Top Famous Temples in India with History

 When it comes to culture, India is a large and diverse nation. India, a secular country, is populated by individuals of many different religions and worldviews. In our country, there are countless houses of worship. These locations profoundly impact the cultural and historical background of India. 

While some of these locations are well-known centres for pilgrimage, others are entirely unknown to many of us. We shall discuss the most prominent temples in India today. We have compiled a list of the top temples in India, along with all the information you require. An excellent Indian temple travel guide is provided here, covering everything from the temple's location and hours to its history. Let's start now!

1. Brihadeeswara temple

One of the most magnificent examples of India's historical constructions' architectural magnificence is the Brihadeeswara Temple. It has one of India's biggest Shivlings. The main sanctuary is a fantastic towering structure that, in the eleventh century, was among the highest buildings in the entire globe. Other facilities include a mandapa with a sizable Nandi statue, a sizable communal hall, another sizable gathering hall, and a pavilion that connects the gathering hall and the sanctum. The temple's walls are covered in historical inscriptions stretching back centuries. Words cannot express the value of this temple in terms of religion, history, and architecture. It must be seen with your own eyes to appreciate it.

Brihadeeswara Temple Address: Membalam Rd, Balaganapathy Nagar, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613007

The magnificent Brihadeeswara Temple is located in Thanjavur city and is situated along the Kaveri River. The temple is located 60 kilometres from the closest railroad station, which is in Trichy. Tiruchirappalli International Airport is the nearest airport to the temple, about 59 kilometres away.

Best time to visit Brihadeeswara Temple:

The Chithrai Bramothsavam festival, which takes place every year, is the ideal opportunity to visit the Brihadeeswara temple. The event lasts 18 days and occurs in the spring months of April and May. Moreover, the temple receives many pilgrims during the Mahashivratri and Navratri holidays.

Brihadeeswara Temple history:

The Brihadeeswara temple is a masterwork of Chola architecture from the 11th century. Between 1003 and 1010, Rajaraja I, the Chola king, built the temple. The main building and the gopurams were constructed during this time. In the following centuries, as the royal powers changed, there were several attempts to destroy the building. The old temple from the 11th century was significantly modified to create the structure we see today.

Brihadeeswara Temple Timings:

Daily, the temple is accessible to worshippers from 6 am to 12.30 pm and from 4 pm to 8.30 pm.

2. Vaishno Devi Temple

One of India's most well-known temples is Vaishno Devi. Mata Vaishno Devi is the temple's presiding deity. The Goddess manifests the merged powers of the three Hindu trinity goddesses: Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali or Parvati. To eradicate the evil that ruled the earth during the Treta Yuga, the Goddess was created from the combined forces of the three triad Goddesses. Every year, a sizable number of devotees visit the temple in the Trikuta highlands.

Vaishno Devi Temple Address: Bhavan, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir 182301

One of India's most well-known temples, Vaishno Devi, is situated in Katra, India, at the height of 5200 feet, in the Trikuta mountains.

Best time to visit Vaishno Devi Temple:

Many worshippers visit the Vaishno Devi temple during the Navratri festival and the auspicious months of Sharad and Chaitra. Depending on the weather, the best months to visit the temple are between March and October.

Vaishno Devi Temple history:

The goddess Vaishnavi, according to tradition, was born during the Treta Yuga. Vaishnavi began praying when she was a young girl to marry Lord Rama. Rama eventually crossed paths with her, but he was already married and looking for his missing wife, Sita. He assured Vaishnavi that he would come one day to accept her as his wife if she kept up her penance. After a while, a senior citizen asked Vaishnavi for her hand in marriage. Without realising it was Rama himself, a saddened Vaishnavi rejected the suggestion. Rama instructed her to carry out her penance on the Trikuta mountain until Kalki took on his Kaliyug incarnation.

In the Trikuta, Vaishnavi continued her penance following this. She then offered assistance and blessings to everyone who approached her in need. Bhairon Nath was ordered to end her by a local Tantrik who was jealous of the newly discovered power. On the other hand, Vaishnavi attracted Bhairon Nath, who began pursuing her. Vaishnavi was troubled by this development and spent nine long months in a cave, where she practised meditation. Vaishnavi assumed Mahakali's form and beheaded Bhairon Nath when he turned around to go after her. Bhairon Nath pleaded for the mighty Goddess' pardon as his head rolled by. Today, there is a shrine to Bhairon Nath close to the main temple because she blessed him to be her protector. Three rocks represent the Goddess inside the cave temple, each holding the powers of one of the three trinity Goddesses.

Vaishno Devi Temple Timings:

Every day from 5 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm, the temple is accessible for darshan.

3. Badrinath Temple

One of India's 108 sacred sanctuaries to Lord Vishnu, or Divya Desams, is the Badrinath Temple. Granite Lord Badrinarayan, a manifestation of Vishnu, is the temple's primary deity. As one of Char Dham's four pilgrimage locations, the temple is also one of them. The temple has a worship space and a meeting room, also known as the Garbhagriha. Additionally, beneath the temple is a hot spring known as Tapt Kund. It is a custom for worshippers to take a bath in the spring water before going to the temple since it is thought to have healing qualities.

Badrinath Temple Address: Badri to Mata Murti road, Badrinath, Uttarakhand 246422

The Badrinath temple is located in Badrinath town, in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, atop the Garhwal hill. The temple is 10279 feet above sea level on the banks of the Alaknanda river.

Best time to visit Badrinath Temple:

Only six months of the year, from the end of April to the beginning of November, are dedicated to devotees' access to the temple. This is due to the Himalayas' extreme weather from November to April. A significant temple festival is Mata Murti ka Mela, which is observed in September on the anniversary of the day the Ganga descended to Earth. In addition, both temples celebrate the Badri Kedar festival, which takes place in June, for eight long days with great enthusiasm and pomp.

Badrinath Temple history:

The actual year the Badrinath temple was built is unknown. The temple's deity is one of Vishnu's eight self-manifestations or swayam vyakta kshetras. According to legend, Lord Vishnu picked this location for meditation. His consort, Goddess Lakshmi, took the shape of a Badri tree to shield him from the cold. Vishnu gave the place the name "Badrika Ashram" after being moved by his wife's love and devotion. Ancient Hindu texts give the temple its name, including the Bhagavat Purana, Vishnu Purana, and Skanda Purana.

Badrinath Temple Timings:

At 4.30 in the morning, the temple is open. However, the times for darshan begin at around 7-8 am. After closing for the day at 1 pm, From 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm, the temple is accessible for darshan.

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