10 Famous Stone and Rock Indian Sculptures

Let’s start our trip at the capital city with the glorious Qutub Minar! This tallest stone tower of the country truly is a sight to behold. The red sandstone and white marble used all over the structure give it quite the look! The carvings and inscriptions are mesmerising too. And we can’t forget to mention the calligraphy on level four! All in all, its importance as an ancient sculpture and as a historical monument has earned it a position on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.

Since we are already in Delhi, we must make one more stop to see Akshardham, another Indian famous sculpture. It is quite a new addition to the list of Indian stone and rock sculptures, given it was built quite recently, in 2005. But in a short time, it has waved its magic wand and made a good name! Thanks to the brilliant architectural planning and thinking that went behind its creation. A mix of pink sandstone and Italian marble was used in carving the temple. But what make the temple a grand celebration of architecture are the nine domes, 148 life-sized elephant statues, 234 carved pillars and 20,000 other statues and idols!

Who hasn’t heard about the Ajanta caves in India! The way this UNESCO World Heritage Site represents Buddhist culture is remarkable. And the caves do so with the many sculptures scattered over the whole area. The many examples of fine Indian sculpture painting deserve a mention too. In 1819, a British officer accidentally rediscovered the rock caves that dated back to the 2nd century. When you visit this place you will see that even though the sculptures here are made with simple hammer-and-chisel work, they are impressive.

Next, let’s take a flight to Udaipur. From there, take a cab to Mount Abu and finally pay a visit to the Dilwara Temples. These Jain temples are known for their architectural display and stone carvings. The doorways, roofs, walls, and pillars, everywhere you can notice exquisite patterns and designs. But the carved ceiling does take away the centre light!

This is one of the oldest rock-cut monuments in India, being created in the 7th century! While you will have a fun time exploring the cave, two things will catch your eyes the most. One is the sculpture showing Lady Durga on her carrier lion as she slays the demon-king, Mahishasura. And another is the carving of Lord Vishnu lying on the seven-hooded serpent. A travel tip here! Mahabalipuram has no airport service yet. So, you will have to land at the Chennai airport and then reach Mahabalipuram via road.

Another one of the Indian stone and rock sculptures on our list is in Mahabalipuram. We are talking about the Monolith Carvings. Monoliths translate to large rocks. These were carved between the 7th and 9h centuries. However, many of the carvings washed away in a tsunami. Only the deeply etched designs now remain. These carvings, whatever remains, have attracted many tourists over the years and also gained the honour of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Board a flight to Dharamshala airport and then a cab to Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra. This route will lead us to our next destination, the Kangra Fort. It is one of the oldest forts in India and has its origin in the 4th Century BC. Although an earthquake destroyed the fort in 1905, it still remains beautiful. The remaining carved idols inside are also stunning.

Sun Temple is a very famous tourist spot in Konark (a flight to Bhubaneswar followed by 1 and a half hour drive). At the entrance of the temple, you will see two unique sculptures, each with a lion standing over an elephant. As you enter the temple, the architectural mastery will impress you. And the elegantly engraved walls will be the cherry on the top. The carvings here show the festivals celebrated around the area as well as the daily life of the locals.

One of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Hoysaleswara Temple happens to be home to many fine sculptures of India. As you start exploring the temple, you will find almost 240 images of different Gods carved on stones. The outer walls of the temple also have striking carvings. Thinking, how to visit this temple? Take a flight to Mysore and then 3 to 4 hours on the road will bring you to Halebid.

Our journey to the 10 famous Indian stone and rock sculptures ends at Champaran, an hour's drive from Vadodara airport. This gigantic stone carving in India with its tall minarets makes for a great tourist spot. Coming to the carvings, you will see them everywhere. But the intricately engraved ceiling here has to be the showstopper!

With that, we conclude our list here! It is obvious that visiting all these stone and rock sculptures in one trip is not possible since they are scattered all over India. So, whenever you are in the particular area where any of these sculptures is located, take the opportunity and make sure to plan a visit.