Top 10 temples of Bihar

Bihar has been The Enlightenment state, equally revered by Jains and Buddhists as this state played a very important role in the life of both of these gods and shaped the destiny of the country and to an extent, the world as well. Magadha throughout history had been at the centerstage of the happenings in India and though much has changed since then, only little has changed towards the devotion which these temples evoke.The top 10 lists are in order.

1. Mahabodhi Temple, Gaya:- Mahabodhi temple is the site where Buddha attained enlightenment and hence the star attraction is the Bodhi Tree. The temple complex also houses patron images of Surya , Shiva and Vishnu. It is one of the most replicated Buddhist structures with replicas existing as Mahabodhi Temple, Myanmar; Zhenjue Temple, China; Wat Chet Yot Temple, Thailand. One can browse www.bodhgayatemple.com which is the official website by the committee.

Mahabodhi Temple: PC-besttourismplaces.com

2. Vaidyanath Temple, Deoghar:- One of the twelve Jytorilingas dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is the most visited Shiva temple in Eastern India. The legend states that the temple was the site for post- funeral rituals and a center of Tantra. This is also the site where Ravana is said to have worshiped Shiva to receive a boon and he sacrificed his heads as a token of his penance. Here Lord Shiva acted as a doctor and hence the name "Vaidyanatha". The official website babadham.org/ provides better information.

Baidyanath: PC-jharkhanddarshan.com

3. Jalmandir, Pawapuri :- The last of teerthankaras Lord Mahaveer, attained his nirvana here and was cremated which created a rush to collect the cremation soil at such an unprecedented scale that it created a pond. Now, a great lotus temple stands at the site. There is also a dedicated temple known by the name Samaroshan temple where Lord Mahaveer delivered its last sermon here.

Jalmandir: PC- jaindharmaonline.com

4. Patna Sahib, Patna :- Patna sahib is one of the five Takhts , i.e. the holiest shrines of Sikhism. It was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh as a remembrance of the tenth guru of Sikhs namely Guru Gobind Singh as it said to be built over his birthplace. The Takht was also graced by the presence of Guru Nanak and Guru Tegh Bahadur. There is more info on the official website of the Takht  www.takhtsripatnasahib.com/

Patna Takht: PC- sikhmissionarysociety.com

5. Vishnupad Temple, Gaya :- Gaya holds a position of special significance in Hinduism. It is the center for offering post-funeral rites and hence tragically is the places which is a mute witness to the scores of suffering and languish of its devotees. Prapitamaheshwar temple stands smack dab in the centre of all this as the last tendril of connection to this world and yonder. Look here for more info only if you absolutely need it. 

Vishnupad Temple: PC- wikimedia commons

6. Garib Sthan Mandir, Muzaffarpur :- If one has nothing he atleast has Lord Shiva, this aspect of the supreme god of our pantheon forms the basis of this shrine to him. It is also known as the Baba Garibsthan Mandir and is one of the most archaic religious structure in the city. More information can be obtained at the official site http://www.garibnathdham.in/

Baba Garibsthan: PC - subhumi.com

7. Mangalagowri Temple, Gaya :- The Manglagowri temple is one of 18 Mahashaktipeethas of India and is the epicentre of devotion of the women-only festival Mangla Gauri Vrat. The temple situated atop the Mangla hill  presiding deity Maa Mangla is the worshiped as the incarnation of benevolence.

Maglagauri: PC-epuja.in

8 .Mandargiri Temple, Banka :- The Mandargiri is extremely sacred as it formed the main instrument for the extremely famous Samudra Manthan story of Skanda Puran, The oldest temple at the site is said to be dedicated to Lord Narsimha or Narhari and in memory of 12th Jain Tirthankara Vasupujya a Mandargiri Digambar Jain Temple is also located in the complex.

