The mystical air in the country modestly transmits the fragrance of Karma, Dharma, and most essentially Forgiveness. A secular country under whose haven dwells various creeds in the utmost harmony, India can precisely be called the 'Land of Faith'. Trudge through the colossal mountains and you shall experience the celestial existence or traverse through the tortuous alleys, where sanctity combined with antiquity, waits to greet your thirsty souls. The reverent soil of the country relentlessly keeps you in contact with a Supreme Power that abides in different forms. The presence of a large number of temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, and monasteries in India beckons the vacationer to visit a country that is tolerant, spiritual and most of all diverse yet united.
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A remarkable Hindu shrine sited on the bank of the Vaigai River in Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. It is devoted to Goddess Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her spouse, Shiva, here named Sundareswarar. Legend says that Indra founded the Meenakshi Amman temple while he was on a pilgrimage to expiate for his misdeeds.
The temple is a ceremonial center of the ancient city of Madurai and one of the prevalent temple complexes in Tamil Nadu. The temple complex is allocated into a number of concentric quadrangular arenas enclosed by high brick walls. It is one of the rare temples to have four entrances facing four directions.
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Amritsar means 'pool of nectar'. It is a famous city in Punjab, renowned for a sacred shrine of the Sikhs known as the Golden temple or Sri Darbar Sahib. The gleaming shrine surrounded by the therapeutic water of the Amrit Sarovar (reservoir), excavated by the fourth Sikh Guru, Ram Dasji, in 1577, is a spiritual vista that would elevate your conscience to a blissful state. Maharaja Ranjit Singh protected Punjab from invaders in the 19th century and decked up the sanctum with marble effigies, golden gilding, and precious stones that are still the evidence of the affluent Sikh culture. Along with the soul food of 'Kirtan and Gurbani', you must not miss the delicious langar (food) that will make you have more and more with every bite. Spending some time in solitude around the Sarovar will surely take you to the state of eternal ecstasy!
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Regardless of the religion, caste, creed, and other systems of bias, Shirdi in Maharashtra is the gateway to the absolute holiness. The highly honored Sai Baba, all his life preached about One God creating admiration in thousands of hearts for himself. Shirdi being his native place is inundated by a multitude of aficionados heedlessly of religion, color or creed pursuing harmony and sanctity. Shirdi is one of the most visited religious places in India.
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Vaishno Devi Mandir, the dwell of Mata Vaishno, sited on the Trikuta Hills in Jammu, is amid the most popular holy places in India. The strenuous ramble that leads to the caves, where the goddess officiates and confers her blessings. This religious place is an experience of extreme glee. The journey amidst stunning landscape, transfusing divinity, and exhilarating adventure will remain encased in your reminiscences forever.
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The secular dwell of Lord Venkateswara, Tirumala Venkateswara temple rests on the last hill of the Seshachalam range in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. This divine place is renowned for its striking architectural beauty. Assumptions are that the temple hoards 60,000 pilgrims each day, thus topping the list of the most visited pilgrimage centers in India. The Puja complemented by various hymns and praises gives an essence of supreme divinity. The Laddoo Prasadam is still another fascination of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.
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The largest colossal statue of Bahubali in the world with 57 feet in height, Gommateshwara statue is an enormous black stone structure that is carved out of a single block of granite rock and stands on the peak of a hill. Every 12 years disciples flock to the temple to organize a Mahamastakabhisheka, wherein the sculpture is anointed with milk, saffron paste and dusted with powders of sandalwood, turmeric, and vermilion.
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Raised as a symbol of victory of King Vishnuvardhana over Cholas in 1117, the Chennakesava temple is one of the archetypal examples of Hoysala architecture. Veera Ballal II, grandson of Vishnuvardhana accomplished the edifice. Around 103 years were spent to complete the architectural splendor of this temple. The temple boasts exquisite artifacts depicting episodes from Mahabharata, Ramayana and the Upanishads. The sculpture of Darpan Sundari (lady with mirror) is unrivaled for its exquisiteness and dexterity.
