji temple
(3) One of the richest
temples
of the world.
Kashi 1780 Varanasi, Ahilya Bai (1) Dedicated to Lord
Vishwanath Uttar Pradesh Shiva
(2) One of the holiest
temples of India.
Lord 1611 Puri, Indrady- (1) Dedicated to Lord
Jagannath Odisha umna Krishna
Temple (2) Popular for its annual
Rath Yatra
(3) Non-Hindus cannot
enter the premises
Vaishno - Jammu - (1) 2nd most visited
Devi Temple temple in the India
Somnath - Gujarat Moon (1) Dedicated to Lord
God Shiva
(2) One of the oldest
Temple
Mahmud of Ghazni first
looted
the temple

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Shirdi Sai 1922 Shirdi, - Third richest temple of
Baba Maharashtra India
Temple
Badrinath 9th Uttarakhand Adi (1) Dedicated to Lord
century Shankara Vishnu
C.E (2) It is also one of the 4
Chota Char Dham
Kedarnath 8th Garhwal area Pandavas Dedicated to Lord Shiva
century Uttarakhand
Konark 13th Odisha Narasimha Dedicated to God Sun
Sun century deva
Temple
Sanchi 3rd Raisen, Asoka (1) Known as the Great
Stupa century Madhya Stupa.
BC Pradesh (2) Holy place of Buddhist
(3) UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
(4) Has 4 intricately
designed
gateways symbolising the
4 emotions
of love, peace, courage and
trust
(5) Stupa is 16 meters
high & 37
meters in diameter.
Siddhivinayak 18th Prabha Devi, - (1) Dedicated to Lord
Temple century Mumbai Ganesha

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 (2) The inner roof of the
temple
complex is plated with
gold
The Golden 1577 Amritsar, Guru (1) "The Adhi Granth" was
Temple Punjab Ram Das compiled &
enshrined here for the
1st time.
Mahabodhi 3rd Bihar Ashoka (1) Lord Buddha attained
Temple century enlightenment here.
B.C (2) A UNESCO World
Heritage Site
Kamakhya 8th- Nilachal Hill, - (1) Dedicated to Goddess
Temple 17th Guwahati Kamakhya
century (2) Oldest important
pilgrimage for the
Tantric Worshippers
(3) Oldest of the 51 Shakti
Pithas
Amarnath - Jammu Natural (1) Around 5000 years old
Cave and Kashmir formation (2) Located at an altitude
Temple of
3,888 meters
Yamunotri 19th Uttarkashi, Maharani (1) Dedicated to Yamuna
Temple century Uttarakhand Gularia River
(2) Part of Char Dham
Yatra
(3) Opens up on the day of

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 Akshaya Tritiya
& closes the day after
Diwali
Gangotri 18th Uttarkashi, Amar Singh (1) Dedicated to Ganga
Temple century Uttarakhand Thapa River
(2) A partially submerged
Shivaling lying
along the temple in the
waters of Bhagirathi
signifies
the place where God Shiva
entangled Ganga in his
hair.

Famous Historical Monuments in India

The kings and emperors of India had their own way of expressing their ideas in bricks,
marbles and stones. Therefore Indian monuments are popular worldwide for
their beauty. Indian monuments also tells you about a lot of history and the culture. So
here is a list of all the famous and historical monuments of India.

Monument Year Place Built by Significance

India Gate 1921 Rajpath Designed by (1) Also known as All
Marg, Sir Edwin India War
New delhi Lutyens Memorial.
(2) Built in memory of
Indian soldiers
who lost their lives in
First World War.

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Red Fort 1638 Old delhi Shah Jahan (1) Originally known
1648 as Qila-e-Mubarak
(2) Was actually white as
it was made of
limestone.
Taj Mahal 1653 Agra Shah Jahan Finest example of Mughal
Uttar Pradesh architecture
Agra Fort 11th Agra, Mughals (1) Was epicentre of
Century Uttar Pradesh power & was
used to command entire
India.
(2) Originally
called Badalgarh,
held by Raja Badal Singh.
(3) All Mughal Emperors
have
contributed in its making.
(4) UNESCO World
Heritage site
Buland 1576 AD Dadupura, Akbar (1) Highest entrance gate
Darwaza Fatehpur of its kind
Sikri, in the entire world.
Uttar Pradesh (2) Built at the main
entrance of
Fatehpur Sikri.
(3) 42 stepsare to be
climbed to
reach main platform.

