Top 30 Famous Temples in India
Last Updated: December 13, 2018 / Anil Rana
Custodians
of beliefs of more than a billion people: the holy places of India
cross the boundaries of time to sanctify the lives around them.
If
I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed
some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest
problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India” -Max
Mueller, German scholar
India has been praised by some of the
great people who have lived on the Earth. The evidence of Indian
civilization can be traced back to thousands of years. No other place
can vouch for the sort of diversity, which fills every nook and cranny
of this incredible country. The various religions, languages, dialects,
traditions and customs provide many facets of the majestic country
called India.
The geographic land of India has several marks of
faith spread all across its length and breadth. Certain structures have
several centuries of devotion backing them, granting more authenticity
and reverence.
“India has two million gods, and
worships them all. In religion all other countries are paupers; India is
the only millionaire.” – Mark Twain (American author)
Indian religions, especially Hindu faith, offer numerous Gods and Goddesses to seek blessings from.
Below is a list of 30 famous pilgrimage places in India, which stand gloriously, pouring blessings over the mankind:
1. Badrinath Temple
Situated close to the Alaknanda River,
the abode of Lord Badrinath
is located in the Chamoli district, a small town of Badrinath
(Uttarakhand). This holy shrine of Lord Vishnu forms a part of the four
holiest sites (Char Dhams) in Hindu religion. It is also one of the four
Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites (comparatively minor pilgrimage
sites). It is one of the 108 temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Divya
Desams), which find mention in the works of Tamil saints who existed
from 6th to 9th century.
The ancient abode of Lord Vishnu can be
visited only between April to November as in the rest of the months the
weather is too harsh for undertaking a pilgrimage journey. Two of the
famous festivals related to the temple are –
Mata Murti-Ka-Mela – in which the mother of Lord Badrinath is worshipped and it takes place in the month of September.
Badri-Kedar Festival – extending to 8 days, it takes place in the month of June and is celebrated in both the temples of Badrinath and Kedarnath.
2. The Konark Sun Temple
The Sun temple is situated in the small town of Konark, which is
situated in the Puri district of Odisha. This marvel of architecture is
dedicated to Lord Sun. And resembling his carriage, the temple has been
built in the shape of a chariot, which has twelve wheels and is shown as
being dragged by the seven horses.
The temple is believed to be
constructed in the 13th century by a king called Narasimhadeva. Like
with most things in India, this temple too has connections with a few
legends. As per one of the legends, God Krishna cursed, one of his own
sons with leprosy. To seek penance, Samba worshiped Lord Sun (Surya)
for a period of twelve years. Pleased with his devotion, Surya healed
him. Samba made the Sun temple in return to express his gratitude.
The
mesmerizing beauty of the place was best summed up by the Rabindranath
Tagore through these words: ‘Here the language of stone surpasses the
language of man.’
3. Brihadeeswara Temple
Also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil and RajaRajeswaram, this 11th century
temple was built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I. Dedicated to
Lord Shiva,
Brihadeeswara temple is the largest temple in India that is situated at Thanjavur city of Tamil Nadu.
Cholas
are known for their majestic and splendid scale of structures. The
opulence and artistic proficiency of Cholas is well reflected in the
grand and magnificent architecture of the temple. Made entirely of
granite stone, it was built as per the principles of Vaastu Shastras and
Agamas.
The most remarkable thing related to the architecture of
this UNESCO World Heritage Site is that it doesn’t leave any shadow on
the ground at the noon time. The millenary celebrations of its
construction took place in 2010 amid many enthusiastic and grand
cultural events.
4. Somnath Temple
This is one of the oldest pilgrimage centres in India and finds mention
in the ancient books, like Shivpuran, Skandpuran and Shreemad Bhagvat.
Som refers to the ‘Moon God’, thus Somnath means ‘Protector of the Moon
God’. According to a legend, Som got the temple built in the honor of
Lord Shiva as it was Shiva who cured the illness, which was inflicted on
him due to his father-in-law’s curse.
