Konark, Odisha The Sun Temple in Konark is probably one of the most famous Hindu temples in India not dedicated to one of the major deities or deity incarnations. Instead it is dedicated to Surya, the god of the sun. It is an architectural masterpiece designed to resemble a chariot with elements designed for astrological observations. Despite the fact that much of the original … [Read more...]
CITY OF TEMPLES
Bhubaneswar, Odisha The city of Bhubaneswar has historically been one of the most geographically and politically important cities on India’s east coast. It has served as the capital of several kingdoms and provinces, and many of the city’s rulers have adorned it with temples. By some estimates, Bhubaneswar has more temples per capita than any other city in India. While this … [Read more...]
KANDARIYA, MAHADEV, JAGADAMI TEMPLES
Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh The city of Khajuraho is home to one of the best collections of temples in India. There are nearly two-dozen major temples here, including some from both the Jain and Hindu traditions. Of the Hindu temples, the Kandariya/Mahadev/Jagadami Temple (three temples connected in a single complex) is the largest and among the most popular. It is part of the … [Read more...]
VISHNUPAD TEMPLE
Gaya, Bihar The Vishnupad Temple in Gaya is one of the most historic temples in Bihar, and is of particular religious importance in that it is one of the important ties between the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. Located not too far from the Mahabodhi Temple, the most sacred Buddhist site in India, it marks another very important Buddhist site. For Hindus, it is incredibly … [Read more...]
LAKSHMANA TEMPLE
Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh The city of Khajuraho is home to one of the best collections of temples in India. There are nearly two-dozen major temples here, including some from both the Jain and Hindu traditions. Of the Hindu temples, the Lakshmana Temple is among the best preserved and most popular. It is part of the Western Group of temples (those located on the west side of … [Read more...]
BAIDYANATH TEMPLE
Deoghar, Jharkhand The Baidyanath Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the ninth temple of the list, though not necessarily in either importance or in order to be visited. Per the Jyotirlinga legend, Shiva appeared on the spot as a beam of light. Although the Baidyanath Temple … [Read more...]
KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh The Vishwanath Temple is considered to be among the holiest, if not the holiest, religious shrine in the Hindu tradition. It is one of the twelve most sacred Joytirlinga sites associated with the deity Shiva, and the only one of these located in Varanasi, Hinduism’s most important city. This combination makes it one of the most revered temples in India, … [Read more...]
MAHAKALESHWAR TEMPLE
Ujain, Madhya Pradesh The Mahakaleshwar Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the third temple of the list, though not necessarily in either importance or in order to be visited. Per the Jyotirlinga legend, Shiva appeared on the spot as a beam of light. According to tradition, … [Read more...]
OMKARESHWAR TEMPLE
Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh The Omkareshwar Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the fourth temple of the list, though not necessarily in either importance or in order to be visited. Per the Jyotirlinga legend, Shiva appeared on the spot as a beam of light. The Omkareshwar Temple … [Read more...]
JAGANNATH TEMPLE
Puri, Odisha The Jagannath Temple is actually an immense Hindu temple complex, one of the largest and most magnificent to be found anywhere in India. It is the easternmost of the four Char Dham, or Sacred Abodes, among the holiest places in Hinduism. It was established as such in the 9th century by the Hindu saint Shankara. There are over a hundred temples and shrines on the … [Read more...]