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Char Minar 1591 Hyderabad Md. Quli Mosque built
Qutub Shah to commemorate
eradication of deadly
plague
Fatehpur Sikri 1569 Agra Akbar (1) Served as Mughal
Capital
from 1571-1589.
(2) Original name -
Fatehabad.
(3) Built to commemorate
& safeguard
the victories against
Rajaput Kings.
Gol Gumbaz 1626- Jadar Galli, Md Adil (1) Tomb of Adil Shah
1656 Vijayapura, Shah &
Karnataka his two wives.
(2) Has a 'whispering
gallery',
even the slightest of
sound can be heard.
Hawa Mahal 1799 Jaipur, Sawai Raja (1) 5 storyed
Rajashthan Pratbh Singh building with 953
windows.
(2) The unique feature is
its air
conditioning effect.
Jantar Mantar 1724- Mathura, Maharaja (1) Jantar Mantar of
1736 New Delhi, Jai Singh II Jaipur -

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 Ujjain, largest stone Sun dial.
Varanasi, (2) These
Jaipur were astronomical
observatories
Qutub Minar 1193 AD Maharauli Qutub-ud (1) World's Largest
Delhi -din-Aibak Brick Minaret.
(2) Total height is 73
meters.
(3) Total number of stairs
is 379
Humayun’s 1572 Delhi Bigga Begum 1st garden tomb built in
Tomb India
Elephanta 5th Mumbai, Rashtrakuta Sculpted caves located
Caves - 8th Maharashtra Kings on Elephanta Island.
Century
AD
Ellora 600 Aurangabad, Rashtrakutas These Jain caves are
Caves 1000 Maharashtra built Hindu testimony to the fact that
AD & Buddhist the 3 religions Hinduism,
Caves. Jainism & Buddhism are
Yadav one
Dynasty
built Jain
caves
Ajanta Caves 2nd - Aurangabad, Gupta Kings (1) Each rock carving was
6th Maharashtra done
Century by hand.
AD Sculptures

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 & paintings epitomise
Buddha & various Jataka
tales.
(2) UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Khajurao 950- Madhya Chandela (1) Famous for
Temples 1050 Pradesh Dynasty their architecture &
AD style along with
symbolism &
their erotic sculptures.
(2) Perfect mix
of Hinduism
& Jainism
Champaner 18th- Panchamahal Mahmud The park
Pavagadh 14th Gujarat Begada includes archaeological,
Archaeological Century historic and cultural
Park heritage
monuments such as
chalcolithic sites,
a hill fortress of an early
Hindu
capital and remains of the
16th-century capital of
Gujarat.
Jama Masjid 1656 AD Central Delhi Shah Jahan Largest Mosque in India
Gateway of 1924 Mumbai - Referred to as Taj Mahal
India of Mumbai

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 Lake Palace 1743- Lake Pichola, Maharana Now a museum that has
1746 Udaipur Jagat Singh all the royal
II pictures, clothing and art
facts of
the Wodeyar dynasty
Mysore Palace 1897 Mysore Rajarshi Also known as Amba Vilas
Krishnaraja Palace
Wodeyar IV Palace is a 3-storey stone
structure made with fine
granite,
grey in color, having deep
pink marble stones atop a
5-storey tower.
Chatrapati 1888 Mumbai, - (1) Was known
Shivaji Maharashtra as Victoria Terminus
Terminus (2) World Heritage
site.
(3) Busiest Railway
Station in India
Mehrangarh 1460 Jodhpur, Rao Jodha (1) One of the largest forts
Mahal Rajasthan in India.
(2) One of the well
stocked
Museums in India.
Bahai Temple 1986 Delhi Flint & Neill (1) Also known as Lotus
Temple.
(2) It is a place of worship

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 for every religion
& place for meditation.
Jaisalmer Fort 1156 Jaisalmer Rawal Jaisal (1) Largest fully preserved
AD fortified
cities in the world
(2) Fort stands amidst the
sandy expanse of Thar
Desert
Kumbhalgarh 15th Rajsamand Kumbha (1) Second most
Fort century Rajasthan of Mewar important hill fort
(2) World Heritage
Site
(3) Known as Great Wall
of India
Bara 1784 Lucknow, Asaf-ud Grandest buildings
Imambara Uttar Pradesh Daula, including
a step, gateways, minar,
mosque
and bhul bhulaiya.
Golconda 1600 Hyderabad Kakatiya Known as the Diamond of
Fort Dynasty Kollur
Mine including gateways,
drawbridges, temples,
mosques
& semicircular bastions.
Basilica of 1605 Goa - (1) Oldest churches in
Bom Jesus India.

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 (2) World Heritage
Site
Rani ki Rav 11th Gujarat Queen (1) Massive structure that
century Udayamati is
AD around 24 meters deep.
(2) As a memoriam for
King Bhimdev of Solanki
dynasty.

Now that you have gone through the list of all the famous & historical temples and
monuments in India. You can also visit the following articles to acquire more knowledge
in order to prepare well for the GK section of SSC as well as other exams.

Famous Sites in India

Indian States & Capital

Prominent Rulers of India

Buddhism & Jainism Facts

Indian Towns On River Banks

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Rivers & Drainage system of India

Know Major Facts about Indian States

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