India has a long history with varied religions and cultures. There have been many constructions of temples and other buildings in the past. Especially with all the famous temples that are dispersed across the country, India is both huge and beautiful. These architectural wonders, which are thousands in number and rise high into the sky, are among the most revered locations in the nation.
If you’re thinking about visiting India, be sure to see some of these stunning and well-known temples. Continue reading the article to know about the top 10 temples in India that you must visit once in your lifetime.
1. Somnath Temple, Gujarat
The Somnath Temple is one of the most well-known pilgrimage destinations. Numerous ancient literary texts, such as the Rigveda, the Shivpuran, and the Shreemad Bhagavat, refer to this shrine. Shree Somnath Jyotirling Temple is highly regarded by Lord Shiva worshippers as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, sacred sites in India thought to be the places of Lord Shiva’s appearance. One of the most revered tirtha (pilgrimage) destinations for Hindus is the Somnath-Prabhasa tirtha. Along with Dwarka, the newly built temple is the most popular pilgrimage place in Gujarat.
2. Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
The names Vishvanatha or Vishveshwara Kashi, which both mean “Ruler of the Universe,” are used to refer to Lord Shiva. One of the most well-known Hindu temples honoring Lord Shiva is the Vishwanath Temple. One of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples is located here and it is situated in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi. The Maratha ruler Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore built the existing building in a nearby area around 1780. With assistance from the governments of India and Uttar Pradesh, the temple recently underwent restorations. One of the many practices thought to put one on the road to Moksha (freedom) is going to the temple and taking a bath in the Ganges. This is the reason Hindus from all over the world attempt to visit this temple once in their lifetime.
3. Tirupati Balaji Temple, Andhra Pradesh
The Tirupati Balaji Temple, also known as the Sri Venkateswara Swami Vaari Temple, is one of the most popular destinations for Hindu visitors. The hill town of Tirumala in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh contains the Sri Venkateswara Swami Vaari Temple in its Tirupati district. The temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a manifestation of Vishnu. It is widely believed that Lord Vishnu came to earth to save humans from the hardships and calamities of the Kali Yuga.
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4. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple has allegedly been in existence for 5000 years, according to Hindu devotees. In the Indian state of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram is home to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The 108 Divya Desams include this temple. According to Vaishnavism’s dharma, one of the principal sites for Vaishnava devotion is the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which is devoted to Lord Padmanabha, one of Lord Vishnu’s avatars. The Bhagavad Gita makes mention of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
5. Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri
The Jagannath Temple is found in Puri, Odisha. The Puri Jagannath Temple is a stop on the Char Dham pilgrimage. The three main deities are dragged by enormous, ornately decorated temple chariots during the annual Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, which takes place at the Puri temple. The Bhil Sawar tribal priest offers worship at the Jagannath temple. Another reason the Puri temple is well-known is that it is said in numerous traditions that Krishna’s heart was deposited there; however, because the material used to make the heart is harmful, it must be replaced every twelve years.
6. The Dwarkadhish temple
The home of Lord Krishna is Dwarka. The Gujarati city of Dwarka is home to the Dwarkadhish temple, often referred to as Jagat Mandir. This Hindu temple is dedicated to Krishna, who is revered in this location as the “King of Dwarka,” or Dwarkadhish. It is a destination on the Char Dham pilgrimage as well. The main shrine of the five-story structure, known as Jagat Mandir or Nija Mandir, is held up by 72 pillars. According to archaeological findings, the original temple was probably built 2,200 years ago.
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7. Badrinath Temple
The Badrinath Temple is one of the locations on the Char Dham Jatra since it is a holy place for Hindu visitors. The temple is located in the Chamoli district and Badrinath town of the state of Uttarakhand. According to legend, Adi Shankaracharya came upon a statue of Lord Badrinarayan made of black Shaligram stone in the Alaknanda River. He first kept it hidden in a cave not far from Tapt Kund’s hot springs. The murti was relocated to the current temple by the King of Garhwal in the sixteenth century. With 2.8 million (28 lacks) visits in just two months in 2022, it is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India.
8. Shree Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh, the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is a huge Hindu temple in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil constructed it for the first time on November 19, 1801. This temple is one of India’s wealthiest. The temple’s dome-shaped facade is illuminated in the evenings with a variety of colors that alternate every few hours. Exactly under the dome is where you’ll find the Shri Ganesha statue which is very beautiful. Additionally, Images of Ashtvinayak are etched into the pillars of the temple.
9. Swaminarayan Akshardham
The term “Akshardham” refers to God’s heavenly home. A Hindu temple and spiritual-cultural campus called Swaminarayan Akshardham is located in Delhi, India. On November 6, 2005, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Manmohan Singh, L. K. Advani, and B. L. Joshi, Pramukh Swami Maharaj formally inaugurated the temple. The main temple of the complex was built using Pancharatra and Vastu Shastra principles. The Akshardham Mandir is the focal point of the Swaminarayan Akshardham complex. It measures 356 feet long, 316 feet broad, and 141 feet high. It has detailed carvings of animals, plants, dancers, musicians, and gods.
10. Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Temple
An ancient Hindu temple named Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple is situated in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, on the southern bank of the Vaigai River. It honors the Shakti-manifested goddess Meenakshi and her Shiva-manifested husband Sundareshwarar. The goddess temple is situated in the center of Madurai, a revered city of temples that dates back to the sixth century CE and is described in Tamil Sangam literature. This temple is one of the 275 Shiva temples known as the Paadal Petra Sthalams, which were adored by Tamil Saiva Nayanars during the sixth and ninth centuries CE.
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Conclusion
In Hinduism, temples are regarded as some of the most significant locations. Hindus can pray there and establish a connection with their gods because it is regarded as a sacred space. One frequently views temples as a symbol of hope and holds them in high regard. There are thousands of temples all across India which are all built with different styles and are beautifully designed as well. However, this was our list of top 10 temples in India that you must visit once in your lifetime as they are not only beautiful but have cultural significance as well.