Existence and emergence of India on the world’s landscape is characterized by the religious, spiritual and philosophical endeavors to explore the truth regarding universe, various natural forces afoot, their impacts on the life and, finally, coming out with scientific practices to ensure living in sync with the nature.  Temples in India have been a facilitating instrument to the cause. India is one of the most religious countries in the world with lots of religions, cultures, and traditions, prevailing here. India has different places known for different religions. Kashi, Haridwar, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Ujjain, Deoghar, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Ayodhya, are some of the most religious cities of the country. Each of these cities and a lot more other cities are known for a lot of gorgeous temples that are famous amongst the devotees across the world. The different temples of the country are known for their lavish architecture, the belief that people have in the Gods, and the positive vibe of those temples. Here is a list of top 50 temples in India from different states.

Kedarnath Temple, Kedarnath, Uttarakhand: Kedarnath Temple is located in the upper reaches of Himalaya in Uttarakhand. It is one of the ‘dhams’ in Uttarakhand Chardham Tour. Starting with one of the epic chair Shaam temples of India, the Kedarnath Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva which is believed to be his seat. The temple is one of those 12 temples where one of the 12 Jyotirlingam are placed. Lord Shiva is believed to be the God of the protector and the destroyer. Kedarnath Temple is up above on the snow capped mountain peaks that makes for the most splendid sights ever. It is a very old temple that has been reconstructed over the years. The temple isn’t open all the time because of heavy snowfall. The devotees come in huge numbers when the gates of the temple are open. Kedarnath tour packages are highly sought-after Uttarakhand tour packages.

Badrinath Temple, Badrinath, Uttarakhand: Badrinath Temple is an essential destination of Chhota Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand and Chardham Yatra India. Another one of the top temples of the epic chair Shaam Yatra of Hindus is the Badrinath Temple. The Badrinath Temple is also called as the Badrinarayan Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The duel form of Lord Vishnu, Nar and Narayan is the one on whom the temple is dedicated. The main idol in the temple is of Lord Vishnu who is sitting in the meditating posture and is flanked by Nar and Narayan. For the Vaishnavaits, Badrinath remains as the major pilgrim spot along with all the Hindus. The temple was re-established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century. Badrinath tour packages are primarily pilgrimage tour packages in India.

Gangotri Temple, Gangotri, Uttarakhand: The holiest river of India is the holy river Ganges. The origin of Ganga is from the Himalayan ranges. The birth place of Ganga is in the foothills of the Himalayas or it flows from the mountains of the Himalayan peaks. And the temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga is the Gangotri Temple in Gangotri. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees throughout the year. The beauty of the temple is totally scintillating with the backdrop of the mountains from all the sides. The sight is too breathtaking to not spend enough time here. Gangotri tour packages, part of Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra, are cherished by the Hindu pilgrims, adventurists and trekking enthusiasts.

Yamunotri Temple, Yamunotri, Uttarakhand: Just opposite to the Gangotri Temple is the Yamunotri Temple. The holy river Yamuna’s temple is the Yamunotri temple in Yamunotri. The main source of the river Yamunotri is a frozen lake and a glacier, Champasar. The frozen lake is located at an altitude of 4421 meter which is totally inaccessible. The temple has a shrine dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna and it is placed at the foothills of the Himalayas because of the high inaccessible altitude. The shrine of the main deity is made out of black marble. There isn’t any chance you won’t feel blissful here with all the positive energies around.

Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar, Uttarakhand: Haridwar is one of the most religious cities of the country that attracts major pilgrim crowd throughout the year. The city is known to host the famous Kumbh Mela after every 12 years. The city is a gateway to the Gods and also is one of the oldest living cities of the country. The details of this place are also mentioned in the Hindu scripture. There are several bathing ghats in the city that are religious. Har ki Pauri is one of the many religious ghats of the city that was built by King Vikramaditya. One of the glorious Saptpuris of ancient India, Haridwar is a historical and religious city. Haridwar tour packages are highly popular among the people interested in heritage, culture and religious practices.