It is one of the most
revered ‘jyotirlings’ among the 12 existing jyotirlings of India. The
temple is located in Prabhas Kshetra in Saurashtra (Gujarat). Prabhas
Kshetra is also the region in which, it is believed that, Lord Krishna
left his mortal body.
Another interesting thing about the place is
that it is built on the shore of Arabian Sea and in between the temple
and the South Pole, in a straight line there is no land area. Somnath
temple was destroyed and re-built many times. The place also has a
Somnath museum, Junagadh gate, beach and a sound and light show to amuse
the pilgrims.
5. Kedarnath Temple
Situated in the Himalayan range of Garhwal area (Uttarakhand),
Kedarnath temple
is one of the most sacred Shiva temples in the world. This holy abode
of Shiva is said to be built by the Pandavas to atone for their sins
committed during their battle with Kauravs. The temple was restored by
Adi Sankaracharya in 8th century. It is one of the Chota
Char Dhams of Uttarakhand
and requires a pilgrim to walk a distance of 14 kms over the hilly
surface. One can make use of a pony or manchan to simplify the journey.
Surrounded
by the glaciers and snow-covered peaks and standing at a height of
3,583 m, the temple is closed during winters due to severe cold
conditions. Even the idol of Lord Shiva is shifted to Ukhimath and
worshiped there throughout the 5/6 months for which the extreme
conditions prevail.
6. Sanchi Stupa
Sanchi is a village in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, which is a
home to several Buddhist structures built in between 3rd century BC to
12th century AD. The most significant of them all is the
Sanchi Stupa,
also known as the Great Stupa. A Stupa is a holy place of Buddhist,
which is built in the shape of a dome that consists of relics of Buddha.
A
UNESCO World Heritage Site this famous pilgrimage site in India was
built by the great emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BC. There are four
intricately designed gateways surrounding the Stupa known as Toranas,
each individually symbolizing the four emotions of love, peace, courage
and trust. The Great Stupa is 16 meters high and 37 meters in diameter
and preserves the relics of Buddha.
7. Ramanathaswamy (Rameshwaram) Temple
Rameshwaram (or Rameswaram) is a small island town in Tamil Nadu and is one of the four holiest pilgrimage places (Char Dhams) of the Hindus.
The
reason for its being so sacred is the belief that Lord Rama along with
his wife Sita first landed on its shore after defeating the demon Ravana
(who was also a Brahmin). To seek atonement for killing a Brahmin, Rama
wanted to pray to Shiva. Hanuman was sent off to Kailash to bring an
idol of the God. In the mean time, Sita made a small lingam. The one
made by Sita is called Ramalingam and one brought by Hanuman is called
Vishwalingam.
As per the instructions of Lord Rama, Vishwalingam is worshiped before the Ramalingam, even today.
8. Vaishno Devi Mandir
After a trek of about 12 km from Katra (base camp), one reaches the holy cave, which is the abode of
Maa (mother) Vaishno Devi and is located at an altitude of 5200 ft in a mountain called Trikuta. It is situated in Jammu and Kashmir, near Katra town.
Vaishno
Devi is present here in the form of three rock heads, called the
Pindies, instead of a statue. Due to the strong faith of the people,
every year millions of them come to take the blessings of Maa Vaishno
Devi. It is said that it is Maa Vaishno who decides her visitors. It is
she who calls her devotees to her doorsteps. Anyone making a successful
journey to her shrine is there because of her wish. The shrine is open
all year round.
9. Siddhivinayak Temple
Located in Prabha Devi, Mumbai, Siddhivinayak Temple was built in the
18th century. Siddhivinayak or Lord Ganesha is the supreme deity of the
temple and is famous for being the first one to be worshipped before
commencing any new work or assignment. That is why he is also known as
Vighnaharta (the terminator of impediments).
