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Introduction
Temples are buildings and structures that are reserved for spiritual and religious activities for devotees to offer prayers and sacrifices. Various religions erect temples such as Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Judaism. Temples of different religions are named differently such as Islamic temples are called mosques, whereas temples of Christianity are called churches. This study focuses on famous temples of India that discusses some of the most widely known temples situated in various parts of the country. Hindu Temples hold a significant place in the traditional and religious beliefs of people. Various questions are there that need to be answered associated with this topic. What are the religious temples of Hindus? How many temples are there in India? What are the most famous temples in India? All these confusions will be resolved by the end of this post.
Famous temples in India
According to recent estimates, there are around 2 million temples in India and the number of temples has been increasing every year with the construction and discovery of new ones. Various temples are immensely popular around the world and devotees across the world visit these temples. “Badrinath Temple” is one of the most famous temples in India. Situated close to the Alaknanda temple, this temple is considered to be the abode of Lord Badrinath. This temple is situated in the Chamoli district of a small town in Uttarakhand. Badrinath temple is considered to be one of the holiest temples in the country and is known to be one of the most famous pilgrimage sites of India.
The “Konark Sun Temple” is another most famous temple situated in the Puri district of Odisha. This temple is dedicated to Lord Sun and is known for its magnificent architecture. Konark Sun Temple is built in the shape of a chariot that resembles the carriage of Lord Sun. This temple is believed to be one of the ancient temples in India that was built in the 13th century by King Narshimhadeva. “Kedarnath Temple” is another most vital temple of India that is also one of the major tourist attractions of India. This temple is situated in the Himalayan range in Uttarakhand. Kedarnath is considered to be the most famous and sacred temple of Lord Shiva worldwide. Situated at the height of more than 3500 m, this temple is closed during winters for security concerns of travellers and devotees.
“Vaishno Devi temple” situated in Katra, Jammu is a famous and most sacred temple of Goddess Durga. The temple is located at an altitude of 5200 ft of a mountain called Trikuta. In this temple, the Goddess Vaishno Devi is present in the form of three rocks known as pindies. This part of the article discusses different forms and structures of idols worshipped by people around India. Golden temple is a famous Sikh temple situated in Chandigarh, Punjab. It is considered to be the most pious pilgrimage for Sikh people around the world. The exterior of this temple is plated with gold plates and so it is known as the Golden Temple. This temple is famous for valuing humanity and brotherhood among people of all castes and religions.
List of most famous temples in India
Temples | States |
|---|---|
Somnath Temple- Lord Shiva is worshipped in this temple which is known to be one of the ancient temples in India | Gujarat |
Rameshwaram Temple- Lord Rama is worshipped in this temple and it is said to be one of the four dhams of Hindu religion | Tamil Nadu |
Gangotri temple- This temple is situated in the Uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand that symbolises the place where Lord Shiva entangled Goddess Ganga in his hair | Uttarakhand |
Kashi Vishwanath Temple- Situated in the banks of Yamuna in the city of Varanasi, this famous temple of Lord Shiva is one of the famous temples in India. | Uttar Pradesh |
Lord Jagannath Temple- This temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath another name of Lord Krishna which is famous around the world. | Odisha |
Tirupati Balaji- This famous temple of India worship the idol of Lord Vishnu the preserve of the world. | Andhra Pradesh |
Lingaraja Temple- Odisha is considered to be the temple city of India and Lingaraja temple is said to be the oldest and largest temple situated in this state. | Odisha |
Famous temples in South India
Southern India has thousands of temples situated in every state of south India. Some of the most famous temples situated in South India are Meenakshi Temple, Brihadeshwara temple, Sarangapani Temple and many others. Meenakshi Temple situated in Madurai, Tamil Nadu is one of the ancient and most fascinating temples in South India. This temple is said to be built about 2500 years ago which highlights the rich cultural heritage and traditions of southern India. This temple has 4500 pillars and is estimated to be built over 14 acres. The temple is traditionally devoted to Goddess Meenakshi, also known as Maa Parvati.
Another most famous temple of South India is Brihadeshwara Temple also known as the Big temple situated in Tamil Nadu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and it is said to be built in 1035 AD. This famous temple of South India is popular for its Dravidian style of architecture and it is considered to be a sacred place for Shiva devotees around India.
Conclusion
India is a country with a rich heritage, history, and spectacular architecture. The approximately two million temples that lie in the country have history and culture steeping through their walls. It is impossible to know all the names and details about the million temples, but some of the most famous should be remembered in detail. Some of the states with maximum temples are Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
