TOP 10 TEMPLES OF INDIA

India being part of the world’s oldest civilizations is a land of rich history, countless beliefs, traditions and legends surrounding the religions. India takes pride in the country’s rich cultural and religious history as it is the birth land of the traditions of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. India is a land where people of different religious beliefs live in harmony and brotherhood.

Though India is a secular country, Hinduism is the predominant religion in the country. Hence, the presence of a sacred Hindu temple is also quite high in India because, for the several hundred years, rulers from numerous dynasties built those to leave behind their presence in the life of the citizens of the country.

Considering the long list of temples in India, it is impossible to choose ten from the lot. Choosing the best can sometimes offend those whose favourite is not included in the list. Yet today, I have tried to jot down the names of ten temples, which according to me, can be regarded as the top ten owing to their popularity, strong faith, history and architectural importance.

List of Top Ten Temples in India-

1. Kedarnath Temple
2. Vaishno Devi Temple
3. Kashi VishwaNath temple
4. Meenakshi Temple
5. Jaganath Temple
6. Triupathi Temple
7. Banke Bihari Temple
8. Badrinath Temple
9. Somnath Temple
10. Dwarkadhish Temple

Kedarnath Temple, Uttrakhand

Kedarnath Temple is at no.1 in the my list of top ten temples in India. Kedarnath Temple is situated in the Himalayan range of Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Kedarnath temple is one of the most sacred shrines in the world. The holy abode of Shiva is believed to have been built by the Pandavas to atone for their sins during Mahabharata. The temple was restored by Adi Sankaracharya in the 8th century. It is one of the Chota Char Dhams of Uttarakhand and requires the pilgrims to trek a distance of 14 kms on the hilly terrain.

Standing at a height of 3,583 metres, surrounded by the glaciers and snow-clad peaks, the temple is closed during winters due to severe weather conditions. Even the idol of Lord Shiva is shifted to Ukhimath during the months the temple remains closed. It gets very cold in the region and hence the temple is open only from April to November. When the whole region was ravaged by floods, the Kedarnath temple remained unaffected and remains one of the main pilgrimage centres of India.

How to reach to Kedarnath Temple : Tourists reach Kedarnath by trekking from Gaurikund, which can be reached by traveling through a bus from Rishikesh. Reaching Rishikesh is not that tough since it is connected to several cities of India via trains.

Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu

Vaishno Devi Temple is at no.2 in the my list of top ten temples in India. Vaishno Devi Temple is situated in Katra town in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir and one of the most revered temples in India and one of the unique ones too. Located at a height of 5,300 feet, it needs a long trek of about 12 km, to reach the temple situated at the peak. The trek is long and arduous but for those who are unable to walk that long distance, can take a pony ride or a palanquin or even a helicopter to reach the shrine. The temple is actually located in a cave and there is no statue here but three rock heads, called as pindies. Millions of visitors visit the Vaishno Devi temple every year. The temple is open throughout the year.

As per the legend, Vaishno Devi under the disguise of a young girl, Vaishnavi was being chased by a black magician, Bhairo Nath. He was pestering her to marry him. In order to escape him, she fled to the mountains but he followed her there too. After stopping at present day Banganga, Charan Paduka and Adkwari, the Goddess finally reached the holy shrine. When Bhairo Nath showed no sign of backing down, Vaishnavi was compelled to kill him.

She beheaded him at the mouth of the cave and his head fell at a distant hill top. After realizing his mistake, Bhairo Nath begged for her forgiveness. Taking pity on him, the Goddess blessed him with a boon that anyone who takes up the pilgrimage to the shrine will also have to visit Bhairo Nath Temple, only then will the journey be completed.

How to reach to Kedarnath Temple :  The nearest airport is located at a distance of 47 km from the temple, that is Jammu Tawi airport. But you have to trek about 20 km from Katra to reach Vaishno Devi because there is no direct transportation between these places.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttar Pradesh

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is at no.3 in the my list of top ten temples in India. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is definitely one of the holiest and oldest temples in India. Dedicated to lord Shiva, it is built on the banks of Ganga and is located in the city of Kashi in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country and hence has special significance for Hindus.

It is believed that devotees who after bathing in the Ganges, visit the temple and offer prayers achieve Moksha or attain salvation. The temple has a huge Shivalinga, which is about 60 cm tall and 90 cm wide.

The temple is plated with 800 kg gold on its tower and boasts a magnificent architecture. Inside the temple, there is a well which is called Jnana Vapi and can be only visited by the Hindus. Apart from the main temple, there are other small temples like Kaalbhairav, Virupaksh Gauri, Vinayaka, Vishnu, and Avimukteshwara.

