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

Top 10 temples of Gujarat

The westernmost state of India has been known since ancient times for its wealth and devotion. It has been a site of plunder, reconstruction, affluence, depravity and revival. It houses some of the most famous and venerated temples in the country some of which definitely deserve a Top10 list of their own.

1. Dwarkadheesh Temple, Dwarka: One of the Char Dhams in India , or the Western Dham, the temple dedicated to Lord Krishna draws lakhs of pilgrims in  a single year and why not, after all a Hindu is expected to visit this temple at-least once in his lifetime.  Find more about this Jagat Mandir at the official site www.dwarkadhish.org

Dwarkadheesh: PC - populartemplesofindia.blogspot.com

2. Somnath Temple, Somnath : The first Jytoriling dedicated to Lord Shiva is said to have been rebuilt 16 times in its amazing course through history. The temple stands at the seashore where one can directly gaze into the deep blue waters of the Arabian sea. www.somnath.org is your official source of further information on history, devotion and live Darshan.

Somnath: PC- rajyash.blogspot.com

3. Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar : One of the most well crafted temples in India, this temple once has had the misfortune of being the target of a terrorist activity. Dedicated to Swaminarayan, this temple is said to be the precursor of the temple built at the National Capital Region. One can browse official site for more information

Akshardham: PC-rahulbemba.blogspot.com

4. Krishna Temple, Bet Dwarka : Located 30 kms at the Bet Dwarka island off the coast of Okha, the temple-island is said to be the remaining site of the submerged city of Dwarka. It is believed that here Lord Krishna stayed with his wife. Click here for further info about the temple.

Bet Dwarka: PC- panoramio.com

5. Nageshwar Temple, Nageshwar : The temple is said to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva but the claim is stated to be controversial. The temple boasts of a massive Lord Shiva idol placed at the entrance to the temple and also houses an Akhand Jyoti,  the ashes of which are believed to be extremely sacred. This is a better source of information about the temple

Nageshwar: PC-indianstemples.blogspot.com

6. Shatrunjaya Hill Temples, Palitana : Located near Bhavnagar this temple complex boasts of 863 Jain temples and is said to be a marvel of engineering. One of the most sacred Jain sites in India the temple also is a major attraction for international tourists visiting Gujarat. More information here

Palitana: PC-indian-temple-photo.blogspot.com

7. Bahuchara Mata Temple, Mehsana : Located at Bahuchara town of the Mehsana district the deity also serves as the patron goddess of the Hijra community of India. The legends related to the temple are also said to contain the cure for sexual defects and diseases. More info here.

Bahuchara mata: PC-nxview.blogspot.com

8. Kashtabhanjandev Temple, Salangpur : Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, located in the Botad district, this temple is visited by multitude of devotees suffering more psychosomatic disorders.  http://salangpurhanumanji.com/ is the official site for more information about the temple which the devotees may give a browse.

Salangpur: touchmeworld.blogspot.com

9. Ambaji Temple, Banaskantha : One of the 51 Shaktipeethas in India, dedicated to Lord Amba. One of the most revered site dedicated the goddess throughout the country, the temple deserves a special mention for its wealth and tech-savviness. The official site provides further information

Ambaji: PC-travelindianhistory.blospot.com

10 Ranchhordraji Temple, Dakor : Dedicated to Lord Krishna when he fled Jarasandha during battle, the temple is in close proximity to the Ambaji temple and draws millions of devotees every year. The official website provides appropriate information about the temple and tour itineraries. 

Dakor: PC-sfes.learnfighting.org

Top 10 temples of Uttar Pradesh

The state of Uttar Pradesh has been the cradle of our civilization, the archive of our spirituality, the container of our holiest wisdom slowly accumulated over millennia. It is fitting that the state will house some of the most revered sites with the most ardent of devotees. The list throws light on some of the most venerated temples of this deeply religiously relevant state.

1. Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi: This supreme Jyotirlinga, dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshipped in the form of Vishwanath, which translates as the Lord of the world, is situated in Varanasi, our holiest city, which is also acclaimed as Shiva's own capital. One can look into shrikashivishwanath.org if one is searching for Live Darshan and further information

Vishwanatha: PC- rahulbemba.blogspot.com

2. Bankebihari Temple, Vrindavan : One of the holiest and most revered temples dedicated to Lord Krishna in the country, the temple exudes an atmosphere of piousness, devotion, bhakti, melody and affluence. Being the most celebrated temple of Vrindavan itself is no easy task as competition abounds. One can look into the cyberhome of Bankebihari ji at bihariji.org and www.bankeybihari.info

Bankebihari: PC-hindutemplesindia.blogspor.com

3. Ramlala Temple, Ayodhya: This controversial temple is one of the most celebrated places of one of the most iconic heroes of Hinduism:- Shri Ram as this is his Janmabhoomi Temple in his honour. Here Lord Rama is worshiped as an infant, hence the name Ramlala. Currently the temple is housed in a makeshift structure but it hasn't stopped lakhs of devotees to pay respect to Maryada Purshottama.

Ramlala: PC- khaskhabar.org

4. Vindhyavasini Temple, Mirzapur: The temple is dedicated to the benevolent spirit of Maa Durga or Maa Amba. The name Vindhyavasini literally translates to the one who resides in the Vindhyas  This is one of the most visited Shaktipeethas of the country and the crowd swells to its peak during the celebrations of Navratri. One can find more information on maavindhyavasini.com and vindhyachaltemple.com

Vindhyavasini: PC- vindhyachalonline.com

5. Krishna Janmabhoomi, Mathura : The jewel in the crown of Mathura, this is a huge expanse of a temple situated in the heart of Mathura. The morning aarti of the temple is said to be a truly hair raising ceremony. One can plan his trip via mathuratemples.com

Krishna janmabhoomi: PC-indusladies.com

6. Sankatmochan Temple, Varanasi : The city of Varanasi or Benaras is a temple-town hence it comes as no surprise that the town shall boast of a host of highly esteemed temples. One such fine example is the sankatmochan temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman is one his most famous and venerated shrines. More information at the official website

Sankatmochan: PC-apnabanaras.blogspot.com

7.  Mulagandhkuti Vihar Temple, Sarnath: One of the four holiest places related to Lord Buddha, the temple is said to be the site for Lord Buddha's first sermon. Located near Varanasi it is easily connected by roadways as well as railways. The celebrations of Buddh Purnima are definitely worth a visit. One can find more information at here

Sarnath: PC- populartemplesofindia.blogspot.com

8.  Mahaparinirvana Temple, Kushinagar : Another of the four sacred spots of Buddha, the other two being Lumbini  and Bodhgaya. The temple is said to be the site where Lord Buddha was cremated. One can look for further information about the itinerary here at here

Kushinagar: PC-buddhaquotesonline.blogspot.com

9.  Gorakhnath Temple, Gorakhpur: The saint Gorakhnath gave his name by the which the town of Gorakphur is currently known as, hence it is fitting that a temple should be erected in his honour. One can look into official website for further information about the legends and the stories connected with the temple.

Gorakhnath temple: PC-mygorakhpurup.blogspot.com

10. Ganga Temple, Gadhmukteshwar: The river Ganga is given a spot amongst the goddesses and rightly so. She has been said to be the cultural icon of the country and the harbinger of Indian heritage and mythology. Hence, it is no wonder that the ancient temple situated in Hapur district, dedicated in her honor is visited by scores everyday. 

Ganga temple: PC-king-anjan.blogspot.com