Other Prominent Sanatan Hindu Temples

ayodhya ram Temple

Amarnath Temple

Amarnath Yatra is one of the most difficult and yet it is one of the most famous temples in India. Amarnath cave is at an altitude of 3888 meters (12760 feet) in the Himalayan mountain range known as the Chandanwari Hills. The shrine receives more than 4 lakh pilgrims in a 45-day visiting period during the month of Shravan and the Shravani Mela.

Annavaram Temple

Annavaram is the second most popular pilgrimage after the Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Annavaram temple’s presiding deity is Lord Satyadeva who sits with his consort Shri Anantha Lakshmi on a side and Lord Siva sits on the other side. The main temple is in the form of a chariot that has four wheels at each corner.

Arunachalam Temple

This temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalas- the five Shiva temples, each dedicated to the five elements. The Tiruvannamalai Arunachalam Temple construction dates back to 9th century AD, by Chola Kings. It is the largest Shiva temple in India. The area is concentrated with several ashrams and samadhis dedicated to saints and spiritual leaders from all over India.

Badrinath Temple

Badrinath temple is a part of both Chhota Char Dham and Char Dham yatra. Hindu devotees have considered this temple of Uttarakhand a pious pilgrimage by Hindu devotees for ages. Badrinath is a small temple town located in Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Furthermore, the majestic River Alaknanda flows beside the temple. Two peaks surround the temple – Nar and Narayan. Apart from the immense religious importance associated with this temple, the scenic beauty of its location also attracts overwhelming number of pilgrims each year. This is one of the top 50 famous temples in India.

Brahma Temple Pushkar

Pushkar temple is not only a legendary temple but also the most prominent of the few dedicated to Lord Brahma. Pushkar city is also famous for the yearly Pushkar camel fair in Kartik Poornima. Pilgrims visiting this temple have a lot to see in nearby regions of RajasthanDeo Krishna Mandir.

Bageshwar Bala Ji Dham

” Bageshwar Dham ” located in Gadha village of Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh , which is famous in the country and abroad for the divinity of Swayambhu Hanuman ji. Bageshwar Dham is the divine land of many ascetics, where people get the grace and blessings of Balaji Maharaj just by having a darshan. Here Balaji Maharaj listens to your problem through an application and solves it through Peethadhishwar Pujya Dhirendra Krishna Shastri Ji Maharaj, whom the world addresses as Bageshwar Dham Sarkar. You can get information about Dham or the divine court of respected Gurudev to be held in Dham or you can also get information about upcoming programs of Bageshwar Dham government by talking on the contact number of Dham.

Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura

Banke Bihari Temple is one of the most significant temples in the whole of India. The deity of Banke Bihari (Banke means bent at three places and Bihari means Supreme enjoyer) was founded by Swami Haridas, the famous Hindu saint of the Nimbarka Sampradaya (one of the six Goswamis) at Nidhivan in the 16th century. From the year 1864, when the temple was built, Banke Bihari is being worshipped here only. This is the only temple where Mangala Arati is not performed as Swami Haridas did not want to disturb the child like Lord to disturbed early in the morning. For this reason only, there are no bells in the temple either. Only once in a year, Mangala Arati is performed and that is the day after Janmashtami. While on Janmashtami, there is no darshan of the Lord as it is believed that He is still in His mother’s womb. Only when the clock strikes at the midnight, the Darshan is allowed. It is only on the Akshaya Tritiya, that the lotus feet of the Lord can be seen. As soon as a person enters the temple premises, the chant of ‘Radhe Radhe’ will be heard all over as the Lord loves of the name of ‘Radharani’.

Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Chaturbhuj Temple was built by Raja Madhukar during the years 1558 to 1573. The temple is named Chaturbhuj which literally translates to ‘one who has four arms’ referring to Lord Rama. The temple boasts of ornate decorations with religious symbols on the walls which are wonderful to witness. Denoting striking similarities to the Kushal Mahal in Chanderi, Chaturbhuj Temple is astounding as it doesn’t have any erotic carvings for which the Khajuraho temples are known for. The temple is also called Jatakari Temple and known for its intricate architecture. Location: Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

Chattarpur Mandir

The Chattarpur Mandir is spread over 70 acres of sprawling greens and comprises over 20 small and large temples. The sixth avatar of Durga, Katyayani was the one who slayed the evil demon Mahishasur. Also, The stunning white marble architecture with serene surroundings makes the Chattarpur Mandir all the more divine and admirable

Vaishno Devi Temple

In the beautiful land of Jammu Kashmir is this famous temple of Vaishno Devi. Since it is on the peak of a Trikuta mountain, most pilgrims trek 13 km to reach the temple. This temple is in the form of a cave. Many believe that Vaishno Devi is the most prominent Shakti Peetha. It is the most visited shrine in Northern India which definitely makes it one of top 50 famous temples in India.

Golden Temple

Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib is very famous, stunningly beautiful and the holiest Sikh shrine. Since it is one of the very few monuments built with something as precious as gold, the beauty of this temple is legendary. The golden dome of the temple weighs 750 kg. Sikh gurus built this temple for a message of peace and acceptance to all religions.

Jagannath Puri Temple

Situated in Odisha, the Jagannath Puri temple is a very celebrated temple. It is also a part of Char Dham shrines. It is one of the most sacred Vaishnavite Pilgrimage sites. The temple’s deities are Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. The idol of Lord Jagannath is wooden, which is unconventional. Another feather in the cap of this temple is that its kitchen is the largest kitchen in the world!

Meenakshi Temple

Meenakshi Temple of Goddess Parvati and Lord Sundareshwara has an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple. An ancient masterpiece of Dravidian architectural style, it is one of most famous temples in India. The Linga of Lord Sundareshwara is one of the 68 Swayambhu Lingas in India.

Gangotri Temple

In the town where the holiest of the rivers- the river Ganga- originates, Gangotri is one of the most famous temples in India. The temple is also dedicated to the river Ganga and is at an elevation of 3048 meters above the sea level. While the location makes the journey to this revered temple difficult, it is always worth it. The beautiful scenic beauty adds to its significance.

Yamunotri Temple

Another temple in Devbhumi (Land of the Gods) Uttaranchal is Yamunotri Temple. Often cited in close association with Yamunotri, it is the origin of a sacred river too- Yamuna. The Temple of Goddess Yamuna is at an altitude of 3291 meters. Dense forests of the Himalayan ranges surround the temple. It is one of the 4 temples that constitute the Chota Char Dham.

Tirupati Balaji

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the most popular and sacred Vaishnavite temple in the world. Devotees worship Lord Venkateshwara in this temple. The Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is at the peak of Tirumala hill also known as Venkatadri. It is a beautiful, ancient temple and one of the most famous temples in India.

Khajuraho Temples

Khajuraho temples are a group of Hindu and Jain temples- exhibiting India’s cultural diversity. They are precious UNESCO World Heritage sites. Once spread over an area of 20 square kilometers, they are now a group of 20 surviving temples. The temples are extremely beautiful. Some of the notable ones are Matangeshwar, Devi Jagdambi and Kandariya Mahadeva.

Dwarkadhish Temple

The stunning architecture of this temple 2000-2200 years old, as the archaeological findings suggest. Hence, it is one of the oldest and most famous temples in India. Hindus believe that Sri Krishna’s grandson Vajranabha constructed the temple. Dwarka is composed of two words – “Dwar” meaning the Gate and “Ka” meaning Brahma or Moksh. There are two tours you can plan around this temple. Dwarka Somnath Tour and Pancha Dwaraka Yatra.

Har ki Pauri, Haridwar

According to the Garuda Purana, Haridwar is one of the seven holiest places or Moksha Sthalas. Next to the holy river Ganga, this temple sees numerous devotees from all over the country. Moreover, the city is also the gateway of the famed Chhota Char Dham pilgrimage. Haridwar also hosts other famous temples.

