Top 10 Most Amazing Hindu Temples

One of the oldest religions in the world, Hinduism has more than 900 million adherents worldwide. While the majority of Hindus live in India, significant numbers are found in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

The construction of temples in India began nearly two thousand years ago, marking the departure of Hinduism from the Vedic religion. Since then, Hindu temple architecture has developed in a wide range of styles. A murti, or sacred image, of the deity is typically featured, and they are typically dedicated to a single primary Hindu deity. Although regular visits to Hindu temples are not required, they play an important role in Hindu society and culture.

10 Amazing Hindu Temples

• Tanah Lot
• Kanchipuram Temples
• Brihadeeswarar Temple
• Khajuraho
• Banteay Srei
• Sri Ranganathaswamy
• Virupaksha Temple
• Prambanan
• Meenakshi Amman Temple
• Angkor Wat

10. Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot is one of Bali's most photographed and most well-known Hindu temples, perched on a large rock. For centuries, the Tanah Lot temple has been a part of Balinese mythology. The temple is one of seven sea temples that form a chain along Bali's southwest coast, each within easy sight of the other.

9. Kanchipuram Temples

Kanchipuram, also known as the City of 1000 Temples, is one of South India's oldest cities. It is famous for its ancient Hindu temples and silk sarees. The Varadharaja Perumal Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the Ekambaranatha Temple, one of Lord Siva's five abodes, are two of the city's larger temples.

8. Brihadeeswarar Temple

Rajaraja I, a Chola king, constructed the Brihadishwara Temple in Thanjavur, India, in the 11th century. Brihadishwara, the first complete granite temple in the world, is a stunning example of temple architecture in the Dravidian style. One of the world's tallest temples, the tower of the temple is 66 meters (216 feet) high.

7. Khajuraho

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One of India's most popular tourist destinations is the village of Khajuraho. The erotic sculptures in its numerous Hindu and Jain temples are well-known. From 950 to 1150, the temples were built over a 200-year period. The Hindu deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, as well as a variety of Devi forms, are the focus of the majority of the temples, while the Jain pantheon is the focus of a few.

6. Banteay Srei

despite the fact that it is officially a part of the Angkor Wat complex, is listed separately because it is located 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of the main temple group. The Hindu temple, which was built mostly out of red sandstone and was finished in 967 AD, has elaborate wall carvings that can still be clearly seen today. The only major temple at Angkor that was not built by a king is Banteay Srei. Instead, it was built by Yajnyavahara, one of king Rajendravarman's counselors.

5. Sri Ranganathaswamy

The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, India, is a significant shrine that welcomes millions of visitors and pilgrims annually. It is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a reclining form of Lord Vishnu. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the world's largest religious structures, covering 156 acres (or 6,31,000 square meters). The temple's oldest structure was built in the 10th century.

4. Virupaksha Temple

The Virupaksha Temple in the Indian city of Hampi began as a modest shrine and developed into a substantial complex under the Vijayanagara dynasty. Since the small shrine was constructed in the 7th century AD, it is believed that this temple has been continuously operating, making it one of India's oldest continuously operating Hindu temples. The temple's tallest entrance tower is 50 meters high.

3. Prambanan

The largest and most stunning Hindu temple complex in Indonesia is Prambanan. It is somewhat overshadowed by the even more impressive neighboring Borobudur, which is about 18 kilometers east of Yogyakarta. However, Prambanan is a collection of tall, pointed Hindu temples, whereas Borobudur is a single, massive Buddhist stupa. This distinction in style is a significant one.

The Mataram Kingdom, which ruled central Java at the time, constructed the three main temples at Prambanan around 850 AD. They are dedicated to Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu.

2. Meenakshi Amman Temple

The Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the most significant Hindu temples in India and can be found in the holy city of Madurai. Sundareswar, a representation of Lord Shiva, and Meenakshi, a representation of Goddess Parvati, are the gods of the temple. The complex has 14 magnificent towers, two of which are golden Gopurams with intricately sculpted and painted heads of the main deities.

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Despite the fact that the current structure was constructed in the early 17th century, the temple has been mentioned for several millennia and serves as a significant symbol for the Tamil people.

1. Angkor Wat

The magnificent remains of several Khmer Empire capitals from the 9th to the 15th centuries AD can be found in the vast Angkor Wat Angkor temple complex in Cambodia. These include the Bayon temple in Angkor Thom, which has numerous massive stone faces, as well as the well-known Angkor Wat temple, which is the largest single religious structure in the world. During its long history, Angkor underwent numerous religious transitions, including multiple conversions from Hinduism to Buddhism.