Top 35 Must Visit Ancient and Heritage Temples of India
India is home to 27 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed world heritage sites recognised by UNESCO but these are many other places of importance and heritage temples which are in the tentative list of further submission by India for recognition.
The most beautiful heritage temples by Walk Through India also include Mahabodhi Temple,Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram Vaikunta Perumal Temple,Padmanabhaswamy Temple, 12 Jyotirlinga temples, Sai Temple, Vaishno Devi, Venkateswara Temple,Jagannath Temple,Dwarkadhish Temple and Unakoti temples.
Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur
Brihadeeswarar Temple or the big temple of India is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Thanjavur. The temple is part of the UNESCO world heritage site along with Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple as the Great Living Chola Temples.
Tungnath Temple, Tungnath
Tungnath Temple is the highest of the five Panch Kedar temples and also the highest shrines of Lord Shiva in the world, located at an altitude of 12,073 ft in Rudraprayag district. Near by place of Tungnath is also a well known trekking destination in Uttarakhand.
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Virupaksha Temple is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi,on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The temple dedicated to a a form of Shiva and is the main center of pilgrimage at Hampi world heritage site.
Chausath Yogini Temple, Jabalpur
Chausath Yogini Temple of Jabalpur is one of the oldest and most famous heritage sites in India, located near the river Narmada. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati along with 64 yoginis.
Sun Temple, Modhera
Modhera Sun Temple is one of the most famous temple dedicated to Sun God and now and is protected monument maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. The Sun Temple is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati, located in Modhera village.
Chennakesava Temple, Belur
Chennakesava Temple at Belur in the Hassan district of Karnataka is the major tourist destinations in the state. The temple is dedicated to a form of Lord Vishnu and proposed to be listed under UNESCO world heritage sites.
Terracotta Temples, Bishnupur
Bishnupur town of West Bengal is famous for its terracotta temples and few of temples are oldest brick temple in India. Rasmancha,Jor Bangla Temple,Madanmohan Temple,Lalji Temple and Pancha Ratna Temple are the most famous terracotta temples in Bishnupur.
Badami Cave Temples, Badami
Badami Cave Temples located in Badami Karnataka, situated on the bank of an artificial lake and surrounded by Hindu temples. The Badami cave temples with Aihole and Pattadakal are heritage sites in Karnataka.
Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu
Hoysaleswara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the must visit temple in Karnataka state, located in Halebidu. The temple is one of the largest temples dedicated to the god Shiva in South India.
Airavatesvara Temple, Kumbakonam
Airavatesvara Temple near Kumbakonam is a heritage temple of Tamil Nadu and part of the Great Living Chola Templess. The Airavatesvara temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and also UNESCO world heritage site with the Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram as Great Living Chola Temples.
Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram Temple, Seeyamangalam
Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the town of Seeyamangalam. The Rock cut architecture Stambeswarar Temple is a declared heritage temple and protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
Ranganathaswamy Temple dedicated to a reclining form of God Vishnu and one of the must see Lord Vishnu temple in India. The temple has tamil style of architecture on an island in Cauvery river and most illustrious Vaishnava temples in South India.
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple at Khajuraho is the most ornate Hindu temple in Madhya Pradesh and best examples of medieval period temples in India. The Khajuraho complex of temples has many other temples but Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is largest among the other two Matangeshwara and Vishvanatha temples.
Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai is the most important shrines of South India and nominated for the New Seven Wonders of the World. This historic temple is dedicated to Parvati and most visited tourist attraction in the city.
Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha
Chaturbhuj Temple is dedicated to Vishnu and has a blend of temple, fort and palace. The temple is located in the Orccha town next to very famous Rama Raja Temple on an island formed by the Betwa river in Madhya Pradesh.
Ramappa Temple, Warangal
Ramalingeswara Temple or Ramappa Temple of Warangal is dedicated to Lord Siva, located in a valley at Palampet village. Ramappa Temple was built by Kakatiya rulers and the ruins are now taken charge by Archaeological Survey of India.
