There are many temples in India. Each one has its own history, style, and importance. There are so many temples in India that it is hard to list them all.
A Hindu temple, also known as a mandir in the Indian subcontinent, is the house, the seat and the body of deity for Hindus. A temple is a building constructed to bring people and gods together through the use of symbolism to represent the concepts and beliefs of Hindus. The design and symbolism of a Hindu temple is based on the Vedic tradition, which uses circles and squares.
Here are ten famous temples in India that are famous for their culture, architecture, and religious significance.
Once you reach Katra, you can start your trek to the Vaishno Devi Temple. The trek is about 13.5 km long and takes around 4-6 hours to complete, depending on your pace. You can also hire ponies or palanquins if you are unable to trek.
2. Tirupati Balaji Temple, Andhra Pradesh:
Tirupati Balaji temple, also referred to as the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, is a renowned Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, situated in the hill town of Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, India. It stands out for its Dravidian architectural style and attracts millions of devotees annually who come to seek the divine blessings of Lord Venkateswara. Apart from the main deity, the temple complex houses several smaller shrines where various rituals and ceremonies are performed.
One of the highlights of the temple is the laddu prasadam, a sweet offering presented to the deity, which is distributed to the worshippers as a sacred blessing. The management and administration of the temple are overseen by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust.
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Depending on where you live, you can travel by car, train, or plane to go to the Tirupati Balaji temple. The following are a few typical routes to the temple:
- By Air: The nearest airport is Tirupati Airport (also known as Renigunta Airport), which is about 16 kilometers from the temple. Regular flights connect Tirupati with major cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore.
- By Train: Tirupati railway station is well-connected to major cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi. From the railway station, you can take a bus or a taxi to reach the temple.
- By Road: Tirupati is well-connected by road to major cities in South India. You can either drive to Tirupati or take a bus from nearby cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Vijayawada.
Once you get at Tirupati, you can go to the temple's location on the Tirumala hills via bus or cab. By vehicle is the most popular route from Tirupati to the shrine. From Tirupati, there are buses and taxis that go to Tirumala; the ride takes 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), Amritsar:
The phrase "Golden Temple" is most commonly used to describe the Harmandir Sahib, which translates to "Temple of God." This temple is also referred to as Darbar Sahib or Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is situated in Amritsar, in the state of Punjab, India. The Harmandir Sahib stands as the most sacred site in the Sikh religion. It is renowned for its beautiful golden architecture.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar, holds great significance for the Sikh community. It is not merely a key religious site, but also stands as a monument to human unity and equity. People of all castes, faiths and ethnicities can find spiritual comfort and fulfill their religious duties without obstruction. Additionally, the Golden Temple epitomizes the unique identity, splendor and legacy of Sikhism.
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Here's how you can reach the Golden Temple in Amritsar:
- By Air: Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, situated in Amritsar, boasts a good network of connectivity to primary cities in India along with a few global destinations. The Golden Temple is roughly 13 kilometers away from the airport and can be accessed by taxi or bus.
- By Train: The Amritsar Junction railway station serves as a key railway hub, linked to various cities across India. To reach the Golden Temple, which is approximately 3 kilometers away, you can hire a taxi, an auto-rickshaw, or a cycle rickshaw from the rail station.
- By Road: Amritsar has strong road connections to the main metropolises in Northern India. Travellers can drive to Amritsar or opt for a bus from neighboring cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, or Jalandhar. The Golden Temple is conveniently reachable by taxi, auto-rickshaw, or cycle rickshaw once in Amritsar.
4. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai:
Located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, the Meenakshi Amman Temple, also called the Meenakshi Temple, is a historically significant Hindu temple. One of the most well-known and significant temples in India is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati, and her consort Lord Sundareswarar, an avatar of Lord Shiva.
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The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai can be reached in the following ways:
- By Air: Major Indian cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore are easily accessible from Madurai Airport. The temple is roughly 10 kilometers from the airport; you can get there by bus or taxi.
- By Train: The Madurai Junction railway station is a significant rail hub in the area with excellent connections to Indian cities. The temple is roughly two kilometers from the railway station; to get there, take a taxi, an autorickshaw, or a cycle rickshaw.
- By Road: Major cities in Tamil Nadu and other regions of South India are easily reachable from Madurai via road. From neighboring cities, you can either drive or take a bus to Madurai. The Meenakshi Temple is conveniently located in Madurai and is easily accessible by taxi, autorickshaw, or cycle rickshaw.
The Meenakshi Temple is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site and is renowned for its magnificent architecture, particularly its imposing gopurams (gateway towers).
5. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi:
A well-known Hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, sometimes referred to as the Golden Temple. One of the holiest temples in Hinduism, it is situated in the holy city of Varanasi (Kashi), Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Depending on where you live, you can travel by car, train, or plane to go to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The following are a few typical routes to the temple:
- By Air: Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport has excellent connections to India's largest cities. The temple is roughly 25 kilometers from the airport; you can get there by bus or taxi.
- By Train: Major cities in Uttar Pradesh and other regions of India are easily accessible from Varanasi via road. From neighboring cities, you can either drive or take a bus to Varanasi. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is conveniently located in Varanasi and is easily accessible by taxi, autorickshaw, or cycle rickshaw.
- By Road: Tirupati is well-connected by road to major cities in South India. You can either drive to Tirupati or take a bus from nearby cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Vijayawada.
Notable for its breathtaking architecture and religious significance is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. A trip to the temple and a dip in the holy Ganges River are thought to be able to wash away sins and grant moksha, or liberation.
