Sacred Temples of India

Somnath Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva·Shaiva

Veraval, Saurashtra, Gujarat

The first Jyotirlinga — destroyed repeatedly, rebuilt every time

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati (as Mallika and Arjuna)·Shaiva

Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

A rare Shiva-Shakti confluence set in the Krishna river valley

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva (as Mahakal)·Shaiva

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

The only south-facing Jyotirlinga, famed for its Bhasma Aarti

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva·Shaiva

Khandwa district (Mandhata Island, Narmada river), Madhya Pradesh

A Jyotirlinga on an Om-shaped island in the middle of the Narmada

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva·Shaiva

Rudraprayag district, Himalayas, Uttarakhand

The most remote Jyotirlinga, cradled in the Himalayas — part of both Panch Kedar and Char Dham

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva·Shaiva

Pune district, Sahyadri hills, Maharashtra

Set deep in forested hills, and the source of the Bhima river

Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva (as Vishwanath)·Shaiva

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Lord of the Universe, enshrined on the Ganga's banks in the city of liberation

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva·Shaiva

Nashik, Maharashtra

Source of the Godavari river, where the linga bears three faces

Vaidyanath (Baidyanath) Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva (as Vaidyanath, the divine healer)·Shaiva

Deoghar, Jharkhand

'Chita Bhumi' — where Ravana offered his own head to please Shiva

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva·Shaiva

Dwarka, Gujarat

Protector of devotees from poison and peril, famed for its towering Shiva statue

Ramanathaswamy (Rameswaram) Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva (as Ramanatha)·Shaiva

Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu

Where Lord Rama himself installed a Shiva linga — uniting Char Dham and the twelve Jyotirlingas

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

Lord Shiva·Shaiva

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) district, near Ellora, Maharashtra

The twelfth and final Jyotirlinga, right beside the world-famous Ellora Caves

Kamakhya Shakti Peeth

Goddess Kamakhya (Adi Shakti)·Shakta

Nilachal Hill, Guwahati, Assam

The most important Shakti Peeth — where nature itself, not an idol, is worshipped

Kalighat Shakti Peeth

Goddess Kali·Shakta

Kolkata, West Bengal

The ancient Kali shrine that gave Kolkata its name

Jwalamukhi Shakti Peeth

Goddess Jwala Devi·Shakta

Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh

Where the goddess is worshipped not as an idol but as a natural eternal flame

Naina Devi Shakti Peeth

Goddess Naina Devi·Shakta

Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh

Perched on a hilltop above Govind Sagar lake, where Sati's eyes are said to have fallen

Chintpurni (Chhinnamastika) Shakti Peeth

Goddess Chhinnamastika·Shakta

Una district, Himachal Pradesh

The goddess who dispels worry — a seat of one of the ten Mahavidyas

Ambaji Shakti Peeth

Goddess Amba (Adi Shakti)·Shakta

Banaskantha district, Arasur Hill, Gujarat

Where a Shri Yantra, not an idol, is worshipped — believed to mark where Sati's heart fell

Tara Tarini Shakti Peeth

Goddess Tara Tarini·Shakta

Kumari Hill, Ganjam district, Odisha

Set beside the Rushikulya river, one of Odisha's four principal Tantra Peethas

Bakreshwar Shakti Peeth

Goddess Mahishmardini·Shakta

Birbhum district, West Bengal

Surrounded by natural hot springs, marking where Sati's brow is said to have fallen

Nalateshwari (Nalhati) Shakti Peeth

Goddess Kalika (Nalateshwari)·Shakta

Nalhati, Birbhum district, West Bengal

Where Sati's throat is said to have fallen — just steps from the railway station

Mansa Devi Shakti Peeth

Goddess Mansa Devi·Shakta

Bilwa Parvat, Haridwar, Uttarakhand

A wish-fulfilling goddess enshrined on a Shivalik hilltop directly above Haridwar

Biraja (Viraja) Shakti Peeth

Goddess Biraja·Shakta

Jajpur, Odisha

Set in the ancient Viraja Kshetra, where ancestral rites are also traditionally performed