Mandargiri: PC- jainoutlook.com

9. Janki Mandir, Sitamarhi :- The temple holds immense significance as this is the slated place where Goddess Sita was abandoned the material world and went back to her mother-Goddess Prithvi. It is from here that Lord Rama took his two princes Luv and Kush back to Ayodhya. The official website can be found at sitasamahittemple.in/

Sitamarhi: PC-sitamarhi.bih.nic.in

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10. Maa Patan Devi Temple, Patna :- The city of Patna derives its name from this patron goddess. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Sati and is one of the 51 Shaktipeethas of the country. The religious life of the city revolves around the temple. One can browse for more information at the official site www.maapatneshwari.org/

Pataneshwari: PC- meerasoftech.com

Top 10 temples of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has long been the bastion of Hinduism and Hindu culture and this gets reflected amply in the amount of incredible sites of worship dotting the landscape. Hence it becomes extremely difficult to narro

1. Ramanathswami Temple, Rameshwaram : Located in the Ramnathpuram district the temple is the only religious structure in India which is both a Jyotirlinga and a Char Dham site. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this is the southern dhama and is said to be the place of worship of Shiva by Lord Rama before embarking on his quest of Lanka. The temple boast of the largest corridors in the world and has multiple wells where various saints and kings have performed penance. The official website can be visited here

2. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai : Located on the banks of river Vaigai, the temple is situated in the holy city of Madurai is dedicated to goddess Parvati who is worshiped in the form of Meenakshi. The annual Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival attracts more than a million visitors across the country. The official websites can be visited at www.maduraimeenakshi.org  and  www.maduraimeenakshitemple.com

Meenakshi temple: PC-maduraixpress.com

3. Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur : One of the oldest and the biggest temples dedicated to Shiva was built by the Chola dynasty which showcases the heights reached by their empire. It is also a Unesco World Heritage site and is more than a millenium old. One can visit the official website for more information about the legends, effort, architecture and styles.

Brihadeshwar: PC-insightsindia.blogspot.com

4. Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram : The temple has been one of the icons of Hinduism across the world and is said to be over two millenia old. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva and has 108 Bharatnatyam poses sculpted over the gopurams. Visit the www.chidambaramnataraja.org for further details.

Nataraj Temple: PC-flickr.com

5.  Kapaleeshwara Temple, Chennai: The capital city can be proud of its cultural heritage and one of the crowing pieces in its glory is the Kapaleeshwara temple where Shiva is worshiped alongside Parvati who is known by the name Karpagambal. The temple has multiple daily rituals and four yearly festivals. Visit the kapaleeswarartemple.com for further information 

Kapaaleshwara: PC-flickr.com

6. Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram : Kanchipuram is one of the seven cities where one can attain salvation and hence the town comprises of multiple awe-inspiring temples. Amongst those the ekambareswarar temple stands out from the crowd. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of the five Panch Bhootams and houses one of the tallest gopurams in India. Click here for more information

Ekambareshwar: PC-yatrastotemples.com

7.Annamaliayar Arunachaleshwar Temple, Tiruvannamalai : The uniqueness of the temple lies in the fact that it is one of the Panchtatva temples in India, dedicated to the element of fire. Shiva remains the presiding deity of the complex and hence the temple enjoys its seat on the high pedestal within the followers of Shiva. It is one of the largest temples in India and its hall of thousand pillars built during the Vijaynagar kingdom is a sight to behold.

Arunachalam: PC-Sonuprabha for Sulekha.com

8 Rangnathaswamy Temple, Tiruchirapalli : It has the distinction of being the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, Angkor being the largest religious structure ever built. The entire temple complex isn't religious in nature , 3 out of the 7 parkrimas are used for commercial purposes and hence they reduce the size to make the complex contestable in size with Brihadeshwara and Annamaliayar temple.

Rangnathaswamy: PC-thelostlander.wordpress.com

9. Varadraja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram: Kanchipuram isn't one of the seven Sapta-puris just riding on its fame. It also houses some of the most revered sites as well as architectural marvels present in modern India. The temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is one of the sites where 12 Alwars or the saint poets visited. It is the second most visited temple in the city and one of the largest temple complexes in the country

Varadaraja Perumal: PC-divinetraveller,net

10. Rajgopalaswami Temple, Mannarrgudi : The temple is also known as Dakshin Dwarka along with Guruvayoor which indicates the reverence which this site evokes. It also houses one of the most preserved and largest temple tanks in the country which alone makes it a place worth visiting.

Rajagopalaswami: PC-wikimedia.com

Top 10 most Diverse & Unique Tourist places in India

The term Indian subcontinent is no anomaly , the country is extremely diverse in every aspect which can be thought with regards to the word "civilization". Nature has also magnanimously endowed the nation with a tapestry of hues, colors, formations and what not. Hence it is utterly impossible to cover Incredible India in one lifetime. It is no wonder that the people here believe in reincarnation. Still, one can do its own life-time a bit of justice towards satiating his wanderlust by visiting the drastically contrasting gifts of nature. Let's have a look at the contenders listed in random order, after all beauty is subjective in nature.