Shri Mata Mansa Devi Mandir, Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh: Haridwar is known for the Mata Mansa Devi Mandir that is dedicated to the Mansa Devi. Right on the Shivalik hills at the top of the Bilwa Parvat is the place where the Mansa Devi Temple is located. Within Haridwar there are 5 tirthas and one of them is the Bilwa Tirtha or this temple. Mata Mansa is a Goddess that is related to a form of Shakti. She is believed to have emerged from the mind of Lord Shiva. She is also regarded as the sister of Naga Vasuki. She is also believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva in the human incarnate form.

Naina Devi Temple, Nainital, Uttarakhand: A beautiful temple known as the Naina Devi temple is in the beautiful city of Nainital. In fact, the city of Nainital is named after the Naina Devi goddess. There are 52 Shakti peeths in the country altogether and this place is one of those. Goddess Sati’s body was cut by Lord Vishnu in 51 parts by his Sudarshana Chakra. Lord Shiva carried her body in grief and roamed the entire universe. In the process, those body parts of Goddess Sati fell on the Earth that became the sacred sites. The places where her eyes fell are now the site of the Naina Devi temple. The temple is the Siddha Peeth too. Nainital tour packages are very popular among the honeymooners. Nainital finds place in many honeymoon tour packages and hill station tour packages.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: Rishikesh is one of the top religious places of the country with many religious spots round the area. The Neelkanth Mahadev temple is located at the outskirts of Rishikesh. This is located at the hill at a height of 1675 meters. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is a major story attached to the name of this temple. As per the legends, during the Samudra Manthan venom that oozed out was gulped in by Lord Shiva at this place. This story gives the name to this temple. This is one of the very famous Shiva temples in the India. Rishikesh tour packages are highly opted by the travelers interested in Yoga, meditation, rafting Ayurveda.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: The most famous temple of the oldest city of the world is Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is the most religious city of the country being the home to this one of the 12 Jyotirlingams. The temple is located right at the banks of river Ganges. The main deity whose shrine is placed inside the temple is of one form of Shiva who is Vishwanath or Vishweshwara. There is a very strong belief about this temple that a paid visit to this shrine can liberate the humans the bondage of Moh-Maya and all the earthly entanglements. The temple always remains extremely crowded by the devotees from round the globe. Kashi Vishwanath is an essential tourist attraction in Varanasi tour packages.

Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab: The Golden Temple or the temple of gold is the heart of Punjab. Amritsar is known for this temple which is famous worldwide. The golden temple is also called as the Harmandir Sahib. This is one of the most famous and beautiful gurdwaras of the country. Not only the Sikhs but people of all castes visit the temple to view the amazing scene in and out. Gurudwara is just not a religious place of worship but a place where brotherhood and equality is taught. The temple scene is extremely soulful. The langar distribute ‘prasad’ is not to be missed. The entire temple is made of gold and its reflection in the lake in front is supremely mesmerizing.

Amarnath Temple, Pahalgam, Kashmir: Another one of the famous temples of India dedicated to Lord Shiva is Amarnath Temple that is located in the heaven of Earth and that is Kashmir. This one is a cave temple located at an altitude of 3888 meters. The cave temple has a lingam again that is in form of ice stalagmite. The entire cave temple or the whole area rather is covered with snow throughout the year. The temple route is not opened for most parts of the year except during the summers for a very short period. This is the time when the devotees are allowed to visit this temple. This fascinating temple is visited by millions of devotees every year.

Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu: One of the most famous temples in India is the Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu near Katra that is dedicated to Vaishno Devi or Mata Rani. Mata Rani or Vaishnavi is a manifestation of Mother Goddess. The temple is situated at the hill at an altitude of 5300 metres. It is right on the hills and the devotees have to walk their way in the hill to reach the temple. The temple sees 8 millions devotees every year and people of all castes visit this temple. In fact, the shrine of Mata Rani in Vaishno Devi is the second most visited shrine in India after the Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple in Andhra Pradesh.

Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar, Kashmir: The Shankaracharya Temple is one of the oldest living temples in India that dates back to the 200 B.C. Or in the other words it could be said that the temple dates back to the 9th century and its present form is an existence from that time period itself. The temple is a tall one at a height of 1000 metres that overlooks the city of Srinagar entirely. The Shankaracharya temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and also Adi Shankaracharya is known to have visit this temple. Since his visit, the temple is associated with him too. Srinagar tour packages are liked by hill station goers and honeymooners.

