Top 10 Hindu Temples in India Every Devotee Should Know About
India is known for its diversity of culture, religions, customs, and language. No wonder why this country is committed to following a secular ideology. In India, every festival, whether Eid, Holi, charismas, and others, are celebrated with joy and freedom while following their religion without any constraints. This is the beauty of this country. On the other hand, India is the country that is believed to be the birthplace of many Hindu gods, like Ram, Krishna, and more. It tells us, why this country has so many ancient temples. With speaking of ancient temples, how many temples do you know in India? Well, Today, we will be exploring 10 famous temples in India.
Badrinath temple
Badrinath temple is dedicated to the Lord of Vishnu, located in the town of Badrinath, Uttarakhand area in the Himalayans. It is also called one of the four Char Dham, believed that the sculpture of Badrinath was built by Gods. It was thrown in the Alaknanda River by Buddhists during their era. Adi Shankara (Vedic scholar and teacher) found the sculpture of Badrinath in the Alaknanda River and placed it in a cave near tapt Kund hot springs.
Rameshwaram
This is another Chaar Dham temple, one of the most famous temples in India, dedicated to Lord Shiva. This incredible temple is situated on a small island between India and Sri Lanka in an area known as Tamil Nadu. The temple has many shrines attached to it. According to Hindu methodology, Lord Ram had built a bridge from the temple across the sea to Lanka (Sri Lanka) to rescue his wife Sita from her abductor Ravana.
Lord Jagannath Temple
Housing about 120 shrines in its giant structure, Lord Jagannath is located in Puri, Odisha, was built in 12 centuries and is well-known for its annual Rath Yatra (Festival of Chariots). This Rath Yatra is the oldest and largest Chariot procession in the world. The temple was considered by King Chodanganga. Although, under his reign, only the Jagmohan or assembly hall and the Vimana or Chariot of the temple were built. Later, Anangabhima Deva finished the construction of the temple in 1174AD.
Tirupati Balaji
Tirupati is also one of the most famous and visited places of worship in the country. Every day, this temple is visited by anywhere between 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims (30 to 40 million people per year), while on special occasions, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the numbers increase up to as high as 500,000. This temple is known by various other names, the most famous one “Sri Venkateshwara”. It sits atop one of the 7 peaks of Tirumala Hills, attracting scores of Hindu pilgrims. This temple is dedicated to the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, called Balaji.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi temple
With an annual footfall of around 8 million devotees, Vaishno Devi is the second most visited temple in India. It is situated in the lap of Trikuta hills which is 13 km from base camp Karta, Reasi, near Jammu city. The temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to Durga, worshipped as Vaishno Devi. There is a story behind it, it says more than 700 years ago, Vaishno Devi, who was a devotee of Vishnu, had taken a vow of celibacy. One day, lord Bhairon Nath saw her and chased after her. During the chase, the goddess felt thirsty and shot an arrow into the earth from where a sprain gushed out.
Somnath Temple
Somnath temple, dedicated to the lord of shiva, is believed to be the first of 12 jyotirlingas (Devotional shrines of Lord Shiva) in the country, the temple receives a large footfall of around 45-lakh visitors every year. The first temple is said to have existed 2000 years ago. Many spiritual Gurus believe that Somraj (the moon god) first built the temple in Somnath, made out of gold; this was rebuilt by Ravana in silver, by Krishan in wood, and by Bhimdev in stone. The temple is located in Sagar Kant of Saurashtra in Gujarat state.
Kashi Vishwanath
Located on the western bank of the holy river Ganga in Varanasi, this temple is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. People from all over the country come to take a dip in the holy waters of the river “The Ganges”. The place is called the spiritual capital of India, believed to be one of the oldest serving cities in the world, dating back to the 11th century B.C. The present Kashi temple was commissioned in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore.
Dwarkadhish
Dwarkadhish is the fourth of the Char Dham, located in the town of Dwarka on the Arabian Sea. The temple is the abode of Krishan and was rebuilt by Raja Jagat Singh Rathore (on the banks of the Gomati River). That’s how it named Jagat Mandir as well. But the existing temple is dated to the 16th century. According to Hindu spiritual Gurus, the temple was built by Krishnan’s grandson, Vajranabha, over the Hari-Griha.
Amarnath Cave Temple
Yatra to Amarnath Cave for which one has to trek a height of about 14,500 ft is full of excitement and joy. The feeling of the divine, which is always beneath one’s heart, burst out, and one realizes “Moksha” as one attends the Cave and performs the prayer before the Shivalinga. Surrounded by beautiful nature, a valley, mountain, anyone can feel Lord Shiva’s presence in the paradise of the earth. Probably, the reason is why the temple is so famous in India.
Golden Temple
The origin of the name of this temple is Sri Harmandir Sahib temple. It is situated in the holy city of the Sikhs, Amritsar. The temple is famous for its fully golden dome. Also, it is one of the most sacred pilgrims’ spots for Sikhs. The golden temple is built on a 67-ft sq of marble and is two storied structures.
Apart from the architecture of this temple, another thing that impresses visitors a lot is the Langer of the Golden temple, also known as the Guru Ka Langer, a free meal in the community hall, served at the Gurdwara. This temple is also known to have one of the largest community kitchens in the world, serving 50,000 to 60,000 visitors every day.
FAQ
Q1. Which is the most famous temple in India?
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh are among the most famous temples in India, attracting millions of devotees every year.
Q2. What are the Char Dham temples in India?
