Having a rich history and cultural significance, India is the place for some ancient and magnificent temples. The beautification and devotional vibes make some places even more beautiful and make them as the serene places of worship, says reputed Astro and business strategist Hirav Shah

Out of numerous divine worship places across India, Hirav Shah filters a few must-visit temples for the readers.

1. Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple

Tirumala Venkateswara temple entrance 09062015
Nikhil B/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fondly known as Venkateshwara Temple, the temple is located on a hill-top and is dedicated to Lord Balaji. The main temple is surrounded by seven hills and the mesmerizing infrastructure at the place will give the devotees an amazing divine experience.

Located in Andhra Pradesh, the temple is often termed as the richest Hindu temple in the world.

2. Maa Vaishno Devi Temple

Vaishno Devi Temple
Anirudh Singh Chauhan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Located in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, Vaishno Devi Temple is known for its architectural and cultural values. Area wise, the temple comes under Jammu and Kashmir and is the most prominent one among other Hindu temples in India.

As the temple is located on the hill-top, to reach the place a 12 km trekking is required. Most of the devotees use horse riding and helicopter to get to the top.

3. Badrinath Temple

Badrinath Temple , Uttarakhand
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Surrounded by Garhwal Hills, Badrinath temple is located in Badrinath town, Uttarakhand. It is one of the listed temples in Char dhams and dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The stone fascia and shimmering gilded roof finishing of the temple make it a unique one among other temples in India.

Highly popular Mata Murti Ka Mela is being celebrated in the Badrinath temple in a lavish manner.

4. Somnath Temple

Somnath temple Gujarat India
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Known as one of the ancient temples in India, Somnath Temple is located at Saurashtra, Gujarat. Even historians are unable to trace the exact time period and how long ago the temple was built.

History says that the temple was destroyed and rebuilt a couple of times and the last time has happened was in 1951, says Hirav Shah.

5. Dwarkadheesh Temple

Dwarkadheesh temple
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Located in Dwarka, the temple is one of the char dhams. This ancient temple has a history of over 2000 years.

The temple was a symbol of identification for Lord Krishna and is a five-storey building built on seventy-two pillars.

History remains the temple as the mythical palace of Lord Krishna.

6. Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, BHU 03
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Located on the banks of river Ganga, Kashi Vishwanath temple is located at Varanasi town in Uttar Pradesh.

The iconic temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located next to the Dashashwamedh Ghat where the highly popular Ganga Aarti takes place every evening.

The temple and Varanasi town are one of the most attractive places to visit in India.

7. Virupaksha Temple

Virupaksha temple, Hampi 01
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This oldest temple got a place in UNESCO’s list. Virupaksha Temple is located in the temple town Hampi in Karnataka.

Virupaksha Temple is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, another avatar of Lord Shiva and was built in the seventh century.

The significant element of the temple is that its gopuram is approximately 165 feet in height. The ancient temple is proof of rich heritage and traditional legacy.

8. Jagannath Temple

Night view of Shri Jagannath Temple
Gsuruchi06, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Puri Jagannath temple is located in Odisha and was built in the 12th century. The temple has spectacular architectural design and is one of the char dhams of the Hindu religion.

The rath yatra being hosted every year in the temple has a nationwide recognition.

Conclusion

Among numerous Hindu temples across the country, the shortlisted temples have a rich and ancient history added with great cultural and architectural designs, says Astro and business strategist Hirav Shah.