In India, temples are the most valuable assets. India boasts a lively culture steeped within the tradition, and there are many better places to get a feel of this than at the ancient temples around India. India is a home of incredible sights, but if you are heading off on tour to India, do not forget to visit these stunning ancient temples where you can experience positivity, a sense of hope, and divinity. And you can also witness the incredible talent of Indian ancestors as sculptures.
Today in this article we will discuss the most beautiful ancient temples in India
List of Ancient Temples in India
- Kailasa Temple
- Brihadeswara Temple
- Adi Kumbeshwara Temple
- Dwarkadhish Temple
- Chennakesava Temple
- Jagatpita Brahma Mandir
- Pancha Ratna Temple
- Vittala Temple
#1 Ellora’s Kaliasa Temple – A Master Piece of Indian Architecture
We all know there are seven wonders in the world, but trust me, if you visit this Kailashnath temple, which is located in the 16th cave of Ellora caves, you will start calling this temple the 8th wonder not only because of its beauty but also this temple is the largest monolithic rock-cut in the world. Kailashnath temple is sculpted out of single basalt rock.
Kailashnath is one of India’s extraordinary temples owing to its fantastic architecture, massive size, and carvings that are a feast for your eyes. Kailasa temple is an excellent engineering marvel for architecture and history lovers. Constructed in the 8th century and is dedicated to the Hindu god, MAHADEV (lord shiva).
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#2 Brihadeeswara Temple – The UNESCO World Heritage Site
Brihadeeswara temple is dedicated to lord shiva, constructed in 1002AD under the direction of King Rajaraja Chola. The Brihadeeswara temple is a combination of excellent sculpture, painting, architecture, and other related arts. It is also composed of interconnected structures like the Nandi pavilion, a large hall, and a pillared entrance.
#3 Adi Kumbeswarar Temple – Kumbakonam – Tamilnadu
Adi kumbeshwara temple is one of India’s famous Hindu temples, located in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. This temple is estimated to be the 26th paadal petra Sthalam within the Chola kingdom. Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, which is also known as Thirukudamooku, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built through the Chola dynasty in the 9th century.
Simultaneously, the temple was renovated under the direction of Govinda Dikshitar, the Chieftain of Achutha Nayakar of Thanjavur, within the 16th century AD. The temple is supported and managed by the Hindu Religious plus Charitable Endowments Department of Tamil Nadu’s Government.
According to mythicism, when the world encountered destruction due to the destructive tsunami, Lord Brahma requested Lord Shiva to know from wherever he had to restart creation. Lord Shiva advised that Brahma make a magic pot, including the sand collected from different sacred places, float it within the floodwater, and explained the procedure of leaving it upon the water.
Kumbakonam is the area where that pot is suspended, and then Lord Shiva shot an arrow at the pot. The nectar emptied, and therefore life was renewed on the earth. A few drops of the nectar fell inside a natural cavity in this place, and it is the Mahamaham tank.
Believed to have been built in the 7th century A.D via Cholas, Adi Kumbeshwara Temple is one of the greatest and the oldest Shiva temples within the town.
#4 Shree Dwarkadhish Temple – Dwarka – A Birth Place of Lord Krishna
Dwarkadhish Temple, also recognized as the Jagat Mandir, means a Chalukya styled architecture, anointed to Lord Krishna. The town of Dwarka has its history escorted back to the Kingdom of Dwaraka in Mahabharata. The five-storied central shrine is tremendous and spectacular in itself, built of limestone plus sand. The 2200-year-old architecture is assumed to be built by Vajranabha, who built it over the land recovered from the sea by Lord Krishna.
There are different shrines inside the temple that are dedicated to Subhadra, Balarama, plus Revathy, Rukmini, Vasudeva, and several others.
The followers are supposed to take a dip within the Gomti river before moving into the temple within the Swarg Dwar. The evening of Janmashtmi (Lord Krishna’s birthday) is the most appropriate occasion within any Krishna temple; the Dwarkadhish temple is enhanced by thousands of devotees singing prayers and ceremonies. The shrine is a swarm of voices, colors, and faith, changing itself into inner silence plus sanctification.
#5 Chennakesava Temple – Belur Shinning Jewel
Located on the Yagachi River’s shores, this temple was an early classic of the Hoysala Period. The Vijayanagara emperor constructed it to celebrate their victory above the Cholas. This temple is wholly dedicated to Vishnu as the greatest of the figural carvings represent aspects of Vishnu, especially the embodiments and the God seated with Goddess Lakshmi.
#6 Jagatpita Brahma Temple – The God of Creation – Rajasthan
To endure ultimate dedication and love towards Lord Brahma, plan your trip to Pushkar from October to November. This month, on the evening of Kartik Poornima (full moon night), a sacred festival is established in the exaltation of the Lord. At such a spiritual accession, wanderers in numbers of thousands take a dip in the holy lake of Pushkar. Many other services at the Brahma temple also become elements of the spiritual celebration.
Although that temple’s composition dates back to the 14th era, this temple is 2000 years ancient. The temple is chiefly built of marble plus stone slabs. It has a clear red pinnacle plus a bird theme. The temple sanctum sanctorum contains the central pictures of Brahma, including his second consort Gayatri. It observes a festival sanctified to Brahma through the Kartik Purnima.
#7 Pancha Ratna Temple Bankura West Bengal
This temple is built in 1643 under the direction of King Raghunath Singha; this temple persists on a low square plinth plus consists of an itinerant pathway with a gallery opened by three domes upon the four facets of the temple. The walls are richly embellished with terracotta carvings emphasizing phases of Lord Krishna’s life.
#8 Vittla Temple – Temple in Hampi
Conceivably one of the most famous of all the temples located in the Hampi complex, this houses the famous musical pillars that possess marvelous acoustics. The British desired to find out the purpose behind this, and so they whacked two pillars to investigate if there was anything inside that was generating the sound. They found nothing but empty pillars.
The road heading to the temple was formerly a market wherever horses were traded. Yet today, we can see the vestiges of the market upon both sides of that road. The temple includes images of immigrants like Persians trading horses.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a spiritual person or not. If you want to go to the depths of Indian ancient culture, visit these temples for sure.