Konark Temple

Konark Temple is a jewel in the crown of Indian architecture. As a result, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name forms from kon” meaning “angle” and “Ark” meaning “the sun”. King Narsimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty constructed it in 13th century.

Pashupatinath Temple

A World Heritage Site, the Pashupatinath Temple is not only a sacred temple, but also an attraction for tourists. The Shivalinga of this holy place of worship consists of eight faces. Thousands of pilgrims pay a visit to this temple every day.

Durga Temple Aihole

Although its name suggests Durga as the deity, the word in the temple name means “Durg” or “fortress”. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Durga Temple Aihole came into existence between the 7th and 8th century by the Chalukya dynasty. It is well maintained and visiting this temple is like a beautiful time travel.

Naina Devi Temple

Naina Devi Temple is a Shakti Peeth. It is based on the mythological story of Goddess Sati. Shri Naina Devi Temple is the place where the eyes of Goddess Sati fell down. Famous landmarks of Bhakra Dam, Anadpur Sahib and Govind Sagar lake surround the temple. The temple is on a triangular hill which offers a great view of the foothills.

Hoysaleswara Temple

The Hoysaleswara Temple of Halebeedu is another masterpiece of Indian temple architecture. The temple worships Lord Shiva and exhibits Hoysala style of architecture. While built in the 12th century, it has beautiful intricate carvings. There is also a museum within the temple complex.

Prati Balaji Temple

The Prati Balaji Temple Narayanpur is a replica of the original Tirupati Temple. Its construction completed in 2003 after decades of work. It occupies 10 acres of land and Sahyadri hills enclose the beautiful complex. The entrance of the shrine is huge and has beautiful stone-crafts.

Saptashrungi

Saptashrungi is a Shakti Peeth and one of the most popular and religious places for pilgrims. In addition, the image of the Devi is about 10 feet tall with 18 hands, holding various weapons. Since the temple is on a mountain, one has to climb around 500 steps to reach the shrine. Moreover, there are several other shrines close to it.

Deo Krishna Mandir

Deo Krishna Mandir is one of the most sacred sites as per the beliefs of Hinduism. The site on which the shrine has been constructed is believed to be the exact spot where Lord Vishnu manifested himself as the eighth avatar of Lord Krishna. The oldest mention of Mathura can be traced back to the age of the epic Ramayana.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple is one of the sacred and holy temples in Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is a belief that the statue of Lord Hanuman was found in this well before about 350 years and the temple was constructed at the same place. This temple is the place to get rid of the evils and is one of the most famous temples in India.

Pandharpur Vitthal Temple

Pandharpur Temple receives the largest number of devotees in Maharashtra. Lord Vitthal or Vithoba (form of Lord Krishna) along with his consort Rakhumai or Rukmini preside the holy shrine. Furthermore, the earliest inscriptions of the Temple are the era of the Yadava dynasty in the 12th & 13th century. The Dindi Yatra is a unique feature of the Temple.

Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya

Ayodhya has been in existence from the very beginning of the human race and is it is believed that it was the center of the activities of the gods that were present on the earth many thousands of years ago. Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu was been here and he ruled His kingdom from this town. It is also believed that this city was built by the gods and was known as Kosaldesa in the ancient times. The Janmabhoomi is the place where Lord Rama took birth and there is a small temple at this location that is dedicated to Lord Rama. It is of great religious value to the Hindus and the Vaishnavites.

Dwarkadheesh Mandir in Mathura

Located in the eastern part of Mathura, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, the Dwarkadheesh Temple is the most inexorable part of the temples. It was built by Seth Gokul Das Parikh in 1814 who was a great devotee of Lord Krishna. The presiding deities are Lord Krishna and His beloved Radharani. Other Gods of the Hindu pantheon are also present here. Whole hearted celebration
takes place at the time of Janmashtami, Holi and Diwali. It is dedicated to that form of the Lord when He became the King and started ruling from Dwarika.
The Dwarkadhish Temple remains open for darshan between 7AM to 8.30 PM everyday throughout the year. Almost 3000 people make it to the temple for the Mangala Darshan which takes place at around 6.30 in the morning.