Birla Mandir, New Delhi: The very famous Birla Temple of Delhi is also known as the Laxmi Narayan temple. The temple is dedicated to Laxmi Narayan. It is a beautiful red and gold temple built in the Nagara style that is major attraction spot for the tourists, pilgrims, and the regular devotees on a regular basis. The entire temple has rich carvings that depict the story and the tales of the Hindu mythology. The temple was built in 1930s and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi himself. The most crowds in this temple is seen during the festivals of Janmashtami and Diwali.

Akshardham Temple, New Delhi: Akshardham Temple in Delhi is a major tourist attraction. It is a huge temple spread across in a huge area of the land. It is one of the newest temples in the country spread in an area of hundred acres. The temple was inaugurated in 2005. This isn’t just one temple but there are different structures in the temple complex. It is designed in a way to show the history, culture, and the tradition of the Hindu culture. The ancient architecture and the spirituality is well preserved in this temple. The unique part about this temple is that it doesn’t have one particular architectural style but some elements are taken from across India in its creation.

Lotus Temple, New Delhi: One of the most unique temples of New Delhi that has been the major tourist attraction since forever now is the Lotus Temple. Lotus Temple as the name says is built in the shape of a Lotus flower. This temple is basically a Bahai house of worship. Bahai is a world religion that preaches unity and let people stay under one common faith. It was built and completed in 1986. There are 9 doors inside the temple with the major central hall having the pictures, idols, and statues. The temple is in an area of 26 acre having ponds, gardens, and picturesque scenes all over.

ISKCON Temple, New Delhi: The other name for the ISKCON Temple is Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir. This one is a Vaishnava temple that is dedicated to Radharani and Lord Krishna. It is located at the Hare Krishna hills in Delhi. The ISKCON temple Delhi is one of the largest temple complexes in India. The temple complex has rooms for the priests, service renders, and others. Each day, six Aarti and six ‘bhogas’ are offered to the deities in the temple with a strict rule to follow them. The temple complex is beautiful with mesmerizing idols of the Gods. Delhi tour packages are part of a large number India tour packages.

Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar is masterpiece of temple architecture. Talking about the master pieces of the Indian temple, this temple ranks way high there. This temple defines grace, beauty, and perfection for its exquisite architecture. The temple is also called as the love temple because of the cravings that are displayed inside the temple. The walls of the temple are adorned with erotic wall carvings throughout. The unique thing about this temple is the there is no presiding deity inside it so it cannot be actually said to which God this belongs to. Bhubaneswar tour packages include Raja Rani Temple in the city’s sightseeing.

Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha: The holy town of Puri is famous for the Jagannath Temple. The town in fact is the abode of Lord Jagannath who is said to be the Lord of the Universe. The Jagannath Temple sees tourists and the devotees throughout the year not only from Orissa but from the whole world. The idol in the temple is of Lord Jagannath. The most auspicious time to be here to witness the real aura of this temple is during the Jagannath Rath Yatra that happens once a year. This temple is one of a kind because of its architecture. The foremost attraction and objective of visiting Puri is Jagannath Temple; naturally, Puri tour packages essentially incorporate Jagannath Temple in Puri sightseeing.

Konark Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha: Odisha is home to one of the most architecturally stunning temples in the country that is the Konark temple. It is a dreamy temple carved out of stone. The temple was constructed in the 13th century. Since the temple is bit old it is somehow ruined but the ruins too looks extremely beautiful from all the angles. The temple is located in the city of Konark and it remains the part of the Puri tourism for the day too. As the name says sun temple, the temple is dedicated to the Sun God. The shape of the temple is that of a chariot having 12 pairs of wheels that are drawn by the 7 horses. The sight of the temple is stunning to the core. Odisha tour packages remain incomplete without visiting Konark Sun Temple.

Mukhteshvar Temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha: One of the best temples of Orissa is in Bhubaneswar and that is Mukteshvar Temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The highlight of this temple is the splendid architecture. The carvings and the sculptures are exquisite and charming to look at. The temple is a part of the studies of the Hindu temples development of the country. The architecture and the designs of the temple is something purely unique. The style of architecture is the culmination of the artistic initiatives of the ancient era along with the stylistic developments of the Orissa state.

