Temples of India
India's rich cultural and historical heritage flourishes in temple architecture and pilgrimage sites. Notable temples in India include:
Temples of Khajuraho
This is a classic example of architecture. Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the Khajuraho temple is international and famous for its erotic sculptures that enrich the whole ensemble. These statues are built on high platforms in a combination of granite and sandstone. Each of these temples has an antechamber (Mandapa) and a sanctuary, and the roofs have a special shape.
Konark Temple of the Sun
The magnificent Temple of the Sun in Orissa - a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a living example of Dravidian architecture. The Konark Temple was built in ancient Kalinga and is considered the pinnacle of art and architecture. The design of the entire temple is a chariot drawn by seven vigorous horses.
Golden temple
The Golden Temple is located in Amritsar, Punjab. This temple has been a complex of worship for Sikhs for centuries and has grown from a sacred village pond into a spiritual center. The fifth guru of the Sikhs designed the architecture and this temple is the result of his work. It is also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib and is in the center of a pool called Amritsar - "nectar pool". It has entrances on all four sides indicating that it is open to all religions.
Meenakshi
The Meenakshi Temple is located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, which is also called the "Athens of the East".
Somnath Temple
Somnath Temple is an example of magnificent architecture located on Somnath Patan near Verawal in Gujarat. It is considered the first of the 12 assistants of Lord Shiva, and the remains of the ancient Temple of the Sun are also buried here.
Cave temples of Ellora
The famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora are located in the state of Maharashtra. The caves were dug out of hard rock and are considered World Heritage Sites.
They symbolize the three beliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, out of a total of 34 caves, 17 caves in the center are dedicated to Hinduism, 12 caves in the south are Buddhism and 5 to the north are dedicated to Jainism. Several types of human and animal figures are carved from the rock and various paintings depict the life of the Buddha.
Temples of Dilwara Jain
The temples of Dilwara Jain, Mount Abu, Rajasthan are sacred places for Jains.
They are all built of white marble and are combined with simplicity and delicacy. Luna Vasahi and Vimala Vasahi are two of the most famous among them.