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple in Varanasi

Located near the Benaras Hindu University in the southern part of Varanasi, the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is dedicated to the Lord Hanuman. Millions of people believe that if they visit the temple and offer prayers on regular basis then they will be relieved from all sorts of sankats, i.e. hindrances on the way of their progress. As per the Vedas, Lord Hanuman rescues and saves His devotees from the evil effects of the Saturn and this is the reason why thousands of people line up to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Sindoor is applied on the deity by the devotees which is later put on their foreheads as the sacred Tilak. Ladoos are offered to the deity. Hanuman Chalisa, Sundar kand and Kishkindha is recited by the devotees who visit this temple.

Kainchi Dham (Bhowali)

This majestic temple which sits by the softly flowing river and the scenic beauty of the natural surroundings is not only just a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman but is also an ashram of Neem Karoli Baba. It is believed by the followers that once you perform strong meditation you will be able to feel the strong and powerful presence of Lord Hanuman. This place has been visited by a number of famous people like Steve Jobs (late CEO of Apple) and Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook).

Jageshwar Dham – Almora ( Uttarakhand )

Jageshwar Dham is a temple complex near Almora, which has 124 small and big temples. These temples are more than 2500 years old and dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and other Hindu gods and goddesses. Jageshwar temples have fantastic architecture and stone sculptures.

Chitrakoot Dham

Chitrakoot incorporates very many places of religious and pauranic importance,visited both by devotees and sight-seers.From the administrative view point, some of these places are situated in Uttar Pradesh and others in Madhya Pradesh. As all these places are popularly associated with religious feelings of the people and a large number of pilgrims visit these sites. It is well connected by train as well as by road.

Kal Bhairav Mandir, Ujjain

Dedicated to Kal Bhairav who is also known as the guardian deity of the city of Ujjain, Kal Bhairav Temple is one of the most visited temples in Madhya Pradesh. With liquor as one of the main offerings, the temple houses the idol of Kal Bhairav who is considered to be the chief of Ashta Bhairava. The famous temple is also related with Tantra cult that was a secret religious sect who flourished on black magic. Location: Jail Road, Bhairav Garh, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

Mamleshwar Temple, Omkareshwar

Hosting one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Mamaleshwar Temple in Omkareshwar is believed to be one of the oldest temples in the region. Also known as Amareshwar Temple, the temple is a must visit if you are visiting Omkareshwar.The temple boasts of many ancient inscriptions which are more than hundreds of years old and a delight for all the tourists who are fond of history. Location: Mamleshwar Temple, Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh.

Shri Pitambara Shaktipeeth Temple, Datia Madhya Pradesh

Maa Pitambara or Pitambari Devi, is a shaktipeeth which was established in 1935. Navratri is considered one of the auspicious time period to worship Maa Pitambara. The darshan in this temple is done via a small window through which people worship her. They are not allowed to touch the mother’s statue. It is known that Maa Baglamukhi is known as Pitambara Devi, hence yellow things are offered to her. The temple of Goddess Dhumavati (one of the Goddess in Dus Mahavidyas) is also established in the ashram. Apart from these, temples of Parshuram, Hanuman and Kaal Bhairav and other God and Goddess are present across the wide area covered by the ashram.

Janaki Temple, Sitamarhi

About 1.5 Kms. Off the railway station and the bus stand, this is the birth place of Sita. Janaki-Kund is adjacent south of the temple. The shrine is thronged by devotees in thousands during Navratri and Ram Navami festivals. It is believed that this temple is some 100 years old. The legend of this place refers to the epic Ramayana and famous as the place where Sita was nursed under a shade in the ploughing filed where she was found as a new born by the King Janaka. This is a fairly big temple with a modern structure. The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Ram, Sita and Hanuman. A nearby tank famous as Janki Kund is where the King Janaka used to give bath to the baby Sita as is the belief of popular mythical tale. There is a big courtyard and provision for solar powered lights.