The largest mosque in India - Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid in New Delhi is the largest mosque in India. It was built in 1656 by Shah Jahan who is best known as the builder of the Taj Mahal. Much like the emperor’s other creations, the Jama Masjid too was a massive undertaking. 15,000 artisans worked on it and took fifteen years to complete it.

Jama Masjid - Delhi - India

The mosque’s made up of red sandstone and white marble and overlooks Chandni Chowk and the Red Fort. It can accommodate up to 25,000 people at a time. The mosque’s architecture is influenced by Hinduism and Jainism. This is evident in the 260 pillars in the western chamber. The mosque contains the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed Shah.

The world’s highest cricket ground

The world’s highest cricket ground is in Cheil, Himachal Pradesh.

Built in Cheil, towards the end of the 19th Century, by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, is the world’s highest cricket ground. The pitch is 2444 meters above sea level and served as a playground for many famous teams including the MCC. The Maharajah had an eccentric sense of humour and often organized matches with strange and unusual themes.

Bhupinder Singh Patiala -Cheil, Himachal Pradesh

For instance, once he organised a game where all the players were required to come dressed as women. The Maharaja, himself, took to the pitch in a nun’s habit.

Cheil and the famous cricket pitch are about 45 kilometres from Simla

The world’s first granite temple - Brihadeswara Temple

In Tamil Nadu’s city of Tanjavur you can find the world’s very first Granite Temple. It is called the Brihadeswara Temple and was built during the rule of the Chola Dynasty. Work began on the temple in 1004 AD and took five years to complete.

Brihadeeswarar Temple - Tanjavur-Tamilnadu

The most majestic aspect of the temple is its humbling shikhara or summit. The structure was formed out of one enormous piece of granite, which weighed over 80 tons.

Tamil Nadu boasts some of the grandest Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture. The temples are famous for their intricate carvings and architecture and their towering ‘gopurams’. The Brihadishwara Temple in Thanjavur, the Airavateswara temple in Darasuram and the Shore Temple, along with the collection of other monuments in Mahabalipuram have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.