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Considering the fact that there are thousands of temples to visit in India, it can be hard for the average traveller to choose which of them to visit. However, in the list below we’re going to take a closer look at some of the most popular temples in India according to their popularity which was assessed by countless individuals that have effectively visited them. The spiritual packages in India play a significant role in drawing the attention of the devotees. Let’s take a look!
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra
The Shirdi Sai Baba temple is known to be the holy shrine of Indian spiritual master, Sai Baba. Because Shirdi is considered his land, many of his followers come to visit this place every year in order to pay their respects to his teachings. On top of that, the donations that the temple receives annually are staggering, totaling approximately 55 million dollars at the current exchange rate.
Siddhivinayak Temple in Maharashtra
Built in eighteen oh one, the Siddhivinayak temple was dedicated to Lord Ganesha which is one of the most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. What makes this place special is not only its spiritual and religious magnitude, but also the fact that images of Ashtavinayaka adorn its doors, while the inner roof is plated with gold.
Somnath Temple in Gujarat
This temple has a rather interesting story. It is said that after Lord Shiva freed the Moon God from his curse of waning, in order to show his appreciation for his deed, the Moon God built the Somnath Temple for him. Over time though, the temple had to be restored several times so that it can continue to safely receive visitors.
Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha
Housing approximately one hundred and twenty shrines in its massive structure, the Lord Jagannath temple is by far one of the most ancient in the country. Built in the XII century, this structure is very popular for its yearly Rath Yatra, a festival that involves moving deities Sudarshana, Subhadra, Balabhadra and Jagannath on a chariot. The millions of pilgrims that come here annually believe that Goddess Lakshmi is present here and those present here advance spiritually.
Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The Kashi Vishwanath is probably the holiest temple in the country and it’s dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built by Ahilyabai in seventeen eighty, the temple is of utmost importance for Hindus who firmly believe that anyone who takes a bath in the Ganges River is absolved of all his sins.
Tirupati Temple, Andhra Pradesh
The beautiful Tirupati city lies in the southeastern part of the Indian state Andhra Pradesh. It is located at a distance of 152 km to the North West from Chennai in the palkonda hills and in the chittor district. It is holy and religious place and has a famous temple dedicated to lord venkateshvara and is also called “lord of seven hills”.
Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar
Mahabodhi Temple is an extraordinary Buddhist sanctuary situated in Bodhgaya in the territory of Bihar, India. It is one of the holiest sites and pilgrimage centers in Buddhism and visited regularly by both Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims.
It is the place where Gautam Siddharth got nirvana (enlightenment) and called Lord Buddha. The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the ancient Buddhist temples built in brick. The central tower of the Mahabodhi Temples is 55 meters long (180 feet). Next to western side of the temple, there is the holy Bodhi Tree (Pipal Tree) under which the Gautam Siddharth got his enlightenment.
Golden Temple, Punjab
The Golden Temple is a Sikh Temple located in Amritsar City in the Indian state of Punjab. It is the most significant and holiest place of worship of Sikhs. It is one of the oldest Gurudwaras. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage centres of Sikhs from all over the world. Not only Sikhs but also people of other faiths visit this temple and offer prayers. It is equally revered by people of all faiths as well as Sikhs. Believers and tourists from all over the world visit this architecturally beautiful temple every year in quite good number.
The Golden Temple Gurudwara was originally built during 1574 AD. It was established by Guru Ram Das JI, the fourth guru of Sikhs. The temple is the holiest place of worships for Sikhs because of the presence of Guru of Sikhism, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This heavenly Granth is moved to the Sri Akal Takht Sahib at around 10 PM and afterward moved back from that point to the Sri Darbar Sahib at around 5 AM. The temple complex is open for men and women of all faiths, religions and all walks of life.