City Of Temples In India (City Of Temples Of India) – Temple Cities Of India

City Of Temple In India (Temple Cities In India) – India is a representative country that has many ethnicities, the largest democracy and diverse religions. When one talks about faith in India, the answer is not one. Although 94% of the Hindu population of the entire world lives in India, there are also Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and other minority religions. Every city has its own culture, its own pride which is evident from the number of temples and cities in India that promote such strong faith. Some of the notable temple cities in India are as follows (Temple Cities Of India) –

City Of Temple In India (Temple Cities In India)

1) Kedarnath

The Lord of the Kshetra aka Kedarnath is a wonderful place. Here is a confluence of peace and tranquility in the Himalayas. This small temple town in India is most famous for its divine Kedarnath temple. Kedarnath, located on the barren land on the banks of the Mandakini River, is most attractive because of its ambiance.

If you turn your head, you will see greenery and white Himalayas. The Kedarnath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is open only from April to November and during the rest of the year, the deities are taken to Ukhimath due to extreme climate exhaustion. You can also visit the Bhairav ​​Temple named after Lord Bhairav ​​Nath who is believed to protect the temple during severe climate disturbances in this temple town. You can visit Gaurikund or even explore the eye-pleasing Vasuki Tal.

2) Rishikesh

Historically acclaimed and widely accessible, Rishikesh aka the gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas, has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries and is famous as a temple town. Mythology states that Lord Rama performed penance in Rishikesh.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Named after Lord Shiva, this temple tells how Lord Shiva drank poison to obtain Amrita. You can visit the Beatles Ashram aka Chaurasi Kutia, which is now under the Rajaji National Park. Located on the eastern bank of the Ganges, the area was first leased by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and then later converted into an ashram. Parmarth Niketan and Swarg Ashram are also famous tourist destinations.

3) Badrinath

The ancient town of Badrinath, nestled between the Nar and Narayan peaks, is one of the Char Dham pilgrimages in India. A small temple town in India surrounded by lakes and temples; one can easily spend a week in this temple town. The Badrinath temple which makes this town famous was built in the name of Lord Vishnu. Like Kedarnath, people can visit this temple town only for 6 months.

Located on the banks of Alaknanda, this temple is not open throughout the year due to heavy snowfall and road inconvenience. Not just the Badrinath Temple, you can also visit the Brahma Kapal Temple, Mata Murti Temple and the mythical Sheshnetra situated on the banks of Alaknanda, which is believed to represent the imprint of Lord Vishnu’s Sheshnag or snake.

There are many water bodies in this small region. One can sit near the Vasundhara Falls and enjoy the soul-stirring sound or sit and look beyond life and feel the magnificent Neralkantha Peak.

4) Varanasi

The name of the temple city in India, Varanasi, is apt as it is home to more than 2,000 temples. Varanasi, home to thousands and hundreds of pilgrims from in and around India, is also the oldest city in India. The exemplary work done in this temple city will surely amaze you. The holiest of the five rivers of Hindus, the mighty Ganges flows through the city in its descending course.

Pilgrims from all over the world come to the Ganges to wash away their sins with the hope of salvation. This city of temples aka the city of lights has countless ghats, probably 365 ghats, some of which are Harishchandra Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Sahayak Ghat, Tulsi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat and other such ghats. A religious Hindu can surely never forget the heavenly experience of the evening aarti while floating down the river in a boat on the ghats of the Ganges. One of the oldest cities in the world, Varanasi, formerly known as Banaras, has temples that range in age from hundreds to thousands of years.

Bharat Mata Mandir, dedicated to Bharat Mata, the 8th century Durga Temple, Gauri Math Temple, Sarnath Temple where Buddha is believed to have given his first sermon to his disciples after attaining enlightenment and other such ghats. So if you want to enjoy the essence of temples, then a visit to Varanasi is a must in the temple city list.

5) Madurai

Moving straight towards the south, the city that will catch your eyes is the city that never sleeps, Madurai. Situated on the banks of the Vaigai River, Madurai displays incredibly intricate work and large exquisite temples, hence it is also called the city of temples. During 600 BC, Madurai, also known as Madura, was under the Pandyan Empire.

This was the time when the sky-high temples of Madurai were built with a touch of Dravidian architecture. The Meenakshi Amman Temple, where the annual Chitrai festival is celebrated, is located in the heart of the city, which is its lifeline. Madurai is a culturally blazing city and was also called the Athens of the East during the time of Mauryan rule in India.

This city of temples is also famous for Tirupparankunram Murugan Temple, Alagar Kovil Temple, Koodal Azhagar Temple, Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple, etc. These temples are historically and culturally vibrant.

