Shraddha Kapoor's photoshoot from Women health India - December 2013

Shraddha Kapoor's photoshoot from Women health India - December 2013

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Top 10 Most Followed Hindu Deities India

There are a large variety and number of gods who are being worshipped throughout the world. There are different religions which support the worship of different gods. So here we have the list of Top 10 Most Followed Hindu deities in India

10.)Yama

The last but not the least is lord yama is also known as Yamaraja. Yamaraja basically means the king of death. He is famous in many mythologies like Tibetan, Korean, Japanese, and even Chinese, Buddhist and Sikh too. Lord Yama has only one temple which is located in Sriyanchiyam in Tamil Nadu. Lord Yama is considered as the first being who after death became the god of death.

9.)Indra

Lord Indra is one of most powerful and popular god of this world. He was called as the god of rain and thunder and he was considered as the king of the heaven and thus heads of gods. Lord Indra is famous for his many good and bad stories. He was a mixture of both good and bad elements. He is considered by religions like Buddhism, Hindu, Taoism and Bali. He uses vaira as his weapon and use elephant (Airawat) to ride.

8.) Buddha

According to Hindu mythology lord Buddha is considered as ninth incarnation of lord Vishnu, whereas according to Buddhists he is considered as a human being. He was the one who found the world’s fourth largest religion i.e. Buddhism and from then onwards he became the one of most famous god of the world. He used to say that his soul was a mixture of various Bodhisattvas and then he was borne as Gautama Buddha.

7.)Brahma

Brahma is also known as Trimurti as he has four faces. He is the one who is known as the creator. His wife is goddess Sarasvati. He sits on a lotus. It is said that the lotus which grew from the naval of lord Vishnu was the one in which Lord Brahma resided. Also lord Vishnu was sleeping at the time when the lotus was born. His famous temple is located in Pushkar and is known as Brahma temple. It is said that Lord Brahma created the world.

6.)Ganesha

He is a very special god. He has is a son of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva. He has the treasure of knowledge, heath, wisdom, success and also wealth. Since lord Ganesh ahs the treasure of success so he is worshipped at the beginning of every occasion. It is said that if Lord Ganesh is worshipped at the beginning then he helps in destroying each and every obstacles that occur. His face is that of elephant and he favourite food is ladoo. His vehicle is a rat. He wrote the well known epic called Mahabharata and so is considered to be the fastest writer. He is also known by other names that are Vinashak and also Vighneshvara.

5.)Hanuman

Lord Hanuman is the great devotee of Lord Ram. He has a large number of tales. He was a monkey. He was the son of Anjana and so is known as Anjana-putra .he is also the main figure of Indian epic named Ramayana. He was the son of wind and so is also recognised as Pawan-putra Hanuman. Vayu deity was the one who carried Hanuman in Anjana’s womb. Lord Hanuman is the incarnation of Lord Shiva and took birth to help Lord Ram to get mata sita back from Raavan. Also Lord Hanuman is a Brahmachari.

4.)Krishna

The eight avatar of Lord Vishnu is Krishna. he had 16000 wives. And is also the one who destroys pain and sin. He loved Radha from his childhood. He was a great flute player and is also known as Bansiwala. Also his popular names are Gopala, Vasudeva and Makhan chor. Dvarpara yuga was his birth place. Lord Krishna also played a great role in Mahabharata, a great Indian Epic. He was the sarthi of Pandava putra and also advised Arjun for the battle. His teachings and advices are bought together in Bhagwat Gita. He not only supported Hinduism rather he also supported Buddhism, Ismailia Muslim Faith, Baha’i Faith, Jainism and also Ahmadiyya Islam.

