famous Temples in India
which is a proof of the faith people have in their almighty to pour their blessings and mercy on them.Badrinath Temple
Set on the banks of the Alaknanda River, the statue of Lord Badrinath is located in the Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand. This temple is one of the 108 exclusive temples that are dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This holy shrine of Lord Vishnu is the smallest of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites in the Hindu religion. The temple is an elaborate example of the Tamil saints who existed between the 6th to the 9th century. Tourists and visitors can visit this ancient abode of Lord Vishnu only in the months between April and November as the weather is too harsh for anyone who wishes to undertake a pilgrimage journey to this temple. Two of the most popular festivals celebrated in the Badrinath Temple are:
• Badri Kedar Festival is held every year in the month of June and is extended up to 8 days. This is celebrated in both the temples of Badrinath and Kedarnath.
• Mata Murti Ka Mela which takes place in the month of September each year. Here the mother of Lord Badrinath is worshiped.
Kedarnath Temple
One of the most sacred temples in the world which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated in the Himalayan range of Garhwal area in the state of Uttarakhand. The temple was built by the Pandavas as a penance for the sins they committed in their battle with Kauravas. Adi Sankaracharya restored the temple in the 8th century. One needs to cover a pilgrim walk of around 14 kilometers over a hilly surface to reach the temple. There are pony or manchan rides available for tourists and guests to cover this distance. It is also named as one of the Chota Char Dhams of Uttarakhand. Standing tall at a height of 3,583 meters and surrounded by snow-covered peaks and glaciers, the temple remains closed in the winters due to extreme cold conditions. In the extreme winter, the idol of Lord Shiva is shifted to Ukhimath, where his followers worship him in these 5-6 months.
Brihadeeswara Temple
Located in the Thanjavur city of Tamil Nadu, this mesmerizing beauty was built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century. Popularly also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil and RajaRajeswaram, the Brihadeeswara Temple is the largest temple in India and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Chola regime was famous for their marvelous architectural work. Their splendid structures reflect opulence and artistic proficiency. This temple is one of the most popular temples of South India and is completely made of granite stone on the principles of Vaastu Shastra and Agamas. Named in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, this marvelous architecture does not have a shadow at noon. In the year 2010, the millenary celebrations of its construction were celebrated with a grand cultural event by many enthusiastic disciples.
Vaishno Devi Mandir
Located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir near the Katra town. This temple is located at an altitude of 5200 feet in the Trikuta Mountain. The holy cave which has the idol of Maa Vaishno Devi is located around 12 kilometers from Katra, the base camp. Devotees and disciples trek this distance as a token of their reverence to Maa Vaishno Devi. Three rock heads known as the Pindies represent Maa Vaishno Devi. This is definitely one of the most popular Hindu temples in India. Open all year around, there are millions of people including international tourists who visit this temple to take the blessings of Maa Vaishno Devi. It is believed that Maa Vaishno Devi decides who visits this temple. And only those shortlisted devotees turn up to her doorsteps.
The Konark Sun Temple
Located in the small town of Konark in the Puri district of Odisha. Built in the 13th century by King Narasimbhadeva, this temple is dedicated to Lord Sun. The temple resembles the shape of a chariot that has twelve wheels and is dragged by seven horses. Like all other temples, this temple also has a story. God Krishna cursed one of his sons, Samba with leprosy. As a penance, Samba worshiped Lord Sun for a period of 12 years. As a result of his true dedication and sincerity, Lord Sun healed him and as a token of his gratitude, Samba made this temple.
Somnath Temple
Located in Prabhas Kshetra in Saurashtra. Definitely the oldest pilgrimage centers in India by a fair margin. This is evident by its presence and mention in many ancient spiritual books like Shreemad Bhagvat, Shandpuram, and Shivpuram. Somnath means protector of the moon God, and Som dedicated this temple in the honor of Lord Shiva as he was healed by his grace when his father-in-law had cursed him. This region is also known as the place where Lord Krishna had left his mortal body. This temple is also famous for the most revered jyotirlings among the 12 existing ones in India. Due to its proximity to the Arabian Sea shore, there is no land area in between the South Pole and the temple. This temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. This temple is also home to the Somnath museum, beach, Junagadh gate, sound and light show set for the pilgrims.
Sanchi Stupa
The village named Sanchi is situated in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh. It is home to several Buddhist structures that were built in between the 3rd century BC to 12th century AD. One of the most significant structures is the Sanchi Stupa. It is also known as the Great Stupa. It is in the shape of a dome which consists of relics of Buddha. A holy place for the Buddhists where the replicas of Buddha are preserved. This temple has been named in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This temple was built by the great emperor Ashoka. It is standing 16 meters high and 37 meters in diameter. The Stupa is surrounded by four sophisticated gateways named as Toranas. Each gateway symbolizes the four emotions of love, peace, trust and courage.
Ramanathaswamy (Rameshwaram) Temple
This temple is one of the Char Dhams of the Hindus. A pilgrimage place that is located in Rameshwaram that is a small island town in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is believed that Lord Rama accompanied by his wife Sita landed on the shores of this small island town after defeating the demon Ravana. Ravana was a Brahmin, and Rama wanted to pray to Lord Shiva as a penance for killing a Brahmin. Hanuman was sent to Kailash to bring an idol of Lord Shiva which is known as Vishwalingam and Sita made a small lingam called Ramalingam. Even today people follow the instructions told by Lord Rama to worship the Vishwalingam before the Ramalingam.
Siddhivinayak Temple
Built as early as the 18th century, the Siddhivinayak Temple is a popular temple which is visited by millions of devotees before commencing any new assignment or work. Located in Prabha Devi in the city of Mumbai, Siddhivinayak is also known as Vighnaharta which means the terminator of impediments. One of the eight impressions of Lord Ganapati on the wooden doors of the shrine. The other impressions are spread over seven temples located in the state of Maharashtra. The temple is open all year, but you will find Tuesday being crowded. Millions of people including international tourists come to visit this place praying for good luck.
The Golden Temple
Also known as the Darbar Sahib or Sri Harmandir Sahib. This is the most pious pilgrimage centers for the Sikhs. Built on the values of universal equality and brotherhood, there are four doors in the temple that are opening in four prominent directions. One of the famous temples in India, people of all faiths visit this temple to seek inner peace. This marvelous piece of architecture is built at a level that is lower than its immediate surroundings as a symbol of humility. The holy scripture of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib was placed in this temple after its compilation and the first head priest also known as Granthi was Baba Buddha Ji.
