Famous Temples in India

Khajuraho Temples Madhya Pradesh

      Situated in the heart of Central India, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a quaint rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage. The fascinating temples of Khajuraho, India's unique gift of love to the world, represent the expression of a highly matured civilization. After the Taj it is the most frequently visited monument in India. Khajuraho is a unique example of Indo-Aryan architecture. The Chandela rulers between 950-1050 built these temples. There were 85 temples, which were built, and only 22 of them survive today. The temples are a world heritage site and belong not just to India but to the world. The Archeological Survey of India's dedicated efforts towards their conservation rank them against the best preserved monuments of this antiquity. Most of the temples are built of sandstone in varying shades of buff, pink or pale yellow. They each belong to a different sect, the Shiva, Vaishnava or Jaina Sects, but are often indistingushable from one another to the untrained eye. The temples are lofty with ample walking space separating them. The interior rooms are inter connected and placed in an East/West line. Each contains an entrance, a hall, a vestibule and a sanctum. Windows were added to the larger temples to add a feeling of space and light blog.

Unlike other temples Khajuraho temples are said to have a theme (women), which comes in front while going through the temples. A celebration of womankind, her myriad moods and facets. There are carvings of a woman writing letter, applying makeup to her eyes, combing her tresses, dancing, and playing with her child. Innocent, coquettish, smiling, seductive, passionate and beautiful, all depicted in intricate detail, sharply etched, sculpted with consummate skill. One opinion says Chandelas were followers of the tantric cult, which believes that gratification of Earthly desires is a step towards attaining the infinite liberation, Nirvana.

 Akshardham Temple,Delhi

The Akshardham Temple is one of the most recently built temples in Delhi. Constructed by the Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), it is situated on the banks of the River Yamuna. Delhi Akshar Dham Mandir was inaugurated in Novenmber'05 in the presence of President APJ Abdul Kalam. It is spread over an area of 100 acres and took about two years to complete. Akshardhaam Temple of New Delhi is built in an architectural style similar to that of the Akshardham temple of Gandhinagar in Gujarat, India. Its construction is based on the ancient Sthaapatya shastras of India and it is built without steel, entirely out of sandstone and marble.

Approximately 234 ornate pillars, floral motifs, arches, exquisitely carved pavilions, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangle shikhars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone elephants), adorn this architectural wonder. There are 20,000 statues inside Akshar Dham Mandir of Delhi of India's great sadhus, devotees, acharyas and divine personas. Other features of the Akshardham Temple are an IMAX theatre, a Swaminarayan temple, and an elaborate musical fountain. The area around the temple building has been converted into manicured lawns with beautiful water fountains.

The main shrine of the New Delhi Akshardhaam temple houses the statue of Lord Swaminarayan. There is an Akshardham Temple Monument to World Peace inside the temple complex. Along with that, there is also a restaurant modeled on the Ajanta and Ellora caves and an Ayurvedic bazaar. Combining Rajasthani, Orrisan, Gujarati, Mughal and Jain temple architecture, the mandir presents a magnificent sight. This temple is a major tourist attraction and counts amongst the wonders of modern India. 

Somnath Temple,Gujrat 

Somnath Temple is situated in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. It is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is one of the twelve jyotirlingas in India. The most interesting fact about the Somanth temple is that it has been built and destroyed six times. The present structure was rebuilt the seventh time. There a number of legends attached to the Somnath Temple of India. It is said that the Moon God, Chandra was married to 27 daughters of Daksh Prajapati, but he favored Rohini.

This enraged the Prajapati and he cursed Moon to wane. In order to recover, he prayed to Lord Shiva at the Prabhas Tirtha. Lord Shiva was pleased with his devotion and cured him. Then, on the advice of Brahma, Moon God built the temple in the honor of the Lord and to show his gratitude. It is said that the first temple was built by Moon God in gold, followed by Ravana in silver, Lord Krishna in Sandalwood and King Bhimdev in Stone. The Somnath temple has a magnificent sprawling complex and is a great pilgrim site for the Hindus.

The present temple is built in Chalukya style and has been constructed in such a manner that there is no land between the temple shore and the South Pole. The summit of the temple rises to a height of 155 feet. There is a Kalash (pot vessel) on the top, which measures 10 tons. The flag mast on the peak is 37 feet long and is changed three times during the day. The construction of the present Somnath temple started in 1950. The jyotirlingam pratishthapan ceremony was done by the first president of India, Dr, Rajendra Prasad. All these facts reveal the majesty of the temple and its importance for the devotees.