3.)Rama

Rama is main charactor of Indian epic Ramayan. His wife is godess sita. The seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu is Lord Rama itself. He fought a battle against ravan to saev his wife from sita. He was the putra of maharaj dusharth.  His father send his to vanvaas for 14years. Deepawali is the festival which is celebrated all around as the occasion of Rama returning Ayodhya back. Rama is known for his courage, moral values, compassion and duties which he had toward the mankind and that is why is popularly called as Mariayada Purushotum Ram. His wife sitais an avatar fo godess Lakshmi. Dusshera is also celebrated on the occasion of lord Ram defaeting Raavan

2.)Vishnu

Lord Vishnu comes next, both Lord Shiv and lord Vishnu share the second position. Both the Lord are equal. Lord Vishnu on the other hand is the life preserver. Lord Vishnu is the god of peace. The most important principles of Lord Vishnu are Order, Rightness and truth. Lord Vishnu had 10 incarnation which shows the moral values related to this divinity. His 10 incarnations are also popularly known as Dashavataram as all the 10 incarnations had different avatars. He took 10 incarnations to maintain the peace and also his duty on the earth. His wife is named as goddess Lakshmi and he occupies two sects of Hinduism which are named as Vaishnavism. Sheshnaag is the place where lord Vishnu resides

1.)Shiva

Lord Shiva is considered to be the supreme devta all around the world in the major section of hindu religion. The Part in hinduisim which describes lord shiva is known as Shaivasm. Lord shiv is said to be the most powerful and the strongest god with devine powers. He is the god of death and termination. Somnath is the temple of Lord Shiav and is very famous all around the world. He has a beautiful wife named Parvati and also ahs two son named as Ganesh and Kartikey. Shiv is also known as the Destroyer. He is known with various names like Bhole Nath, Pashupati, Neelkantha. He is a great dancer too and that is why he is also known with the name of Natraj.

Tags: bodhisattvas, different religions, famous temple, four faces, gautama buddha, god of death, god of rain, goddess parvati, goddess sarasvati, hindu deities, hindu mythology, lord brahma, lord buddha, lord indra, lord shiva, lord vishnu, ninth incarnation, rain and thunder, tamil nadu, trimurti

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Top 10 Worshipped Religious Places in India

India is the only country where we have so many so many religious groups. As different people have different religious views here, we have different kinds of religious places. Hindus have their temples, Muslims have mosques, and Sikhs have gurudwaras. Further, we have many Buddhist monasteries, churches and synagogues as well. In the nutshell, we can say that, in India we have a religious place for everyone, no matter what the religion of that particular person is. And these are not just religious places, but they depict the entire culture of this country.

If you or any elder person in your family is planning for a trip to some religious place in India, this article is going to help you a lot in deciding your destination. We have collected a list of the top 10 Religious places in India. Please make sure that wherever you are planning to go, at least one of these places must be included in your list of destinations.

10. Mathura

Mathura, popularly known as “Shri Krishnabhoomi” in India is regarded as the place where the Lord Krishna was born. People who are a great devotee of Krishna have an eager desire to visit Mathura at least once in their lifetimes. This is a holy place and numerous mythological stories are associated with this place. It is believed that Lord Krishna lived here and always benefitted the people living here by doing various magical deeds.

9. Somnath

The Lord Shiva’s temple Somnath is very famous among people all over India. The history of India sys that this temple has been destroyed numerous times by different people, but it is the religious beliefs of the people that this temple is intact till date. If you are a devotee of Lord Shiva, you must visit this temple at least once. It is situated at 40Km distance from the district of Junaghadj.

8. Vaishno Devi

The Vaishno Devi Mata shrine, situated in the Jammu and Kashmir is at the 8^th position in our list of top 10 religious p[laces in India. This is something known to almost every Indian citizen. Every year, thousands of visitors visit this place. A trip to Vaishno Devi is planned in homes of India very carefully, mainly because of this location; it is at a height of 5300 feet. Earlier on, people used to travel to the Shrine by foot only, but now many other options such as pony are available. The pilgrims have a hard time here, but it is in India only that people are willing to do so much just because of their religious beliefs.

7. Amarnath

After the Vaishno Devi Mata Shrine, Amarnath is the next big pilgrim spot of the Indian people, Hindus, particularly. One of the most interesting belief associated with the cave of Amarnath is that the Shiv Linga situated here is made up of ice and it melts as the size of the moon reduces. On the full moon day, you would be able to see the complete Shiv Linga. Not only this Shiv Linga, but there are also many other statues made up of ice, such as the Lord Ganesha idol, the Devi Parvati idol and many such others situated in this cave.

