India is home to billions of Hindus who have established beautiful and hefty temples since then. This includes some rich historical temples connected to mythologies, such as the Sun, Badrinath, And Sai Baba Shirdi. This consists of some rich historical temples related to legends, such as the Sun, Badrinath, And Sai Baba Shirdi.
If the same tradition also inspires you and you are visiting India to explore the most significant of these, don't look further. The content is forthcoming and uncovers the top temples in India, along with all the crucial information and travel guides. So, without any more discussion, let's dig into the list.
Exploring Top Temples in India (2024) Temple Travel Guide
1: Sai Baba Shirdi
Also known as the Shiridi of Sai Baba, this temple is dedicated to the spiritual master of both HInd and Muslims, commonly known as Sai Baba. He lived in the 19th century and was well-known for doing wise tasks, helping others, and living a simple life. He criticized the human love for perishable items and focussed on attaining the true purpose of life. Due to his firm beliefs, practices of Hindu rituals, and way of living, Sai Baba is also known as the incarnation of the famous Hindu deity Dattatreya.
The temple is in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, where devotees worldwide navigate to witness the statue and make donations according to their affordability.
2: Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand
Utrakhand is widely known for its breathtakingly beautiful valleys and hefty mountains surrounded by a fresh atmosphere. However, it is also famous for the beautiful Badrinath temple dedicated to the Hindu deity of the same name. Located in the district of Chamoli in Uttarakhand, this shrine is said to be home to lord Vishnu.
It is also a part of the famous Chota Char Dham Pilgrimage trip and part of `108 temples dedicated to different avatars of the lord Vishnu. However, you can only visit here from April to November because it remains closed in other seasons due to harsh weather conditions.
Two celebrated festivals at the Badrinath temples are as follows
- Mata Murti Ka Mela: Mata Murti is Lord Badrinath's mother. This event is a festival that celebrates her glory and arrival on earth
- Badri Kedar Festival: An eight-day June celebration to educate people about local traditions.
3: Sun Temple, Odisha
Dedicated to the Hindu deity, Lord Surya- the Sun, this temple is situated in the town of Kinal in the Puri district of Odisha. Built in the shape of a Chariot, this temple seems like a drawing by the seven horses that looks pleasing to the eyes and soul.
According to Hindu legends and mythologies, the temple is built in the same place where lord Krishna cursed his son with the Leprosy. To seek escape from the curse, his son worshiped lord Surya for 12 years. Getting pleased by his devotion, the lord healed him. In return, Samba- Krishna's son- built this enormous temple as a representation of gratitude and thankfulness. Here, you can witness the details of the ancient architecture and how complex engraving was done on the wall to enhance beauty.
4: Somnath temple
The Somnath temple is a renowned place mentioned in the ancient books of Skanda Purana and Shiv Puran. Somnath is a Sanskrit word that means the Moon. Hence, this temple is dedicated to the protector of the Moon.
A legend attached to this beautiful temple states that the Indian god of the Moon, Soma, was cursed by his father-in-law. As a result, he lost all his luster.
He prayed, and Lord Shiva, impressed by his devotion, cured his illness. He built this temple with all his efforts to thank the supreme deity.
It is located in the Prabhas Kshetra, known for obtaining the part of the mortal body of lord Krishna. There is also a place called Somnath Museum, which holds a unique light show for all the devotees and visitors.
5: Kedarnath temple, Uttarakhand
Within the lap of the great Himalayas lies a beautiful place, Uttarakhand. It is the home to the famous Hindu temple, Kedarnath. Being one of the most visited places in India, this temple is said to have been built by Pandavas to seek apologies for all their sins in Mahabharat.
However, in the 8th century, Adi Shankaracharya restored the temple. Since then, it has been one of the significant parts of Char Dham's journey. Pilgrims need to trek a 14 km distance to reach the final destination. In the winter, the area around Kedarnath becomes so cold that the temple remains closed, with the idol being shifted to Ukhimath.
6: Sanchi Stupa Temple, Madhya Pradesh
Surrounded by the beautiful stupas lies an enhancing temple called the Sanchi Stupa Temple. It is an architectural heritage of India that is dedicated to Lord Budha. The great Indian emperor, known to be a firm believer in Buddhism, built the temple in the 3rd century BC.
Today, people from all over the world visit the Sanchi Stupa Temple to be amazed by its beautiful architecture.
7: Ramanathaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu
The Ramanathaswamy Temple is in the small town of Tamil Nadu named Rameshwaram. As per the famous Hindu legend, Lord Rama, with his wife Goddess Sita, landed on this island after defeating Ravana, a Brahmin.
Hence, to obtain atonement for killing a Brahmin, he asked his devotee Hanuman to fly and get shivling from Kailash as he wanted to pray to lord shiva. At the same time, Goddess Sita also made a small lingam named Ramalingam. At the same time, The shoreline that lord hanuman brought is called the Vishwalingam. Lord Rama asked to pray to Vishwalingam first before praying to the Ramalingam. The same tradition has been practiced in this temple since the,
Conclusion
In a nutshell, India is a colorful country rich in culture and heritage. In addition, it is home to hundreds and thousands of temples. The content above contains the four most significant temples in India, along with all the needed insights.