The Char Dham temples are Badrinath (Uttarakhand), Dwarkadhish (Gujarat), Jagannath Temple (Odisha), and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu). These are considered the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus.
Q3. Which is the oldest temple in India?
The Mundeshwari Devi Temple in Bihar (around 108 AD) is considered the oldest functional Hindu temple, though ancient shrines like Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath are also believed to be thousands of years old.
Q4. Why is Tirupati Balaji Temple so special?
Tirupati Balaji, also known as Sri Venkateswara Temple, is one of the richest and most visited temples in the world. Devotees donate gold and money in huge amounts as offerings to Lord Venkateswara.
Q5. Which temple is known as the “Golden Temple”?
The Golden Temple, or Sri Harmandir Sahib, is located in Amritsar, Punjab. It is the holiest shrine of Sikhism and is famous for its golden dome and the world’s largest free community kitchen (langar).
Q6. What is the significance of Amarnath Cave Temple?
The Amarnath Cave in Jammu & Kashmir houses a naturally formed ice Shivling, attracting lakhs of devotees every year during the annual Amarnath Yatra. It is considered one of the holiest shrines of Lord Shiva.
Q7. Which temple is dedicated to Goddess Vaishno Devi?
The Vaishno Devi Temple, located in Jammu & Kashmir’s Trikuta Hills, is dedicated to Goddess Vaishno Devi, a form of Durga. It is one of the most visited temples in India, with around 8 million visitors annually.
Q8. What makes Somnath Temple important?
Somnath Temple in Gujarat is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Despite being destroyed and rebuilt several times in history, it stands as a symbol of resilience and devotion.
Q9. Which temple is associated with Lord Krishna?
The Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is believed to have been originally built by Krishna’s grandson, Vajranabha, and is one of the four Char Dham sites.
Q10. Why are temples in India considered significant?
Temples in India are not just places of worship; they represent the country’s rich history, culture, spirituality, and architectural brilliance. Many temples also play a vital role in festivals and community life.
Q11. How many temples are there in India in total?
India has over 2 million temples, ranging from small shrines to grand architectural marvels spread across states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.
Q12. Which is the largest temple in India?
The Akshardham Temple in Delhi is considered one of the largest Hindu temples in terms of area and structure, though older temples like Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu also hold the title of vast temple complexes.
Q13. What is the importance of Badrinath Temple?
Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is part of the Char Dham Yatra. Pilgrims believe visiting Badrinath washes away sins and helps attain moksha (salvation).
Q14. Which temple hosts the Rath Yatra?
The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is famous for its annual Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival), which is one of the largest religious processions in the world.
Q15. Which temple is known as the “Spiritual Capital of India”?
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is called the spiritual capital of India. Situated on the banks of the Ganga, it is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
Q16. Why is Rameshwaram Temple significant?
Rameshwaram Temple in Tamil Nadu is linked to the Ramayana. It is believed that Lord Rama built a bridge (Ram Setu) from Rameshwaram to Lanka to rescue Goddess Sita from Ravana.
Q17. Which temple is visited by the maximum number of devotees daily?
The Tirupati Balaji Temple sees between 50,000 to 100,000 devotees daily, and during festivals, the number can go up to 500,000.
Q18. What is unique about Somnath Temple’s history?
The Somnath Temple has been destroyed and rebuilt at least 17 times by different rulers. It is regarded as a symbol of eternal faith and resilience of Hindu worship.
Q19. Which is the most sacred Sikh temple in India?
The Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar is the holiest shrine for Sikhs, known for its spiritual atmosphere and community service through langar.
Q20. What is the significance of temple architecture in India?
Indian temples are not just religious places but also architectural masterpieces. They reflect Dravidian, Nagara, and Vesara styles, with carvings, sculptures, and symbolic designs that represent cosmic philosophies.
Q21. Which is the oldest temple in India?
The Mundeshwari Devi Temple in Bihar, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Shakti, is considered the oldest functional temple in India, dating back to around 108 AD.
Q22. Which temple is called the “Black Pagoda”?
The Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is often called the “Black Pagoda” due to its dark color and its role as a navigational landmark for sailors.
Q23. Which temple is known as the “Golden Roof Temple”?
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala is often referred to for its golden treasures and is considered the richest temple in the world in terms of assets.
Q24. Which temple is the tallest in India?
The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, built by Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century, has one of the tallest temple towers (Vimana) in the world.
Q25. Which temples are part of the Char Dham Yatra?
The Char Dham Yatra includes Badrinath (Uttarakhand), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu), Dwarkadhish (Gujarat), and Jagannath Puri (Odisha).
Q26. Which temple is considered the richest in India?
The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, holds treasures worth billions of dollars in its underground vaults, making it the wealthiest temple in India.
Q27. What is special about Amarnath Cave Temple?
The Amarnath Cave Temple in Jammu & Kashmir is unique for its naturally forming ice Shiva Linga, which changes size with the lunar cycle.
Q28. Why is Tirupati Balaji so famous for donations?
Tirupati Balaji Temple is considered the world’s richest temple by donation flow, as devotees contribute jewelry, money, and gold worth thousands of crores annually.
Q29. Are non-Hindus allowed in Indian temples?
Some temples, like Jagannath Temple (Puri) and Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Kerala), restrict entry to non-Hindus, while others like the Golden Temple welcome people of all faiths.
Q30. Which temple kitchen serves the largest free meals in the world?
The Golden Temple’s Guru Ka Langar in Amritsar serves free meals to around 50,000–100,000 people daily, regardless of religion, caste, or creed.