6. Kedarnath

It seems that Hindus are very much associated with the Lord Shiva. He is considered as the Lord of all the other Gods and Godesses, the Mahadeva. One of the most important shrines of Lord Shiva, the Kedarnath is located somewhere in the midst of the Kedarnath mountain range. It is believed that there are twelve jyotilingas dedicated to Mahadeva and Kedarnath is one out of them. This temple was built in the 8^th century and yet its shine is the same even today. When you would visit the temple, you would be surprised to see that a large Nandi Bull statue would be standing at the door to welcome you.

5. Khajuraho

The Khajuraho temples, situated in Madhya Pradesh are one of the most popular religious places in this country of religions- India. As soon as you enter the temple, every wall you see is depicting a deep insight into the historical India. I am sure you would be very delighted to see this scenario. The culture of ancient India is elegantly presented by the architecture of these temples. Every year, in the month of March, a dance festival is held here and that is reason why most of the visitors want to come here in March only.

4. Ayodhya

Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama is considered to be a very sacred place and people of India want to visit here once in their lifetimes for sure. This city is situated on the banks of Gogra River. Earlier on, this city was known as Kosaldesa as it was the capital city of Kosal. The Indians believe that this city is the land of Gods and Goddesses themselves and visiting here means visiting to the heaven itself.

3. Mysore

It is unlikely that any Indian would be unaware of the cultural importance of the Mysore district of Karnataka. The most famous one is the Dussera festival of this city. It is unlike all the Dussera festivals all over the world, where the statues of Ravana are burned, rather, in this festival, very large, or what we can say, gigantic statues of Ravana are made and then burned. To visual the fact hoe Rama killed Ravana and established thevictory of good over the evil, this festival must be attended by an Indian.

2. Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

All those people who pray to the Indian Goddess Kali, are very much respectful to the Dakshineshwar Kali temple situated in the state of West Bengal. Every year, several visitors from all over the country visit this temple. This is one of the oldest historical monuments in India. All thanks to Rani Rashmoni, a patroness of India, who was a great devotee of Goddess Kali, that this temple was founded. Actually, it was the whole Dakshineshwar village that got converted into this temple.

1.Haridwar

Haridwar is at the top position in our list of the top 10 religious places in India. The major reason for such a huge popularity of this place is that the river Ganga flows here. Another reason is that it is here that the Kumbha mela is organised. The river Ganga is considered to be the most holy river of the world and hence, not only from India, but people from very far away, also come here to take the blessings. It is believed that the river Ganga has its origin from the kesh (hair) of Lord Shiva. Hence, nothing can be holy than the river Ganga, and the one who bathes in this river, gets rid from all the sins.

Tags: buddhist monasteries, devotee, eager desire, elder person, hindus, history of india, india india, jammu and kashmir, laces, lifetimes, lord krishna, lord shiva, mathura, mosques, religious beliefs, religious groups, religious place, religious places, religious views, sikhs

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Top 10 Amazing Man Made Structures in India

India is undoubtedly a place of magnificence and elegance filled with a number of beautiful and splendid monuments. The royalty of our land has been creating monuments ever since they existed. Some were made just to add beauty while some signified power and expansion of ancient dynasties. These ancient monuments give us a glance of the royal lifestyle, a peek into our ancient culture and a chance to learn and be inquisitive about our sacred heritage. These are not just some manmade structures; these are the remains of our rich culture and past. A time that no longer exists yet entices us with its sheer beauty and splendor that co-existed in a time of royalty. The ancient caves, the forts and palaces all scream how rich the culture and heritage of India is which is why tourists keep swarming in.

Here is a list of top 10 manmade structures of India:

10. Hampi, Karnataka

It is not just a structure but an entire village that entices people even in its ruined state. Derived from the word ‘Pampa’, it was formed in one of the core areas of the Vijayanagra empire from 1336 to 1565 and lies over banks of Tungabhadra river (earlier known as Pampa). Now it contains the remains of the empire and a Virupaksha temple as well as many other old monuments. Its ruins are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

9. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh the Khajuraho group of temples is famous for the erotic sculptures of Chandale kings. The group of monuments also has the largest number of medieval Hindu and Jain temples made up of sandstone. Though the local tradition enlists 85 temples but only 25 are still remaining in the process of preservation. The group of monuments has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is considered as one of the seven wonders of India.