Jwalamukhi Temple, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh: Jwalamukhi goddess is the Goddess of flaming mouth. Her very famous temple is in the valley of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. There is a copper pipe inside the temple through which natural gas comes out and the priests light this every day. This natural gas that comes out is taken as a manifestation of the Goddess Jwalamukhi. There is no deity inside the temple and only the copper pipe and the natural gas emitting through it is prayed. It is actually the flames that are worshipped as Goddess Jwalamukhi. These flames come out from the crevices of the rock. This temple too is one of the 52 Shakti Peeths. Himachal Pradesh tour packages can be customized to include Jwalamukhi Temple in the itinerary.

Khajuraho Temples, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh: You might know about the Seven Wonders of the World, but do you about all the seven wonders of India. The Khajuraho Temples of Madhya Pradesh is one of the seven wonders of India. The specimen architecture of the temple is a masterpiece in itself. It is like a dream that is crafted from a stone. The temple is a standing symbol of epitome and grace. The exterior walls of the temples are filled with the erotic sculptures and the carvings that are unmatchable in terms of craftsmanship. The largest group of the Jain and the Hindu temples are in Khajuraho temple complex. Khajuraho tour packages are quite popular among the foreign travelers. These temples presently garner interest of the visitors more for sculpture, architecture and heritage than religious purposes.

Sanchi Stupa, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh: One of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the country is in Sanchi. The Sanchi Stupa also called as the great stupa of the country is built of the oldest stone structure in India. Its existence dates back to the 3rd century. The stupa is the simple hemispherical brick structure and that is built over the relics of Buddha. Also, a great fact about this is that it was commissioned by Ashoka, the Great. It was in the 1st century BC, 4 ornamental gateways along with a balustrade encircling the hemispherical structure was added. All these monuments are important Buddhist pilgrimages of India.

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal: Dakshineshwar Kali Temple of Kolkata is one of the topmost favourite spots of the devotees in the city. This temple is situated in the banks of river Hooghly. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhavtarini who is an aspect of Goddess Kali. The temple is again an old one that was built in 1855. The temple got its first head priest in 1856 and he was Ramkrishna Paramhans. The temple became popular because of his association with it. The temple complex is a huge one that houses 12 temples for Lord Shiva too. Not only the devotees from the city but all over the world visit the temple regularly. Customize Kolkata tour packages to include Dakshineshwar Kali Temple in the sightseeing.

Kalighat Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal: The most famous temple of West Bengal is in Kolkata and that is the Kalighat Temple. The beautiful temple is located on the banks of river Hooghly. The Kalighat temple is dedicated to the Goddess Kali who is one of the most important Hindu and precisely Bengali Goddesses. Again, this is one of the 52 Shakti Peeths. Shakti piths are the spots where the different body parts of Goddess Sati has fallen while Lord Shiva was carrying her taking a round of the Universe. Kalighat is the sight where the toes of Goddess Sati have fallen. The temple is 200 years old and is always flocked by the devotees.

Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar, Gujarat: The most famous and the largest temple of Gujarat is the Akshardham Temple. The temple because of its architecture is called as the masterpiece of the modern Indian temples. The temple complex is a 10 storey high building and it is an architectural marvel that is beautifully constructed with the perfect craftsmanship. The filigree works, sculptures, and the intricate carvings are the best over here. Lord Swaminarayan is the presiding deity of the temple just like the Delhi Akshardham temple. The temple aims to celebrate the culture of the country, its religions, its glorious past, and the spirituality.

Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka, Gujarat: Gujarat is called as the city of temples as the state has so many temples. One of the most visited temples of the city is the Dwarkadhish temple. Dwarkadhish means the King of Dwarka. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna who is the main deity of the temple. In fact, Dwarka was the place that was considered as the terrestrial kingdom of Krishna. Dwarkadhish Temple is important because it is one of the chair Dham spots of epic religious trip of India. It is also the 108th Divya Desam of Lord Vishnu. The architecture of the temple is a different one having the influences of Chalukyan. It has 60 pillars that are carved with exquisite sculptures.

Somnath Temple, Junagad, Gujarat: Another one of the important temples of Gujarat is the Somnath temple. In fact, this temple is one of the most important Indian temples because it is one of the 12 jyotirlingas. The temple has one of the shrines of the Lord Shiva out of the 12 jyotirlingas. Along with this importance, the sight of the temple is also important because the soil of the place is the holy soil where Lord Krishna took his last journey to Neejdham. The temple has been destroyed enough times as it is quite ancient but it was finally reconstructed after 1947. The architectural style of the temple is the Chalukyan style.