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Located at Halebid, Hoysaleshwara temple is 16kms from Belur. The construction of this marvelous shrine accomplished in 1121 CE. It is assumed that the shrine was titled after Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleswara. Hoysaleswara Temple has two sections of shrines, one devoted to Hoysaleswara and another for Shantaleswara (named after Shantala Devi, queen of King Vishnuvardhana). The incredible design of this temple is a perfect archetype of Hindu style of architecture. Garuda Stambha (Pillar) and the wall sculptures gain plenty of attention of the visitors.
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Lord Ayyappan temple stands on a plateau in Kerala, offering stunning sights of the surrounding mountains and the valleys. Regardless of the top religion, caste, and creed, Lord Ayyappan emphasis on secularism and communal accord. Legends say that the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala is positioned in accordance with the guidelines of the Lord himself. Accordingly, Malikappurathamma is on the left of the Sannidhanam, and the Lord's advisers, Vavar, and Kadutha stand wake at the foot of the 'pathinettuthrippadi' the most substantial 18 steps in Hinduism, leading to the 'sanctum sanctorum'.
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The temple in Palani is an ancient temple of Lord Murugan, the deity of the Tamil Land, situated at an elevation of 1500 feet above sea level. Palani is the third Padai Veedu and its deity is known as Dandayudhapani Swami, the Lord having the staff in his hand is created out of a blend of nine minerals popularly called Navabashana. Constructed by Siddha Bhogar, the sculpture is iconic. Murugan denotes the beauty and Lord Murugan of Kurinji land is the god of Exquisiteness and Youth.
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Sited on the Rameswaram island in Tamil Nadu, Ramanathaswamy Temple is a Hindu shrine devoted to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is revered as a Jyotirlingam, which is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples. The tale depicts that in order to compensate the 'dosha' of killing Ravana, Lord Rama with his wife Sita wanted to worship Lord Shiva. As there was no Shivling in Rameshwaram, Mata Sita built a Shivling with mud and sand that became the original Rameshwaram Shiva lingam. The shrine boasts supercilious gopurams, colossal walls, and a gigantic Nandi. Rameswaram Jyotirlinga also possesses a 4000 feet long pillared corridor with over 4000 pillars, apparently the longest in the world.
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Located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal in Konark, Puri (Odhisa), Sun Temple is an amalgamation of scientific and architectural prodigy and intense devotion. Constructed by King Narasimhadeva 1st in the 13th century, the temple is dedicated to the Sun God- Surya. This remarkable temple has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple displays the magnificent architecture of a chariot of Surya driven by seven horses. The twelve pair of elegantly adorned wheels located at the base of the temple is famed to tell the accurate time just by looking at the shadow cast by the spokes of the wheels. Don't believe me? Pay a visit and get assured!
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The ruler of Kalinga, 'Anantavarman Chodaganga', commenced Jagannath temple. However, the Oriya ruler Ananga Bhima Deva rebuilt the temple in the year 1174 CE. Jagannath veneration in the temple continued until 1558 when the Afghan general attacked Odisha. Consequently, when Ramachandra Deb started an independent kingdom at Khurda in Orissa, the temple was sanctified and the idols were reinstalled. The temple is a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages that a Hindu is expected to make in one's lifetime, thus holding significance for many Hindu traditions. Among all the temples in Orissa, the temple of Shri Jagannath is the highest.
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Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham complex is a Hindu reliquary and a spiritual-cultural campus in New Delhi, India. Sited near the banks of the Yamuna, the temple, it witnesses approximately 70% of all tourists who visit Delhi. Recognized for its exquisiteness, Akshardham has numerous attributes that express the subsistence and purpose of the human. Spreading over 23 acres, Akshardham houses parks, rides, lakes, sculptures, and shrines. The disciples of Lord Swaminarayan work here to spread and augment the zest of sanctity and devotion with absolute peace of mind.
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Adrift in antiquity, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple has no unswerving historical documents as to when and by whom the original idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy was sanctified. Though, the temple has references in Epics and Puranas. Being one of the 108 principal Divya Desams in Vaishnavism, the temple is revered among the 13 Divya Desam in Malai Nadu. In the main shrine, Padmanabha reclines on the serpent Anantha or Adi Sesha. The serpent has five hoods facing inwards, demonstrating contemplation. This holy place in India is immensely flocked by the devotees.