8. Lake Palace, Udaipur

The palace looks out of a fantasy filled fairy tale with a majestic view of Pichola Lake and a splendid palace in the middle of Jag Niwas Island.  Built by Maharaja Jagat Singh in 1743, it was supposed to be a summer palace and now it serves as a five star palace hotel in the heart of Udaipur, Rajasthan. The intricate craftsmanship and ethnic and traditional themes present a picture that is beyond any comparison. The rippling and tranquil waters of the lake add elegance and serenity to the palace.

7. Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

The splendid fort lies 400 feet above the skyline of Jodhpur, Rajasthan and is known to be the largest fort in India. Its construction began in 1459 A.D. by Rao Jodha and continued up to 17 generations of the Rathore Rajput clan. Enclosed by imposing thick walls, it has several palaces, temples, courtyards, chambers, delicately carved terraces and balconies. The palace has seven gates, out of which two are Jayapol and Fattehpol both meaning victory and these gates have palm imprints which attract many visitors. The palace also has a museum collection of palanquins, elephant howdahs, cradles, manuscripts and textiles. In 2007, it was named as The Best Fortress in Asia by Time magazine.

6. Red Fort, Delhi

Built in 17^th century as the palace fort of Shahajanabad, the fort is also known as ‘Laal Qila’ due to its red sandstone walls. It was built by the great Mughal emperor Shah Jahan when he moved his capital from Agra to Delhi and represents the zenith of Mughal creativity. The fort lies along the Yamuna river and was declared as UNESCO world heritage site in 2007.  Its main structures include Diwan-i-aam (Hall of public audience), Diwan-i-khas (hall of private audience), Nahr-i-Behisht (private apartments) and Zenana (women’s quarters). Later an additional structure was added known as ‘Moti Masjid” or the pearl mosque to serve as a private altar for Aurangzeb.

5. Golden Temple, Amritsar

Harminder sahib Gurdwara is popularly known as the golden temple and is located in the heart of Amritsar, Punjab. Built in 1604 by Guru Arjan Dev, the Adi Granth or the Holy Scripture is installed in this Gurdwara and it earns its name from the gold dome it hosts which was gifted by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Surrounded by a lake, the sublime and tranquil Gurdwara is an example of Hindu-Muslim architecture. The lake is fed by an underground spring and people bathe here with a belief of cleansing their souls. The four entry doors of the structure signify it openness and acceptance to all religions.

4. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

One of the prominent attraction of the pink city-‘The palace of winds’ or Hawa Mahal is located in Jaipur, Rajasthan and built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 in the form of crown of Hindu god, Krishna. Built with red and pink sandstone it is considered to be an embodiment of the Rajputana architecture, the main attraction of the palace is its pyramid form structure with 953 windows or ’Jharokhas’ which further have intricate designs. It was mainly designed for the royal women to have a view of outside world as they never appeared in public. The palace looks breathtaking in the early morning golden sunlight.

3. Ellora caves, Maharashtra

The Ellora caves locally known as ‘Verul Leni’ are located at a distance of 30 km from Aurangabad, Maharashtra and were built by Rashtrakuta dynasty. Ellora is a world heritage site because of its monumental caves. These 34 caves are the epitome of Indian rock cut structure and are excavated out of vertical face of the Charandrandri hills. The Buddhist, Jain, Hindu rock cut temples and Viharas and Mathas were built between 5^th and 10^th century and their close proximity signifies the religious harmony in ancient times. The best time to visit is preferably monsoon as each stream is full of water and mother nature is in full bloom.

2. Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra

The 30 rock cut Buddhist caves date from 2^nd century BC and are located 105 km from Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. The paintings and sculptures contained within the walls of these caves have been classified by the ASI as the finest surviving form of art in India. The site was rediscovered by a British official in 1819 and the caves are basically Buddhist monasteries showing heavy religious influence and practices centered around Buddha. The wall paintings tell stories from the life of Buddha and the Jatakas. The elaborate architectural carving is executed on a base of mud-plaster in the tempera technique.

