1. Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand
Situated close to the Alaknanda River, the abode of Lord Badrinath is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This holy shrine of Lord Vishnu is one of the Char Dhams of the Hindu religion.
It is also one of the four Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites (comparatively minor pilgrimage sites). The temple is one of the 108 temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Divya Desams), which finds its mention in the works of Tamil saints who existed in the 6th to 9th centuries.
The ancient abode of Lord Vishnu can be visited only between April and November because the temple remains closed during the other months due to harsh weather conditions. Two of the most famous festivals related to the temple are –
- Mata Murti-Ka-Mela – A celebration where Lord Badrinath’s mother is worshipped in September.
- Badri-Kedar Festival – A celebration in June for eight days in the temples of Badrinath and Kedarnath. It seeks to educate people on the local traditions of Uttarakhand.
2. Sun Temple, Odisha
The Sun temple is situated in the small town of Konark, located in the Puri district of Odisha. This marvel of architecture is dedicated to the Indian God of Sun, Surya. The temple has been built in the shape of his chariot, which seven horses draw.
The temple was built in the 13th century by a king called Narasimhadeva. An ancient legend is attached to this temple; once Lord Krishna cursed one of his sons with leprosy. To seek penance, his son, Samba, worshiped Surya for twelve years.
Pleased with his devotion, Surya healed him. Samba made the Sun temple in return to express his gratitude. Rabindranath Tagore best summed up the mesmerizing beauty of the place: ‘Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man.
3. Brihadeeswara Temple, Tamil Nadu
Brihadeeswara Temple is one of the largest South-Indian temples situated in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil and RajaRajeswaram, this 11th-century temple was built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I. Cholas are known for their admiration for art.
The luxury and artistic proficiency of Cholas is well reflected in the grand and magnificent architecture of the temple. Made entirely of granite stone, it was built as per the principles of Vaastu Shastra.
The most remarkable thing about this UNESCO World Heritage Site is that it doesn’t leave any shadow on the ground at noon. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple speaks of the importance of religious beliefs in Hinduism.
4. Somnath Temple Gujarat
Somnath Temple is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers in India and finds mention in the ancient books of Shiv Puran, Skanda Purana, and Shreemad Bhagvat Gita. Soma refers to ‘Moon God,’ thus Somnath means ‘Protector of the Moon God.’
According to a legend, the Indian God of Moon, Soma, was cursed to lose his luster by his father-in-law. Lord Shiva cured his illness, and later, Soma built this temple in his honor. It is one of the most revered ‘jyotirlingas’ among the 12 jyotirlingas of India.
The temple is located in Prabhas Kshetra in Saurashtra (Gujarat). Prabhas Kshetra is where Lord Krishna is believed to have left his mortal body. The place also has a Somnath museum, Junagadh gate, beach, and a sound and light show to amuse the pilgrims.
5. Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand
Situated in the Himalayan range of Garhwal (Uttarakhand), the Kedarnath temple is one of the most sacred shrines in the world. The holy abode of Shiva is believed to have been built by the Pandavas to atone for their sins during Mahabharata.
Adi Sankaracharya restored the temple in the 8th century. It is one of the Chota Char Dhams of Uttarakhand and requires the pilgrims to trek 14 km on the hilly terrain.
Standing at the height of 3,583 meters, surrounded by glaciers and snow-clad peaks, the temple is closed during winters due to severe weather conditions. Even the idol of Lord Shiva is shifted to Ukhimath during the months the temple remains closed.
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