India is home to different cultures, rituals, and festivals. Temples are an integral part of India society, for not one, but many reasons – religion and faith being the most crucial ones of it all. There are a number of temples situated all over the country, where devotees worship gods and goddesses for their internal peace. Every temple is designed in a divergent style and intricate architecture.
Here, in this article, we have put together a list of some of the most famous temples in India, where people come from all over the country to gain internal peace and attain spiritual enlightenment.
1.Vaishno Devi Mandir
The Vaishno Devi Mandir is located in the beautiful valley of the mountain of Trikuta at a hike of 5200 feet in Jammu and Kashmir. This temple is very popular among the people of India, particularly the Hindu community. It is believed that this temple belongs to three of the many Hindu Goddesses or Maa (Mother) - Maa Saraswathi, Maa Lakshmi, and Maa Kali. You can either trek to the temple on your own as it is just about 14 km away from Katra or you can hire a helicopter from Katra to Sanjichhat, which is around 10 km away from Katra. Usually, devotees believe that walking the entire way to the temple atop, if possible, will fulfill all their wishes.
Location: Jammu & Kashmir, India
Distance from Katra railway station to Vaishno Devi temple (along with time): 17.5 km (1h 30m)
2.Lord Neminath Temple
The Lord Neminath Temple is built on the beautiful hill of Girnar in Junagadh. An important religious center, Girnar is an abode to 16 Jain temples. This place is very popular among the Gujarat tourism for its fair. Therefore, it is visited by the devotees from all over the world. The temple belongs to Lord Neminath, the 22nd Jain Tirthankar. It is commonly believed that Lord Neminath became a yogi after he saw animals being slaughtered for food at his wedding. This evoked him to leave all the worldly affairs and he came to Girnar. Best time to visit Girnar is in winters from October to March.
Location: Junagadh, Gujrat
Distance from Porbandar Airport to Bhavnath Mahadev Temple (along with time): 109 km (2h 13m)
3.Kedarnath Temple
The Kedarnath temple belongs to the Hindu God Shiva which is located near the Mandakini river in Uttarakhand. According to the Hindu mythologists, the temple was initially built by the Pandavas and has been since reconstructed by devotees over the centuries. The temple is not easily accessible via direct road or through any another conveyance. It has to be hiked to from around 18 kilometers from Gaurikund. Kedarnath temple is the highest among the 12 Jyotir Lingams with a very beautiful view from the top.
Location: Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
Distance from Dehradun Airport to Kedarnath Temple (along with time): 226 km (7h 28m)
4.Mallinath Temple
The Mallinath temple in Girnar is among the famous temple in India. The designs and the premises of this temple are so attractive that you can spend 3-4 hours here admiring the temple complex. The climate around the temple is quite beautiful. This place is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is visited by many of his devotees. There is another popular temple located near the Mallinath temple, which is known as the Neminath temple. You can reach this mountain via buses from Junagadh's local depot and from there hike to the temple. How to reach Girnar is detailed below.
Location: Junagadh, Gujrat
Distance from Porbandar Airport to Mallinath Temple (along with time): 394 km (6h 58m)
5.Golden Temple
It is one of the most popular temples in North India and is amongst the most sacred place for Sikhs. This temple, situated in the beautiful city of Amritsar, Punjab, is also known as Darbar Sahib and Sri Harmandir Sahib. The entire top of this temple is constructed by pure gold. The golden temple belongs to the Sikh guru Harmandir Sahib and it is believed that the construction of the temple was completed in 1557 by Guru Ram Das. Many devotees visit here to find peace and to partake in the rich history of this temple. The entire temple is surrounded by the artificial lake with lots of fishes in it.
Location: Amritsar, Punjab
Distance from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport to Golden Temple (along with time): 28 km (28m)