India is the country where people have immense faith in God and His powers to cure human beings of all their problems and ailments. The country boasts of a rich cultural heritage, which is truly reflected in its well-preserved temples that reflect superb architectural skills and hold deep religious significance. Temples belonging to different religions in the world, such as Hinduism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism, co-exist peacefully here. Indian temples serve as the haven of peace, solace and tranquility, in the middle of the world that is getting full of greed, jealousy, hatred, etc.
India has rich cultural and historical heritage well preserved in its temple architecture and pilgrim sites. From the majestic Himalayan ranges in the North, to Kanyakumari in the South, India is arrayed with thousand of shrines, temples and worship places dating back to hundreds of years.. Many theories have been formulated to explain the existence of these holy sites in such a huge number, paving the path to attain salvation or "nirvana".
World Famous Tirumala:
India has rich cultural and historical heritage well preserved in its temple architecture and pilgrim sites. From the majestic Himalayan ranges in the North, to Kanyakumari in the South, India is arrayed with thousand of shrines, temples and worship places dating back to hundreds of years.. Many theories have been formulated to explain the existence of these holy sites in such a huge number, paving the path to attain salvation or "nirvana".
World Famous Tirumala:
Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala is regarded as the world's richest temple with an estimated annual income of over 300 crores. The hill temple, which received a stream of royal benefactions, has a fabulous collection of very rare and precious ornaments whose antique value is beyond anybody's guess. It also has crores of rupees worth assets in the form of land and buildings spread across the country. The main source of income is derived from the "hundi" which netted an all time record of Rs.116 crores in the year 1997-98 by way of cash offerings. During the period the hundi also received 450 Kg of gold, 3,200 Kg of silver articles, diamonds weighing 2.430 Kg besides more than 2 Kg of pearls, loose stones, corals and other precious offerings. There is no dearth of funds for the sacred temple as philanthropists from all over the country and abroad queue up to make fabulous donations in fulfillment of their vows. Lord Venkateshwara who according to the mythologies is "self-manifested" (svayambhu) is regarded as the most revered Hindu God today. On any given day the main deity is adorned with not less than a hundred Kg of gold, diamond and pearl ornaments.
The Tirumala Hill is 3200 ft above sea level, and is about 10.33 sq miles in area. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven hoods of Adisesha, thus earning the name, Seshachalam. The seven peaks are called Seshadri, Five persons are allowed for Shrivari Darshan.
Akshardham Temple : 
One of the morden wonders of India, the Akshardham temple of Delhi is an architectural marvel. Located on the banks of river Yamuna, Akshardham temple is governed by the Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
One of the morden wonders of India, the Akshardham temple of Delhi is an architectural marvel. Located on the banks of river Yamuna, Akshardham temple is governed by the Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
Somnath Temple :
Dedicated to Lord shiva, the Somnath temple is one of the twelve jyotirlingas in
India. This legendary temple is said to be destroyed by invaders a number of times. The present Somnath temple is built in the Chalukyan style of architecture and attracts thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year.
Golden Temple :
Amritsar:Amritsar, literally means the Pool of Nectar. Amritsar derieves its name from Amrit Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the fabulous Golden Temple. The Sikh cult largely dominate the city. During centuries, this complex of Sikh culture grew from a sacred village pond into a spiritual-temporal center. The passionate pilgrims of the faith of Guru Nanak (15th century), who united Hindu and Muslim elements and initiated a reformation, flocked here generation after generation.
History unfolded: Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Golden temple also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib. Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore in December 1588. The construction work was directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he was assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha ji, Bhai Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji and many other devoted Sikhs.
Somnath Temple :
Gujarat:Gujarat, the 'Jewel of the West,' is a tourist destination that offers something for every visitor. A journey through Gujarat unfolds a religious, cultural and historical panorama. The state with the longest coast line (1290km) in the country is renowned for its beaches, holy temples, historic capitals replete with immense architectural assets, wildlife sanctuaries and hill resorts. However the famous Somnath temple here is an exemplar of architectural splendor. Location:Somnath at Somnath Patan, near Veraval in Gujarat is a pilgrimage center held in great reverence throughout India. Somnath is considered to be the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. Somnath is situated on the south coast of Saurashtra.
Konark Sun Temple :
Peek into the past:The most notable marvel of Orissan art is the stately Sun Temple of Konark, Built in AD 1250, during the reign of the Eastern Ganga King Narasimhadeva-I. The temple was built with the intent to enshrine the image of Sun ("Arka"), the patron deity of the place. The temple was built is an interesting fashion, in the shape of a colossal chariot, carrying the sun G
od, Surya, across the heavens. Crowning Glory of Orissa- Konark Sun Temple:The exquisite Sun temple is a living monument of Orissa's glorious past, frozen on the sands of time. The Sun Temple of Konark is regarded as the peak of art and architecture in the ancient Kalinga era. The entire temple complex in Konark was designed in the form of a huge chariot drawn by seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely carved wheels. The sanctum symbolises the majestic parade of the Sun God and marks the apex of the Orissan architectural style.
