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1. FACTS WITH FUN…
Temples of India
By-Kamalesh Sir

3. VenkateswaraTemple is a Hindu temple
situated in the hill town of Tirumalaat
Tirupatiin Chittoordistrict of Andhra
Pradesh, India.
The Temple is dedicated to Venkateswara,
a form of Vishnu, who is believed to have
appeared here to save mankind from trials
and troubles of Kali Yuga.

5. The MahabodhiTemple or the Mahabodhi
Mahavihar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
is an ancient, but much rebuilt and
restored, Buddhist temple in BodhGaya,
marking the location where the Buddha is
said to have attained enlightenment.
BodhGaya is about 96 km from Patna,
Bihar state.

7. TheSomnathMandir(also known as the DeoPatan)
located inPrabhasPatannearVeravalinSaurashtraon
the western coast ofGujarat,Indiais believed to be the
first among the twelvejyotirlingashrines ofShiva.
The present temple was reconstructed in
theChaulukyastyleofHindu temple architectureand
completed in May 1951.
The reconstruction was started under the orders of the
Home Minister of IndiaVallabhbhaiPateland
completed after his death.

9. DwarkadhishTemple
Also known as JagatMandir. It is one of
the four Hindu pilgrimages (Char Dham).
The original structure was destroyed by
Mahmud Brgadain 1472.
Presently, in the Chalukyaarchitecture
style.

11. VaishnoDevi,also known asMata Rani,
Trikuta,AmbeandVaishnavi, is a manifestation
of The Hindu Mother Goddess,Devi. Jammu &
Kashmir
The words "Maa" and "Mata" are commonly used
inIndiaformother, and thus are often heavily
used in connection with VaishnoDevi.
GoddessVaishnaviwas formed from the
combined energies of
GoddessParvati/Mahakali,Mahalakshmi,
andMahasaraswati.

13. Amarnathcaveis aHindushrine located
inJammu and Kashmir,India. The cave is situated
at an altitude of 3,888m (12,756ft),
[1]
about
141km (88mi) fromSrinagar, the summer capital
of Jammu and Kashmir and reached
throughPahalgamtown.
In summer it is open for pilgrims.
The Amarnathtemple is one of the 51Shakti
Peethas.

15. VirupakshaTempleis located inHampiin
theBallaridistrictofKarnataka, India.
It is part of theGroup of Monuments at Hampi,
designated as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, a
form ofShiva. The temple was built by Lakkan
Dandesha, a nayaka(chieftain) under the
rulerDevaRaya IIalso known asPraudaDeva
Rayaof theVijayanagaraEmpire.

17. TheGommateshwarastatueis the tallest
monolithic statue in the world, carved out of
a single block of granite.
It is 57-foot (17m) highmonolithicand
located onVindyagiriatShravanbelagolain
theIndian stateofKarnataka.
It is so tall that it can be seen from 30 km
away.

19. ThePadmanabhaswamytempleis
inThiruvananthapuram, the state capital ofKerala
Thiruvananthapuramin Malayalam translates to
"The City of Lord Ananta",referring to the deity of
the Padmanabhaswamytemple.
The temple is built in an intricate fusion of
theCherastyleand theDravidian styleof
architecture, featuring high walls, and a 16th-
centurygopura.
Padmanabhaswamyis the tutelary deity of
theroyal family of Travancore. The
titularMaharaja of Travancore,MoolamThirunal
Rama Varma, is the trustee of the temple.

21. TheKhajurahoGroup of Monumentsis a
group ofHindu templesandJain
templesinChhatarpurdistrict,Madhya
Pradesh,India, about 175 to southeast
ofJhansi.
They are aUNESCOWorld Heritage
Site.The temples are famous for
theirnagara-style architectural symbolism
and theirerotic sculptures.

23. SanchiStupais a Buddhist complex,
famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop
atSanchiTowninRaisenDistrictof
theStateofMadhya Pradesh, India.
It is located in 46 kilometres(29mi) north-
east ofBhopal, capital ofMadhya Pradesh.

25. TheShree SiddhivinayakGanapati
Mandiris aHindu templededicated to Lord
ShriGanesh.
It is located
inPrabhadevi,Mumbai,Maharashtra,
India.
[1]
It was originally built by Laxman
Vithuand DeubaiPatilon 19 November
1801.
It is one of the richest temples in India.

