Ancient Temples of India
India is the land of shrines. In this part of Asia, the beautiful temples of India offer an outlook of the past from the point of religion. In India, temples range from small structures next to a road to magnificent architecture with precious stones. Some are famous and prominent, while others are relatively less famous. If you decide to visit any of these beautiful temples of India, remember, regardless of size and condition, always remove your shoes before you arrive inside. It’s an indication of paying respect.
Ramanathaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu
This shrine is located on Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu and is a dedication to God Shiva. Also, Ramanathaswamy contains one of the 12 jyotirlingas, which are religious objects dedicated to Shiva. Also, Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the four destinations on the Char Dham pilgrimage site for Hindus.
It is believed that if a person travels to all four sites, any sin from his or her past life will be removed. The great monastery of Ramanathaswamy is enclosed by tall walls. Moreover, it has a 126-foot-tall eastern tower, a 78-foot-long western tower as well as 22 sacred wells. It is the longest one among all temples of India. The devotees are expected to bathe in the waters of these sacred wells before entering the inner temple.
Mahabodhi Temple Located in Bodhgaya
This complex is located in Bodhgaya, which is a very important and sacred place for Buddhists. It is said to have been built in the place where Siddhartha Gautama-Buddha attained enlightenment. The Buddhists also believe that this is where life on earth will end and a new earth will begin again. The Mahabodhi Temple was built during the late Gupta period, and it is one of the oldest brick structures in eastern India. Inside this shrine, there is a very large, golden Buddha seated covered in a bright orange rope. The Mahabodhi Complex is also hosting the famous Bodhi tree.
Ranakpur Jain in Ranakpur Village
Ranakpur Jain temple is one of the biggest and most important Jain temples of India. The temple is made of colored marble and has 29 halls and 80 domes. It also has about 1444 distinct stone marble columns. The appearance of these columns varies from gold to light blue, depending on the time of day. Ranakpur is a stunning temple covered in intricate engravings, with everything from flowers to geometric patterns. This temple is open to tourists only in the afternoon and is situated in a lush valley between Udaipur and Jodhpur in the Ranakpur village.
Akshardham Temple near New Delhi
Akshardham Temple, which was built in 2005 in the eastern suburbs of New Delhi, is relatively new compared to some of the other famous temples in India. Also, it is the largest Hindu temple in the world, built using ancient techniques. Therefore, while new, it is engraved with stunning and sophisticated sandstone ornaments. You can find this complex on the bank of the Yamuna River. This temple also offers boats, a music show, and an 11-foot-long statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Kailasa Temple in Ellora Caves
Kailasa Temple is located in Ellora Caves, and it is truly one of the most amazing human works of art. The temple was built by King Krishna I in 760 A.D. The temple is carved from a large solid rock by hand using brushes, hammers, and cutters. Although the temple’s entrance is simply designed, its interior is covered with intricate designs and carved solid stone pillars. The temple is one of 35 man-made caves in the area. Of those caves, there are 12 Buddhist temples, 17 Hindu temples, and 5 Jain temples.
Lotus Temple in New Delhi
Lotus Temple, which is located in New Delhi, is known as the Baháʼí House of Worship. The temple is open to the public since 1986. This place looks very unique since it resembles a lotus flower. Because the Bahá’í Faith believes in the “unity of God, the unity of religions and human solidarity,” the Lotus Temple welcomes worshipers of different faiths.
Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Madhya Pradesh
These temples are decorated with carvings. Khajuraho temples were made in Madhya Pradesh between 900 AD and 1130 AD by the Chandela dynasty. There were maybe 85 temples sometimes in the past; however, today, there are only 25 temples left. We do not really know why these Jain and Hindu temples have individual motifs, but they are very accurate and represent humans and sometimes animals in various types of hedonistic couplings.
Virupaksha Temple near Tungabadra River
Located in Hampi, near the Tungabadra River, it is the oldest among temples of India, dating back to the 7th century. Virupaksha Temple was later part of the royal city of Vijayanagar, which was the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. Although the temple is still intact, the rest of the city is now mostly in ruins. The Virupaksha Temple Complex contains three towers dedicated to the god Shiva.
Meenakshi Amman near Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu
Most of the major temples of India are relatively simple. However, Meenakshi Amman Temple is an explosion of colors. Situated on the banks of the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu, the temple has 14 towers, with 33,000 colorful statues dedicated to Parvati and her companions. There has been a temple on the site since the sixth century B.C., but Malik Kafur destroyed the main buildings as part of their mission to convert the area to a Muslim settlement in the year 1300. However, the temples were rebuilt in 1599 by the first king Vishwanatha Nayak. Although the statues were white at first, they have been colored throughout the following years.
Harmandir Sahib Situated in Amritsar
This sacred temple is situated in Amritsar, in the middle of a small lake, and it is the most sacred of the Sikh shrines and temples of India. The golden panels cover most of the temple’s exterior, and the dome is golden. The Golden Temple has an interesting story. The Buddha is said to have spent time in this place, and then, 2000 years later, Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion, lived here on the lake. Eventually, his followers built a temple there in his honor.
You can also check out states in India in order to get to know more about this amazing country and to see sights scattered across India.
