Discover the great institutions that shaped India's intellectual heritage
The sacred fig tree in Bodh Gaya under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment to become the Buddha, one of Buddhism's holiest sites.
UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Raja Raja Chola I in 1010 CE, representing the pinnacle of Chola architecture and one of India's greatest temples.
Sacred houses of worship in Hinduism serving as centers of devotion, community gathering, and cultural preservation across India and beyond.
Ancient Hindu temple in Puri, Odisha, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, renowned for its annual Rath Yatra festival and distinctive Kalinga architecture.
Ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Varanasi, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and among the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India
Mathura, one of India's seven sacred cities, birthplace of Lord Krishna, and major center of art, culture, and religion spanning over 2,500 years.
Ancient Buddhist university and monastery complex in Bihar, one of the world's first residential universities and a major center of learning from 5th to 12th century CE.
Ancient Buddhist monument in Madhya Pradesh, commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in 3rd century BCE, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site for its remarkable architecture and sculptures.
Ancient Shiva temple in Gujarat, India, renowned for its repeated destruction and reconstruction through centuries, symbolizing resilience and devotion.
Taxila was an ancient city and renowned center of learning in Gandhara, flourishing from the 6th century BCE to the 5th century CE in present-day Pakistan.
Ancient spiritual capital on the Ganges, home to millennia of religious learning, temples, and philosophical traditions that shaped Indian civilization.
Ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara on Tirumala Hills, one of the world's most visited pilgrimage sites and richest religious institutions.
Buddhist university in ancient Bengal, last of the great Mahaviharas, flourished under Pala dynasty from 11th-12th century CE and known for Tantric Buddhism scholarship.
Ancient Buddhist Mahavihara in Bihar, one of India's foremost centers of Buddhist learning before its destruction in 1193 CE, second only to Nalanda.
Ancient Buddhist monastic university in Odisha, India, also known as Langudi Hill, rivaling Nalanda and Vikramashila in significance during its peak.
Ancient Buddhist monastery in Bengal, the largest south of the Himalayas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing Pala dynasty architectural excellence.
Ancient Buddhist university in Bihar, one of the most important centers of Tantric Buddhism and learning during the Pala Empire (8th-12th century CE).