Mathura was an important religious center as well. It was an important center of worship of Lord Krishna. Buddhist monasteries and Jain shrines were also present in Mathura.

Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti was a celebrated Sufi saint who settled in the city of Ajmer in the twelfth century. In the 12th century, the city of Ajmer (Rajastan) was the capital of the Chauhan kings. The city provides for an excellent example of religious coexistence. The Pushkar lake which is very famous amongst pilgrims is also loacted near the city.

The town of Thanjavur is loacted in the current Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was the capital of the erstwhile Chola kingdom. The river Kaveri flows near it. Thanjavur is also an example of a temple town. Temple towns represent a very important pattern of urbanisation, the process by which cities develop. Temples were often central to the economy and society in such towns.

From the eighth century onwards, the subcontinent was dotted with several small towns. These probably emerged from large villages. They usually had a mandapika (or mandi of later times) to which nearby villagers brought their produce to sell.

As per a 10th Century inscription found in Rajasthan, there were taxes on sugar and jaggery, dyes, thread, and cotton, on coconuts, salt, areca nuts, butter, sesame oil, on cloth.

From the 8th century onwards, some traders lived in the town, others travelled from town to town. Many came from far and near to these towns to buy local articles and sell products of distant places like horses, salt, camphor, saffron, betel nut and spices like pepper.

From the eighth century onwards, the subcontinent was dotted with several small towns. These probably emerged from large villages. They had market streets called hatta (haat of later times) lined with shops. Besides, there were streets for different kinds of artisans such as potters, oil pressers, sugar makers, toddy makers, smiths, stonemasons, etc.

As per the 10th century inscription found in Rajasthan, there were taxes in kind on : Sugar and jaggery, dyes, thread, and cotton,on coconuts, salt, areca nuts, butter, sesame oil, on cloth. Besides, there were taxes on traders, on those who sold metal goods, on distillers, on oil, on cattle fodder, and on loads of grain. Some of these taxes were collected in kind, while others were collected in cash.

As per a 10th century inscription found in Rajasthan, there were taxes on traders, on those who sold metal goods, on distillers, on oil, on cattle fodder, and on loads of grain. Some of these taxes were collected in kind, while others were collected in cash.

Usually a samanta or, in later times,a zamindar built a fortified palace in or near small towns. They levied taxes on traders, artisans and articles of trade and sometimes "donated" the "right" to collect these taxes to local temples, which had been built by themselves or by rich merchants.

Temple authorities used their wealth to finance trade and banking. Gradually a large number of priests, workers, artisans, traders, etc. settled near temple to cater to its needs and those of the pilgrims.

From the eighth century onwards the subcontinent was dotted with several small towns. These probably emerged from large villages. They usually had a mandapika or mandi of later time to which nearby villagers brought their produce to sell.

Ajmer, Rajasthan was the capital of the Chauhan Kings in the twelfth century and later became the suba headquarters under the Mughals. It provides an excellent example of religious coexistance.

Temple towns represent a very important pattern of urbanisation, the process by which cities develop. Temples were often central to the economy and society.

Rulers built temples to demonstrate their devotion to various deities. They also endowed temples with grants of land and money to carry out elaborate rituals, feed pilgrims and priests and celebrate festivals. Pilgrims who flocked to the temples also made donations.

Towns emerged around temples such as those of Bhillasvamin or Bhilsa or Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh and Somnath in Gujrta. Other important tempe towns included Kanchipuram and Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

The small towns had market streets called hatta or haat of later times lined with shops. Besides, there were streets for different kinds of artisans such as potters, oil pressers, sugar makers, toddy makers, smiths, stone masons etc.

Spices grown in tropical climates became an important part of European cooking and cotton cloth was very attractive. This eventually drew European traders to India.

Between the eighth and the eighteenth centuries kings and their officers built two kinds of structures. The first were forts, palaces, garden residence and tombs. The second were structures meant for public activity including temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravanserais.

Surat is located in Gujarat on the west coast of India. Bay of Bengal is situated on the east whereas Surat is located on the west coast.

