Jan 13, 2014

View as Slideshow

Ten most amazing Hindu

temples of India

Blog by Radhika Ravi Rajan

467K
VIEWS

102
COMMENTS

1. Land Of Hinduism

India being home to Hinduism, one of the oldest religions in the world, is naturally the
place to find the maximum number of Hindu temples. Though India is dotted with
thousands of Hindu temples, big and small, here are ten of the most awe-inspiring ones,
according to a survey. Take a look...

2. Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The

temple is the largest in the town of Kanchipuram, with a gopuram or gateway tower that
is 59 metres tall. It is one of five major Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.

3. Virupaksha Temple, Hampi

Virupaksha Temple, also dedicated to Lord Shiva, is part of a group of temples at Hampi,
Karnataka. It is located on the banks of the river Tungabhadra within the ruins of the
ancient city of Vijayanagara. The temple's history dates back to the 7th century.

4. Duladeo Temple, Khajuraho

Duladeo Temple, again dedicated to Shiva, is located in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh,

and is part of a number of Hindu and Jain temples at Khajuraho, which was enlisted as a
World Heritage Site in 1986. The temples were built by the rulers of Chandella dynasty
between the 10th and 12th centuries. The Khajuraho temples are known worldwide for
their erotic sculptures and considered to be one of the seven wonders of India.

5. Konark Sun Temple,,Orissa

The Konark Sun Temple, located in Konark, Orissa, is enlisted as a World Heritage Site. It
was constructed in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I and is dedicated to the
sun god. It is one of the most majestic temples of India and was originally conceived as
the sun deity's chariot, a chariot drawn by seven horses, with 12 pairs of decorated
wheels at its base.

6. Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra

The Elephanta Caves are a group of caves sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, and
located on an island east of Mumbai. The temple was designated as a World Heritage
Site in 1987 and art historians date its construction to between the 5th and 8th
centuries. The principal cave contains exquisite carvings of the Hindu god Shiva in his
various forms. The temple is reached by boat across the Arabian Sea.

7. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram has a beautiful setting, off the shore of the Bay of
Bengal. The stone structures at Mahabalipuram were built by the Pallava kings in the
7th and 8th centuries.

8. Ellora, Maharashtra

Kailasnatha Temple forms part of the Ellora Caves in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The
cave temple complex is sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. These caves are worldknown for the rock-cut temples containing elaborate carvings on the walls.
Kailasanatha, located in the primary cave, is carved out of a single rock and is designed
to appear like Mount Kailasa, the abode of Hindu god Shiva.

9. Brihadeeswarar Temple, Tamil Nadu

Brihadeeswarar Temple is one of the best examples of Chola architecture. It is also

known as Periya Koyil, which means the Big Temple in local lingo. It is located in
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, and was built by Rajaraja Chola-I in the 11th century.

10. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

The Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is located on the southern bank of Vaigai river
in the temple city of Madurai. The Meenakshi Temple is known for its intricately
decorated tower.

11. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal

The Virupaksha Temple in the village of Pattadakal was built by the Chalukya dynasty in
the 8th century and includes a mixture of south and north Indian temple architecture
styles.

102

COMMENTS

Read Write