India has many temples, each with its own special architecture, culture, and religious importance. These temples can be found in various places, from mountains and jungles to busy city streets. People in India often visit temples daily to worship. Here is a list of the most famous temples in India that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.
Top 10 Famous Temple in India:
1. Badrinath Temple:
Badrinath is located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand. It is one of the sites in the Char Dham Yatra. Badrinath temple is one of the 108 temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu around the world. The main idol in the temple is a 1-foot black granite statue of Vishnu as Badrinarayan. Many Hindus believe this idol is one of Vishnu’s three self-manifested forms. The most important event at Badrinath temple is the Mata Murti Ka Mela, which celebrates the arrival of the Ganges River to Earth. Even though Badrinath is in northern India, the head priest, or rawal, is usually a Nambudiri Brahmin from Kerala in southern India.
2. Rameshwaram:
Rameshwaram temple is famous and respected by Hindus worldwide because it is believed to be the first place where Lord Rama arrived with his wife Sita after defeating Ravana. It is located on Rameshwaram Island in Tamil Nadu. The temple is not only beautiful but also in a great location. It is a Jyotirlinga temple, containing one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlinga shrines. It is also one of the 3 Paadal Petra Sthalams, praised in songs by the famous Saivite saints Appar, Sundarar, and Tirgunana Sambandar. The temple was expanded by the Pandya dynasty in the 12th century, and its main sanctum was renovated by the ruler of the Jaffna kingdom.
3. Vaishno Devi:
The Vaishno Devi temple is very important to Hindus and is located in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides its religious significance, many people love the journey to the temple from Katra because the mountain scenery is stunning. Millions of people visit to see the beautiful snow-covered mountains around the temple. People feel fortunate if they get to visit Vaishno Devi because not everyone gets the chance.
4. Golden Temple:
The Golden Temple, also called Harmandir Sahib, is in Amritsar, Punjab. It’s a Sikh shrine, but Hindus also go there. It’s called the Golden Temple because it’s covered in beautiful golden architecture. It’s surrounded by calm water called Amrit Sarovar, where people wash before entering. The Golden Temple is famous for serving free meals to everyone every day, known as langar. They have a big kitchen to feed all the visitors.
5. Kedarnath Temple:
Kedarnath temple is a very important place to visit. It’s been around since the time of Mahabharat, about 1000 years ago. Some of the 12 Jyotirlingas and Panch Kedar can be found there. It’s dedicated to Lord Shiva and sits high up at 3,584 meters in the Garhwal Himalayan region. The Pandavas are said to have built ancient temples there, but Adi Shankaracharya, India’s greatest scholar and religious leader, built a new temple near the old one. There’s also an interesting story where Lord Shiva turns into a bull and is chased by the Pandavas. You can visit the temple from April/May to November only.
6. Somnath Temple:
The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is located in Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra, West Gujarat, India, where the Saraswati, Hiranya, and Kapila rivers meet at Triveni Sangam. It’s considered the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India and where Lord Shiva first appeared. People have been visiting this temple for ages because of the three rivers coming together. Ancient texts like Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Skandpuran, Shivpuran, and Rigveda mention the Somnath Mahadev Temple, showing its importance as a famous pilgrimage site. Along with Dwarka in Gujarat, Jagannath Temple in Odisha, Rameshwaram, and Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, Somnath temple is one of the five most respected sites on India’s coast.
Jagannath Temple is in Puri, Odisha, and it’s one of India’s most famous temples, known worldwide for its grand complexes. It’s one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Every year, there’s a big event called Ratha Yatra, where chariots carrying Lord Jagannath and his siblings are pulled around the old temple. This event attracts tourists from everywhere. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, and visiting it allows you to see its huge kitchen. The temple prepares a grand feast for the Lord regularly, which is a spectacular sight.
8. Meenakshi Temple:
he Meenakshi Temple is in the old city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It’s a Hindu temple for Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. Lots of people come here every year. The temple is a beautiful example of Dravidian architecture. The big Meenakshi Thirukalyanam festival is the main event here every year.
9. Kashi Vishwanath Vishwanath Temple:
Kashi Vishwanath is in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and it’s one of India’s famous temples. It’s one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva and sits at the western end of the Ganges River. Varanasi is a very important city in India. The temple’s tower is covered in 800 kilograms of gold and looks really beautiful. Inside the temple, there’s the famous Jnana Vapi, but only Hindus can go inside. Besides the main temple, there are smaller ones like Kaalbhairav, Virupaksh Gauri, Vishnu, Avimukteshwara, and Kaal Bhairav.
10. Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir):
The Dwarkadish Temple, also known as Jagat Mandir, is a big attraction for tourists in Dwarka. It’s believed to have been discovered over 2,500 years ago and was founded by Vajranav, Lord Krishna’s great-grandson. The old temple has been restored many times, especially in the 16th and 19th centuries. It’s built on a small hill, and you have to climb more than 50 steps to reach the main shrine. The shrine is surrounded by intricately carved walls, and inside is the main statue of Krishna.
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