Kailasha Temple, Ellora
Kailasanatha Temple of Lord Shiva in Ellora is ancient and largest rock cut Hindu temple, carved out of one single rock at Ellora. The Kailasa temple is notable for architecture and vertical excavation along with Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal and the Kailasa temple at Kanchi.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Ariyalur
The great temple of Brihadeeswarar Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is one of the largest temples in South India and very similar to the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur. The temple is declared world heritage site and most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.
Sun Temple, Konark
Konark Sun Temple dedicated to the Sun God and well known tourist attractions of Orissa. The temple complex has stone statues,pillars,walls and carved stone wheels and featured on various list of Seven Wonders of India.
Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar
Lingaraja Temple is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar, dedicated to Harihara. The Lingaraja temple is the most prominent landmark of the Bhubaneswar city and also a major tourist attractions and largest temple in Bhubaneswar.
Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram Shore Temple has been classified as a UNESCO world heritage site and oldest stone temples of South India. The Shore Temple is part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram.
Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram
Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram is dedicated to the Lord Shiva and known for its historical importance. The temple is located on the banks of the Vedavathi River and most prominent tourist attractions of the city.
Thousand Pillar Temple, Hanamakonda
Thousand Pillar Temple is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya and also added to tentative list of World Heritage sites recognised by UNESCO. The Thousand Pillar Temple located in the town of Hanamakonda in Telangana.
Durga Temple, Aihole
Durga Temple at Aihole is covered with sculptures of different gods or goddesses. This Hindu temple of is a pending UNESCO world heritage site and ancient Durga Temple in India.
Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi
Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi is known for carvings and paintings on the temple walls and pillars. Lepakshi in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh is also famous for very large Nandi bull statue and Hanging Pillars.
Sangameshwara Temple, Pattadakal
Sangameshwara Temple at Pattadakal is one of the famous temple, located on the left bank of the Malaprabha river. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal has many heritage temples such as Mallikarjuna and Kashi Vishwanatha Temples, Papanatha Temple,Sangameshwara Temple and Virupaksha Temple.
Sahastra Bahu Temple, Rajasthan
Sahastra Bahu Temple locally known as Sas Bahu temple at Nagda in Rajasthan is a heritage monument and protected by Archaeological Survey of India. The temple is partial ruins now and a must visit ancient and heritage temple in India.
Bhoramdeo Temple, Chhattisgarh
Bhoramdeo Temple is dedicated to the great God Lord Shiva, built with brick and stone and famous for erotic sculptures, hence known by name of Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh. The Bhoramdeao temple complex comprises a group of four temples in the Daksina Kosala region.
Maha Vishnu Temple, Thirunelli
Thirunelli Temple is the most ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in India, located near Brahmagiri hill in Kerala. This ancient temple is surrounded by mountains and forests and must visit place in Wayanad.
Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneswar
The Rajarani temple at Bhubaneshwar also known as a love temple because of erotic carvings and sculptures of women and couples on the wall of temple. Mukteshvara Temple and Rajarani Temple are two most famous located in Bhubaneswar capital city.
Kedareshvara Temple, Balligavi
Kedareshvara Temple at Balligavi is an ancient temple near Shikaripura and attracted a large number of followers. The Hoysala style of architecture temple along with Kedareshwara Temple at Halebidu protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Tadipatri
Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated on the bank of the Penna river in Tadipatri Anantapur district. The temple is one of the oldest shrine and famous for its architectural splendour.
Sangameshwar Temple, Alampur
Sangameshwar Temple at Alampur town in Mahbubnagar is situated at the meeting point of the sacred rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna. Brahmeswara and Jogulamba are the principal deities of temple and the area is surrounded by the Nallamala hills.
Ambarnath Shiv Temple, Maharashtra
Shiv Mandir at Ambarnath also known as Ambreshwar Shiva Temple is situated on the bank of Vadavan river in Ambernath city of Maharashtra near Mumbai. Ambreshwar Shiva Temple is one of the must see Lord Shiva temple in Maharashtra and known for beautifully carved on stones.
Jageshwar Temple, Almora
Jageshwar Temple complex is said to be one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva, carry the Nagesh Jyotirlinga. The temple complex is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and Dandeshwar Temple is the biggest shrine in the complex.