 Ramanathaswamy Temple

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.

Shrines at the Ramanathaswamy Temple
In the main sanctum at the temple there is the Linga of Sri Ranganatha. It is the same one, which Lord Rama had sanctified. The Vimana is three storeys tall and contains images of Hanuman, Agastya Linga and the Gandhamadhana Linga. The Linga of Vishvanatha, which is said to be brought by Hanuman, is enshrined in another sanctum to the north. Another shrine houses the image of Visalakshi, the Consort of Visvanatha while Parvathavardhani, the consort of Ramanatha is enshrined in a sanctum to his right.

How to Reach the Ramanathaswamy Temple
Air
The nearest airport is Madurai (167 Km), connected by flights with Bombay, Calicut and Madras.
Rail
Rameshwaram is connected by rail to Chennai, Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore.
Road
Rameshwaram is connected by regular bus services with Kanykumari, Karaikudi, Chennai, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and several other cities of Tamilnadu and neighboring states

ISKCON Temple

Situated near the magnificent Juhu Beach of Mumbai, the ISKCON Temple sprawls over an area of approximately 4 acres. Also known as the 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple', it is counted amongst the most popular and most-visited temples of the city. Standing tall with all its magnificence, the temples serves as the perfect acknowledgement of the efforts of Srila Prabhupada, towards the propagation of Krishna Consciousness throughout the world. He built this temple at Juhu, when the locality was nothing more than a remote suburb.

Today, the fame of the Iskcon Temple has spread so much that, on an average, it receives approximately three lakh pilgrims on the occasion of Janmashtami celebrations. On a daily basis, the temple receives somewhere around five thousand visitors, whose numbers further increases to over ten thousand on Sundays. Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple of Bombay serves as the perfect retreat for people, where they come to escape from the hectic and demanding city life.

Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple was inaugurated in the year 1978. Its complex comprises of a huge sanctum sanctorum, a modern auditorium, a book publishing house, a restaurant, and a twin towered six-storied guest house for the visitors. One of the best ways to spend time at the ISKCON Temple is to take part in the mediations and chanting of mantras. It will help you in ridding your mind of all the mundane tensions and connecting with the God on a much more spiritual level.

History
The first time Srila Prabhupada saw the land where Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple is situated was when he was going to Smt. Morarjee's house. During that time, the land was nothing more than a jungle. He liked the land so much that he prayed to God that if ever he would be able to get this land, he would build a beautiful temple there. By God's grace, the same land was offered to International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the year 1971. Thereafter started the construction of Iskcon Temple and it was inaugurated on 14th January 1978 (the day of Makar Sankranti).

Brahma temple

Lying beyond the Nagaparvat and Anasagar Lake in Pushkar is the Brahma temple of Rajasthan, India. A popular pilgrimage of Hindus, the Brahma temple, Pushkar is the only temple of Lord Brahma in India. The legend is that Lord Brahma performed a Yagna here, along with all the gods and goddesses. It is also believed that a lotus fell from the hands of Lord Brahma and fell in the valley of Pushkar. Immediately after, Sarovar Lake appeared miraculously at that place.

The Brahma temple is constructed of marble, in southern style. Also, the floor of the temple is decorated with a silver turtle. The temple houses a statue of Lord Brahma in a palthi (seated) position. The temple also comprises of an image of Lord Vishnu, life sized dwarpals (door men) and Garuda pillars (a mythical bird, in gold).  

  Lotus Temple Delhi

Lotus Temple is situated 12 km to the southeast of Connaught Place. Architecturally one of the most splendid temples of India, Delhi Lotus Temple is called so because it is built in the shape of a Lotus flower. The temple got completed in the year 1986 and rises to a height of more than 40 m. Located on Bahapur Hills, it is the seventh and the latest Baha'i houses of worship in the world. Bahai Temple of New Delhi is a white marble monument designed like a half-opened lotus.

Twenty-seven giant lotus petals of white marble spring out from nine pools and walkways of the temple. These walkways represent the nine unifying spiritual paths of the Baha'i faith. Exquisitely manicured lawns surround the building of the Lotus Temple. Silence is a prerequisite inside the New Delhi Lotus Temple. Also, one needs to take off the shoes while entering inside. Made up of marble, cement, sand and dolomite, this temple is often equated with the Sydney Opera House. Baha'i Temple in Delhi is often compared to the Sydney Opera House.