On the wooden doors
of the shrine eight impressions of Lord Ganapati (Ashtavinayak) are
carved. Siddhivinayak temple consists of one of the eight images of the
God. Other distinct images are spread over seven temples situated in
Maharashtra.
The temple is visited by the devotees all days of the year but Tuesday
is the day when maximum numbers of people come to pray to the Lord for
good luck.
10. Gangotri Temple
The sacred origin of Ganga Maa (mother) is worshipped at Gangotri
temple, which is situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. A
partially submerged Shivaling lying along the temple in the waters of
Bhagirathi signifies the place where God Shiva entangled Ganga in his
hair. Built in the 18th century the temple is made from the white
granite.
The holy temple of Gangotri opens up on Akshaya Tritiya
(usually falling in the months of April or May). On this occasion, an
idol of Ganga Maa is brought back from the Mukhyamath temple (her winter
abode), which is at a distance of 20 km. On Diwali, every year, Maa
Ganga again travels back to the Mukhyamath temple.
11. Golden Temple
Sri Harmandir Sahib (also known Darbar Sahib or Golden temple) is the
most pious pilgrimage place for Sikhs. The temple was built on the
values of universal brotherhood and equality. The four doors, opening in
the four prominent directions, openly welcome people from any faith or
race to seek religious and spiritual contentment. The structure, revered
for its superb architecture, is built on a level lower than that of the
immediate surroundings, symbolizing the value of humility.
The
holy scripture of Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib, was first placed in Sri
Harmandir Sahib after its compilation and first Granthi (or head priest)
of this
Sikh pilgrimage centre in India, was Baba Buddha ji.
12. Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Located in the ancient and holy city of Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Kashi
Vishwanath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, also referred to as
Vishwanath or Vishweshwara, meaning emperor of the universe. The city of
Varanasi is also known as Kashi that is why the temple is famously
called Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The distinguished temple has been
visited by many great holy men like Swami Vivekanand, Adi
Shankaracharya, Goswami Tulsidas and Gurunanak. The merit or the
blessings received from sighting jyotirling at Kashi Vishwanath is equal
to that earned from visiting the rest of the 11 jyotirlings placed at
several areas in India. A visit to the sacred temple of Shiva is
believed to be one of the ways through which one can attain Moksha
(ultimate liberation of the soul).
13. Lord Jagannath Temple
Built in the 12th century, Jagannath temple is situated in Puri
(Orissa) and is popularly called Jagannath Puri. Dedicated to Lord
Krishna, the temple is one of the four holiest places (Char Dhams) of
India. Inside the main temple, with the idol of Lord Krishna (Jagannath)
in between, the idols of Lord Balabhadra (brother) and Goddess Subhadra
(sister) are placed.
Non-Hindus cannot enter the premises of the
temple. They can get a good view of this magnificent temple from the
roof-top of the Raghunandan Library located just opposite to the temple.
The annual and world famous Rath Yatra conducted at Puri gives a chance
to get a good glimpse of the Lord Jagannath along with Balabhadra and
Subhadra riding on the chariots. Thousands and thousands of people
pulling the sacred chariot makes for a mesmerizing spectacle.
14. Yamunotri Temple
Yamunotri temple was built in the 19th century in the Uttarkashi
district of Uttarakhand and was damaged and rebuilt twice due to the
damages inflicted by the natural disasters. Dedicated to Yamuna River,
which is the second holiest river of India, the temple also forms the
part of the four
Chota Char Dham sites.
Located
at the height of 3291 meters, the shrine of Mother Yamuna holds the
idol of Goddess, which is built in black marble. The temple opens up on
the day of Akshaya Tritiya and closes on the day after Diwali. Mother
Yamuna spends the winter at a nearby village known as village Kharsali.
The area around the Yamunotri temple doesn’t have any motorable roads,
so it has to be reached by trekking for a few kilometers. The
surroundings of the Yamunotri temple have many hot water springs to the
delight of the visiting pilgrims.
