Far beyond the well-known wonders of India like the Taj Mahal, the palaces of Rajasthan , the carvings and sculptures at the Ajanta Caves, and the forts and temples of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are lesser-known structures that have stood the test of time away from the limelight. These walls (oh if they could talk!) have seen dynasties rise and fall, survived time and tide—quite literally, in the case of one Tamil ghost town devastated by a cyclone—and often inspired subsequent masterpieces of Indian architecture for decades—nay, centuries—to come. Nuggets of Indian history lie in their ruins, meticulous inscriptions, thoughtful design, and scratched surfaces.…