These gardens were called chahar baghs, four gardens, because of their symmetrical division into quarters. Beginning with Akbar, some of the most beautiful chahar baghs were constructed by Jahangir and Shah Jahan in Kashmir, Agra and Delhi.

In the twelfth century, the weight of the superstructure above the doors and windows was sometimes carried by arches. The roof too used this principle and was converted into vaults and domes. This architectural form is called arcuate.

It was widely believed that the rule of a just king would be an age of plenty when the heavens would not withhold rain. At the same time, making precious water available by constructing tanks and reservoirs was highly praised. Sultan Iltutmish won universal respect for constructing a large reservoir just outside Dehli-i kuhna. It was called the Hauz-i Sultani or the Kings Reservoir.

Between the eighth and the eighteenth centuries, kings and their officers built two kinds of structures:

Between the eighth and the eighteenth centuries, kings and their officers built two kinds of structures: the first were forts, palaces, garden residences and tombs safe, protected and grandiose places of rest in this world and the next; the second were structures meant for public activity including temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravanserais, and bazaars. Kings were expected to care for their subjects, and by making structures for their use and comfort, rulers hoped to win their praise. Construction activity was also carried out by others, including merchants.

The town of Masulipatnam or Machlipatnam (literally, fish port town) lay on the delta of the Krishna river. In the seventeenth century it was a centre of intense activity. Both the Dutch and English East India Companies attempted to control Masulipatnam as it became the most important port on the Andhra coast.

Surat in Gujarat was the emporium of western trade during the Mughal period along with Cambay (present day Khambat) and somewhat later,  Ahmedabad. Surat was the gateway for trade with West Asia via the Gulf of Ormuz. Surat has also been called the gate to Mecca because many pilgrim ships set sail from here.

The Qutub Minar is a towering 73-meter high tower built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in 1193. The construction of the Qutub Minar was started by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, but he only constructed the basement. The construction of the tower was later taken over by his successor Iltutmish who constructed three more stories. The last two stories were completed Firoz Shah Tuglak.

The town of Masulipatnam or Machlipatnam (literally, fish port town) lay on the delta of the Krishna river. In the seventeenth century it was a centre of intense activity. Both the Dutch and English East India Companies attempted to control Masulipatnam as it became the most important port on the Andhra coast. The fort at Masulipatnam was built by the Dutch.

The skills of crafts persons are also apparent in the building that have survived, such as stupas. The word stupa means a mound. While there are several kinds of stupas, round and tall, big and small, these have certain common features.

Besides the temple there are places with mandapas or pavilions. Kings held court in these mandapas, issuing orders to their subordinates. There were also barracks for army.

Gol Gumbaz is located in Bijapur in the Bijapur District of Karnataka. It is the mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah (1626–1656). Adil Shah was the seventh Sultan of the Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur. Construction of Gumbaz was started in 1626 and completed in 1656 i.e. 17th Century. It was built by Muhammad Adil Shah.

The rulers of Champa (Vietnam) and Kamboja (Kampuchea) promoted Hinduism. The Angkor Vat Temple in Kampuchea has scriptures depicting scenes from the Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana.

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, European countries were searching for spices and textiles, which had become popular both in Europe and West Asia. The English, Dutch and French formed East India Companies in order to expand their commercial activities in the east. Initially great Indian traders like Mulla Abdul Ghafur and Virji Vora who owned a large number of ships competed with them. However, the European Companies used their naval power to gain control of the sea trade and forced Indian traders to work as their agents.

Surat in Gujarat was the emporium of western trade during the Mughal period along with Cambay (present day Khambat) and somewhat later, Ahmedabad. The city was cosmopolitan and people of all castes and creeds lived there. In the seventeenth century the Portuguese, Dutch and English had their factories and warehouses at Surat.

• The city of Thanjavur is located in the state of Tamil Nadu.
  
• It was the capital of the Chola Kingdom.
  
• The river Kaveri flows near Thanjavur.