India is a land that is centuries old and it has been the birthplace of so many religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Our country has a rich religious heritage and our culture is a diverse mixture of how these religions panned out in ancient and modern India. There are about 6 lakh temples today in India with many of them several centuries old. Religion plays an important role in people's eyes and they visit these temples with immense faith and devotion hoping for a divine miracle. Being scientific is good but not at the cost of one's cultures and we Indians know and understand this very well. Even in this modern era, we have tried and preserved our culture and rituals and walk hand in hand with modernism. The century-old temples still stand tall showcasing the world how proud we are of our rich and glorious past. Let's not waste any more time and straight go to the list of 11 famous temples in India that are worth visiting. You will fall in love with the grand monuments with their elite build and peaceful and calm environment.
1. Tirupati Balaji, Andhra Pradesh
Also known as the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, the Tirupati Balaji temple is believed to be the abode of Lord Vishnu on earth. The Temple was built in the 10th century and is located in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. As per government records, Tirupati Balaji is the most visited temple on the planet and receives the maximum donation from devotees which is more than any other temple on the planet. is one of the world's largest religious pilgrimage destinations. As per legend, Lord Vishnu sought from Kuber a loan of 2.14 million gold coins when he was a mortal on earth As Balaji for his marriage with Padmavathi, an incarnation of Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. The devotees till today donate in the temple when they visit to help lord repay his loan to Kuber. An astonishing figure of Rs 22.5 million is estimated to come by donations every day at Balaji. The temple trust deposited around 3000 kg of gold with SBI bank in April 2010. The daily number of devotees is usually around 50k to 1lakhs and it even crosses 5 lakhs on special religious occasions. So you better take some time off for visiting this temple. Maybe book a hotel room and see other sights around here as well.
2. Shri Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu and Kashmir
Vaishno Devi Mandir is a temple located in Katra at the Trikuta Mountains in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. According to Hindu holy scriptures, the Vaishno Devi temple houses Goddess Vaishnavi, an avatar of Laxmi, Parvati and Saraswati combined. The Vaishno Mata Mandir is located in a million-year-old cave and it witnesses more than 10 million pilgrims annually. Pilgrims brave the 24 kilometres to and fro trek from Katra to the caves to have a glimpse of the deity. The temple board has about 1.3 tonnes of gold and also continues to receive more gold and cash as a donation from devotees visiting the deity.
3. Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Mumbai
Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is dedicated to Lord Ganesh. It is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The temple is called as Siddhi Vinayak which translates to one who grants your wish. It is popularly believed by the devotees that Lord Ganesha grants their wish made in this temple. The statue of Lord Ganesha is located in the centre of the sanctum right under the dome. The inner roof of the sanctum is made of gold. The door to the sanctum is made with wood that is embellished with carved images of the eight manifestations of Lord Ganesha also called Ashtavinayak. The central dome is lit with multiple colours in the evening which make the temple even more beautiful. The temple is located in Mumbai and so is often thronged by popular celebrities among its 2 lakh visitors daily. The temple amassed about 158 kg of gold through donations and is considered as one of India's richest temples. Mumbai is a perfect place for couples to enjoy a vacation. You have temples, sights, modern parks and malls. So book a hotel in Mumbai and enjoy all these places.
4. ISKCON Temple, Bangalore
ISKCON temples are found worldwide made and managed by the ISKCON community that are ardent devotees and followers of Lord Krishna. One of the temples is located in Rajajinagar area in Bangalore. This temple was completed in 1997 and was inaugurated by Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma. ISKCON temples are not just religious places but also a place where our culture is preserved. The ISKCON temple community enrols several volunteers for life that work towards forwarding the mission of the community. They work towards creating awareness among the masses to lead a life as prescribed by Lord Krishna in Gita. Lectures, prayer services and outreach programs are conducted frequently even outside the temple complex. Besides, several other exercise and activities are conducted by the ISKCON community to help individuals discover spirituality in them and to spread peace and harmony in their society. You would love to visit Bangalore as the city hold several marvels ranging from Natural beauty to man-made wonders. Book a hotel in Bangalore and come enjoy the city's grandeur. There are also several couple-friendly hotels in Bangalore so you need not worry about getting here along with your partner.
