MUMBAI : April 18  was celebrated all over the world as the International Day of Monuments and Heritage sites. Those who enjoy travelling and are history buffs, this is a very important date. There are many celebs belonging to the category as well. We ask some of them about their visit to a monument or heritage site, the interesting facts that they remember about these places, the extra efforts they spent on knowing about the history of the same and souvenirs they brought back home. Now that we can travel freely after a two-year Covid induced hiatus, the celebs also share about the monument or heritage site they would like to visit next and why. Read on:

Ayush Anand

I have been to Jodhpur before, but I couldn't see it so closely like I did on my recent trip. I utilised my day-off in the city to the maximum and visited many beautiful and exotic locales. I went to the Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada and Umaid Bhawan. Whenever I am travelling to a city, I try to get as much information about the city as I can. It helps me in getting familiar with the place and its culture. I know what I want to see and understand the structure better. I want to visit the Great Himalayan National Park soon. It is home to 180 species of birds and mammals and I want to see it all live. Umaid Bhawan Palace is amazing. Built between 1928 and 1943, this grand yellow sandstone palace spreads over 26 acres of gardens, making it one of the largest private residences in the world. I always enjoy staying in palaces whenever I go to Rajasthan.

Ajay Singh Chaudhary

My first ever visit to the Taj Mahal has been etched in my memory forever. The ivory white colour and the gorgeous minarets took my heart away. The planning and its execution get full marks. We also got a chance to see the underground area containing the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz. It is only open twice a year so I was among the fortunate ones who got a chance to see it. Also, the vibe of the place is so peaceful. I feel everyone knows about the Taj Mahal, but I did get a miniature Taj Mahal from the local shop as a souvenir. I would like to visit Hampi next.

Arun Mandola

Well, I am from Delhi and this city has lots of heritage sites, Red fort ,Qutub Minar, Purana Qila and many more. The first time I visited Purana Qila, I was in school and was accompanied by my friends. We bunked class and went there. That day is a memorable day of life because that was the first time I saw a heritage site. We wanted to go to the zoo but went there by mistake. Unfortunately, I did not have a camera at that time so I could not eternalise the memory. Before the pandemic, I went to the India gate with my Delhi friends. Next, I want to visiting the Taj Mahal because I have never been to that place.

Abhishek Kumaarr

The Victoria Memorial is a large marble building in Central Kolkata, which was built between 1906 and 1921. It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria, now a museum under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, and is the largest monument in the world which is dedicated to a royal. I love to visit Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. It is an epitome of history and the atmosphere around it is serene and beautiful. My mentor gifted me Kolkatar Itihas by Raja Binoykrishna Debbahadur and it is one of the precious books I have in my collection.