11 Famous Temples in India
India has more than a thousand temples with each temple having its own importance and history.. There are 12 Jyotirlinga temples which are dedicated to Lord Shiva, 51 Shakeetha's that are dedicated to Mata Parvati, and Char Dham pilgrimage sites (four in Uttarakhand and four across various states in India). There are many more important temples which are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and other gods. Given below is the list of famous temples that you must know:
Jagannath Temple (Puri, Odisha)
This temple is a very important temple in Hinduism as it is one of the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimages. Jagannath Temple was built in the 12th century and is dedicated to Mahaprabhu Jagannath, which means Lord of the Universe—Lord Vishnu. The temple is famous for a big festival which is observed every year and is known as the Rath Yatra. In this yatra, idols of Shri Jagannath, his sister Subhadra, and his brother Balabhadra are placed on the big chariots.
Timings of the temple: 5.30 AM to 10.00 PM
Best Time for visiting: You can visit from May to July to become part of the Rath Yatra.
Dwarkadhish Temple (Dwarka, Gujarat)
The Dwarkadhish Temple was built 2,500 years ago on the coast of Gomti, and it is devoted to Lord Sri Krishna. This temple was constructed by the great-grandson of Lord Krishnan, who is named Vajranabh. This temple has a tall, pointed structure of 43m in height. There are other deities within the temple, including Subhadra, Balarama, Revathy, Vasudeva, Rukmini, and many others.
Timings to the temple: 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Ramanathaswamy Temple (Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu)
In this temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlinga. It is a very important pilgrimage site for Hindus, as this temple is connected to the story of Lord Rama because he came to this place after defeating Ravana and prayed to Lord Shiva. The temple is famous for its grand structure, long corridors, and beautifully carved pillars.
Temple timings: 4:30 AM - 08:30 PM
Festivals Celebrated: Maha Shivaratri, Navratri, ArudhraDarshanam, Vasanthautsavam, Prathista Utsavam, Thirukkalyanam.
Badrinath Temple (Badrinath, Uttarakhand)
The Badrinath Temple is near the ‘Alaknanda’ river and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is famous for its beautiful gate, which is painted with many colors. There is a hot spring of water that is known as Tapt Kund, and people believe that it can heal all the health issues.
Important festivals: Mata Murti Ka Mela and Badri Kedar Festival
Best time to visit: May to October
Temple timings: 4:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM to 09:00 PM
Golden Temple (Amritsar, Punjab)
The Golden Temple is the holiest place for Sikh people. It is also named as Shri Darbar Sahib and Sri Harmandir Sahib. This temple is named after Hari (God), temple of God. The construction of this temple was started by Guru Ram Dass Ji in 1577, and the whole temple was completely built by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1588. In 1604, the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book of Sikhs, was placed in the temple.
Temple timings: 4:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Important Festivals: Vaisakhi, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Birth Anniversary of Guru Ram Das, and many more.
Kamakhya Temple (Guwahati, Assam)
The Kamakhya Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, a form of Goddess Durga. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India. It is believed that a part of Goddess Sati’s womb fell here, and because of that, this place is a symbol of women’s power and fertility. It is located in a beautiful area that is surrounded by hills. This temple is a major attraction for both religious pilgrims and tourists.
Temple timings: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 05:30 PM
Important Festivals: Ambubachi Mela in the month of June.
Somnath Temple (Prabhas Patan, Gujarat)
It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. The temple has been rebuilt several times after being destroyed by invaders. The view of this temple is very beautiful as it is located near the Arabian Sea. The temple is famous for its great architecture.
Temple timings: 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Best Time to Visit: From October to March.
Sri Meenakshi - Sundareswarar Temple (Madurai, Tamil Nadu)
Meenakshi means Goddess Parvati, and Sundareswarar means Lord Shiva. This temple was built between 1623 and 1655 and is situated on the southern bank of the Vaigai River. The temple has 14 tall towers, which are known as 'gopurams', golden 'vimanas', and many sacred areas. All these things make this temple so special.
Temple Timings: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Shree Venkateswara Temple (Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh)
This temple is in the hills of Tirumala, which is 16 kilometers away from Tirupati. This temple is special because it has an idol of Lord Venkateswara in a posture called "Abhaya Hasta," which is believed to bring blessings and protection to those who pray to the deity. Devotees believe that seeing the Lord in this posture can fulfill all wishes. The temple is important because it is believed to be the place where Lord Venkateswara met other sages during his marriage to Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru.
bFrom September to October
Important Festivals: Bramhotsavam Festival
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
Vishwanath means the ruler of the universe, i.e., Lord Shiva. This is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples and is located on the bank of the Ganga. There is a well in the temple, which is named as Jnana Vapi, or the well of knowledge, and only Hindus are allowed to see that well. People are not allowed to carry their mobile phones with them.
Dress Code: For men, dhoti kurta and for women, saree
Other temples to visit in Kashi: Kaalbhairav, Vishnu, Virupaksh Gauri, Vinayaka, and Avimukteshwara.
Brihadeeswarar Temple (Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu)
This is a massive temple which took seven years to build. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is a very big statue of Nandi (the bull of Lord Shiva) and a very tall tower. The temple is made of granite and has beautiful carvings. The amazing fact about the temple is that Shiva Lingam (idol) inside the temple is covered by the tower and the stones are placed together without any glue. There is also a large stone on top of the temple which weighs almost 80 tons.
FAQs on Famous Temples in India
- What is so special about Somnath Temple?
It is famous for its history, architecture, and location by the Arabian Sea. This temple is also regarded as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva.
- Who built the Sanchi Stupa and when?
It was built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd Century B.C.E.
- What time is best to visit Badrinath Temple?
The best time to visit the temple is between May and October.
- What are the four Char Dham Yatra sites?
The Char Dham Yatra includes Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram; all these four temples are in different cities across India.
- How many kilometers do I have to walk to reach Vaishno Devi Temple?
You have to walk nearly 12–13 kilometers from the base camp to Katra.
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