How to reach to Kashi Vishwanath Temple :  Varanasi has its own railway station which is also just 2 km away from the temple.

Meenakshi Temple, Tamil Nadu

Meenakshi Temple is at no.4 in the my list of top ten temples in India. Though Meenakshi temple was built in the 12th century, the architectural magnificence of the temple does not say so. It is epic and hence was nominated to be among the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Located in the town of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, the Meenakshi temple is an architectural marvel and one of the most famous temples of south India. It is dedicated to goddess Meenakshi or goddess Parvati and her husband, lord Shiva.

The unique features of the temple are its 14 gopurams, thousand pillars, a golden vimana over the sanctum and around 33,000 sculptures. The temple is also one of the largest in terms of size as it is spread around 45 acres. Tourists from all around the world visit the temple not just because of religious inclinations but because of the grandeur of the temple as well.

How to reach to Meenakshi Temple : The temple is located at a distance of 1 km from the Madurai junction and hence can be reached easily via rickshaws or autos.

Shri Jagannatha Temple, Odisha

Shri Jagannatha Temple is at no.5 in the my list of top ten temples in India. Shri Jagannatha temple is another famous temple not just in Odisha but in the entire country and the world.  It is situated in the district of Puri in Odisha. It is one of the most revered religious sites of Hindus, as it is one of the temples of Char Dham, or the sacred pilgrimage to four temples in the country.

Built in the 12th century, Jagannath temple is situated in Puri, Orissa and is popularly called Jagannath Puri. Inside the main temple, with the idol of Lord Krishna (Jagannath) in between, the idols of Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are placed. Non-Hindus cannot enter the premises of the temple.

Ratha Yatra is a festival that happens around the ancient temple every year to commemorate Lord Jagannath and his siblings. The festival is so famous that even people from all around the world gather around Puri to witness it. Jagannath temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, and if you visit there, you will get to see the majestic kitchen situated inside the temple. In the temple, the dinner for the lord is prepared regularly, and it is a sight to behold.

How to reach to Shri Jagannatha Temple:  Reaching the temple is quite accessible since it is located quite close to the Puri railway station. Hence, you can contact there quite easily via auto or rickshaws.

Tirupati Balaji Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Tirupati Balaji Temple is at no.6 in the my list of top ten temples in India. Tirupati Balaji Temple is located in the hilly town of Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, the temple is also known as Tirumala Venkateswara temple. The temple is devoted to Lord Venkateshwara, who is popularly called ‘Balaji’ and is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Venkateshwara Tirupati Balaji is the second richest temple in India. The ancient temple was visited by many rulers of great South-Indian dynasties. The temple celebrates many festivals, most famous of them being Brahmotsavam (also known as ‘Salakatla brahmotsavam’), which goes on for 9 days and witnesses thousands of devotees.

It is estimated that at least a lakh or more devotees visit the temple daily and With around 40 million annual visitors. Offering own hair is a ritual here and hence many devotees, both male and female, get their head tonsured as an offering to the Lord. Laddoos, a sweet, the prasadam or the offering of the temple is also as famous.

How to reach to Tirupati Balaji Temple :  Tirupati airport is 15 km from the city. Flights to Tirupati are available from Hyderabad, New Delhi and Mumbai. Tirupati railway station is the centre of the town. It has good rail links with Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad etc.

Banke Bihari Temple, UttarPradesh

Banke Bihari Temple is at no.7 in the my list of top ten temples in India. The original Banke Bihari Temple was one of the oldest in Vrindavan and got its name because Krishna appears here in a tri-bend posture, one of the many unique references to this temple that abound with legends, folktales and myths. The present temple complex housing ‘Banke Bihari’ was constructed in 1864; its proximity to Nidhivan enhances the spirituality and divinity of Radhe Shyam.

The image of Radha Krishna’s united form stands in the Tribhanga posture. Swami Haridas originally worshipped this devotional image under the name of Kunj-Bihari. Situated in the holy city of Vrindavan, this temple represents the devotion and love for Sri Radhe-Krishna by Swami Haridas ji. Lord Krishna’s idol itself is the personification of the blessings of the Lord on His very dear devotee.

Unique in its tradition, at Banke Bihari temple the darshan of the presiding deity (Shri Bankey Bihari ji) is never continuous but is intermittently paused by the curtain drawn on Him. It is believed that if a devotee looks long enough into the eyes of the Lord, the person would lose consciousness.The exceptional charm and beauty of Shri Banke Bihari is the reason for the interrupted darshans to the devotees.

