Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu The Bridhadishwar Temple is one of the largest and best preserved shrines in India that dates from the Middle Ages. Just over a thousand years old, it is also considered to be one of the great engineering feats of the Middle Ages. Among its features are one of the tallest pyramid towers in India (it was one of the tallest structures in the world at the … [Read more...]

Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu The Annamalaiyar Temple in Thiruvannamalai is an absolutely gargantuan temple complex, one of the largest in India. Dedicated to Shiva, it is associated with the Jyotirlinga legend (though it is not one of the Jyotirlinga temples). It covers an immense area, and boasts four of the tallest pyramid towers in Tamil Nadu. Millions of pilgrims descend on … [Read more...]

Pattadakal, Karnataka The city of Pattadakal is extremely rich in some of India’s oldest standing temples, many of whiah are collectively now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of these, the largest and most magnificent is arguably the Virupaksha Temple. Dedicated to the Lord Shiva, this impressive building dates back to the 8th century, making it one of India’s oldest … [Read more...]

Halebid, Karnataka The Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebid is one of the most impressive and popular temples to Shiva in Southern India. This is particulary true of the temple interior, which is easily one of the finest temple interiors in the country. It is the largest of the Hoysalan shrines, and the carvings and artwork that cover the temple are, simply put, among the best … [Read more...]

Trichur, Kerala The Vadakkunathan Temple is arguably the most important Hindu temple in Kerala. It is certainly among the oldest, largest and most popular for pilgrims. Architecturally it is significant as it is one of India’s few major temples that include significant elements constructed from wood, as well as its magnificent murals. Although believed by locals to have been … [Read more...]

Aurangabad, Maharashtra The Grishneshwar Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the twelfth temple of the list, though not necessarily in importance. Per the Jyotirlinga legend, Shiva appeared on the spot as a beam of light. Although it is not mandatory that this temple be the … [Read more...]

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu Rameswaram is one of the most sacred Hindu cities in Southern India. It enjoys several major religious distinctions. First is that it is home to one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlinga (a sacred object associated with Shiva). Second, it is one of four cities that mark the four cardinal compass points in Hinduism, in this case the south. Third, it is held to … [Read more...]

Aundha Nagnath, Maharashtra The Nageshvara Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the tenth 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. Like several of the … [Read more...]

Trimbak, Maharashtra The Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the eighth 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 Trimbakeshwar … [Read more...]

Bhimashankar, Maharastra The Bhimashankar Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the sixth 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 Bhimashankar Temple … [Read more...]