6. Jagannath Temple, Puri:
Jagannath Temple is a well-known Hindu temple located in Puri in the state of Odisha in India. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Jagannath. This temple is considered to be one of the main pilgrimage sites of Hindus to Char Dham. Jagannath temple in Puri is famous for its Chariot festival. The Chariot festival is celebrated every year. During the Chariot festival, devotees in Puri ride huge chariots to the Jagannath temple. On the chariot, idols of lord Jagannath and his brothers and sisters are carried through the streets. One of these idols is called 'Balabhadra', and the other 'Subhadra'.
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To reach the Jagannath Temple in Puri, you can consider the following modes of transportation:
- By Air: The nearest airport to Puri is the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, which is about 60 kilometers away. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Puri.
- By Train: Puri is well-connected by rail to major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai. The Puri Railway Station is located near the city center, and from there, you can take a taxi, auto-rickshaw, or cycle rickshaw to reach the temple.
- By Road: Puri is well-connected by road to major cities in Odisha and neighboring states. You can reach Puri by bus or taxi from cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Kolkata. The city is also accessible by car, and there are several car rental services available.
Once you reach Puri, you can easily reach the Jagannath Temple by walking or taking a cycle rickshaw from the city center.
7. Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand:
Kedarnath temple is a well-known Hindu temple that worships Lord Shiva. It is located in Garhwal in the Himalayan region of Garhwal, near Mandakini in the state of Uttarakhand in India. The temple is considered one of the most important Char Dham sites for Hindus. It is considered to be the holiest Shiva temple in the world. This temple is also considered to be the 12th jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath is located at 3,583 m or 11,755 feet above sea level. It is surrounded by the most beautiful mountain scenery.
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To reach the Kedarnath Temple, you can consider the following options:
- By Air: The nearest airport to Kedarnath is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is about 238 kilometers away. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Sonprayag or Gaurikund, from where you can trek or take a helicopter to Kedarnath.
- By Train: The nearest railway station to Kedarnath is the Rishikesh Railway Station, which is about 216 kilometers away. From Rishikesh, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Sonprayag or Gaurikund, from where you can trek or take a helicopter to Kedarnath.
- By Road: Kedarnath is well-connected by road to major cities like Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, and Delhi. You can reach Sonprayag or Gaurikund by road and then trek or take a helicopter to Kedarnath.
Please note that the trek to Kedarnath from Sonprayag or Gaurikund is a challenging one and requires a certain level of physical fitness. Helicopter services are also available from Phata, Guptkashi, and other nearby places for those who prefer not to trek.
8. Somnath Temple, Gujarat:
Somnath Temple is a 12th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located in Patan Prabhas near Veraval in the state of Gujarat, India. The temple is considered to be one of the 12 holy shrines of Lord Shiva.
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To reach the Somnath Temple, you can consider the following options:
- By Air: The nearest airport to Somnath is the Diu Airport, which is about 65 kilometers away. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Somnath.
- By Train: The nearest railway station to Somnath is the Veraval Railway Station, which is about 7 kilometers away. From the railway station, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Somnath.
- By Road: Somnath is well-connected by road to major cities like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Junagadh. You can reach Somnath by bus or taxi from these cities.
Once you reach Somnath, the temple is easily accessible by walking or taking a short rickshaw ride from the city center. The temple is located close to the Arabian Sea and offers stunning views of the coastline.
9. Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram:
Ramanathaswamy temple is a well-known Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the town of Rameswaram in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingaswamy temples, which are considered to be the most holy places of Lord Shiva. The temple is also well-known in the Hindu mythology and is related to the Ramayana epic.
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To reach the Ramanathaswamy Temple, you can consider the following options:
- By Air: The nearest airport to Rameswaram is the Madurai Airport, which is about 174 kilometers away. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Rameswaram.
- By Train: Rameswaram is well-connected by rail to major cities like Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Trichy. The Rameswaram Railway Station is located in the town center, and the temple is easily accessible from there by walking or taking a short rickshaw ride.
- By Road: 3. Rameswaram is well-connected by road to major cities in Tamil Nadu and neighboring states. You can reach Rameswaram by bus or taxi from cities like Madurai, Chennai, and Coimbatore.
Once you get to the outskirts of the town, you will reach the Ramanatha Swamy Temple, which is situated in the center of the town. The temple can be reached by walking or by taking a short ride in a rickshaw from the railway or bus station. Ramanatha Swamy Temple is renowned for its grandeur and is considered one of the most important places for Hindus to visit.
10. Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka:
Dwarkadhish temple, also called the Jagat mandir, is the name given to the Hindu deity of Lord Krishna. The deity is worshiped here in the form of Lord Krishna in the form of his avatar, which translates to ‘King of the Dwarka’. The temple is situated at Dwarka in Gujarat, India. The temple is considered to be one of the pilgrimage sites of Char Dham for Hindus.
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To reach the Dwarkadhish Temple, you can consider the following options:
- By Air: The nearest airport to Dwarka is the Jamnagar Airport, which is about 137 kilometers away. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Dwarka.
- By Train: Dwarka is well-connected by rail to major cities like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Porbandar. The Dwarka Railway Station is located near the temple, and you can easily reach the temple by walking or taking a short rickshaw ride.
- By Road: 3. Dwarka is well-connected by road to major cities in Gujarat and neighboring states. You can reach Dwarka by bus or taxi from cities like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Jamnagar.
Once you get to Dwarka, you will reach Dwarkadhish temple. This temple is situated in the heart of Dwarka and can be reached by walking or by taking a rickshaw from the Dwarka railway station or the Dwarka bus stand. This temple is renowned for its stunning architecture and is one of the most important places for Lord Krishna devotees to visit.
These are just a few among many magnificent temples in India, each with its own cultural, historical, and architectural significance.We are not encouraging or discouraging about any sanctum , this attempt is only for information and knowledge content.
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