6) Puri

Puri or Purushottam Puri is a famous tourist destination located in the east of India. On the coast of the Bay of Bengal, Jagannath Puri is widely famous among travelers and Hindu pilgrims from all over the world. The Jagannath Temple was founded in the 11th century by King Indradyumna and is the epitome of Oriya architecture in the region.

Standing strongly, the sky-touching temple tops will mesmerize anyone with their art. The four doors in four directions to enter the temple and get closer to the holy shrine of Lord Jagannath or the Lord of the Universe are a masterpiece and cultural heritage of the country.

The vast area within the temple boundaries has many other small temples, in which the trio of Jagannath, Bala Bhadra and Subhadra are worshipped. The most celebrated festival in this city of temples, the Rath Yatra, revolves around this temple.

Not just the Jagannath temple, you can also visit the holy Bedi Hanuman temple, Chakra Tirtha temple, Mousina temple, Sunara Gauranga temple and the famous Sun temple of Konark. Not only as a religious place, but in the last few years, Puri has also gained its popularity as a tourist destination due to its spectacular sea beach. You can enjoy the enchanting sunrise and stroll around the sunset at your nearby beach hotels.

7) Mathura

The old city with ancient history is adorned with temples all around. Mathura, commonly believed to be the birthplace of Krishna, is one of the most important holy places in India. This mythologically grand place is believed to have earlier been the abode of Kansa, the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna.

Mathura is religiously endowed and historically developed and also has a twin city, that is the city of Vrindavan.

Any tourist or traveler must visit Mathura, especially on the festival of Holi, the festival of colours when Vrindavan is decked up with all the colours of nature and flower petals. The famous Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mandir is one of the holiest temples in Mathura. Apart from this, this temple town is home to the Dwarkadhish Temple, Geeta Mandir, Visham Ghat, Kusum Sarovar and many more.

The huge Govardhan Temple is also an important attraction that finds mention in Hindu mythological texts, or one can also get busy at the Krishna Nagar market, where shopping can be done for the rest of the day.

8) Rameswaram

One of the most popular temple towns in South India, Rameswaram is where Lord Rama built the bridge to reach Lanka. While the Ramanathaswamy Temple is the most notable temple here, there are more temples here. You also have the Dhanushkodi Temple located near the Ramanathaswamy Temple.

9) Haridwar

A holy place touched by the grace of the river Ganga, Haridwar is a temple town you must visit. Located in the hills of Uttarakhand, there are many temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses here. Har Ki Pauri is the centre of attraction here, it is the famous ghat where devotees take bath and worship Goddess Ganga.

10) Ujjain

Ujjain is a divine place in itself; its old name is ‘Avantika’. It is the abode of Lord Shiva, the largest Jyotirlinga among the 12 Shiva-Jyotirlingas in India. The city is one of the venues of the Kumbh Mela. The temple city is also called Ujjaini or Avanti and finds mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata as the capital of the Avanti kingdom. Every 12 years the biggest religious fair of Hindus ‘Kumbh’ is held here. Millions of devotees come here to be a part of this holistic festival and consider themselves holy, which is also known as Indrapuri Amaravati and Avantika. Due to the number of golden minarets of many temples, this city is also known as “Swarna Shringa”. The famous Mahakal temple is crowded throughout the year.

11) Puri

Puri is one of the ancient pilgrimage centers of India. Puri is located on the Odisha coast, 60 km from Bhubaneswar. Puri is one of the four holy “Dhams” of Hindus (Puri, Dwarka, Rameswaram and Badrinath).

12) Amarnath

One of the most visited pilgrimages in India comes once a year. During that time, it is one of the famous places to visit and explore their holidays as a pilgrimage site. It is the holy place of Shiva where all the devotees come and worship here. The Amarnath cave is considered to be the holiest temple dedicated to Lord Amarnath or Shiva in India. People believe that Lord Shiva revealed the secret of creation and immortality to Goddess Parvati.

13) Vaishno Devi

The temple of Mata Vaishno Devi is one of the most visited pilgrimage Devi Darshan sites in India. Located at an altitude of 5,300 feet, the site is located inside a cave in the Trikuta Hills at an altitude of 5,300 feet in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This cave temple is 13 kms from Katra, where travellers have to go on foot, as the devotees are called. After reaching the cave entrance, the path turns into a narrow tunnel in which flows a cold stream called Charan Ganga. The pilgrim has to pass through this tunnel to reach the sanctum sanctorum. The holy cave temple of Vaishno Devi is nestled in a beautiful gorge of the Trikuta Mountains, which is a part of the lower Himalayas. The cave houses images of three deities. Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.