1. Rann of Kutch, Gujarat : The only salt flat in the country and one of the handful present in the world. It is truly the nature's mirror. One could've scarcely believed that the barren, unhospitable land devoid of vegetation could find a place on anyone's itinerary but the Rann Utsav with excellent road connectivity changed all that. The white desert as it is also known truly justifies its name. In my personal I would like to suggest that one should visit the Rann twice in a day , once during daylight to experience the horizon in HD and second in a moonlit night where the surface creates an illusion of the barren land of the moon itself.

PC: xbhp.com

2. Sunderbans, Bengal : The largest mangrove forest on the largest river delta of the world, the sunderbans are as beautiful as they are deadly, Picture this, you are sitting on a small boat where there exists a possibility of encountering an alligator or the royal bengal tiger, or both simultaneously. After-all where do you find such danger majestically enveloped in the hands of nature's lap of Sundari trees. Definitely plan a visit to India's answer to amazonian rainforests

PC: Excitingindia.in

3. Sam Sand Dunes, Rajasthan : Just say out aloud the word Rajasthan and one immediately pictures colorful folks strutting around their business over the sand dunes, This picture though mightn't hold true in any of the major cities of the state but here closer to Jaisalmer it is completely accurate. Just like Kutch, there are two options of traversing through the desert, on camelback and via a jeep safari. In order to absorb it fully go witness a sunset on camelback and behold the sunrise while sitting atop a crazily paced jeep ride. Also do drive a Thar while you are in Thar

PC: mkexim.com

4. Aleppy Backwaters, Kerala : Kerala has beautufully and deftly ingrained an image in the mind of every Indian of its association with sea and houseboats. Hence no-one raises an eyebrow when the state places itself strongly as one of the favored holiday destination in India by foreigners, and why not. After all Kerala truly deserves its place, while one is here one can truly enjoy the shade provided by the lush canopy of palm and coconut trees while one indulges in the gifts of ayurveda with a houseboat to call its own.

PC: Kalpadeepholidays.com

5. Chambal Beehad (Ravines), Madhya Pradesh: Probably the latest in the list of tourist attractions in this list, the area has only been recently opened up for public thanks to the extinction of the dacoit threat in the region. The river cuts through deep ravines, creates eccentric sand hills and mind-blowing geographical formation. Through in alligators and blind riverine dolphins along with a throng of aquatic life and you have truly a safari to remember,

PC:flickr.com

6. Tawang Hills, Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang needs no introduction as it has now been entrenched firmly in the minds of travel-freaks of the country. For those who are pining to visit it once, let me add some more fire. Leaving apart the monastery and the calm which surrounds it, the hospitality of the locals and the fame it got from roadies, the scenic beauty of snow clad Himalayas is awe-inspiring which I'm not going to write much about as it will simply be a bunch of superlatives thrown together, The snowfall, chilly winds and hot steamy of bowl of Thukpa with majestic mountains ahead are breathtaking indeed

PC: Pinimg.com

7. Ladakh, Kashmir : Hands-down one of the most talked-about destination in current scenario, Ladakh is truly a crown jewel, whether you want to peek-a-boo at thangkas, challenge yourself with a bike-journey of your life, stare at your reflection at the crystal clear lakes, the love for adventure, the innumerable passes, the picture-postcard worthy surroundings all make it a trip worth your lifetime, And yeah plan it with your friends.

PC:maltisudhatravels.com

8. Loktak Lake, Manipur:  World's largest floating lake, containing the only floating national park, India's largest freshwater lake, the last home of the sangai or the brow antler deer, the exhibition of novel fishing techniques by means of Phumdis, tourist lodges smack in the middle of water, host to a multitude of endangered aviates, fauna and flora. Wait , I realized I will just keep on rambling, because there is so much uniquely specific to this ecosystem, make sure you obtain your Inner Line Permit at any of the Manipur Houses and pack your bags to visit this paradise