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5. Sri Jagannath Puri Temple, Puri
The Jagannath Puri Temple is one of the Char-Dham's in Hindu religion and therefore is of utmost importance. The temple was build centuries ago in the year 1078 and it took almost three generations worth of time to entirely build the temple. The temple is also famous for the rath yatra where the deities are carried in a procession on three giant chariots. The Rath yatra is so huge that it is even considered as the origin of the word Juggernaut. The Jagganath temple is dedicated to Lord Jagganath, a form of Lord Vishnu. The temple has so many interesting facts that will make you curious. Right from the chakra placed atop of the dome that looks the same from every direction to the fact that the temple does not cast its shadows. Now call this an architectural marvel or the wish of Lord Vishnu. You will have to visit to find out.
6. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
Situated in the oldest city Varanasi as per the Hindu religion, the Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas or temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located on the western banks of river Ganga. Vishwanatha or Vishweshwarar is another name for Lord Shiva or the ruler of the universe. meaning 'the ruler of the universe'. The temple's structure is composed of three parts: First is a spire on the temple, the second a gold dome weighing almost 800 kg and the third is the gold spire and a trident on the top of the temple. This temple was also destroyed and rebuilt multiple times and is thus a must-visit for those who love historical and ancient places. The origin of the temple is very ancient as it finds mention in the holy scriptures as well. There are several other small temples too within the complex such as Kaalbhairav, Vishnu, Virupaksh Gauri, Vinayaka and Avimukteshwara.
7. Amarnath Temple, Jammu and Kashmir
Amarnath cave is a Hindu pilgrimage spot located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. At an altitude of 3888 m, this is one of the highest temples in India. The cave is located 141 km from Srinagar. The Amarnath temple is one of 18 Maha Shakti Peethas– highly revered temples that are considered sacred by Hindus. As per legend, the valley of Kashmir was believed to be flooded and was drained by Kashyap rishi using several rivers and streams. When the valley was first dried up, Maharishi Bhrigu discovered the Lingam in the cave. The cave is always covered with snow most of the year except for a short duration in summer when it is open for pilgrims. The snowy region and the ice lingam is the reason people also call the it as Baba Barfani. Devotees brave the difficult terrain to catch a glimpse of the mighty lord shiva and to achieve moksha or salvation.
8. Somnath Temple, Somnath
The first of the 12 jyotirlingas the Somnath temple dates back to several centuries. The temple was desecrated and destroyed many times by invaders but was also re-built each time. The present temple was re-built in 1951 on the orders of Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel. The temple is located on the western coast of Gujrat in the Saurashtra region near Junagadh. The 12 jyotirlingas are named on the 12 names of lord Shankar and are considered to be places where the lord has appeared in different points of time. The temple witnesses daily footfall of more than a lakh devotees and receives donations in crores annually. It is also considered as one of the richest temples in India.
9. Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Delhi
Swaminarayan Akshardham is an epitome of Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture. Built-in 2005, the temple structure is a mirror image of its predecessor in Gujarat. The main shrine is at the centre and various other exhibition halls surround it. The temple complex is a reminder of the ancient Hindu and Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture. Several features in the temple created with the help of modern technology such as the Abhishek mandap, Sahaj Anand water show, a thematic garden and three exhibitions namely Sahajanand Darshan, Neelkanth Darshan, and Sanskruti Darshan showcase Hindu values, culture and life of Lord Swaminarayan. Akshardham is also named in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the World's Largest Hindu Temple. More than 8000 volunteers were involved in the construction of the intricately carved marble and sandstone structure of the temple where Hindu teachings and traditions are inscribed on these walls. There are a lot of hotels in the surrounding area which offer all kind of facilities like booking a hotel by the hour and 24-hour check-in facilities.
10. Lotus Temple, Delhi
The Lotus Temple in New Delhi is one of the seven Baha'i House of Worship present around the world. This complex was designed by Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba and was completed in 1986. The structure resembles a white petal lotus flower. The 12 petal-like structures enclose a hall which can handle around 2500 people with ease. The petals are lined with white marble and the structure is so glorious and beautiful that its architecture has won it many awards and it has also featured on several magazines and newspapers. The Baha'i faith believes in the oneness of God and therefore it allows all kinds of people from any religion to visit the temple and worship their god. This unique temple draws devotees from all religions and even foreign nationals visit in huge numbers. Want to spend some days in Delhi? There are a lot of hotels that allow 24-hour check-in facility and even couple-friendly hotels can be found in Delhi.
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Not only these temples house your sacred deity they are also architectural marvels and a chronicle of India's rich and glorious past. Whenever you travel to these cities, don't forget to include these temples from your to-do list. You will surely love the tranquility and peaceful aura in the houses of God.