There is a simple, but outstanding 34.27 m high central hall in the temple where people sit and meditate. Petal alcoves of the temple are inscribed with stimulating quotes of the Baha'i sacred scriptures. Though the temple belongs to the Baha'i sect, it is open to people of each and every faith. The Baha'i religion, an independent one, places great importance on prayer and meditation as instruments for the progress of the human soul. Committed to the oneness of all religions and mankind, it traces its origins to its prophet Baha'u'llah, born in Persia in the 20th century.

Heritage Spot of INDIA

Taj Mahal

      The historic city of Agra offers tourists a wonderful tourism experience with some of the best known monuments of India. The chief claim to fame of the city is for being the capital of Mughul India for more than a century. The Mughuls consolidated their hold on India from here and as their might grew, they patronized some of the most fascinating works of architecture that the world has seen. The Taj Mahal is the crowning glory of the Mughul era. It represents the supreme achievements of the architects and masons of medieval India. The unmatched splendor of the Taj Mahal still attracts scores of tourists every single day from all over the world. The Taj Mahal tours are the perfect options for exploring the tourist attractions in Agra. Before visiting Agra and its many wonders, learn more about Taj Mahal tours in touristplacesinindia.com.

      The Taj Mahal tours systematically cover all the monuments in Agra, as well as the other important tourist destinations located near the city. The massive Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri are among the foremost highlights of tourism in north India and must be visited during a tour of Agra. The Agra fort was the center of Mughul imperialism in India and remained the symbol of Mughul might till the mid 17th century when the capital was shifted to Delhi by Shahjahan. The fort has many magnificent buildings, structures and gardens, including the Moti Masjid ( mosque), Angina masjid, Jahangiri Mahal, Diwan i Aam, Diwaan i Khas, Macchi bhawan, Daulat Khana i Khas, Khas Mahal, Shish Mahal, Anguri Bagh, and the imposing gateways. The fort also offers a splendid, although somewhat tragic view of the Taj Mahal some distance away along the banks of the river Yamuna. It is said that the old emperor Shahjahan, imprisoned in his own fort by his son Aurangzeb, spent his last few days gazing at the magnificent mausoleum he had built for his beloved wife.
          The fortified palace of Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri, located 37 kilometers west of Agra is also a must visit site. This magnificent palace combines strong defensive features with delicate architecture. The beautiful red sandstone buildings stand alongside the village of Sikri. Apart from the palace and its splendid structures, the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti and the massive gateway named Buland Darwaza are the chief attractions at Fatehpur Sikri.
       The Taj Mahal is of course the most important stop of all the tours. This massive marble monument needs no introduction. It is one of the most visited monuments of the world. The fifth Mughul emperor built his beloved wife this stupendous mausoleum, as per her dying wish that her tomb should be unlike anything that the world had ever seen. The magnificence of the Taj Mahal cannot be described in words. You have to visit it at least once as something remains unfulfilled in your life if you do not.
The other attractions of Agra include some lesser known tombs which are well worthy of a visit. The Chini ka rauza and the tomb of Itimad-ud daulat are the chief among these. Various Mughul gardens, including the Arambagh, whose origins go back to the reign of Babur, are also part of tourism in Agra.
Before choosing your itinerary, find out more about Taj Mahal tours so that you are well prepared when you land up in Agra.

Humayu Tomb:

      Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi, the first tomb built with several innovations, set at the centre of luxurious gardens with water channels, was the precursor monument to the Taj Mahal (built a century later). It was built in 1570 and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 1993 for its cultural importance. It was built in 1569–1570 by the second Mughal Emperor Humayun’s widow Biga Begum (Hajji Begum). Its architecture is credited to Mirza Ghiyath and its Mughal architectural style has been acclaimed as the “necropolis of the Mughal dynasty” for its double domed elevation provided with Chhatris. Apart from the tomb of Humayun, the funerary also has 150 tombs of various members of the royal family. The tomb is built with a char-bagh (fourfold) layout with two gates, one on the south and the other on the west. It has a number of water channels, a pavilion and a bath. The tomb set on an irregular octagonal plinth has a raised dome of 42.5 m height, covered by marble slabs and decorated with chhatris.

Golden Temple :

 Sri Harimandir Sahib (The "Golden Temple") in Amritsar, Punjab, is the holiest shrine in Sikhism

This temple made by pure GOLD.