15. Meenakshi Temple
This architectural wonder is situated in Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and is
dedicated to Goddess Parvati (also known as Meenakshi) and her husband
Lord Shiva. Madurai is the second biggest city of India and is also one
of the oldest continuously populated cities of the world.
A dip in
the Golden Lotus tank, situated in the temple, is considered auspicious
and is usually taken before visiting the main shrine of the God and
Goddess. As per a legend, the pond was created by Shiva and is even
older than the temple. The temple has a hall, which consists of 985
pillars; each pillar is differently and intricately carved. The 12th
century colorful temple was among the 30 nominees of the ‘New Seven
Wonders of the World’.
16. Amarnath Cave Temple
The holy cave of Amarnath is located at an altitude of 3,888 meters in
the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Engulfed with ice-clad mountains, the
cave is also covered with layers of snow most times of the year. In the
summer season, (June to August) it becomes accessible and hence opens up
to receive the pilgrims.
The cave is believed to be around 5000
years old. As per a popular legend, Buta Malik (a Muslim shepherd) met a
holy man who handed him a bag full of coal. On reaching home, he found
that the coal has got converted into gold. Moved by the miracle the
shepherd went in search of the saintly man and instead found the sacred
abode of Lord Shiva. The pilgrimage towards Amarnath consists of a 5 day
trek in which the devotees brave tough and uncertain climatic
conditions and walk for 40 miles (distance covers journey from:
camp-holy cave-camp).
17. Lingaraja Temple
Lingaraja temple is one of the oldest and largest temples of the
‘Temple City of India’ – Orissa. Drenched in the architectural style
typical of Kalinga, the temple doesn’t only attract religious devotees
but also the historians.
The idol of Lingaraj usually represents
Lord Shiva, but over here it symbolizes Shiva and Vishnu. The combined
form of both the Gods is referred to as Harihara. A large lake called
Bindu Sagar touches the temple from one side and is said to have healing
powers. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the premises, thus they can
see the magnificent structure from a platform outside the temple.
Shivratri is the main festival of the temple.
18. Tirupati Balaji
Located in the hilly town of Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh), the temple is
also known as Tirumala Venkateshwara temple. The temple is devoted to
Lord Venkateshwara, who is popularly called ‘Balaji’ and is the
incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Venkateshwara Tirupati Balaji is the second
richest religious site with people offering money and gold to their Lord
running into millions, each day.
The ancient temple has been
visited by the rulers of many grand dynasties of Southern India. The
temple celebrates many festivals, most famous among them is Brahmotsavam
(also known as ‘Salakatla brahmotsavam’), which goes on for 9 days and
witnesses a great mass of the devotees.
The laddoos (a kind of
sweet), which are given in the form of prasadam in the shrine are famous
around the world for their unique delectable taste. As a religious
ritual, people get their heads tonsured in large numbers over here, so
much so that every year about 6 million US dollars are earned through
the auction of hairs.
19. Kanchipuram Temples
‘The City of Thousand Temples’ – Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) is one of the
seven sacred places in India wherein the people can attain Moksha, as
per the Hindu religion. Every temple in Kanchipuram is a fascinating
piece of architecture. Among the most revered temples of Kanchi 3 major
ones are mentioned below:
Kamakshi Amman Temple:
Goddess Kamakshi is one of the manifestations of Parvati and unlike the
standing poses in which we usually find her idols, the enchanting idol
at Kamakshi temple is sitting in Padmasana (a yogic sitting posture).
Ekambareswarar Temple:
This shrine of Lord Shiva is also the largest among all the temples of
Kanchipuram. The main lingam of the Ekambareswarar temple is made of
sand and is said to be built by the Goddess Parvati.
Varadaraja Perumal Temple:
It is one of the 108 temples of Vishnu (Divya Desams). This temple
along with the temples of Kamakshi and Ekambareswarar are collectively
called Mumurtivasam (home of trio).
20. Khajuraho Temple
Khajuraho is a town in the
state of Madhya Pradesh,
which houses several temples built between 10th to 12th centuries.
