Most 20 mysterious temples in India.

 

Here are 20 mysterious temples in India:

1. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu

-- Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, located in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, is one of the largest Hindu temples in India and is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. The temple has a rich history, with evidence suggesting its existence as early as the 6th century CE. Over the centuries, the temple has been expanded and rebuilt by various rulers, including the Cholas, Pandyas, and Vijayanagara empire. The temple has also been the center of religious, cultural, and political activities for centuries. Today, it is a major pilgrimage site for devotees of Lord Vishnu and attracts millions of visitors annually.

2. Brihadeeswarar Temple, Tamil Nadu

--The Brihadeeswarar Temple, also known as the Big Temple, is a Hindu temple located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It was built by the Chola king Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century and is one of the largest temples in India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for its architectural and engineering marvels, including its tall and majestic Vimana (tower), and its massive stone sculptures and frescoes. The temple is also famous for its association with the Chola dynasty, which was one of the most powerful and influential kingdoms in South India during the medieval period. Today, the Brihadeeswarar Temple is a popular tourist destination and is considered one of the finest examples of Chola architecture.

3. Meenakshi Temple, Tamil Nadu

--Meenakshi Temple, located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, was built in the 13th century by King Sundara Pandya. It was later expanded by King Vishwanatha Nayaka. The temple is a famous Hindu shrine dedicated to the goddess Parvati, also known as Meenakshi, and her consort, Lord Shiva. It is known for its intricate carvings, sculptures and paintings, which depict scenes from Hindu mythology. The temple attracts millions of pilgrims and tourists each year and is considered to be a symbol of the rich cultural and religious heritage of Tamil Nadu.

4. Virupaksha Temple, Karnataka

--Virupaksha Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Hampi, Karnataka, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites for devotees of Shiva. The temple has a long history, dating back to the 7th century. During the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire, the temple was a major center of Hindu religion and culture, attracting large crowds of pilgrims and tourists from across India and beyond. After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century, the temple fell into disrepair and was eventually abandoned. However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the temple was restored to its former glory and today, it remains a popular tourist destination and a major center of Hindu pilgrimage.

5. Kapaleeswarar Temple, Tamil Nadu

--The Kapaleeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The temple was built in the 7th century and is considered one of the oldest temples in the city. It is believed to have been constructed by the Pallavas and has been a center of cultural and religious significance for the people of Tamil Nadu for centuries. The temple is known for its impressive architecture, including a beautiful gopuram (gateway tower) and several mandapams (pillared halls). The temple is also famous for its association with Saint Thirugnanasambandar, one of the greatest saints of the Saivaite tradition, who sang hymns in praise of Lord Shiva at this temple.

6. Nataraja Temple, Tamil Nadu

--The Nataraja Temple, also known as the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, is located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the oldest and most important Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of Dance. The temple has a recorded history that dates back to the 9th century CE, although it is believed to be much older and to have been a center of worship for thousands of years. The temple has undergone several renovations and additions over the centuries and is considered one of the greatest architectural and engineering marvels of South India. The temple is known for its intricate carvings and sculptures and its golden roof, which is said to symbolize the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva.

7. Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala

--The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred abodes of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu legend, the temple was established by Lord Brahma and was later renovated by King Marthanda Varma in the 18th century. The temple is known for its wealth, with secret chambers discovered in 2011 containing valuable items including gold, jewels, and precious stones. The exact origin of the temple is unknown, but it is believed to be over a thousand years old.

8. Jambukeswarar Temple, Tamil Nadu

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-The Jambukeswarar Temple, also known as Thiruvanaikaval, is a Hindu temple located in the city of Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the five major Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, known as Pancha Bootha Sthalams. It is believed to have been built during the Chola dynasty in the 6th century CE and has undergone several renovations and additions over the centuries. The temple is famous for its architecture, sculptures, and inscriptions, and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Chola temple architecture. The temple also holds great religious significance and attracts thousands of devotees from across India.

9. Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple, Andhra

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--Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple is a Hindu temple located in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines, where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a lingam. The temple has a history dating back to the ancient times and is mentioned in various Hindu scriptures like the Puranas and the Mahabharata. The current structure of the temple is believed to have been built during the Chalukya dynasty, around the 7th century AD. Over the centuries, the temple has undergone several renovations and additions, with the Vijayanagara kings being major patrons of the temple. The temple continues to be an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and attracts thousands of devotees every year.

 

10. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Maharashtra

--The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple is located in the town of Shirdi in Maharashtra, India. The temple is dedicated to the 19th century Indian spiritual leader, Sai Baba of Shirdi, who is revered by millions of devotees as a saint, fakir, and satguru. The temple was built over the Samadhi (tomb) of Sai Baba, and has since become one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in India. The temple was originally a small structure, but due to the growing popularity of Sai Baba, it was later expanded and renovated. The temple complex today includes several shrines, halls, and other buildings, and is visited by millions of devotees every year.