14) Shirdi

Shirdi is a small town, located about 300 kms from Mumbai, situated in the heart of the sugarcane belt of the state of Maharashtra. Shirdi is one of the most frequently visited pilgrimage sites in India, devotees from all over the world visit this small village due to the intensity of devotion. Ranked high on the world map of spirituality, Shirdi is located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra and is close to the holy city of Nashik. It is believed that Sai Baba came to Shirdi village at the age of sixteen. He resided in the Khandoba temple

15) Tirupati

Tirupati Balaji Located in a small district called Chittoor in southern Andhra Pradesh, lies the famous Tirupati Balaji temple in India. This temple is considered to be the richest temple in India. Thousands of pilgrims from all over India – and even from abroad – visit the Tirupati temple every year, which is dedicated to Sri Venkateswara – one of the incarnations of Vishnu. Being one of the most revered temples in India for all devotees of Lord Vishnu, it makes this town in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh a hub of religious and cultural heritage

16) Uttarkashi

The town of Uttarkashi is located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, which is a very important tourist destination in the region and it is located in the Uttarkashi district. This place is known for its amazing natural beauty, and is also called Devbhoomi, the famous Vishwanath temple here is dedicated to Lord Shiva. In front of the temple is the unique Mahadev-ka-Vishal Trishul or the great trident of Shiva, made of eight major metals. It is believed that Lord Shiva killed Vakasur with this trident.

17) Rudraprayag

Rudraprayag is located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state of India. Nestled among the high mountains of the Garhwal Himalayas, Rudraprayag is the meeting point of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The presence of two roads leading to the holy temples of Kedarnath and Badrinath increases the importance of the city.

18) Bodhgaya

The holy city of Bodhgaya is located in Bihar. It is 12 km away from the city of Gaya. Bodhgaya is where the wandering prince Siddhartha sat under the Bodhi tree to meditate. Bodhgaya is one of the most important and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world. It is here under a banyan tree, the Bodhi tree, that Gautama attained supreme enlightenment and became the Buddha. The Mahabodhi Temple built near the Mahabodhi tree is highly revered and visiting the temple is an enriching experience. The remains and descendants of the original Mahabodhi tree can still be found here.

19) Chitrakoot

Chitrakoot, one of the major pilgrimage and religious sites for Hindus is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Chitrakoot is famous for its breathtaking natural beauty. People from all over the country gather at this holy site for peace and solitude. Located in the Ganges Valley, Chitrakoot is one of the most important sites in Hinduism. Chitrakoot is the perfect place for meditation and peace. You can also feel the divinity in the air of Chitrakoot. It is said that many sages and munis visit this religious place to find peace and inspiration.

20) Omkareshwar

Omkareshwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the 12 revered Jyotirlinga temples of Shiva. The river Narmada splits into two parts forming an island Mandhata or Shivapuri in the middle. The shape of the island resembles the visual representation of the Omkara sound, Om. There are two temples here, one of Omkareshwar and the other of Amareshwar. Mamleshwar temple is the actual place where devotees can find the Jyotirlinga. The eternal deity, Lord Shiva is most worshipped in Hinduism, who is known as the god of destruction. Omkareshwar. It is a famous pilgrimage center where you can see famous shrines and temples

21) Devprayag

A small hill town, in Devprayag, you can see the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers from the main road, in Devprayag, the final holy river Ganges is formed as it is the last point of the major confluence. This city is the abode of the pandits of Badrinath Dham. The city of Devprayag holds great religious significance among Hindus as the divine river Ganges takes its real form from here. The city is named after Dev Sharma who led his ascetic life here and is also believed to have been blessed with the darshan of the Lord. There is an ancient Raghunathji temple made of huge rocks above the confluence and it is believed that the temple was built more than ten thousand years ago.

22) Kanchipuram

One of the seven holy cities of India, Kanchipuram is a paradise of beautiful temples nestled on the banks of the Vedavathi river in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kanchipuram India, the golden city of a thousand temples, is the capital of the Pallavas, Cholas and the Vijayanagara Rayas. It is not only known for its temples. This place is one of the seven holy cities of India and the second holiest city after Varanasi.

23) Dwaraka

Dwaraka, an important city of Hindu pilgrimage, was the kingdom of Lord Krishna. He is believed to have settled in Dwaraka after leaving Mathura thousands of years ago. A great religious place with much historical significance, it is akin to Lord Krishna and the city has gained respect as the gateway to a very precious salvation. The city of Dwaraka boasts of archaeological remains, which provide a glimpse of the history of the city, and has been a centre of study by historians who want to uncover the remains of the past

24) Patna

The heritage and history of Patna is more than two thousand years old. There are many temples in and around Patna that attract tourists from everywhere. Patna is home to Patna Sahib, one of the five holiest Takhts of Sikhism. The tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born here and lived here during the early years of his life. Considered the holiest of the five Takhts, it is located in one of the oldest areas of Patna city. Once known as Kucha Farrukh Khan, this place is now known as Harmandir Gali.