1. Taj Mahal, Agra

Located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh this magnificent white mausoleum has enthralled visitors since time immemorial. The symbol of eternal love, the Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved and beautiful wife Mumtaz. Recognized as the jewel of Mughal art in India its construction ended in 1648 and then the buildings and garden in vicinity took 5 years more for their completion. Besides being a world heritage site, it is also the first wonder of world. The completely white symmetrical marble structure has further details and inscriptions and is considered to be the most beautiful building on earth.

Tags: ancient caves, ancient culture, ancient dynasties, ancient monuments, core areas, heritage of india, india india, jain temples, majestic view, manmade structures, pampa, rich culture, sacred heritage, seven wonders of india, sheer beauty, splendid monuments, splendid palace, unesco world heritage, unesco world heritage site, world heritage site

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Top 10 Most Beautiful Historical Forts in India

There are a large number of monuments in India. All these monuments are made by different people from different dynasties. The monuments are highly appreciated, no matter from which dynasty it belonged to. The monument can be from Mughal dynasty or it can be made by any royal Rajput king. People today are more interested in the beautiful architecture and royalty of the monument.  So here we have the list of Top 10 Most Beautiful and Amazing Forts in India

10. Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh is a small city of Rajasthan. This small city is also called the pride of Rajasthan since the great Chittorgarh Fort is popular all over the India. This fort has increased the pride of Rajasthan since this is the only Fort which had made Rajasthan so popular all over India. The most famous story of this fort was of Rani Padmini’s who was the most beautiful lady of that time. Chittorgarh Fort contains many places like temples, private halls, public places, and many more things. The people of that time usually prefer to die rather than surrendering themselves to enemies and so Rani Padmini did the same.

9. Jhansi Fort

The famous fort of Jhansi – Jhansi Fort is one of beautiful fort of India. In the 1613 this Fort was built by Bir Singh Ju Deo who was the king of Orcha. The Jhansi Fort is built in Bangra inside rocky hills in Jhansi. This fort tells us about the story of great courageous queen of Jhansi. The Jhansi Fort is really big and has ten gates namely Chand Gate, Orcha Gate, Sainyar Gate, Sagar Gate, Laxmi Gate, Jharna Gate, Unnao Gate, Datia Darwaza, and last but not the least Khandero Gate. Each gate’s name tells his whole story.

8. Gwalior Fort

The Gwalior fort is a well maintained fort which is located in Madhya Pradesh. The architecture of this place is quite colourful. The artwork can be seen in its pillars and walls.  A postal stamp has been issued with the photo on the stamp of this fort by Indian postal service because of its alluring appearance. This fort was built by Babur who was also a Mughal Emperor.  He described the monument as the pearl in the necklace.

7. Junagarh Fort

The Junagarh Fort is located in Bikaner. The fort was built in the year 1589 and is still beautiful. The fort is present in the center of the city. The structure is beautiful and has art galleries, courtyard and also corridors. The art galleries at the place depicts various the various variety of art work at old times. All these things depict the history, tradition, culture and the royalty of the place. Around twenty rulers ruled the place .The stone from which the monument is made up has scattering colors.

6. Golkonda Fort

Golkonda fort is located in the city Hyderabad. It is located at-least 11 kilometers away from the city. The Golkonda fort was made by Kakatiya Dynasty. After this fort was built this dynasty named Kakatiya dynasty was ruled by the ruler named Quli Qutub Shah Wali. This ruler, Quli Qutub Shah Wali did a large number of renovations.

5. Daulatabad Fort

This is also one of the major monument named as Daulatabad Fort and is situated in Aurangabad. The beauty of the fort is highly graced by the gardens which are included in the monument. The green vegetation all around the monument makes the monument more appreciable.  The place is also a photographer’s paradise. The fort has a vintage appearance which makes it more interesting.

4. Jaisalmer Fort

Jaisalmer fort in Rajasthan is also a place which speaks about the royalty of Rajputs in India. The Jaisalmer fort is the place which has a top at great height. The fort can be seen from a larger distance too. This structure is made up of yellow colored sandstone. When the sunrays gets on this monument, the monument glitters like gold. The architecture of the place is simple but is still royal. Also this fort is said to be graced with the tag of one of the largest monument in the world.  The decoration of the place is also filled with simplicity.