11. Bhimashankar Temple, Maharashtra

-Bhimashankar Temple is a Hindu shrine located in the village of Bhorgiri near Pune, Maharashtra, India. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism. The temple has a long history, with references to it being found in ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Puranas. According to legend, the temple was built by the Pandavas during the Mahabharata era and was later rebuilt by the Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji in the 17th century. The temple attracts large numbers of pilgrims and tourists every year, particularly during the festival of Mahashivaratri.

12. Somnath Temple, Gujarat

--The Somnath Temple in Gujarat, India, is one of the 12 jyotirlingas, considered to be the most sacred shrines dedicated to the Hindu god, Lord Shiva. The temple has a long history, dating back to ancient times and has been destroyed and reconstructed several times over the centuries.

The first temple was built by the moon god Soma, according to Hindu mythology. It was later destroyed and reconstructed by the Yadava kings and then by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty in the 10th century. The temple reached its height of glory during the rule of the Solanki dynasty, but was plundered several times by invaders, including the famous invasion by the Turkic ruler, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni in the 11th century.

In the 16th century, the temple was reconstructed by the Maratha king, Shivaji and later by the great Maratha leader, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel after India's independence in 1947. The present-day Somnath Temple is a symbol of national unity and pride for India and attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year.

13. Mahakaleshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh

--Mahakaleshwar Temple is a Hindu temple located in the city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, shrines considered to be particularly sacred in Hinduism. According to Hindu mythology, the temple was established in ancient times and has been mentioned in various Hindu scriptures such as the Skanda Purana. The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, with the present structure dating back to the 18th century. The Mahakaleshwar Temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every year and is one of the major tourist attractions in Madhya Pradesh.

14. Varaha Temple, Uttar Pradesh

--The Varaha Temple is located in the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and is one of the oldest temples in the city, believed to have been built during the Gupta Empire (4th to 6th century CE). The temple features a unique architectural style, combining elements of North Indian Nagara and South Indian Dravidian styles. The temple is considered an important pilgrimage site for Hindu devotees, who come to offer prayers and participate in religious ceremonies. The temple has undergone several renovations and additions over the centuries and remains an active place of worship to this day.

15. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttar Pradesh

--The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the city of Varanasi (also known as Kashi) in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples, where Lord Shiva is worshiped in the form of a lingam (a symbol of the divine phallus). The temple has a long history, with the first temple believed to have been built by the Hindu king, Hastinapura, in the late 1700s BC. Over the centuries, the temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times by different rulers, including the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who demolished the temple in 1669 AD and built a mosque on its site. The temple was eventually restored in the late 18th century by Maratha ruler, Ahilyabai Holkar, and has since been an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus.

16. Hanuman Garhi, Uttar Pradesh

--Hanuman Garhi is a Hindu temple located in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is considered one of the most sacred shrines in the city. It is said to be built by the Hindu warrior-king, Raja Dashratha (father of Lord Rama), over 3,000 years ago. According to legend, Hanuman Garhi served as the residence of Lord Hanuman during the construction of the Ram Temple. The temple features a large statue of Lord Hanuman and attracts thousands of devotees every year. It is considered an important site of pilgrimage for devotees of Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman.

17. Konark Sun Temple, Odisha

  The Konark Sun Temple, located in the coastal town of Konark in the state of Odisha, India, was built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Surya (the sun) and is renowned for its grand architecture and intricate carvings. The temple complex features a massive chariot-shaped structure, with 12 pairs of wheels, pulled by seven horses and driven by the sun god. The temple was built as a symbol of the king's victory over the Muslim invaders and was considered one of the grandest monuments of its time. The temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Unfortunately, over the centuries, much of the temple has been damaged and destroyed, but its legacy remains as a symbol of India's rich cultural heritage.

18. Jagannath Temple, Odisha

 

--The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu. It is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites and one of the oldest shrines in India. The origins of the temple date back to the 11th century and its construction is believed to have been initiated by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. The temple has undergone several renovations and additions over the centuries, and the present structure is a result of the work carried out by the Ganga dynasty in the 12th century and later by the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the 13th century. The temple is known for its annual Rath Yatra festival, during which the deity's idols are taken out in grand processions on chariots.

19. Dakshineswar Kali Temple, West Bengal

--The Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu temple located in Dakshineswar, near Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It was built in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and devout Hindu, as a symbol of her devotion to the goddess Kali. The temple complex, which covers an area of more than 25 acres, includes the main temple, 12 smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, and a large pond known as Radha-Kanta. The temple is famous for its association with the 19th-century Hindu mystic and yogi Sri Ramakrishna, who lived and taught near the temple for many years and had a deep spiritual connection to the goddess Kali. Today, the temple is a major pilgrimage site and a popular tourist destination in West Bengal, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

20. Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal

--Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world and is located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal. The temple is dedicated to Lord Pashupatinath, an incarnation of Lord Shiva and is considered to be the guardian deity of Nepal. The temple is believed to be over 2000 years old, although the exact date of its construction is unknown. It is said that the temple was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in the 17th century, but the current structure is believed to be much older. The temple has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the finest examples of Nepalese temple architecture. It is also one of the few Hindu temples where the practice of cremation is still carried out.