If you’re an Indian you must have been to a number of temples since childhood. But have you ever seen how brilliant the architecture of those temples can be? Our forefathers for sure must have been lovers of art, beauty and excellent architecture. And, that is why they created such wonders where there is not only the peacefulness that we look for in temples, but we can also find an amazing place from the design point of view to explore and appreciate!
If you have a bucket list of outstandingly designed temples in India to visit, here’s a long list of addition to it.
1. Akshar Dham, Delhi – Grandeur at its best!
This huge temple was built completely in solid rock according to ancient Sthaapatya Shastra style by 11,000 great artisans who worked for 12,000 man-hours each to define every corner of this sacred temple.
2. Somnath, Saurashtra – An Artistic marvel
Located on the shore of Arabian Sea, this beautiful temple is believed to have been made of sandalwood in the Chalukya style by Gujarat’s artistic masons, and is 15 metres in height with an 8.2-metre tall flag pole on the top!
3. Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) – The richest Hindu Temple in World!
Built in the Dravidian architectural style with really high walls and a 16th-century Tower. It also has a Kulasekhara Mandapam with fantastic stonework, which has 28 pillar balustrades, which can produce musical notes in all four corners when tapped!
4. Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwar – The one with a 12*9 feet high Nandi!
A typical Dravidian style temple with spires touching the skyline, this temple has the largest hallway of all. It has a 4000-feet long pillared corridor with over 4000 pillars.
5. Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai – The most Exquisite example of Traditional Dravidian Temple Architecture
It has total 12 really tall gopurams (towers), the tallest one being as high as 50 metres. You can climb it and view the entire city of Madurai.
6. The Jagannath Temple, Puri – The temple with wooden statues!
214 feet and 8 inches high, this temple has 5 segments with a curvilinear spire. And the most interesting thing is that the Jagannath idol here is not made of metal, but of wood!
7. The Terracotta Temples of Bishnupur, Bankura (West Bengal) – The Terracotta will enthral you
These temples were built by the Mallya Dynasty around the 17th century. The architecture resembles the thatched huts of rural Bengal and looks beautiful with the intricately carved terracotta panels.
8. The Virupaksha Temple, Hampi – The fifteenth century Temple of Hampi
Decorated with Vijayanagar-style bas-relief sculptures and murals, the temple has a 9 tiered gateway, a pillared walkway, entrance gateways, shrines, courtyards and several other brilliantly created structures in and around it.
9. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – The Architectural genius of old times!
Spread in 156 acres, the temple has 21 outstanding towers, of all types (prakaras), making it a beautiful and extraordinary architectural wonder.
Given how beautiful these temples are, there mustn’t have any reason left for you to not go and explore them. These temples are works-of-art that nobody deserves to miss! Let us know your experiences if you’ve been to these temples.
2 Responses
our Indian temple architecture plays major role.
our Indian temple architecture plays major role.