Rameshwaram Temple :
Location:
Rameshwaram
Chief Deity:
Lord Shiva
Significance:
One Of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India.
The Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the most sacred shrines of the Hindus in India. The Jyotirlingam at the Ramanathaswamy temple is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India. It is considered as holy as Banaras/Kashi. The Ramanathaswamy temple is situated on the Rameshwaram Island, off the Sethu coast of Tamil Nadu. According to legends, this temple is associated with Ramayana and the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.The Ramanathaswamy temple is greatly revered, as it is believed that Lord Rama himself built the temple. According to the legends, after killing Ravana Lord Rama returned to India and offered worship to Lord Shiva at Rameshwaram to expiate the sin of killing the demon king. Lord Rama directed Hanuman to bring the lingam from Kailasha within a certain time but Hanuman was delayed and Sita had to prepare one of sand, before the auspicious hour. It is said that this is the same Linga of Sri Ramanatha in the temple.
Khajuraho Temples :
The fascinating temples of Khajuraho, India's unique gift of love to the world, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, were built between 950 and 1050 A.D. Khajuraho derives its name from the Khajur tree (the date palm tree) which can be found in abundance in the area. Khajuraho is a well visited tourist center. This village houses several temples built in the Indo Aryan Nagara style of architecture. Temples of Khajuraho have captivate the attention of a visitor with their marvelous art. 'Stellar specimen of impeccable architectural skill' Location:The popular Khajuraho temple is situated in Madhya Pradesh. Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage. The Khajuraho temples are internationally famous for the erotic sculptures that adorn the walls. Journey through the past: Khajuraho, the ancient "Kharjjuravahaka", was the main seat of authority of the Chandela rulers who accentuated the place with sculptural art and architectural marvel. The Chandela dynasty built eighty-five temples here. Today only twenty remain as an archetype of Indian sculptural art.
Meenakshi Temple :
Tamil Nadu- Madurai:Thousands of temples with lofty towers dot the skyline of the southernmost state of Tamilnadu in India. These temples are torchbearers of the glorious heritage of the Tamil speaking region. Madurai is called the `Athens of the East' because of the way myth meets life here. Legends of warrior princesses, the gods falling in love and divine promises abound. Originally called Madhurapuram because honey (madhu) is said to have dripped off the locks of Shiva here, Madurai is now the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. is now among the most important pilgrimages for Hindus. History Revisited: The original temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya, but the entire credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the Nayaks. The Nayaks ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the Meenakshi - Sundareswarar Temple.
Thanjavur Temple :
The Granary of South India, Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and the Mahrattas in the ancient India. Thanjavur or Tanjore reached the acme of art & culture and development during the rule of the Chola king, Rajaraja Cholan. Even today, Thanjavur is remains to be the center of all the classical arts and music. This city has produced many classical musicians and bharathanatyam dancers and is also well known for its unique painting style called Tanjore Painting. Thanjavur boasts of numerous beautiful temples and the Big Temple of Thanjavur stands tall with its beaming tower. It's one of the architectural marvels of the world. Known for its exquisite handicrafts, bronzes and south Indian Musical Instruments, Thanjavur is also famous for its distinctive art style and world famous weaving silk sarees.
Jagannath Temple :
Jagannath Temple is one of the most renowned as well as the biggest temples of Orissa. Established in the 12th century, the temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Lord of the Universe. The credit for laying the foundation of the Jagannath temple of Puri goes to Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga Dev. The temple is located at a distance of 60 km from Bhubaneswar, on the coast of Bay of Bengal, and is greatly revered by the devotees following the Vaishnava traditions.
Ellora Cave Temples :
Located about 200 km northeast of Bombay in the Deccan plateau which separates north from south India is the famed cave temples of Ellora. The cave temples of Ellora were excavated from the solid rock and symbolizes the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Carved during the 350 AD to 700 AD period, these finest examples of cave - temple architecture houses detailed facades and exceptionally carved interiors.The caves opening to the west are equally associated to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Out of total 34 caves, 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are dedicated to Jainism. From south to north there are about 34 caves here, which corresponds more or less (Cave 21 with some significant exceptions) to the order in which they were constructed. The caves 1 to 12 in southernmost direction, are dedicated to Buddhism and were built in & around 7th & 8th centuries AD. The middle caves 13 to 29 are dedicated to Hindu deities, which dates back from 7th century to 9th century AD. The upper caves are related to Jainism (9th century).