27. KonarkSun Temple (KonarkSurya Mandir)is a
13th-century CESuntemple atKonark
Built by NarasimhadevaIof theEastern Ganga
Dynastyabout 1250CE.
Dedicated to the Hindu Sun GodSurya. It has a
100-foot (30m) high chariot with immense
wheels and horses, all carved from stone.
Also called theSurya Devalaya, it is a classic
illustration of the Odishastyle of Architecture
orKalingaArchitecture.

29. TheShree JagannathTempleis an
importantHindu templededicated
toJagannath, a form ofVishnu, inPuriin
the state ofOdishaon the eastern coast of
India.
The present temple was rebuilt from the
10th century onwards, on the site of an
earlier temple, and begun by
KingAnantavarmanChodagangaDeva, first
of theEastern Gangadynasty.

31. TheGolden Temple, also known
asHarmandirSahib, meaning "abode of
God" orDarbārSahib, meaning "exalted
court" is agurdwaralocated in the city
ofAmritsar,Punjab, India.
It is the preeminent spiritual site ofSikhism.

33. RamanathaswamyTemple is aHindu
templededicated to the godShivalocated
onRameswaramislandin the state ofTamil Nadu,
India. It is also one of the
twelveJyotirlingatemples.
The temple has the longest corridor among all
Hindu temples in India.
The presiding deity, theLingamof
Ramanathaswamy(Shiva), was established and
worshiped byRamabefore crossing his bridge to
Lanka.

35. MeenakshiTemple(also spelled asMeenatchi
Temple)is a historic Hindu temple located on the
southern bank of theVaigaiRiverin the temple
cityofMadurai,Tamil Nadu,India.
It is dedicated toMeenakshi, a form ofParvati,
and her consort,Sundareshwar, a form ofShiva.
The temple is at the center of the ancient temple
city of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam
literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in
6th century CE texts.

37. TheSri RanganathaswamyTempleis aHindu
templededicated toRanganatha, a form of the
Supreme God, MahaVishnu, located
inSrirangam,Tiruchirapalli,Tamil Nadu.
Constructed in theDravidian architectural style,
the temple is glorified byAlvarsin theirDivya
Prabhandaand has the unique distinction of
being not only the foremost among the
108DivyaDesamsdedicated to Vishnu,but also
the largest functioningHindutemple in the
world.

39. BrihadishvaraTemple,also
calledRajarajesvaramor PeruvudaiyārKōvil, is
aHindu templededicated toShivalocated in
South bank ofKaveririver inThanjavur,Tamil
Nadu, India.
It is ofDravidian architecture.It is called
asDhakshinaMeru(Meruof south).

40. Built by Tamil kingRaja RajaChola-I
between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a
part of theUNESCOWorld Heritage
Siteknown as the "Great Living Chola
Temples", along with theChola
dynastyeraGangaikondaCholapuram
templeandAiravatesvaratemplethat are
about 70 kilometres(43mi) and 40
kilometres(25mi) to its northeast
respectively.

42. BadrinathorBadrinarayanTempleis aHindu
templededicated toVishnuwhich is situated in
the town ofBadrinathinUttarakhand, India.
The temple and town form one of the fourChar
DhamandChotaChar Dhampilgrimage sites.
The temple is located inGarhwalhilltracks
inChamolidistrictalong the banks
ofAlaknandaRiver at an elevation of 3,133m
(10,279ft) above the mean sea level.

44. LingarajaTempleis aHindu
templededicated toShivaand is one of the
oldest temples inBhubaneswar, the capital
of the Indian state ofOdisha.

46. TheKamakhyaTemplealso known asKamrup-
Kamakhyatemple,is aSaktatemple dedicated to
themother goddessKamakhya.
It is one of the oldest of the 51ShaktiPithas.
Situated on the NilachalHill in western part
ofGuwahaticity inAssam.
It is an important pilgrimage destination
forHindusand especially forTantricworshipers.

48. GuruvayurSri Krishna Templeis
aHindutemple dedicated to the
LordGuruvayurappan(four-armed form of
the LordVishnu), located in the town
ofGuruvayurinKerala,India.
It is one of the most important places of
worship forHindusin Kerala and is often
referred to asBhulokaVaikunta(Holy
Abode of Vishnu on Earth).

49. FACTS WITH FUN…
Temples of India
By-Kamalesh Sir