3. Agra Fort 

Agra is the city which is not just famous for the ideal building Taj-Mahal, but is also famous for many other historical monuments like Agra fort. It is the symbol of Mughal Dynasty with several architectural wonders. People in bulk come to visit Agra fort in Agra.  The structure is red in color and is made up of red sand stone. The monument includes a beautiful green garden it which is present at the entry path of the monument and makes it more appreciable. The garden has various variety of trees and shrubs to make the entry path more graceful. This place was also built by Shahjahan and the king named chivalric also spend some of his years residing in this place. Taj Mahal is visible from the top of this place.

2. Amber Fort

Amber fort is located in Jaipur and is one among the most visited and beautiful fort in Jaipur. This fort is marked as the gemstone in the crown of Rajasthan. The fort is made on a beautiful hill of Jaipur. The beauty of the place is enhanced by the presence of Maota lake. It is said that the king used to put their treasure in the walls of the fort and so the fort has several secret chambers. The architecture of the place is just incredible and is a mixture of Rajput, Hindu and also Mughal culture. The work done in the building is outstanding. They have used all the materials such as glass, wood, marble and also metal to add to its beauty. The fort was built by and belonged to Raja Man Singh I.

1. Red Fort

Red fort is a red stone structure which is located in Delhi. Red fort is the structure which is quite famous and is also said to be the pride of the city. The UNESCO has tagged the Red Fort as the world heritage.  This Red Fort was built by a Mughal emperor named Shahjahan. The red fort is considered to be a part precious Indian heritage. On every 26^th January the parade always starts from this place itself. This fort took around 10 years in its construction. Red stone was used in building this fort. The building was also known as ‘Quila-e-Mubarak’. In previous years when this fort was built royal families used to reside in it. The red fort has many partitions and occupies a large space as it has mosques, private and public halls and many beautiful gardens. River Yamuna runs at the side of this fort.

Tags: agra fort, architectural wonders, building taj mahal, chittorgarh, colored sandstone, dynasties, entry path, glitters, historical monuments, jaisalmer fort, monuments in india, rajasthan, rajput, rajputs, red sand, sand stone, shahjahan, sunrays, trees and shrubs, variety of trees

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Top 10 Holiest Temples in India

India is world-wide famous for its beautiful and sacred temples and the religious thoughts behind them. The religious establishments, excellent architecture, history, and more importantly the peace in the temples not only attract Indians but also many people from different parts of the world. The temples below in the list purely signify the spiritual freedom to the Indian people.

10. SAI BABA TEMPLE, MAHARASHTRA

The very beautiful Sai Baba temple is located in Shirdi, a village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The Sai temple on the Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba was built in 1922. It is generally called as a Hindu temple but many Muslim followers also worship Sai Baba with deep faith and compassion. It is belived that the assurances of Sai Baba to devotees are still experienced in the temple. The idol of Sai baba has been made in such a way that it appears real when place of sight is very close. Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust at Shirdi runs this temple.

9. KHAJURAHO TEMPLE, MADHYA PRADESH

Khajuraho is a small village in the Chattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh where the Khajuraho temple is situated. Chandravarman of Chandela dynasty initiated the construction work of the Khajuraho temple thousands of years ago. This is one the most famous heritage site all over world due to its sculptural grace and Indian architectural splendor. Of the original eighty five temples, only twenty two survive till date. The Khajuraho temples carved with erotic sand stone are grouped into three geographical divisions of west, east and south.

8. KEDARNATH TEMPLE, UTTRAKHAND

The highest linga of all the twelve jyotirlingas is the Kedarnath temple which is situated in the Rudra Himalaya range near the Mandakini River, Uttrakhand, India. This major Lord Shiva temple contains one of the Panch Kedars. It is said that the solidly built Kedarnath temple is more than 1000 years old and was built by Pandavas. The structure or the walls of the temple depict Indian mythology. The temple remains closed for six months due to the extreme temperature conditions in that Himalayan region. An eight day Badri Kedar Festival which is held in the month of June contributes a lot to make it most revered pilgrimage site.

