Panchali Dey, TIMESOFINDIA.COM, TRAVEL TRENDS, INDIA Updated : Sep 18, 2021, 15:08 IST
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Beyond time: 5 Indian cities that are older than time
You might be aware that Indian civilization is one of the most ancient ones, but are you aware of the fact that there are several Indian cities that have been continuously inhabited for more than 2000 years? If you are keen to know more, here’s a list of Indian cities that are older than time.
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Ujjain
Ujjain was once one of the primary cities in Middle India, and served as the cultural, political, and literary centre around 600 BC. The city has been witness to the rise and fall of numerous empires, and also finds mention in the literary works of stalwarts including Kalidas. It once served as the capital of the Avanti Kingdom during the Mahabharata times. When all these records are taken into account, Ujjain played an important role not only during the ancient times, but also serves as an important pilgrim spot today.
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Varanasi
It’s perhaps India's oldest continually inhabited city, and has been a cradle of Indian vedic culture. Varanasi has bustling with cultural and religious activity since the Bronze Age collapse. If records are taken into account, the city finds mention in Rig Veda, whereas recent excavations also suggest earlier estimates.
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Patna
Patna’s ancient roots can be traced back 2500 years. Earlier known as Pataliputra, It has been a crucial site for pilgrims of all religions as it’s situated close to well-known sites such as Bodhgaya and Nalanda. Patna is also the place where Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru was born. And, if you research carefully, this city also finds mention in the travelogues of Faxian, and how Buddha travelled across Patna during the last year of his life.
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Madurai
As per the legends, the sweet nectar of madhu (honey) fell from the locks of Lord Shiva here, thereby it has been named Madurai. You will find mentions of this spot back to the 3rd century BC in scriptures that were written by Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to India. Also, some archaeological evidence also shows that trades between Rome and Madurai existed since the 3rd century.
In fact, it has been a crucial centre of culture and trade for decades. Further, the town is built around the world-famous Meenakshi temple, which is said to have been built around 600 BC and was rebuilt in its present form in the 17th century.
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Thanjavur
Earlier known as Tanjore, the beautiful city of Thanjavur is home to Tanjore style of painting, and several important cultural sites. Today, it’s best known for being home to UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Living Chola Temples, a site of prominence from the times when Thanjavur gained prominence as the capital of Chola dynasty.