PC: Khbuzz.com

9. Jaintia Hill Caves, Meghalaya: Out of the top 10 deepest caves in India, 9 lie within the state of Manipur. For the adrenaline junkies in India , these caves with  a great many areas still waiting to be explored are a must visit stop. After all who doesn't enjoy entering into an uncharted arena where the last footsteps of humans were centuries ago, if not at all. The exploration is undertaken for both academic and recreational purposes. Make sure you book your tour for cave exploration in advance as it is risky to venture out on your own

PC: Hugh Penny for PlanetDen

10. Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu: If travelling through a ghost town while sitting atop a broad wheeled trucked customized to wade through sand under a film of water with the open sea to both your sides is your thing, then Dhanushkodi is your place to be. Wait, you didn't know that such thing was ever possible? Of course, you've heard of its more famous cousin Rameshwaram, Sitting very close to it the place offers spectacular vistas of the Indian ocean 

PC: Arun Electra

Top 10 temples of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand or Uttaranchal as it also known is The Holy Land for Hindus where millions of tourists flock every year to visit one of the most venerated and revered temples in the country. This hilly state relies heavily on religious tourism, where people from each state of the country congregate.  The top 10 list of the temples situated in this state are:-

1. Badrinath Temple, Badrinath : The Northern Dham of the four Char Dhams, this temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is the centrepiece of religious attraction in this holy-land. This temple is also one of the four sites which are known as the Chota Char Dhams. The temple is located in the Chamoli district on the banks of river Alaknanda. The statue of Vishnu is believed to be one of the 8 self manifested statues in the country. Visit the official website here

Badrinath: PC-indiandevidevta.blogspot.com

2. Kedarnath Temple, Kedarnath : One of the twelve Jytorilingas dedicated to Lord Shiva, this is the second most visited and revered temple within the state of Uttarakhand. This is also the second in the list of the 4 temples known as Chota Char Dhams. The town was recently destroyed in the flash floods but the temple was miraculously able to preserve itself. Visit the official website at badarikedar.org

Kedarnath: PC-marthoormahadevan.blogspot.com

3. Gangotri Temple, Gangotri : The third piece of the Chota Char Dhaam yatra, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga and is the most revered site for the goddess despite the origin of the river takes place at Gomukh. Situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi, the temple is said to be the site where Goddess Ganga descended from heavens. More info here.

Gangotri: PC-indianinsights.blogspot.com

4. Yamunotri Temple. Yamunotri : The temple is dedicated to goddess Yamuna which is the grandest tributary to the river Ganga. The last of the four Chota Char Dhaams in Uttarakhand. Find out more about the source of river Yamuna here

Yamunotri: PC- tourservicesindia.blogspot.com

5.  Nanda Devi Temple, Almora : The most popular temple dedicated to the Devi in the state, the temple attracts lakhs of visitors in its premises.Fairs at Ranikhet, Almora and Nainital take place in her honour where thousands participate. More information here

Nandadevi: PC- uttarakhandpravasi.blogspot.com

6. Rudranath Temple, Rudraprayag: One of the five Kedars in the state, situated at the confluence of the rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda, the temple is surrounded by sacred Kunds and is said to the place where Devarshi Narad meditated. Rudranath temple is said to be the place where the soul of the dead cross the Vaitarini river.

Rudranath: PC-flickr.com

7. Mansadevi Temple, Haridwar : One of the 51 Shaktipeethas of India, the place is said to be the venue where the heart of lady Sati fell hence the veneration and devotion it invokes is unparalleled. This is also the centre of attraction during the Kumbh mela which takes place once in twelve years.

Mansadevi: PC-hindugodwallpaperz.com

8. Hemkund Sahib Temple, Joshimath : The revered Gurudwara situated at near Gobindghat in the Chamoli district devoted to Guru Gobind Singh. The adjoining glacial lake is surrounded by seven surrounding peaks each adorned by a Nishan Sahib. More information at the official website

Hemkunt: PC- indiantouristspots.blogspot.com

9. Chandidevi Temple, Haridwar : Perched atop a hill in the city of Haridwar, a huge pilgrimage centre in itself, the temple can easily be reached via a ropeway. This is one of the three Siddha Peetha in the state, the other two being Mansadevi and Mayadevi, is dedicated to goddess Chandika.

