India, one of the world's oldest civilizations, is a country with a long history and a vast array of religious traditions, tales, and beliefs. Being the birthplace of the religions of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, India is proud of its long and illustrious history in both the cultural and religious spheres. In India, individuals of all religious backgrounds coexist peacefully and in fraternity. The oldest religion in the world is said to be Hinduism.
The Hindus call the celestial residence of the Almighty on Earth "Mandir." Magnificent temples may be found almost everywhere in the nation. Every temple has a special myth and history associated with it. So, here’s a list of some famous temples of India that one must visit;
1. Badrinath Temple
The home of Lord Badrinath is situated in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, near to the Alaknanda River. One of the Char Dhams in Hinduism is this revered temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
2. Sun Temple
The Sun Temple is located in the Odisha town of Konark, which is part of the Puri district. This architectural wonder is devoted to Surya, the Indian sun god. The temple is shaped like his chariot, which is pulled by seven horses.
3. Brihadeeswara Temple
In Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, there is a large South Indian temple called Brihadeeswara Temple. The Chola ruler Raja Raja Chola I constructed this temple in the 11th century, which is also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil and RajaRajeswaram. Cholas are renowned for their love of the arts.
4. Somnath Temple
One of the earliest pilgrimage sites in India is Somnath Temple, which is mentioned in the Shiv Puran, Skanda Purana, and Shreemad Bhagvat Gita. Somnath is referred to be the "Protector of the Moon God" since Soma means "Moon God."
5. Sanchi Stupa
Sanchi Stupa is an architectural wonder in Sanchi that is said to contain the remains of Lord Buddha. It is surrounded by the ruins of lesser stupas and monasteries. The Indian Emperor Ashoka the Great constructed this well-known pilgrimage site in India, sometimes referred to as the Great Stupa, in the third century BC.
6. Ramanathaswamy Temple
A little island hamlet in Tamil Nadu called Rameswaram is well-known for being one of the revered Char Dhams of the Hindus. According to mythology, after conquering the Brahmin demon king Ravana, Lord Rama and his wife Sita arrived on the beach of this island.
7. Vaishno Devi Temple
Vaishno Devi Temple, one of the holiest locations for Hindu visitors, is located in Jammu and Kashmir atop the Trikuta mountain. According to tradition, Bhairo Nath, a dark sorcerer, was pursuing Vaishno Devi when she was posing as a little girl named Vaishnavi.
8. Siddhivinayak Temple
One of the eight Ganesha Temples in Maharashtra is the Siddhivinayak Temple, which is situated in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. Additionally, it is one of India's wealthiest temples. The chief god of the temple, Lord Ganesha, is the one who is usually worshipped first before beginning anything new in life.
9. Gangotri Temple
The Chota Char Dham Yatra includes the Gangotri Temple, which is located in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi region within the Himalayan range. This temple is very significant because of its illustrious past.
10. Golden Temple
For those who practise Sikhism, Sri Harmandir Sahib—also known as Darbar Sahib or the Golden Temple—is the most revered destination for pilgrimage in Amritsar, Punjab. The worldwide brotherhood and equality underpin the temple's construction.
11. Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The temple, which teaches people the ultimate meaning of life and death, is situated on the western bank of the River Ganges. One visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple is comparable to one to each of Lord Shiva's other eleven jyotirlingas.
12. Shri Jagannath Temple
The Jagannath temple, also known as Jagannath Puri, was constructed in the 12th century and is located in Puri, Orissa. The temple, one of India's Char Dhams, is devoted to Lord Krishna.
13. Yamunotri Temple
The temple, which honours the River Yamuna, is one of the four Chota Char Dham Yatra stops and is dedicated to the second holiest river in India. The Mother Yamuna temple, which is 3 291 metres high, has a black marble statue of the Goddess.
14. Meenakshi Temple
It is dedicated to the goddess Parvati (also known as Meenakshi) and her spouse Lord Shiva and is located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The second-largest city in India and one of the oldest cities in the world is Madurai.
15. Amarnath Cave Temple
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, at a height of 3,888 metres, sits the revered Amarnath cave. The cave spends most of the year covered in snow since it is surrounded by snow-capped mountains.