One rainy afternoon, Aarohi sat cross-legged by her grandmother, a handful of colorful banknotes spread across her lap. Each note felt like a tiny treasure chest filled with secrets waiting to be unlocked. “Grandma, why are there pictures of temples and caves on these?” she asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

Her grandmother smiled warmly. “Because each note tells a story of India—its past, its people, and its dreams. Want to explore them with me?”

Aarohi nodded eagerly. And so, their adventure began.

The base colour of the 10 rupee note is Chocolate brown

💵₹10 – The Sun Temple of Konark, Odisha

Aarohi traced her finger over the image of a giant chariot carved in stone. “Look, Grandma! Why does this temple have wheels and horses?” she wondered.

“The Sun Temple is a celebration of time,” her grandmother explained. “The 24 wheels represent the hours of a day, and the seven horses are the days of the week. It’s like a giant clock made of stone, dedicated to Surya—the Sun God.”

Aarohi’s eyes sparkled. “How did people build something so perfect without machines?” she asked herself. She imagined the artists working for years, carving every detail with care. Holding the ₹10 note, she felt connected to those ancient hands that shaped the temple.

The base colour of the 20 rupee note is Greenish Yellow

₹20 – The Ellora Caves, Maharashtra

Next, Aarohi looked at the rocky mountains on the ₹20 note. “Are those caves?” she asked. “How did they make a whole temple inside a mountain?”

Her grandmother nodded. “Yes! The Kailasa Temple inside Ellora Caves was carved from a single giant rock. They didn’t build it brick by brick— they chiseled it down from the top. Imagine turning a mountain into a temple!”

Aarohi’s mind raced with questions: How many people worked on it? How did they know where to cut? Could she visit and walk inside those ancient caves? The mystery of Ellora made her want to explore more than ever.

The base colour of the 50 rupee note is fluorescent blue

₹50 – The Ruins of Hampi, Karnataka

When Aarohi saw the ruins on the ₹50 note, she felt a strange mix of awe and sadness. “Grandma, was this city once alive?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” her grandmother replied. “Hampi was once the capital of a mighty empire. It was like a city of dreams, with markets, temples, and palaces. But time and battles turned it into ruins. Now, these stones tell stories of glory and loss.”

Aarohi imagined the bustling streets and vibrant festivals that once filled Hampi. She wondered how the people felt when their city changed so much—and if she could hear their stories whispered by the wind among the ruins.

The base colour of the 100 rupee note is lavender

₹100 – Rani ki Vav, Gujarat

Aarohi’s fingers slid over the deep steps carved into the ₹100 note. “Why did someone build a well so fancy?”

Her grandmother smiled gently. “Rani ki Vav is a stepwell—a special kind of well with stairs leading down to water. Queen Udayamati built it as a memorial for her husband, the king. It’s full of beautiful sculptures that tell stories of gods, love, and life.”

Aarohi felt the coolness of the water and the quiet of the stone steps in her imagination. “What secrets do these sculptures hold? How did the queen want her love to live forever in this well?”

The base colour of the 200 rupee note is bright yellow

₹200 – The Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh

Looking at the dome on the ₹200 note, Aarohi asked, “Grandma, why did Emperor Ashoka build this?”

“After a terrible war,” her grandmother said softly, “Ashoka was filled with regret. He chose peace and built the Sanchi Stupa to spread Buddha’s message of kindness and harmony. It’s one of the oldest stone monuments in India.”

Aarohi pictured the peaceful faces carved on the stupa, and thought, “Could one person’s change really bring peace to many?” The stupa made her wonder about forgiveness and the power of peace.

The colour of the 500 rupee note is stone grey

₹500 – The Red Fort, Delhi

Aarohi’s eyes lit up at the majestic fort on the ₹500 note. “Is this where India became free, Grandma?”

“Yes,” her grandmother nodded. “Every Independence Day, the Prime Minister waves the flag here. The Red Fort has witnessed centuries of history—from emperors to freedom fighters. It reminds us of the struggles and dreams of our nation.”

Aarohi imagined the crowds gathered on that day, the cheers, and the hope in the air. She felt proud and curious about the brave people who fought for freedom.

The colour of the 2000 rupee note is Magenta

₹2,000 – India’s Mars Mission, Mangalyaan

The shiny purple ₹2,000 note made Aarohi gasp. “Mars? India went to Mars?” she exclaimed.

Her grandmother laughed. “Yes! In 2013, India’s Mangalyaan spacecraft traveled 300 million kilometers to orbit Mars. It was the first time India tried such a mission—and it lasted far longer than expected. It showed the world that even a country just starting space exploration can dream big.”

Aarohi imagined the lonely spacecraft circling a red planet millions of miles away. “What do you think it saw? Could it hear us waving hello?”

Bonus Notes

₹1 – The Sagar Samrat Oil Rig

“This old note shows a giant machine floating in the sea,” Aarohi said, puzzled.

“That’s the Sagar Samrat oil rig,” her grandmother said. “It helped India find energy beneath the ocean to power homes and factories. It’s a symbol of how India reached out into the unknown.”

Aarohi thought about how big machines and brave engineers help a country grow.

Bonus Notes

₹2 – Aryabhata Satellite

“And this one?” Aarohi asked, pointing to the tiny satellite on the ₹2 note.

“That’s Aryabhata, India’s first satellite,” her grandmother said. “Launched in 1975, it started India’s journey into space, even though it stopped working soon after. It’s a reminder that every journey begins with a first step.”

Aarohi felt inspired to think about space travel and what she might explore one day.

Bonus Notes

₹5 – The Green Revolution

Finally, Aarohi saw the farmer on the tractor. “Why is this on money?”

“Because,” her grandmother explained, “this note honors the farmers who helped India grow enough food for everyone during the Green Revolution. It’s about hard work, innovation, and hope.”

Aarohi smiled, imagining fields of golden wheat waving in the wind and the farmers who feed the nation.

Bonus Activity

Make your own “Discovery Wallet”!

Aarohi’s grandmother opened a faded envelope and pulled out some old, no-longer-printed notes. “These don’t look like the ones we use now,” Aarohi said, surprised. “But they have pictures too!”

Want to go on a mini time-travel mission? Here are five old notes waiting for you to uncover their stories. Use books, videos, or ask elders in your family. What can you find?

🔍 Old ₹10 Note – It once had a picture of a tiger, elephant, and rhinoceros on the back.
→ Why were these animals chosen? What do they represent in Indian wildlife?

🔍 Old ₹20 Note – Some featured Mount Harriet, and earlier ones showed scenes from rural India.
→ Where is Mount Harriet and why is it special?

🔍 Old ₹50 Note – The Parliament House once appeared on this note.
→ What important moments happened inside Parliament? Who are some famous leaders who spoke there?

🔍 Old ₹100 Note – Earlier designs showed the Himalayas or the Ganges River.
→ What do these natural wonders mean for India? Why might they have been chosen?

🔍 Old ₹1,000 Note – Before it was withdrawn in 2016, it showed the economy and IT progress.
→ What does it say about India’s growth in technology and business?

🧭 Pro Tip: Create your own “Currency Detective Journal.” Each time you learn about an old note, draw its image and write down what you discover. It’s like building your own time capsule of India!