Ranakpur Jain Temples :
Ranakpur:Ranakpur is located in the mountain ranges of Pali district, 23 kms. away from the Phalna railway station. Ranakpur in the state of Rajasthan, is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. Amidst the sandy land stands the Chaturmukh Jain Temple of Rishabhadev or The Ranakpur Jain Temple. Location: Ranakpur complex is one of the biggest and most important Jain temples in India, the extremely beautiful. Ranakpur is located about 56 miles north of Udaipur. It lies in a remote and quiet valley of the Aravalli Range 60 km from Udaipur. The past: Ranakpur is one of the five holiest places of the Jain community and spectacular in architecture. It is probably the most complex and extensive of Jain temples in India. The Ranakpur Jain Temple were built under the reign of monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century and is the largest Jain temple in India.
Sabarimala Temple :
Located at a height of almost 1000 meters above sea level on the Sahyadri ranges in Western Ghats, lies one of the most important shrines of India known by the name of Sabarimala. The Sabarimala temple of Kerala is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, who is said to have meditated here after killing the demon Mahishi. Some legends also say that Parashuram, who created Kerala, installed the idol of Lord Ayyappa and worshipped him. The Sabarimala pilgrimage attracts thousands of devotees from all over India during the peak season of November to January.
Dedicated to Lord shiva, the Somnath temple is one of the twelve jyotirlingas in
India. This legendary temple is said to be destroyed by invaders a number of times. The present Somnath temple is built in the Chalukyan style of architecture and attracts thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year.
Golden Temple :
Amritsar:Amritsar, literally means the Pool of Nectar. Amritsar derieves its name from Amrit Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the fabulous Golden Temple. The Sikh cult largely dominate the city. During centuries, this complex of Sikh culture grew from a sacred village pond into a spiritual-temporal center. The passionate pilgrims of the faith of Guru Nanak (15th century), who united Hindu and Muslim elements and initiated a reformation, flocked here generation after generation.
History unfolded: Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Golden temple also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib. Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore in December 1588. The construction work was directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he was assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha ji, Bhai Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji and many other devoted Sikhs.
Somnath Temple :
Gujarat:Gujarat, the 'Jewel of the West,' is a tourist destination that offers something for every visitor. A journey through Gujarat unfolds a religious, cultural and historical panorama. The state with the longest coast line (1290km) in the country is renowned for its beaches, holy temples, historic capitals replete with immense architectural assets, wildlife sanctuaries and hill resorts. However the famous Somnath temple here is an exemplar of architectural splendor. Location:Somnath at Somnath Patan, near Veraval in Gujarat is a pilgrimage center held in great reverence throughout India. Somnath is considered to be the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. Somnath is situated on the south coast of Saurashtra.
Konark Sun Temple :
Peek into the past:The most notable marvel of Orissan art is the stately Sun Temple of Konark, Built in AD 1250, during the reign of the Eastern Ganga King Narasimhadeva-I. The temple was built with the intent to enshrine the image of Sun ("Arka"), the patron deity of the place. The temple was built is an interesting fashion, in the shape of a colossal chariot, carrying the sun G
od, Surya, across the heavens. Crowning Glory of Orissa- Konark Sun Temple:The exquisite Sun temple is a living monument of Orissa's glorious past, frozen on the sands of time. The Sun Temple of Konark is regarded as the peak of art and architecture in the ancient Kalinga era. The entire temple complex in Konark was designed in the form of a huge chariot drawn by seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely carved wheels. The sanctum symbolises the majestic parade of the Sun God and marks the apex of the Orissan architectural style.
Rameshwaram Temple :
Location:
Rameshwaram
Chief Deity:
Lord Shiva
Significance:
One Of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India.
The Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the most sacred shrines of the Hindus in India. The Jyotirlingam at the Ramanathaswamy temple is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India. It is considered as holy as Banaras/Kashi. The Ramanathaswamy temple is situated on the Rameshwaram Island, off the Sethu coast of Tamil Nadu. According to legends, this temple is associated with Ramayana and the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.The Ramanathaswamy temple is greatly revered, as it is believed that Lord Rama himself built the temple. According to the legends, after killing Ravana Lord Rama returned to India and offered worship to Lord Shiva at Rameshwaram to expiate the sin of killing the demon king. Lord Rama directed Hanuman to bring the lingam from Kailasha within a certain time but Hanuman was delayed and Sita had to prepare one of sand, before the auspicious hour. It is said that this is the same Linga of Sri Ramanatha in the temple.