7. GOLDEN TEMPLE, PUNJAB

The major pilgrimage destination for Sikhs as well as the divinest temple in Sikhism is the Golden Temple in Amritsar which was earlier known as Sri Harmandir Sahib or Shri Darbar Shaib. The construction of Golden temple began in 1574. The 67ft. rectangular platform in the center of the Amrit Sarovar Lake holds this great three storeys high temple. The building of the temple is gold plated and possesses many fine features like white marble walls decorated in Islamic style, copper cupolas and the Granth Sahib verses all over the structure. Basically it is considered as the best architectural specimen of the world. The Jubi tree present near the temple is also worshipped with deep faith.

6. TIRUMALA VENKATESWARATIRUPATI BALAJI TEMPLE, ANDHRA PRADESH

Tirumala, the hill town near Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh encompasses the oldest and most sacred hindu temple called Tirumala Venkateswara temple or the Temple of Seven Hills. It is believed to be the origination of 500B.C by an ancient Tamil state ruler named Thondaiman. Lord Venkateswara also known as Balaji or govinda is the chief divinity of the temple. The traditional Dravidian styled architecture of the temple has eight feet tall idol of the Lord Venjateswara. The major attraction of pilgrims and tourists from different areas to the temple is the nine day celebration of a festival called Brahmotsava. This temple is considered as the richest temple of India because it is visited by lakhs daily.

5. LORD JAGGANATH PURI TEMPLE, ORRISA

The very renowned and big Jagganath temple which is dedicated to Lord Jagganath is located in the northern coast of Orissa i.e. in Puri. Jagganath temple came into existence in 12^thcentury and it was built by Raja Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. It is considered as the main dham out of all four dhams. The pyramidal shaped architecture of the temple in the 10.7acres area is worth seeing as it includes exquisite carvings, pictures depicting the life of Lord Krishna, tall spires, etc. The temple consists of four main parts whose name refers to lion, horse, elephant and tiger. The temple of Jagganath Puri is surrounded by 30 different smaller temples. Rath yatra or chariot festival takes place at the temple every year.

4. KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE, UTTAR PRADESH

In the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh state of India and on the western bank of river Ganges, is situated a part of Indian mythology called Varanasi which is also famously known as Banaras or Kashi. The Kashi Vishwanath temple is dedicated to the deity known as Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha. It is said that Maharani Ahilya Bai of Indore built this temple after it’s ruining by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The architecture of the temple consists of a mandapa and sanctum and a group of five lingas.  Mahashivratri is celebrated here in this temple in a very outstanding manner every year.

3. SOMNATH TEMPLE, GUJARAT

The very well-known Somnath temple is located in Prabhas Kshetra near Verawal in Saurashtra, Gujarat. The Somnath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The biggest significance of Somnath temple is that it comprise of one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The tall seven storied architecture of the Somnath temple resembles Chalukya style. Since seventh century, Somnath temple was being invaded by many conquerors but now it is under the maintenance of Shree Somnath Trust. The great and interesting history of this religious temple as well as the nearby beach attracts the majority crowd from different parts of the world.

2. VAISHNO DEVI TEMPLE, JAMMU & KASHMIR

Maa Vaishno devi temple is one of the oldest holy Hindu shrine in India. It is basically located in the folds of holy Trikuta Hills of Shivalik Hill Range at a height of approximately 5300 feet. The distance between the vaishno devi temple (mata rani) temple and katra is 13kms. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. The way to the temple is a long walk on the steep road. It is strongly believed that one can visit and successfully takes her blessings on when mata rani calls her devotee. Three more places can be visited while going the temple are Mata’s cave, Bhairon mandir and Baan Ganga.

1. SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE, MAHARASHTRA

Siddhivinayak temple is a very famous ancient temple of eighteenth century of elephant–head idol of Hinduism, Lord Ganesh. This temple is situated at Prabhadevi in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was built by Late Mr. Laxman Vithu and Late Mrs. Deubai Patil. Shree Siddhivinayak temple is not only popular and religious but is also an appreciable testament of architecture and beauty. The idol of Lord Ganesh is made of single black stone which is 2’6’’ high and 2’ wide along with his trunk tilted to the right side and an eye engraved on his forehead. The main santorum of the temple has gold plated inner roof, marvelously carved wooden doors and many more attractive features.

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