How to reach to Banke Bihari Temple :  Bankey Bihari ji Temple is located at Vrindavan and is easily accessible by hiring a private taxi from top car rental companies in Mathura-Vrindavan or taking an auto rickshaw. The closest airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi which is approximately 161 kms from the temple. The nearest railway station is Mathura Junction which is very well connected with major cities of the country and around 12 kms from Bihari ji Temple.

Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand

Badrinath Temple is at no.8 in the my list of top ten temples in India. Badrinath Temple is situated close to the Alaknanda River, the abode of Lord Badrinath is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This holy shrine of Lord Vishnu is one of the Char Dhams of Hindu religion.

It is also one of the four Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites (comparatively minor pilgrimage sites). The temple is one of the 108 temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Divya Desams), which finds its mention in the works of Tamil saints who existed in the 6th to 9th century.

The ancient abode of Lord Vishnu can be visited only between the months of April and November because the temple remains closed during the other months due to harsh weather conditions.

Two of the most famous festivals related to the temple are –

Mata Murti-Ka-Mela – A celebration where Lord Badrinath’s mother is worshipped in the month of September.

Badri-Kedar Festival – A celebration in the month of June for 8 days in the temples of Badrinath and Kedarnath. It seeks to educate people on the local traditions of Uttarakhand.

How to reach to Badrinath Temple :  Badrinath is quite correctly connected via roads to several railway stations and airports in India, namely Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Chamoli, and many others.

Somnath Temple, Gujrat

Somnath Temple is at no.9 in the my list of top ten temples in India. The Somnath temple is an important temple in India as it is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Situated in Saurashtra in Gujarat. Somnath Temple is one of the oldest pilgrimage centres in India and finds mention in the ancient books of Shiv Puran, Skanda Purana and Shreemad Bhagvat Gita. Soma refers to ‘Moon God’, thus Somnath means ‘Protector of the Moon God’.

According to a legend, the Indian God of Moon, Soma was cursed by his father-in-law to lose his lustre. It was Lord Shiva who cured his illness and later Soma built this temple in his honour. It is one of the most revered ‘jyotirlinga’ among the 12 jyotirlingas of India.

The temple is located in Prabhas Kshetra in Saurashtra (Gujarat). Prabhas Kshetra is where Lord Krishna is believed to have left his mortal body. The place also has a Somnath museum, Junagadh gate, beach and a sound and light show to amuse the pilgrims. It is also referred to as ‘Shrine Eternal’ as it was rebuilt many times after it was damaged during attacks at different points of time.

How to reach to Somnath Temple : The temple is located at a distance of 6 km from the nearest railway station and 65 km from the Diu airport. Hence, you can reach there via trains or planes whichever you prefer.

Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat

Dwarkadhish Temple is at no.10 in the my list of top ten temples in India. The Dwarkadhish temple, also known as the Jagat Mandir and occasionally spelled Dwarakadheesh, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Krishna, who is worshiped here by the name Dwarkadhish, or ‘King of Dwarka’. The temple is located at Dwarka city of Gujarat, India, which is one of the destinations of Char Dham, a Hindu pilgrimage circuit.

The main temple at Dwarka, situated on Gomti creek, is known as jagat mandir (universal shrine) or trilok sundar (the most beautiful in all the three worlds). Originally believed to be built by Vajranabh, the great grandson of Lord Krishna, more than 2500 years ago, it is a glorious structure seeming to rise from the waters of the Arabian Sea. Its exquisitely carved shikhar, reaching 43 m high and the huge flag made from 52 yards of cloth, can be seen from as far away as 10 km. The grandeur of the temple is enhanced by the flight of 56 steps leading to the rear side of the edifice on the side of the river Gomti.

The temple is built of soft limestone and consists of a sanctum, vestibule and a rectangular hall with porches on three sides. There are two gateways: swarga dwar (gate to the heavens), where pilgrims enter, and moksha dwar (gate to liberation), where pilgrims exit.

Archaeological findings suggest the original temple was built in 200 BCE at the earliest. The temple was rebuilt and enlarged in the 15th-16th century.

How to reach to Dwarkadhish Temple :  Nearest airport is at Jamnagar and Porbandar. From these places by road or by rail can be traveled to Dwarkadheesh Temple. Dwarka city has Dwarka railway station. From the railway station Dwarkadheesh Temple is about 2 km away can be reached by road.

To understand India and its various aspects of spirituality and religion, one should start his journey with the temples. Thousands of legends that simplify the complexity of life and death can be heard and seen on the walls of Indian temples. Imagine getting lost in a land of great knowledge, secret path of nirvana and vibrant cultural beliefs that is what it feels like to be in a country like India. Spiritual Tourism is not only a trend in the modern world but has been in existence in India since ancient times.