Here we are giving a list of some historical places of India and their importance in the Indian history. Sometimes in the UPSC mains examination, students are asked to explain the historical importance of the particular places given on the outline map of India.

Places of Historical Importance

1. Harappa
2. Takshashila
3. Pataliputra
4. Badami
5. Kanchi
6. Halebeedu
7. Delhi
8. Devagiri
9. Panipat
10. Agra
11. Hampi
12. Bidar
13. Bijapura
14. Calcutta
15. Bombay
16. Pondicherry
17. Srirangapattana
18. Meerut
19. Jallian Walabagh
20. Dandi

Harappa

It is one of the important sites of Indus civilization. It is on the banks of the river Ravi. It is now Montegomary district of Western Punjab in Pakistan. Dayaram Sahani excavated this site in 1921. The great granary is an important building found here.

Takshashila

It is in Pakistan. It was the capital of Gandhara province. Takshashila University was an important educational centre in Ancient India. Kautilya was a teacher in this university.

Pataliputra

It is presently called as Patna, the capital of Bihar state which is on the banks of the river Ganges. Pataliputra was the capital of the Magadha empire, the Mauryans and the Guptas.

Badami

It is in Bagalkot district, Karnataka. The early name of Badami was Vatapi and it was the capital of Chalukyas. It is famous for rock-cut cave temples.

Kanchi

Kanchi, also called Kanchipuram is near Madras in Tamil Nadu. It was the capital of the Pallavas. The city is famous for many Shaiva and Vaishnava temples. The world famous Kamakshi temple is found here.

Halebeedu

It is in Hassan District. Its early name was Dorasamudra and it was the capital of the Hoysalas. The Hoysaleshwara and Shantaleshwara temples are found here.

Delhi

It is situated on the banks of river Jamuna. It was the capital of Delhi Sultanate and also the Mughals for some time. Many monuments like Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Jama Maszid etc. are found here.

Devagiri

It is in Maharashtra. Alla0ud-din-Khilji led expeditions on this city. Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq built a new city called Daulatabad near Devagiri and shifted his capital from Delhi to Devagiri for a brief period.

Panipat

It is in Haryana State. It was a great battle field in the history of India where three great battles were fought.

Agra

It is on the banks of river Jamuna in Uttar Pradesh. It was founded by Sikandar Lodhi. It became the capital of the Mughals. Taj Mahal is the most famous monument of Agra.

Hampi

It is situated on the banks of river Tungabhadra in Bellary District. It was the capital of the Vijaynagara empire. Virupaksha temple, Vijayavittalaswamy temple, Stone chariot etc. are the magnificent monuments at Hampi.

Bidar

It is in the northern part of Karnataka. It was the capital city of Bahamani Kingdom. Here Mohammad Gawan built a Madarasa.

Bijapura (Present Vijayapura)

It is in the northern part of Karnataka. It was the capital of Adil Shahis. Monuments like Golgumbaz, Ibrahim, Rauza, Asar Mahal, Barakaman etc are found here.

Calcutta

It is the capital of West Bengal, situated on the banks of river Hoogli. Calcutta was the first capital of the British India. Swami Vivekananda established Ramakrishna Mission at Belur near Calcutta.

Bombay

It is the capital of Maharashtra. It was the main settlement of the British on the west coast of India. The first session of the Indian National Congress was held here.

Pondicherry

It is to the South of Madras on the Coramandal coast. It was the capital of the French in India.

Srirangapatna

It is in Madhya Pradesh. It was the capital of the Early Wodeyars of Mysore, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Dariya Daulat Palace and Sriranganatha Temple are the famous monuments found here.

Meerut

It is in Uttar Pradesh and is near Delhi. It was an important centre of First war of Indian Independence.

Jallianwala Bagh

It is at Amritsar in Punjab. Here General Dyer massacred the unarmed people who were protesting the Rowlatt Act in 1919.

Dandi

It is in the West coast of Gujarat. Mahatma Gandhi began Salt Satyagraha Movement at this place.