Chandidevi: PC-myharidwar.com

10. Madmaheshwar Temple, Mansoona : Madmaheshwar or Madhyamaheshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the five Kedars and is believed to be built by the Pandavas. These five temples are also known as the Panch Kedar located in the Garhwal region of the himalayas, the other four being Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tunganath and Kalpeshwar.

Madmaheshwar: PC-flickr.com

Top 10 temples of Karnataka

The first South Indian state in the series, (find more Top10 temples list archive here), the state of Karnataka boasts of a myriad of temples dedicated to a multitude of gods and goddesses. The list as always only included live temples i.e. the places of worship where Pujas are still performed and excludes pure architectural sites.

1. Krishna Mutt, Udupi : The temple town of Udupi is known for its delicious vegetarian cuisine. Located on the Arabian sea coast, dedicated to Lord Krishna is one of the most sacred Vaishnavite sites in the country.  Visit the official website udipikrishnamutt.com to know more details.

Udupi: PC-tulunadunews.com

2. Manjunath Temple, Dharmasthala : Located on the banks of river Netravati in the Belthangadi taluka  of Dakshin Kannada district, the temple is dedicated to Lord Manjunath and also houses idols of Shiva, Chandranath and Ammanavaru. The temple on average receives 10,000 devotees a day. Truly a marvelous site to behold is the annual Lakshdeep festival which takes place in November-December. Visit the official site shridharmasthala.org for further details

Dharmasthala: PC-myjourniesinindia.blogspot.com

3. Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysore : It is one of the 18 Mahashaktipeethas and is situated atop Chamundi hill, at the outskirts of the Mysore city. The temple premises also houses a huge statue of Mahishasura and a huge Nandi statue in the form of a bull. One can obtain more information about the temple at mysorechamunditemple.com and chamundeshwaritemple.kar.nic.in

Chamundeshwari: PC-populartemplesinindia.blogspot.com

4. Gomteshwar Temple, Sravanabelagola: The town is situated close to Chennarayapatna which in turn is approx 140 kms from the state capital at Bangalore. The statue of Bahubali Gomteshwara is truly a towering site which reached its zenith under the Ganga dynasty. Chandragupta maurya is said to have obtained his nirvana here. This is also the site for the mahamastakabhisheka festival which is held once every twelve years.

Bahubali: PC-sacredsites.com

5. Virupaksha Temple, Hampi : The town of Hampi boasts of several magnificent structures built during the Vijaynagar kingdom but the Virupaksha temple dedicated to Lord Shiva tops them all. One can also embrace live elephants who also bless the devotees as per their offerings. It is also believed to be functioning uninterruptedly since its inception in 7th A.D.  For more info click here

Virupaksha: PC-pinterest.com

6. Srikanteshwara Temple, Nanjangud : Located in the Mysore district 25 kms from the city , situated on the banks of river Kapila it is said to be one of the most beautiful temples in the state and rightly it has earned the nickname of Dakshin Kashi. Visit here for further information.

Nanjangud: PC-inmysore.com

7. Mangladevi Temple, Mangalore : This temple has provided the town with its name and is hence is integral to the city's culture and heritage.The temple is dedicated to Shakti and is built in a Kerala style architecture. The festival of Dusshera is the time when the rathyatra commences which is worth a visit alone. More on mangaldevi at the www.mangaladevitemple.com

Mangladevi: PC-aneelanike.blogspot.com

8. Sharda Peetham, Sringeri : First and the foremost of the four mathas established by Adishankaracharya ,located in the Chikmangalur district on the banks of river Tunga it is one of the most authoritative religious sites dedicated towards codecs of Hinduism.  Visit www.sringeri.net for further details

Sringeri Mutt: PC-flickr.com

9. Murdeshwara Temple, Murudeshwar : The picturesque Shiva temple has single-handedly catapulted Murudeshwar onto the tourist map, the presence of scuba diving at Netrani is also a welcome addition. The statue is said to be a part of Atma lingam which provided gods with the nectar of immortality More info here.

Murudeshwara: PC-indianreligioustemple.blogspot.com

10. Talakaveri Temple, Coorg : Dedicated to goddess Kaveri, which is one of the seven Sapt Sindhus, which has provided the region with the elixir of life-water. Located at a distance of 45 kms from Madikeri the temple is situated on the slopes of Brahmagiri hills and contains a Kund which is the origin of the Kaveri river.  Visit here for further information

Talakaveri: PC-dreamysap.wordpress.com