Kamakhya Temple, Assam: Guwahati is known for this temple. The temple is located on the Nilachal hills in the Guwahati and is a major attraction of Assam. The temple is one of the ancient Shakti Peeths. The inside and the inner sanctorum of the temple is called as the garbha griha. It has a yoni shaped stone filled with water. The stone is in a cave below the ground level. The tantric worshippers visit the temple in large numbers and along with them other devotees visit the temple too. The temple receives the devotees for the entire year. This temple has destroyed twice and finally it was reconstructed in 1565.

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Shirdi, Maharashtra: One of the most famous and faithful temples of the country is the temple of Shirdi Sai Baba that is in Shirdi. Shirdi was a small village but it has now developed enough because of the popularity of the temple and the eve growing faith of Sai Baba in people’s heart. It is believed that Sai Baba has stayed in Shirdi during his lifetime. The masjid where he stayed is now the temple that is visited by so many devotees on a regular basis. The place is an important pilgrimage centre where the teachings and life of Shirdi Sai Baba prevails. The vibe of the place is totally divine.

Shani Shingnapur, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra: The most important temple dedicated to Lord Shanidev in India is the Shani Shingnapur Temple. The presiding deity of the temple is of Lord Shanidev or Sri Shanishwar. Lord Shanidev is the personification of the planet Saturn. Hindus have utmost faith and devotion towards Lord Shanidev. The shrine of the God is a black rock that is five and a half feet tall. It is in an open air platform and this rock symbolizes Shani. The temple is always filled with the devotees throughout the year on all days. Amavasya is the most auspicious day to pray to Shani dev and on this day, the temple is entirely filled. Shani Shingnapur Temple is located in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.

Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Mumbai, Maharashtra: If you have to visit any one temple in Mumbai then make sure you visit the Siddhi Vinayak Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and it is believed that the Lord fulfils everyone’s wish. It was built in 1801. The main deity of the God is sculpted from black single stone which is 2.5 feet tall. For the Mumbaikars, the temple is a very special one and the long queue in front of the temple shows the devotion and faith that people have in this temple and the presiding God. This one is also the richest temple in Mumbai. Its glory and aura during the Ganpati festival is next level. A tourist may ask for customization of Mumbai tour packages to incorporate Siddhi Vinayak Temple in the sightseeing attractions.

Bhimashankar Temple, Maharashtra: Bhimashankar Temple is one of the most important temples of Maharashtra that is in Khed near Pune. The temple also houses one of the 12 jyotirlingams of the country of Lord Shiva. The location of the temple is beautiful with the sight of the Shayadri mountains on one side. The source of river Bhima is Bhimashankar and it merges with the Krishna river and the Raichur. The temple is built in the classic Nagara style by the Vishwakarma sculptors. The sight of the Shayadris and the dense forests makes for a beautiful setting.

Dilwara Temples, Mount Abu, Rajasthan: The temples of Rajasthan are architectural marvels by all means. The Dilwara temple is one of the most beautiful Jain temples in the world. The gorgeous temple has a beautiful surrounding of lush green scenery. Dilwara Jain Temples in Mount Abu were built around the 11th and the 12the century. There are marble stone carvings entirely inside the temples. Its pillars and walls are adorned with the beautiful marble designs and carvings. The temple complex has 5 temples and each one of them is devoted to each of the 5 Jain Tirthankars. The architectural style of the temple shows the craftsmanship and the talent of the earlier men. Mount Abu tour packages are popular among Jain pilgrims and hill station visitors.

Jain Jemple, Ranakpur, Rajasthan: One of the famous Jain temples in the country is in Ranakpur in Rajasthan. This temple is dedicated to Adinatha. The temple is a light coloured marble marvel. The temple is a beautiful architectural piece that looks exceedingly pretty by all means. The temple has turrets, domes, cupolas, and shikhara. There are 1444 exquisitely carved pillars in the temple house. But, this isn’t the only unique thing. The unique part is that each of these pillars is different from each other. Not any of the pillars are same or look similar at all. This is the great craftsmanship of the temple. Many Rajasthan tour packages, especially those which include Jodhpur & Udaipur in itinerary, pass through Ranakpur.