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Badrinarayan Temple, one of the revered Char Dhams is a saintliest Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. One of the 108 Divya Desams, this shrine was initially constructed by Adi Shankara in the 19th century, which rapidly rose to eminence in the subsequent years. The temple has endured several major restorations, due to age and impairments by avalanches.
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Also known as the Jagat Mandir, Dwarkadhish temple is a Hindu sanctuary devoted to Lord Krishna, who is venerated here by the name of Dwarkadhish or 'King of Dwarka'. The town of Dwarka in Gujarat has an antiquity that dates back centuries and stated in the Mahabharat epic as the Dwaraka Kingdom. Placed on the banks of river Gomti, the town is labeled as the capital of Lord Krishna in legends.
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Assembled on 19 November 1801, the novel structure of the Siddhivinayak Temple is currently one of the richest temples in Mumbai. It was once a small 3.6 m x 3.6 m square block arrangement with a dome-shaped brick shikhara. Funded by a rich, childless Agri woman named Deubai Patil, the temple was built so that the Lord should grant children to sterile women. The temple consists of a small mandap with a sanctuary for Siddhi Vinayak. The wooden doors to the shrine are stamped with images of the Ashtavinayak. The inner roof of the shrine is plated with gold, and the central statue is of Lord Ganesha. On the edge, there is a Hanuman temple as well.
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This shrine is explicitly combined with the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple. During the attacks of Tipu Sultan in 1789, the deity of Sri Krishna from the Guruvayoor Temple was carried to the Ambalappuzha Temple for safekeeping. Planned in Kerala style, the architecture and creation of the temple are phenomenal. A magnificent painting of ten avatars of Lord Vishnu in the temple premises is the main temptation for the devotees. Above all, Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna temple is famed for its illusionists and Ottanthullal, which are executed once in a year.
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India is an incredible country that has some interesting rituals that may leave you astonished in amazement! One of such kind is the worshipping of rats. Exactly, that was the expression I was expecting! This is what 600 years ancient Karni Mata Temple sited at Deshnok in Bikaner is famous for! The marvelous architecture of stone and marble and the adorned statue of Karni Mata draw many disciples from different parts of the world. The resident population of rats is revered in the temple. If you see a white rat, consider yourself lucky- as the belief says!
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Situated in the Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is a medieval period complex of Hindu and Jain temples. Situated at a distance of 175 kilometers (108 miles) from Jhansi, the Khajuraho temples are famed for their erotic sculptures and Nagara-style architecture. The Chandela Dynasty rulers built these temples between 950-1050 AD. Out of 85 temples, only 20 temples are remaining at present. Revered by the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the group of temples honors diverse religious views of Hindus and Jains. Please don't be judgmental visiting this sacred abode of display of love!
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Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kedarnath Temple is a popular pilgrimage center in India. Located in the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river in Kedarnath, this shrine is open only between the end of April to Kartik Purnima. Lord Shiva is venerated as Kedarnath, the 'Lord of Kedar Khand', the ancient name of the region. Kedarnath Shrine is scenically sited amidst the lofty, snow-clad mountains and verdant pastures covering the valleys. Instantly behind the temple is the elevated Kedar dome peak, which can be spotted from great distances. It is supposed that the Pandavas constructed the temple of Kedarnath. At the entry of the shrine stands the statue of Nandi, the divine bull of Shiva. The walls of the temple are divinely carved with descriptions. The celebrated Shiva Lingam lodged in the shrine is in the extraordinary pyramidal shape.
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Located on the western bank of the holy river Ganges, Vishwanath Temple (also known as the Golden Temple) is one of the most celebrated temples in Varanasi. The Maratha monarch, Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of the Indore in the year 1780, built this holy site. Devoted to Lord Shiva, this temple is also known as the Vishwanatha or Vishweshwara, which means the ruler of the universe. The 12th of all the Jyotirlingas is present in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The Jyotirlinga has an extraordinary and exclusive importance in the religious history of India. The Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who ruled Punjab, donated the gold that is used to cover the two domes of the temple.
If you are looking to visit some of the religious places in India, these holy places are perfect for the peace seekers to attain sanctity and ruminate in the tranquil atmosphere.
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