Sacred Temples

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, Kedarnath is an ancient Shiva temple set amid the Garhwal Himalayas at 3,583m. Built by the Pandavas and revived by Adi Shankaracharya, it is among the holiest pilgrimage sites.

Built in 1801, Shree Siddhivinayak is one of the richest and most visited temples in Mumbai, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The black stone idol with a right-tilted trunk is considered especially auspicious.

Nestled in the Trikuta Mountains, the Vaishno Devi shrine honours the Mother Goddess in the form of three natural rock formations (pindis). Millions undertake the sacred trek each year.

Sri Harmandir Sahib, the holiest gurdwara of Sikhism, is renowned for its gold-plated facade reflected in the sacred Amrit Sarovar. It welcomes people of all faiths and serves the world's largest free community kitchen.

The Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic temple dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. Famed for its towering, vividly coloured gopurams covered in thousands of sculptures.

The first among the twelve Jyotirlingas, Somnath stands on the western coast of Gujarat. Destroyed and rebuilt many times through history, it symbolises resilience and eternal faith.

Known as Bhuloka Vaikunta (Heaven on Earth), Guruvayur is one of the most sacred Krishna temples in Kerala, famed for its disciplined rituals and the deity Guruvayurappan.

Perched atop Jakhu Hill, the highest peak in Shimla, this ancient Hanuman temple is marked by a towering 108-foot statue visible across the town, surrounded by deodar forests.

Built at Ram Janmabhoomi, the believed birthplace of Lord Rama, the grand Nagara-style Ram Mandir was consecrated on 22 January 2024. Its intricately carved sandstone shikhara and pillars make it one of India's most significant modern pilgrimage sites.

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain is renowned for its swayambhu (self-manifested) south-facing lingam and the famous predawn Bhasma Aarti, where the deity is adorned with sacred ash.

Perched on the Tirumala hills, the Sri Venkateswara Temple is one of the richest and most visited places of worship in the world. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Balaji), a form of Vishnu, devotees offer their hair and donations in fulfilment of vows.

One of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites, the 12th-century Jagannath Temple honours Lord Jagannath (a form of Krishna) along with Balabhadra and Subhadra. It is world-famous for its annual Rath Yatra, when the deities ride colossal chariots.

Standing on the western bank of the holy Ganga in Varanasi, Kashi Vishwanath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the spiritual heart of the ancient city. The newly built Vishwanath Corridor connects the temple to the ghats.

A Char Dham and Chota Char Dham site, Badrinath is dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Badri Narayan. Set in the Garhwal Himalayas beside the Alaknanda river and the Neelkanth peak, it opens only for about six months each year.

On the island of Rameswaram, this Jyotirlinga temple is where Lord Rama is believed to have worshipped Shiva to absolve the sin of war. It is famed for having the longest temple corridor in India and twenty-two sacred water tirthas.

One of the Char Dham and Sapta Puri, the Dwarkadhish (Jagat Mandir) temple honours Lord Krishna as the King of Dwarka. Its five-storey spire rises about 78m and flies a giant flag changed several times daily.

The Shri Saibaba Samadhi Mandir in Shirdi enshrines the tomb of Sai Baba, the revered saint who preached love, faith (Shraddha) and patience (Saburi). Millions of devotees of all faiths visit the shrine each year.

Set amid the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats, Sabarimala is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. Pilgrims observe a 41-day vratham and climb the sacred eighteen steps (Pathinettam Padi) to reach the shrine.

The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple enshrines Lord Vishnu reclining on the serpent Anantha. Blending Kerala and Dravidian architecture, it is renowned as one of the wealthiest temples in the world.

Atop Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, the Kamakhya Temple is one of the most revered Shakti Peethas, dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya. It is the centre of Tantric worship and the famous Ambubachi Mela.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century, the Brihadeeswarar (Big Temple) is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture, crowned by a towering granite vimana and a colossal Nandi.

Inaugurated in 2005 on the banks of the Yamuna, Akshardham is a vast modern temple complex dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Intricately carved from pink sandstone and marble, it showcases Indian art, culture and spirituality.