Want to learn more about famous Indian temples? Read on for facts and info on the most popular Temples of India and the reasons that contribute to their popularity…
The country of India is renowned for its rich cultural, artistic and historical heritage. The richness of this heritage has been preserved in the magnificent architecture of the many temples that are scattered across the country’s topography. These historical structures have now become major tourist attractions that people come to see from all over the world.
Some of the most famous Indian temples are as follows:
Khajuraho Temples
These unique temples are regarded as being one of the most fascinating structures in all of India. Located in Madhya Pradesh the foundation of these temples was laid down in 950 AD and they reached their completion in 1050 AD. The temples get the unique name from the date palm tree known as Khajur in the local language. The surrounding area is rich with a flourishing population of date palm trees. The Khajuraho region has now become a popular tourist center which is often frequented by history buffs and architecture enthusiasts. These temples offer an enthralling experience to the visitor who gets to marvel at its splendid exterior design as well the exquisite collection of artwork present within the vicinity of the temple.
Konark Sun Temple
The Konark Sun Temple is a fine monument of Orissan art which was erected in 1258 under the rulership of King Narasimhadeva-1 of eastern Ganga. The purpose for building this temple was to honor the sun which happened to be the patron deity of the region. One of the most intriguing aspects of this famous Indian temple is the fact that it has been modeled on a colossal chariot that is shown to be carrying the sun deity. This unique structure is regarded as being the most spectacular architectural structure from the ancient Kalinga era.
Golden Temple
The Golden temple is situated at the heart of Amritsar. The Golden Temple actually belongs to the people of the Sikh faith who are the followers of Guru Nanak. The idea of constructing the temple as the place of pilgrimage and worship for the Sikh nation was conceived by the fifth Guru, Arjan Sahib. The man is also credited for designing the architecture of the magnificent temple which today attracts millions of people from across the world.
Meenakshi Temple
Situated in the Tamil Nadu province Meenakshi Temple stands erected in the city of Madurai. This entire province has temples numbering in the thousands dating back to ancient times. The very city in which the temple stands is regarded as being the Athens of the East. This is because the region is steeped in mythology of warrior princesses, gods and goddesses. The foundations of this temple were laid down by Kulasekara Pandya. However; the Nayaks are credited for further developing this temple and transforming it into an architectural wonder. The Nayaks took over the city of Madurai in the 16th century and in the coming two centuries they worked upon the Meenakshi Temple which is now regarded as being one of the most glorious temples in all of India.