 Nathdwara Temple, Nathdwara, Rajasthan: The Nathdwara Temple is also called as the Shrinath Ji temple. The temple is dedicated to the 7 year old Krishna ji who is also known as Shrinath ji. The temple was built in 1672. The idol of Shrinath Ji was manifested in Vraj in the Govardhan hill. The temple was then brought by Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji. He was the one who has established the four piths of Sanatan Vaishnav Dharma – Pushti Marg. The temple is known as the Nandalaya or the Nanda Bhawan because of its home in Gokul and Nand. The idol of the main deity is self carved out from the monolithic black marble that was a stone of the Govardhan hill.

 Tirupati Temple, Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh: The Tirupati Temple, located in Chittor district of Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most famous and important temples in India and also in the world. The temple in the South is dedicated to the Lord Sri Venkateshwara. It is located at the top of the Tirumala hill in Tirupati. Basically, Lord Sri Venkateshwara is a form of Lord Vishnu and they are called by other names as Lord Balaji, Srinivasa, and even Govinda. This temple is in fact the second richest pilgrimage centre with assets of more than Rs 50,000 crores. This temple has a record of most visited devotees on a regular basis. A lot of precious stones are used to adorn the idol of Sri Venkateshwara, the main deity of the temple.

 Vitthala Temple, Hampi, Karnataka: There are enough ancient buildings in Hampi but the beauty and the skilled work done to create the Vitthala temple of Hampi is beyond comparison. The architectural style followed to create this beautiful temple is the Vijaynagar art style. The temple is inside the rectangular enclosure that is along the pillared colonnades. The art and the architecture of the temple attract the devotees from various corners of the world to view its beauty. The temple also has hundred pillared mandapam inside.

 Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Karnataka: Hampi is known for the ruins and for the beautiful World Heritage temples. Virupaksha temple is one of the most famous spots in Karnataka. This is the most ancient temple too in Hampi also known by the name of Pampapati temple. The scene of the temple is beautiful with it being located on the banks of the Tungabhadra river on one side having the backdrop of the Hemakuta hills on the other. The temple has a long rectangular enclosure. The main deity of the temple is the Virupaksha linga that is a representation of Lord Shiva. The temple is a handiwork of the artisans who have created beautiful sculptures and carvings on the walls of the temples.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthpuram, Kerala: Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu has 108 Divya Desams or the holy abodes in the universe as per the Hindu mythology. This temple spot is one of those holy spots as well. Most of the Puranas and the epics of the Hindu mythology have references of this temple to talk about the antiqueness of the temple. One of the forms of Lord Vishnu is Sri Padmanabhaswamy and his idol is placed inside the temple. The idol of the God is amazing where he seen reclining on the five hooded serpent. The serpent is the Anantha. The recent archaeological studies and researches have declared this temple as the wealthiest or the richest temple in India. Several Kerala tour packages ensure to take tourists to Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. It must be noted that only Hindus are permitted to enter the shrine.

 Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Tamil Nadu: Ranganathaswamy is a reclining form of Lord Vishnu. This temple in Tamil Nadu again is one of the 108 holy abodes or the Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu. The temple is spread across a huge area of 156 acres. This one is the largest temple in the country, the largest functioning temple in the world, Other names given to the temple are Hiruvaranga, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam and Bhogamandabam. In the temple, there is an impressive large structure of 72 metres height that towers its surroundings. There is a hall inside the temple that has 1000 pillars that are beautifully crafted.

 Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu: This incredibly detailed and beautiful temple is in Madurai that is located on the banks of the river Vaigai. The whole name of this temple is Meenakshi Amman Temple dedicated to the Goddess Parvati who is a form of Goddess Meenakshi. This one is a very ancient and majestic temple that is housed in the 2500 years old city of Madurai. The architectural style of the temple is Dravidian style having gopurams so high that they tower over the city. There are enough rich carvings on the walls of the temples. There are 985 pillars in the Mandapam and some of them also produce music. Also, each of these pillars is carved out of a single stone. Meenakshi Temple is the prime tourist attraction of Madurai tour packages.

 Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu: The famous temple of Ramanathaswamy is in the small island of Rameshwaram. It is the place where Lord Rama has worshipped Lord Shiva while going to Sri Lanka. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Again, this temple has one of the 12 jyotirlingams that is in India. This jyotirlingam is worshipped as a pillar of light. Inside the sanctum of the temple, there are two lingas. One of the lingas is built by Sita ji and the other one was placed by Hanuman that he brought from Kailash and it was Vishwalingam. Vishwalingam is worshipped first.

 Sripuram Golden Temple, Vellore, Tamil Nadu: There is one more Golden temple in India and that is in Vellore in the Tamil Nadu. It is basically a spiritual park that is spread in an area of 100 acres. This temple was inaugurated in 2007. The name of the temple is an ode to the vimana and ardhamandapa of the Lakshmi Narayani Temple. The temple is a lavish one that is coated in gold from the exterior and the interior. A spiritual leader called as Shakti Amma is the one who is the one who heads the temple.

Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh: One of the 12 jyotirlingams of Lord Shiva is in Ujjain in the Mahakaleshwar Temple. This is totally an outstanding temple which is considered totally important for the devotees. The temple is located at the banks of the Rudra Sagar lake. The temple is in a spacious courtyard. The architectural style of the temple is a mixture of Maratha, Bhumija and Chalukya styles. The temple also has inscriptions of Omkaresvara and Nagachandresvara along with a lot of pictures of Ganesha, Kartikeya and Parvati. The temple is an important pilgrimage centre for the devotees that see devotees from round the globe. Though Ujjain tour packages are conducted throughout the year but during Simhastha or Ujjain Kumbh Mela the surge of the tourists reach its peak.

 Baidyanath Temple, Deoghar, Jharkhand: The most famous temple of Jharkhand and one of the most important Shiva temples of the world is the Baidyanath temple that is in Deoghar. The temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingams of the country. It is one of the most sacred abodes of Shiva. The most important time when the temple is fully crowded is during the month of Shravan. The devotees walk throughout from the place called Sultanganj. The devotees also carry lotas filled with water on their shoulders and they cover the distance barefoot in their decided time. Every Monday too, the temple sees enough devotees on a regular basis.

Dagdusheth Halwai Temple, Pune, Maharashtra: One of the most famous temples of Pune is the Dagdusheth Halwai temple. The temple is a lavish one dedicated to the God Ganesha. The temple was built by Dagdusheth Halwai and his wife, Laxmibai. The temple got completed in the year 1983. The main idol of the temple is of the main deity Lord Ganesha and it is a 7.5 feet tall and a 4 feet wide statue. The idol is decked up with 8 kilos of gold. The temple is taken care of by the Shrimant Dagdusheth Ganpati Trust. The Ganpati celebration here is done in a magnificent way.

Kal Bhairav Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Kal Bhairav Temple in Varanasi is one of the very famous and oldest Shiva temples in the country. Bhairava is one form of Shiva that is fierce and wears garland of skulls. He also carries a club of peacock feathers. The word kale can also mean fate or also mean death. The Hindus believe that even death is afraid of the God Kal Bhairav. Inside the temple, the main idol of the main deity Kal Bhairav is a silver faced idol. The idol is seated on the vehicle of the God Kal Bhairav, a dog, and is holding a trident. The face of the idol is entirely decorated with the garlands and only that is visible to the devotees from the doorway. There is also an icon of Kshetrapal Bhairav which is another aspect of Bhairava.

Ashapura Math Temple, Kutch, Gujarat: One of the most famous temples of Gujarat that is in the Kutch valley is the Ashapura math temple. This temple is of the 14th century. The chief deity of the Jadeja Rajputs is the one to whom this temple is dedicated that is Ashapura Mata. Ashapura may is basically an incarnation of Annapurna Devi. She is known to fulfil the desires and the wishes of the devotees. The devotees from across the country visit the temple throughout the year. The communities of Gujarat believe Ashapura Mata as their kuldevi. Navratri is the special time of the year when the temple sees the most number of devotees.

The devotees not only from India but from the whole world have these temples in their bucket list. Some of these temples are major pilgrim hotspots. The most epic Char Dhaam Yatra of India is the most popular religious or pilgrim destinations. To witness the culture of India of various parts, a visit to these temples will give you the insight of different sides of Indian mythology.