Khajuraho Temples :
The fascinating temples of Khajuraho, India's unique gift of love to the world, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, were built between 950 and 1050 A.D. Khajuraho derives its name from the Khajur tree (the date palm tree) which can be found in abundance in the area. Khajuraho is a well visited tourist center. This village houses several temples built in the Indo Aryan Nagara style of architecture. Temples of Khajuraho have captivate the attention of a visitor with their marvelous art. 'Stellar specimen of impeccable architectural skill' Location:The popular Khajuraho temple is situated in Madhya Pradesh. Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage. The Khajuraho temples are internationally famous for the erotic sculptures that adorn the walls. Journey through the past: Khajuraho, the ancient "Kharjjuravahaka", was the main seat of authority of the Chandela rulers who accentuated the place with sculptural art and architectural marvel. The Chandela dynasty built eighty-five temples here. Today only twenty remain as an archetype of Indian sculptural art.
Meenakshi Temple :
Tamil Nadu- Madurai:Thousands of temples with lofty towers dot the skyline of the southernmost state of Tamilnadu in India. These temples are torchbearers of the glorious heritage of the Tamil speaking region. Madurai is called the `Athens of the East' because of the way myth meets life here. Legends of warrior princesses, the gods falling in love and divine promises abound. Originally called Madhurapuram because honey (madhu) is said to have dripped off the locks of Shiva here, Madurai is now the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. is now among the most important pilgrimages for Hindus. History Revisited: The original temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya, but the entire credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the Nayaks. The Nayaks ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the Meenakshi - Sundareswarar Temple.
Thanjavur Temple :
The Granary of South India, Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and the Mahrattas in the ancient India. Thanjavur or Tanjore reached the acme of art & culture and development during the rule of the Chola king, Rajaraja Cholan. Even today, Thanjavur is remains to be the center of all the classical arts and music. This city has produced many classical musicians and bharathanatyam dancers and is also well known for its unique painting style called Tanjore Painting. Thanjavur boasts of numerous beautiful temples and the Big Temple of Thanjavur stands tall with its beaming tower. It's one of the architectural marvels of the world. Known for its exquisite handicrafts, bronzes and south Indian Musical Instruments, Thanjavur is also famous for its distinctive art style and world famous weaving silk sarees.
Jagannath Temple :
Jagannath Temple is one of the most renowned as well as the biggest temples of Orissa. Established in the 12th century, the temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Lord of the Universe. The credit for laying the foundation of the Jagannath temple of Puri goes to Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga Dev. The temple is located at a distance of 60 km from Bhubaneswar, on the coast of Bay of Bengal, and is greatly revered by the devotees following the Vaishnava traditions.
Ellora Cave Temples :
Located about 200 km northeast of Bombay in the Deccan plateau which separates north from south India is the famed cave temples of Ellora. The cave temples of Ellora were excavated from the solid rock and symbolizes the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Carved during the 350 AD to 700 AD period, these finest examples of cave - temple architecture houses detailed facades and exceptionally carved interiors.The caves opening to the west are equally associated to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Out of total 34 caves, 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are dedicated to Jainism. From south to north there are about 34 caves here, which corresponds more or less (Cave 21 with some significant exceptions) to the order in which they were constructed. The caves 1 to 12 in southernmost direction, are dedicated to Buddhism and were built in & around 7th & 8th centuries AD. The middle caves 13 to 29 are dedicated to Hindu deities, which dates back from 7th century to 9th century AD. The upper caves are related to Jainism (9th century).
Ranakpur Jain Temples :
Ranakpur:Ranakpur is located in the mountain ranges of Pali district, 23 kms. away from the Phalna railway station. Ranakpur in the state of Rajasthan, is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. Amidst the sandy land stands the Chaturmukh Jain Temple of Rishabhadev or The Ranakpur Jain Temple. Location: Ranakpur complex is one of the biggest and most important Jain temples in India, the extremely beautiful. Ranakpur is located about 56 miles north of Udaipur. It lies in a remote and quiet valley of the Aravalli Range 60 km from Udaipur. The past: Ranakpur is one of the five holiest places of the Jain community and spectacular in architecture. It is probably the most complex and extensive of Jain temples in India. The Ranakpur Jain Temple were built under the reign of monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century and is the largest Jain temple in India.
Sabarimala Temple :
Located at a height of almost 1000 meters above sea level on the Sahyadri ranges in Western Ghats, lies one of the most important shrines of India known by the name of Sabarimala. The Sabarimala temple of Kerala is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, who is said to have meditated here after killing the demon Mahishi. Some legends also say that Parashuram, who created Kerala, installed the idol of Lord Ayyappa and worshipped him. The Sabarimala pilgrimage attracts thousands of devotees from all over India during the peak season of November to January.
