The historical monumental memorials in Western India include many forts in Goa and Pune, along with the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra.
Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
The Ajanta Caves in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra are about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments that date back to as early as between 2nd and 7th centuries CE. The paintings and rock-cut sculptures housed within the caves are the finest surviving specimens of ancient Indian art. They are expressive and display emotion through gesture, pose and form. As per UNESCO, they are masterpieces of Buddhist religious art that influenced Indian art that followed. Constituting ancient monasteries and worship halls of different Buddhist traditions carved into a 250-feet wall of rock, the site is a protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
Ellora Caves in Aurangabad district in Maharashtra is one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world. Along with the Ajanta Caves, they are a major tourist attraction of Maharashtra and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ellora is a conglomeration of over 100 caves, 34 open to public, with a striking display of monuments and artwork that relate to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism from 600 CE to 1000 CE. Cave 16 in Ellora houses the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world, the Kailasanatha temple devoted to Lord Shiva. Ellora Caves are protected under the ASI.
Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
Elephanta Caves are a group of Hindu and Buddhist sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbour, distanced 10 kilometres from the city of Mumbai. The Hindu caves contain rock-cut stone sculptures representing the Shaiva sect. The rock-cut architecture has been dated from 5th to 8th centuries CE. Renovated in 1970s, the caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for preserving the artwork and currently under the ASI.
Historical Monuments of Pune, Maharashtra
Historical monuments in Pune date back to the Maratha Dynasty, with many forts and palaces like Shivneri Fort, Lohagad Fort, Shaniwar Wada and Vishram Bagh, and architectural constructions of the British Raj like Wellesley Bridge and Sassoon Hospitals.
Historical Monuments of Goa
Rachol Fort in Old Goa served as the battleground for rulers of Vijayanagar and Bijapur. The Palace of Adil Shah, a Muslim ruler in Goa whose territory extended from Bijapur, Karnataka, was considered to be one of the most prominent monumental structures in Goa, only the gateway of which remains today.
Other notable historical monuments in western India comprise the Prince of Wales Museum, Flora Fountain and Town Hall in Mumbai and Ajinkyatara Fort in Satara district, Maharashtra.