Ajanta Caves:

  Ajanta Caves listed under UNESCO World Heritage as a cultural heritage site, are Buddhist caves that were built in two phases, the first phase was from 2nd century BC. In the second phase, further additions were made during the 5th and 6th centuries AD of the Gupta period. The caves depict richly decorated paintings, frescoes, which are reminiscent of the Sigiriya paintings in Sri Lanka and sculptures. As a whole, there are31rock-cut cave monuments which are unique representations of the religious art of Buddhism

Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh :

Fatehpur Sikri, "the City of Victory," was built during the second half of the 16th century by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556–1605). It was the capital of the Empire and seat of the grand Mughal court, but only for 14 years. Despite bearing exceptional testimony to the Mughal civilization at the end of the 16th century, it had to be abandoned due to the twin reasons of lack of water and unrest in north-west India, leading the Emperor to shift the capital to Lahore. Akbar decided to construct it in 1571, on the same site where the birth of his son, the future Emperor Jahangir, was predicted by the wise saint Shaikh Salim Chisti (1480–1572). The work, supervised by the great Mughal himself, was completed in 1573. The complex of monuments and temples, all uniformly in Mughal architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid, the Buland Darwaza, the Panch Mahal, and the Tomb of Salim Chishti. The English traveller Ralph Fitch considered the city in 1585 as 'considerably larger than London and more populous.' Its form and layout strongly influenced the evolution of Indian town planning, notably at Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). The city has numerous other palaces, public buildings and mosques, as well as living areas for the court, the army, servants of the king and for an entire population whose history has not been recorded

  Jantar Mantar, Jaipur :

      
      The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja (King) Jai Singh II at his then new capital of Jaipur between 1727 and 1734. It is modelled after the one that he had built at the Mughal capital of Delhi. He had constructed a total of five such facilities at different locations, including the ones at Delhi and Jaipur. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved of these and has a set of some 20 main fixed instruments built in masonry. It has been inscribed as cultural property on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period.

  Sun Temple, Konârak:

 

     Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Sun Temple (also known as the "Black Pagoda"), at Konark, in Orissa. Located on the east coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Mahanadi Delta, it is built in the form of the chariot of Surya (Arka), the sun god with 24 wheels, and is heavily decorated with symbolic stone carvings and led by a team of six horses. It was constructed from oxidizing weathered ferruginous sandstone by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is one of the most renowned temples in India and is a World Heritage Site inscribed in 1984 as cultural property under categories (i), (iii) and (vi)

Elephanta Caves 

      The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of Mumbai. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves — the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva. The rock-cut architecture of the caves is dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries, although the identity of the original builders is still a subject of debate. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. Renovated in the 1970s, the caves were designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork 

 Red Fort Complex New Delhi :

     Red Fort Complex, also known as Lal Qila is a palace fort built in the 17th century by Shahjahan (1628–58), the fifth Mughal Emperor as part of his new capital city of Shahjahanabad. located to the north of Delhi. It represents the glory of the Mughal rule and is considered the Highpoint of Mughal architectural, artistic aesthetic creativity. The architectural design of the structures built within the fort represents a blend of Persian, Timuri and Indian architectural styles; Isfahan, the Persian Capital is said to have provided the inspiration to build the Red Fort Complex. The planning and design of this complex, in a geometrical grid plan with pavilion structures, was the precursor of several monuments which were built later in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and other places. The palace complex has been fortified by an enclosure wall built with red sand stone (hence the name Red Fort). It is adjacent to the Salimgarh Fort on its north built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546 and is now part of the Red Fort Complex (area covered 120 acres) under the revised inscription of the UNESCO World Heritage List under categories (i),(ii), (iii) and (vi)}}. Built between 1639 and 1648, enclosing an area of size 656 metres (2,152 ft)x328 metres (1,076 ft) and raising to a height of 23 metres (75 ft) on the right bank of the Yamuna River, it is linked to the Salimgarh Fort through a bridge over an old river channel, now a city road. The palace within the fort complex, located behind the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience), comprises a series of richly engraved marble palace pavilions, interconnected by water channels called the ‘Nehr-i-Behishit’ meaning the “Stream of Paradise”, the Diwane-i-khas (Private audience hall), several other essential private structures, and also the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque built by Emperor Aurangzeb) 

             There are many more Heritage Spot in India :-