The World’s 100 Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins · 2026
The Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins in India
9 of the 100 sites in The World’s 100 Best Archaeological Sites & Ruins 2026 are in India. The highest placed is Ellora Caves in Ellora, at number 6 in the world. Rani ki Vav in Patan (number 25) and Ajanta Caves in Ajanta (number 26) follow.
Maharashtra and Karnataka
The Ellora and Ajanta caves are both reached from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Hampi spreads over a landscape of granite boulders on the Tungabhadra river.
Madhya Pradesh
The temples of Khajuraho were built under the Chandela kings; the Western Group is a fenced park of sandstone temples covered in carvings.
Gujarat and Rajasthan
Rani ki Vav in Patan and Chand Baori in Abhaneri are stepwells with carved walls and flights of steps. The Sun Temple of Modhera is about 35 km from Patan.
The east coast
The Konark Sun Temple in Odisha is built as a chariot with stone wheels. Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu has the Shore Temple, the Five Rathas and a large rock relief.
Sites
-
N° 6
Ellora Caves
Ellora
Rock-cut site
-
N° 25
Rani ki Vav
Patan
Ruin -
N° 26
Ajanta Caves
Ajanta
Rock-cut site -
N° 27
Chand Baori
Abhaneri
Ruin -
N° 36
Hampi
Hampi
Ancient city -
N° 43
Khajuraho
Khajuraho
Temple site -
N° 53
Sun Temple of Modhera
Modhera
Temple site -
N° 69
Konark Sun Temple
Konark
Temple site -
N° 76
Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram
Rock-cut site