Pause for a moment and take a good look at your wallet. There’s history lurking within its folds. And, a Twitter user (@desi_thug1) — a self-identified history aficionado — has decided to unravel it. In an interesting thread, the Bhopal native captures pictures of architectural relics from across India that feature on the currency denominations. Have a look.
1. Konark Sun Temple on the Rs 10 note
One of the most renowned temples in Asia, Odisha’s Konark Temple is a lesson in architectural brilliance. Its name derives from two words, kona (corner) and arka (Sun), referencing what was once the temple’s main draw — a prime spot to worship the Sun.
Historical Monuments and Events Printed on Indian Currency Notes
1. Konark Mandir – 10 Rs Note pic.twitter.com/NWkdxk9pky
— Desi Thug (@desi_thug1) April 28, 2023
The original temple built in 1250 CE lapsed into disarray, but its spot is marked by the ruins left behind. The uncrumbled version, with its 227-foot-high facade, was considered one of India’s tallest sacred statues.
2. Kailash Mandir on the Rs 20 note
The temple has a layered past, history reveals. Picture an army of workmen boring trenches into a cliffside, attempting to remove 2,00,000 tonnes of rock with only hammers and chisels. In 760 AD, this is exactly what ensued after King Krishna I ordered a structure to be built that would resemble Mt Kailasa.
2. Kailash Mandir Ellora – 20 Rs Note pic.twitter.com/qRv8kAI7fl
— Desi Thug (@desi_thug1) April 28, 2023
Today, the temple’s magnificence spans a large area — twice that of the Parthenon in Athens — and features intricately carved panels depicting scenes from the epics. Not to miss the giant panels showcasing the different avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu.
3. Hampi Stone Chariot on the Rs 50 note
An interesting story prequels the Hampi Stone Chariot. When King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled during the 16th century, was in battle in Odisha, his attention was caught by the Konark Sun Temple chariot. And, he decided to build a replica in Karnataka.
3. Hampi Stone Chariot – 50 Rs Note pic.twitter.com/tVotvlc1Ee
— Desi Thug (@desi_thug1) April 28, 2023
The Hampi Stone Chariot boasts a traditional sophistication, making it one among the trio of the most famous stone chariots in India. The third is in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. The heritage wonder holds great significance amongst the locals who believe that the world will come to a halt the day the chariot moves from its spot.
4. Ran ki Vav on the Rs 100 note
Anyone who has visited the stepwell will testify that it is beauty personified. It graces the banks of the Saraswati River in Gujarat, lined by a treasure trove of stone edifices — carved pillars and more than 800 sculptures and geometric patterns.
A closer look at the architecture will reveal its inverted temple design. And, the credit for this ingenuity goes to Rani Udayamati of the Chaulukya Dynasty, under whose aegis the stepwell was built in 1063 to commemorate her husband, Bhimdev I.
4. Rani Ki Vav – 100 Rs Note pic.twitter.com/ozkNU6BiUZ
— Desi Thug (@desi_thug1) April 28, 2023
While time and nature had taken their toll on the structure, causing it to become buried in silt, with only a few pillars visible, that was enough to lead two archaeologists Henry Cousens and James Burgess — who visited it in the 1890s — to uncover it. The stepwell was rediscovered in the 1940s, following which the Archeological Survey of India restored it in the 1980s. Since 2014, it prides itself as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
5. Sanchi Stupa on the Rs 200 note
Dating back to the third century BC, Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh regales its spectators with its hemispherical dome surrounded by a railing and four gateways. These depict intricate carvings and sculptures, retelling stories from the life of Buddha. You can’t miss the composite interplay of traditional knowledge and artistry.
5. Sanchi Stupa – 200 Rs Note pic.twitter.com/BHIEzR3AQF
— Desi Thug (@desi_thug1) April 28, 2023
While the stupa, built by Emperor Ashoka, is beautiful, the Ashoka Pillar demands a visit too. Its crown features four lions standing back to back, a symbol that has also made its way into the National Emblem of India.
6. Lal Qila on the Rs 500 note
The Red Fort’s historical imprint is stretched across India’s millennia. It is an inseparable part of India’s identity, with the national flag being hoisted above its ramparts every Independence and Republic Day. Fun fact: The Red Fort was not always red. It was originally white but was painted red by the British after the white stone began to chip away.
6. Lal Qila – 500 Rs Note pic.twitter.com/JxhDBtL54T
— Desi Thug (@desi_thug1) April 28, 2023
Within the fort’s red sandstone walls lies the Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-ʿAm), which has 60 red sandstone pillars supporting a flat roof, and the Hall of Private Audience (Diwan-i-Khas), which is smaller and has a pavilion of white marble.
7. Mangalyaan on the Rs 2,000 note
When the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) introduced the Rs 2,000 note, everyone was intrigued by the motif on it. It was revealed that it was a spacecraft, the Mangalyaan, ISRO’s (Indian Space Research Organisation) first spacecraft bound for Mars. Built with the idea of studying the red planet, the Mangalyaan spacecraft successfully entered Mars orbit on September 23, 2014, marking India’s dominion in interplanetary exploration.
7. Mangalayaan – 2000 Rs Note pic.twitter.com/HTOMIm6ILg
— Desi Thug (@desi_thug1) April 28, 2023
ISRO became the fourth space agency in the world to achieve this after the United States, the Soviet Union and the European Space Agency (ESA). Mangalyaan relayed several pieces of important data including its observations of the Martian landscape and the study of its composition.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee
