Visiting India wouldn’t be complete without also visiting some of the most famous temples in India. The thing is that there are so many temples in India and all of them are majestic. Obviously, to make the most of your time in India, you should decide on which temples you should visit. 

To make it easier for you, I have a list of the top five famous temples in India. These temples will definitely leave you in awe. And of course, to make your trip even better and more comfortable, try Air India. Here is the list that you have been waiting for.

1. Golden Temple

This amazing temple is located in the middle of a small, sacred lake, and is considered to be the holiest of all Sikh shrines. The gold panels cover almost all of the temple’s exterior walls, and even the dome is gilded as well. I am sure once you see it you understand why the temple is called Golden Temple. Even from far away, you can already see the beauty of the temple.

If you are already planning to visit Amritsar, Punjab, you may as well visit the Golden Temple. This temple has an interesting story that you can tell other people, too. So the legend says that Buddha once spent time in this exact location, and 2,000 years later, Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, ended up living by the lake. Eventually, all of his followers built a temple on the site. This is why you can see the ceremony held each morning in the location to install the Guru Granth Sahib.

2. Virupaksha Temple

If you can see Golden Temple from far away, then you can see Virupaksha Temple from even further away. This majestic temple is located on the Tungabhadra River and is considered to be the oldest functioning temple in India. So without a doubt that this temple is worth a visit. Your trip to India won’t be complete without visiting Virupaksha Temple. 

Despite being the oldest functioning temple in India and was once a part of the royal city of Vijayanagar, the temple is still fully intact. So you can enjoy all of its glory up close. Unfortunately, the rest of the city is not in a good state. Try to visit the temple early in the morning so you can see the elephant’s morning bath ritual.

3. Akshardham Temple

If you are wondering if any temples in India can be considered “new”, now you have found one. Akshardham Temple was only built in 2005, so it is fairly new. The temple is located in the eastern suburbs of New Delhi and is actually the largest Hindu temple in the world. One more interesting thing is that despite being new, the temple was actually built using ancient techniques. The temple’s location being in the middle of a complex also makes it feel special.

4. Lotus Temple

This temple is simply beautiful. As the name suggests, the Lotus Temple is shaped like a lotus flower. It was opened to the public in 1986 and remains one of the most famous temples in India. Lotus Tower is located in New Delhi, which is the most popular city for travellers. Chances are, you are already planning to visit New Delhi, so don’t forget to visit Lotus Temple.

The temple was created by an Iranian architect, Fariborz Sahba, consisting of 27 marble petals that create the beautiful lotus shape. The philosophy behind Lotus Temple or the Bahai House of Worship is also an interesting one. The Bahai faith believes that every worshipper of all religions should be welcomed and treated with kindness. So the temple opens itself to everyone in the world. 

5. Mahabodhi Temple

Mahabodhi Temple is a very important site for Buddhists and also one of the oldest brick structures in eastern India. The temple is built on the site where Buddha was said to have attained Enlightenment. So being in the location alone can already give you this feeling that you are in an important place in the world.

Buddhists also consider the location to be the navel of the planet and believe that this is the spot where the earth will end and where the next re-creation of the earth will begin. Besides all that cool stuff mentioned, you can also see the original Bodhi tree, which was the tree where Buddha attained enlightenment.

Conclusion

These famous temples will not disappoint you. Once you get to the location, you will understand why these temples are famous and why travellers from all over the world come to visit. As always, stay safe while travelling and immerse yourself.