Spread across an area of 20 sq km, the monuments of the town are
recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples are built of
sandstone and dedicated to the deities of Hindus and Jains.
The
temples are world famous for the erotic cravings, which can be seen
along other cravings depicting the activities of routine life. It is
believed that there were over 75 temples in the area but right now about
20 exist. The temples have been divided into three zones – eastern,
western and southern. The Western zone consists of the most famous
temples; the largest temple of Khajuraho, Kandariya Mahadeva Temple,
falls under this zone.
An annual Khajuraho Dance Festival,
celebrating classical dance forms of India, is held against the
background of Chitragupta or Vishwanath temple in the first week of
February.
21. Virupaksha Temple
Built in the 7th century, the temple is famous for being a functioning
temple ever since it came into the existence. Located in the village of
Hampi, it is one of the most famous temples among the various other
temples of Hampi. All heritage sites of Hampi have been recognized by
the UNESCO.
A shrine of Shiva, Virupaksha temple is a very
important religious as well as the tourist destination. The pilgrimage
centre has expanded in scale over a period of time. Shiva in the form of
Virupaksha is the consort of local goddess Pampa and that is why the
temple is also called Pampapathi temple. Many festivals take place in
the temple celebrating the engagement and wedding of the couple.
22. Akshardham Temple
Constructed on the principles of Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra,
this temple is situated near the banks of Yamuna in Delhi. The
Indian-ness of the temple is reflected in its resemblance with ancient
Indian architecture and the spirituality that the place exudes. The
principal deity of Swaminarayan faith, Lord Swaminarayan, is the central
figure of Akshardham. His 11 feet high idol lies below the central dome
of the temple.
The structure has been built of Rajasthani pink
stone and Italian Carrara marble. The magnificent temple of Akshardham
looks more stunning during the night with the beautifully set lighting
arrangements. There are many ways like exhibition, movie, statues and
boat ride through which the information about the history and philosophy
of the Swaminarayan sect and its founder is given to the visitors.
Light and music show, which takes place in the evening, is the most
fascinating element of the temple.
23. Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir
Built during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1656, Shri
Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest Jain temple in Delhi. Made in the
honor of the 23rd Tirthankara, Parashvanath, the temple is made in red
sandstone.
Standing right across the Red Fort, the temple consists
of a charitable bird hospital, which has different wards for different
species, a research laboratory and an intensive care unit. The hospital
came in to being in 1956 and exemplifies one of the basic principles of
Jainism, which states that all living beings (no matter how small or
insignificant) have a right to freedom.
24. Gomateshwara Temple
Situated in the Shravanabelagola town of Karnataka, Gomateshwara temple
is dedicated to Lord Bahubali also known as Gomateshwara. Built in the
10th century it is one of the most important pilgrimage places for
Jains. The statue inspires awe among people world over because of its
unique structure. Standing at an enormous height of 58.8 ft the idol is
carved out of a single granite rock. This monolithic structure stands at
such a great height without any external support. The base of the
Bahubali idol has got inscriptions written in three different languages –
Marathi, Kannada and Tamil.
The most important event occurs in
the temple after every 12 years. It is called Mahamastakabhishek and is a
very important festival for Jains. In which Lord Bahubali is bathed and
smeared with various things like saffron paste, sugarcane, turmeric,
milk and vermillion and offered various precious stones and coins (like
gold and silver).
25. Ranakpur Temple
Ranakpur is a village in the Pali district of
Rajasthan and falls between
Udaipur
and Jodhpur. One of the very famous pilgrimage sites in India, the
majestic 15th century Jain temple is dedicated to Lord Adinatha. It is
counted among the 5 major sacred places of Jains.
The marvelous
architecture of the temple structure brought it among the list of 77
nominees at the time of determining the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Completely built from light colored marble, the great structure is well
supported with the help of about 1400 superbly carved pillars. The
temple uses natural light of sun as the only means of illumination.
26. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
The holy temple of Sai baba was built in 1922, in the Shirdi town of
Maharashtra. Located about 296 kms from Mumbai, the small town of Shirdi
has attained fame due to its association with Shri Sai Baba.
Spread
in an area of 200 sq. Km, the shrine was made over the Samadhi of Sai
Baba. Each day around 25,000 devotees come for Baba’s darshan and on
festivals the figure comes into lakhs. Ramnavmi, Guru Purnima and
Vijayadashami are the major festivals that are celebrated with great
enthusiasm and passion. The principles of Sai Baba (like love, charity,
forgiveness) are spread through the land of Shirdi, which has been made
holy by the pure soul.
27. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala is the place where one
of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred dwellings of Lord Vishnu) is situated in
the form of Lord Padmanabhaswamy. Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple can be
visited only by the Hindus. There is a strict dress code while entering
the temple for men (dhoti without any kind of shirt) and women (sari or
skirt and blouse).
The elegant and splendid idol of Lord Vishnu
is reclining over a 5 hooded serpent called Anantha. The idol of the
Lord is very fascinating as it displays the supreme trinity of Brahma,
Vishnu and Mahesh (or Shiva). Out of the navel of Lord’s statue a lotus
is seen as coming out over which Lord Brahma (the protector) is sitting.
That is why Vishnu (the creator) is also called Padmanabha, i.e.
lotus-navel. Under the right palm of the stretched out hand of
Padmanabha there is a Shiva lingum (the destroyer), completing all three
powers into one.
28. Dwarkadhish Temple
The holy abode of Lord Krishna, Dwarkadhish temple is situated in the
Dwarka city (Gujarat). Also known as Jagat Mandir, the temple has two
doors for entry and exit for pilgrims. The entry door is called Swarg
Dwar (doorway to heaven) and the exit door is called Moksha Dwar (the
doorway to liberation).
A part of the Char Dham pilgrimage, the
5-story structure of the temple is standing with the support of 72
pillars. Placed on the banks of River Gomti the temple reaches the
height of 51.8 meters and a flight of 56 steps need to be taken to reach
the Swarg Dwar. Inside the shrine, the Lord dazzles his devotees
through his image built in black stone and reaches up to 2.25 ft.
29. Laxminarayan Temple
Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939, the temple was built by the
industrialist Baldeo Das Birla in Delhi and can be visited by people of
all castes and creed. Laxminarayan is a form of Lord Vishnu (Narayan)
when he is with Goddess Lakshmi (his consort).
The primary shrine
is devoted to Laxminarayan, other smaller shrines are dedicated to other
Gods like Shiva, Hanuman, Krishna, Ganesh and Buddha. Spread in an area
of 7.5 acres the temple is one of the
tourist attractions
of Delhi and has a huge garden, fountains and a large hall called Geeta
Bhawan to conduct discourses, apart from the holy shrines.
30. Iskcon Temple
Also known as the Krishna Balaram mandir, ISKCON (International Society
for Krishna Consciousness) was built in the year 1975. Located in the
holy land of Vrindavan (Mathura, Uttar Pradesh), the land which is
believed to be the abode of Lord Krishna in his young age, the ISKCON
temple is well known for the utmost standard of cleanliness and worship
they maintain. The chants of ‘Hare Krishna’ reverberate in the temple
all hours of the day.
The temple belongs to the Gaudiya Vaishnava
sect of Hinduism, which was founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the 16th
century. Inside the temple there are idols of Krishna, Radha, Balarama,
along with the idols of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Swami Prabhupada
(founder of ISKCON).
For understanding India in its various hues
one can start from its temples, i.e. undertake a Pilgrimage holiday in
India and start to learn what binds its diverse population and begin to
unravel the intriguing phenomenon called India. Mahatma Gandhi said that
the essence of all religions is one; only their approaches are
different. Likewise, from the different temples of India, one can
realize the essence of the enigmatic land of India.
First Published on: 04 Dec, 2013
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