India can be referred to as a land of temples as one can find a temple every 3 km or so. For many fellow Indians going to a temple to pay obeisance to the Almighty is a daily ritual. Also, many of these temples are centuries old, which are architectural marvels. These temples, some of them more than 1000 years old, find a place in history because of their amazing architecture and are symbols of India’s rich cultural past.
Also read: 13 One Thousand Year Old Temples of India
There are a number of such temples which date back to India’s history. However, here are some ancient temples in India that are most revered and famous for their unparalleled beauty and artistic grandeur:
1.
Adi Kumbeshwarar Temple,
Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu :
Adi
Kumbeshwarar, a Hindu temple located in the town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur
district, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built during the Chola
dynasty in the 9th century, this temple covering an area of around 4
acres is an architectural marvel. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, also known
here as Adikumbeswarar. The linga believed to have been made by Shiva himself, is
broad at the bottom and narrows at the top in the shape of a needle. The unique
feature of this temple is the 27-star sign and 12 sunshines that are sculptured
in a large block of stone.
Also read: Beautiful Temples of India
2.
Dwarakadheesh Temple, Dwarka,
Gujarat:
Also
known as Jagat Mandir, it is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is
worshipped here by the name of Dwarkadheesh or ‘King of Dwarka’. The temple
originally built by Vajranabha, the great-grandson of Lord Krishna, has an
elaborately tiered main structure, a carved entrance, and a black marble idol of
Lord Krishna. The limestone structure stretches to a height of 170 feet and is
supported by 72 pillars. The temple became part of the ‘Char Dham’ pilgrimage
considered sacred by the Hindus. This 2200-year-old temple stands on a small
hill accessed by 50+ steps, with heavily sculptured walls that cocoon the
sanctum. The flag that flies on the temple is an impressive 52 yards of cloth.
There are two doors (Swarg & Moksha) for entry and exit of the temple.
Also read : Must Temples of India
3.
Airavateshvara Temple, Kumbakonam,
Tamil Nadu:
It is a Hindu temple located in the town of Darasuram, Tamil Nadu. Built in the 12th
century CE and dedicated to Lord Shiva also known as Airavateshvara because He
was worshipped by Airavat, the white elephant of the King of Heaven, Indra, it
is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is a storehouse of art and
architecture and has some exquisite stone carvings. The unique thing about the
temple is the entrance, which has musical steps made of stone that produce 7
different sounds on tapping. Each step emits a different sound of the musical
note. One can hear all the 7 scores at different points.
4.
Halasuru Someshwara Temple,
Bangalore, Karnataka:
Located
in the neighbourhood of Halasuru in Bangalore, it is one of the old temples in
the city dating back to the Chola period, dedicated to Hindu God Shiva. Built
in the 13th century by the Chola King, the most notable feature is
the elaborate sculpture of Ravana holding the Kailash Parvat to please Lord
Shiva. The shrine has beautiful carvings on the walls and placid interiors. It
is one of the most popular places of attraction in Bangalore.
Also read : Wealthy & Rich Temples in India
5.
Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur,
Tamil Nadu:
Locally
known as Thanjai Periya Kovil and also known as Rajrajeswaram, the temple is
located on the South Bank of Cauvery River in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to
Lord Shiva it is one of the largest Hindu temples and an exemplary example of a
fully realized Tamil architecture. The temple completed in 1010 AD is fully
made of granite and an interesting fact about its architecture is that the
‘vimana’ (tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of the temple does not cast a
shadow at noon. It is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
6.
Chalukya Shiva Temple, Aihole,
Karnataka:
The
Chalukya Shiva Temple (earlier known as Lad Khan Temple) was built by the
Chalukya king, dating back to the 5th century and dedicated to Lord
Shiva. The temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Aihole in the state of
Karnataka. It was named Lad Khan Temple because a Muslim general made this
temple his residence for a while. Thus the temple became popular as Lad Khan
temple. The temple is an excellent instance of a ‘mandapa type’ temple and
stands erect on a molded adhisthana or a substratum. Roofed with an enormous
sloping stone, this restores the original form of the thatched roof.
Also Read : Must Visit Temples of India
7.
Ambreshwara Temple, Ambarnath,
Maharashtra:
The
Shiv Mandir or Ambreshwara Shiva Temple locally known as ‘Puratana Shivalya’ is
situated on the bank of river Vadavan, Ambarnath, near Mumbai, Maharashtra, and
people say it resembles the famous Dilwara Temples located in Mount Abu,
Rajasthan. The temple dating back to the 11th century and still in
use is built in a beautifully carved stone. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple
appears in the form of a Linga in the sanctum. There is no roof over the sanctum;
hence the deity is exposed to the sky. It has exquisite architectural works and
a rare idol of Hari-Hara- Pitamah-Surya in which Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord
Brahma and Sun God are portrayed together as a single deity.
Also Read : Architectural Marvels in India
8.
Bhoganandeeshwara Temple, Chikballapur,
Karnataka:
Bhoganandeeshwara
Temple and Arunachaleshwara Temple are twin Hindu complexes located in the Nandi village
in Chikballapur. Ornate, beautifully carved and dedicated to Lord Shiva, the
temple was built during the 9th century by Bona Queen- Ratnavali. It is
a 1000-year-old temple that bears the architectural stamps of around 5
different dynasties. Recognized as one of the oldest temples of Karnataka this
big temple houses 3 temples within the temple complex, namely Arunachaleshwara,
Uma Mahesgwara, and Bhoga Nandeeshwara.
9.
Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysuru:
Located on top of Chamunda Hills, this temple is around 13 km from the palace city of Mysuru in the state of Karnataka. The temple, named after Chamunda or the fierce form of Shakti, was built in the 12th century by the Hoysala rulers. Considered as a Shakti Peetha, it is one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. Dedicated to Goddess Durga, a flight of 1000 steps leads up to the 3000-foot summit of Chamunda Hill. The temple has a large statue of the demon Mahishasur. It also has a 15-foot high statue of Nandi, which is that of a cow that holds a great influence in Hindu mythology. This statue built of granite and placed on the 800th step on the Hill is adorned with metallic bells around its necklace.
Inputs & pics courtesy Google, Wikipedia, Gujarat Tourism, 123 Vector.com
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