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10 Incredible Temples of India! Pinnacle of Faith and Spirituality

by: Meenakshi

India is synonymous with spirituality. The temples of India are popular across the world for their incredible architectural beauty. Some of these are century old and are a hot spot for the devotees. People from various parts of the country and world come here either to pay homage to the deity or to see the marvelous beauty carved on ceilings and walls. A trip to India is never complete without a visit to these marvels. They are huge, they are beautiful, they are interesting and unique in some or the other way. These incredible temples of India represents a fascinating aspect of Indian religion, age old traditions and few speaks about the history. But one thing that is common in the temples listed below is the mind blowing architecture.

Let us browse through the following list of 10 Incredible Temple Architectures of India

Dilwara Temple, Mount Abu, Rajasthan : One of the very popular temples for its artistic work in the state of Rajasthan is the Dilwara Temple. The temple is located in Mount Abu, which happens to be a highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan and a famous tourist spot as a hill station. Dilwara Temple is a Jain temple which is just 2.5 Km away from Mount Abu.

Image credit: http://www.meriyatrra.com/photos/images/dilwara-temples.jpg

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh : Khajuraho is a town located in the State of Madhya Pradesh in India and is famous for its exquisite temples, their carvings and the architecture. The place is a very popular tourist attraction not only because of the temples but also due to the presence of the erotic carvings that adorn the walls of some of the temples. Originally there were 85 temples but many were destroyed by Muslim invaders and only 25 temples remain. These Hindu and Jain temples were built somewhere between 250 and 1030 A.D and many are still intact. Hundreds of tourists as well as worshipers throng the place to admire the art and architecture that this unique place has to offer.

Image credit: http://www.emile.co.kr/image/ttanzi/090519007_Khajuraho5.jpg

Somnath Temple, Gujarat : Somnath Temple is one of the very ancient temples of India located on the western coast of Gujarat and stands as a famous landmark in the Indian history. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the God Shiva. The temple has imposing architecture and is a beautiful sight facing the blue expanse of the Arabian Sea. Each carving in the temple premise is worth taking a look.

Image credit: http://www.religiousindia.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/391593165_a2f071bc56.jpg

Meenakshi Temple, Madurai,Tamil Nadu : The Meenakshi is a Hindu temple in the city of Madurai - Tamil Nadu, named after the Princess Meenakshi in Hindu mythology. According to legend Madurai is the actual site where the wedding between Shiva and Meenakshi took place. It is one of the most ancient in temple complexes and is the signature of Indian architecture. It is by far the most exquisite example of the Dravidian Temple architecture. The complex is in around 45 acres (180,000 m2) and the temple is a massive structure measuring 254 by 237 meters.

Image credit: http://blog.akef.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/meenakshi-temple-3.jpg

Konark Sun Temple, Orissa : The entire temple was designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twenty four wheels, each about 10 feet in diameter, with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. The Sun Temple of Konark marks the highest point of achievement of Kalinga architecture depicting the grace, the joy and the rhythm of life all in its wondrous variety.

Image credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Konark_Sub_Temple_Front_view.jpg

Akshardham, Gujarat : The monument which is set in a 23-acre plot at Gandhinagar (Gandhinagar district) is built in pink sandstone. It is 108 feet tall and 6000 tonnes of stone has gone into its making. A point worth noting is that this modern monument to Hinduism was built as per the injunctions of Vastu Shastra. Not a bit of steel has been used. The monument stands on 93 sculpted pillars, 210 single-piece stone beams, 57 window grills, domes, eight ornate zarokhas, etc. The sanctum sanctorum contains a 1.2 tonne gold-plated idol of Lord Swaminarayan, the founder of the sect that bears his name.

Image credit: http://www.indianholidaytours.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/akshardham1.jpg

Girnar temple, Gujarat : Mt.Girnar (Junagadh district) is a sacred hill both to the Hindus and Jains. The Jains call it Mt. Neminath. According to traditional history, Siddhas have used it as a retreat to undertake tapasya since ancient times. Girnar was known by different names at different periods-Ujjayant, Manipur, Chandraketupur, Raivat Nagar, Puratanpur, Girivar and Girnar. Of the sever peaks five are important Amba Mata, Gorakhnath, Augadh, Guru Datatreya and Kalika. The pilgrims have to climb 4000 steps to reach the top. There are five important Jain temples, besides several Hindu shrines.

Image credit: http://www.normankoren.com/trips/Girnar_Jain_temple_720W_3231.jpg

Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat : The Dwarkadhish temple honors Krishna Bhagwan and attracts thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the country. The Dwarka of Krishna's time lies submerged under the Arabian Sea. Tradition has it that Krishna's residence was at Bet Dwarka (submerged in sea), a few kms from the mainland Dwarka. The Dwarkadhish temple (also known as Jagat temple) and its Sikhar rises to 170 feet.

Image credit: http://www.templesofindia.co.cc/Dwarkadhish-Temple.jpg

Murudeshwar Temple, Uttar Kannada, Karnataka : Murudeshwar is another name of Lord Shiva. Murudeshwar is a town in the Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka. Murudeshwara beach town lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also famous for the Murudeshwara Temple. It is a place where world's second largest statue of Lord Shiva resides. The statue is 123 feet (37 m) in height, and took about 2 years to build. This is supposedly the tallest temple in India. The twenty-storied gopuram at Murudeshwar temple, considered to be the tallest in the world.

Image credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Joggo_125.jpg

Palitana Temple, Gujarat : There are 900 temples big and small on the two summits. The sculptures that adorn the marble temples present a feast to the eyes. You need not be a Jain to admire the spectacle. The temple chain starts with the shrine constructed by Babu Dhanpatsinh of Murshidabad at the foot of the hill. The pilgrims have to ascend 3745 steps to reach the 1800 feet hill. It takes between one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half hours to reach the summit.

Image credit: http://www.indianfestivaldiary.com/Images/Religions/Palitana_Jain_temple_Gujrat_India.jpg