12 Best Hindu Temples to Visit in India
India has 600,000+ Hindu temples. Here are 12 of the most spectacular + significant.
1. Tirupati Balaji, Andhra Pradesh
World’s richest temple + Vishnu + 50,000-100,000 pilgrims daily
2. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Goddess Meenakshi + 14 gopurams + UNESCO short-listed
3. Brihadeeswarar, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Chola dynasty + UNESCO + 1010 AD + 1,000th year celebrated
4. Sri Ranganathaswamy, Srirangam, Tamil Nadu
Largest temple complex in India + Vishnu + 156 acres
5. Khajuraho Temples, Madhya Pradesh
Chandela + 10th-11th century + UNESCO + erotic sculptures
6. Konark Sun Temple, Odisha
13th century + chariot temple + UNESCO + Bay of Bengal
7. Jagannath Puri, Odisha
Rath Yatra (chariot festival) + Vishnu + millions annually
8. Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi, UP
Shiva + 12 Jyotirlinga + Ganges + new corridor
9. Somnath Temple, Gujarat
Shiva + 12 Jyotirlinga + Arabian Sea coast + ancient
10. Vaishno Devi, Jammu
Pilgrim trek + 14km + 9 million annually + Mata Vaishno
11. Padmanabhaswamy, Trivandrum, Kerala
Vishnu reclining + treasures discovered 2011 + ornate
12. Akshardham Temple, Delhi
Modern + 2005 + Hindu cultural + Yagnapurush + dramatic