Mahalakshmi Shakti Peeth, Kolhapur

Goddess Mahalakshmi (Ambabai)·Shakta

Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Revered as the 'Kashi of the South' — Maharashtra's celebrated Shakti tirtha

Kamakshi Amman Shakti Peeth

Goddess Kamakshi (a form of Parvati)·Shakta

Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

One of South India's three great Shakti seats — where Kashi, Kanchi, and Kamakshi converge

Vindhyavasini Shakti Peeth

Goddess Vindhyavasini·Shakta

Vindhyachal, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh

The goddess who slipped from Kansa's grasp at Krishna's birth and rose into the sky

Vimala Shakti Peeth, Puri

Goddess Vimala (Bhairava: Jagannatheshwar)·Shakta

Jagannath Temple complex, Puri, Odisha

One of the four Adi Shakti Peethas — food offered to Jagannath becomes mahaprasad only after it reaches her

Bajreshwari Devi Shakti Peeth, Kangra

Goddess Bajreshwari / Brajeshwari (Bhairava: Abhirunatheshwar)·Shakta

Kangra (Nagarkot), Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh

The temple that was plundered again and again, levelled by an earthquake, and rebuilt every time

Saptashrungi Shakti Peeth, Vani

Goddess Saptashrungi / Bhadrakali (Bhairava: Vikritaksheshwar)·Shakta

Vani (Nanduri), Kalwan taluka, Nashik district, Maharashtra

The goddess of seven peaks — an eighteen-armed, eight-foot image carved into the rock face

Vishalakshi Shakti Peeth, Varanasi

Goddess Vishalakshi / Manikarni (Bhairava: Kala Bhairaveshwar)·Shakta

Near Mir Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Kashi's Shakti — where the gem from Sati's earring is said to have fallen

Danteshwari Shakti Peeth, Dantewada

Goddess Danteshwari (Bhairava: Kapala Bhairava)·Shakta

Dantewada, Bastar region, Chhattisgarh

Bastar's kuladevi — the town itself carries her name

ISKCON Mayapur Chandrodaya Temple

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Radha-Madhava·Vaishnava

Mayapur, Nadia district, West Bengal

ISKCON's world headquarters — the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

ISKCON Vrindavan (Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir)

Krishna-Balaram and Radha-Shyamsundar·Vaishnava

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

Site of Srila Prabhupada's samadhi — the gateway to Vrindavan for Western devotees

ISKCON Temple, Delhi (Sri Krishna-Balaram Mandir, East of Kailash)

Radha-Parthasarathi and Krishna-Balaram·Vaishnava

East of Kailash, New Delhi, Delhi

The capital's flagship ISKCON centre, known for its striking architecture and cultural museum

ISKCON Juhu Temple, Mumbai (Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari)

Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari·Vaishnava

Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra

An island of calm in Mumbai's buzzing coastal suburb — frequented by celebrities and locals alike

ISKCON Bangalore (Sri Radha Krishnachandra Temple)

Sri Radha Krishnachandra·Vaishnava

Hare Krishna Hill, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka

One of the largest ISKCON complexes in the world, blending modern and traditional architecture

ISKCON Pune (Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra Temple)

Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra·Vaishnava

Katraj, Pune, Maharashtra

Pune's leading ISKCON centre, known for its grand New Vrindavan Cultural Centre (NVCC)

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi

Mata Vaishno Devi (combined form of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati)·Shakta

Trikuta Hills, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir

One of India's most-visited pilgrimage sites, drawing crores of devotees each year

Sri Venkateswara Temple (Tirupati Balaji)

Lord Venkateswara (a form of Vishnu)·Vaishnava

Tirumala Hills, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

Among the world's wealthiest and most visited Hindu temples

Meenakshi Amman Temple

Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati) and Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva)·Shaiva

Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Home to 14 towering, intricately carved gopurams

Swaminarayan Akshardham, Delhi

Lord Swaminarayan·Other tradition

Noida Mor, New Delhi, Delhi

Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple complex

Shree Siddhivinayak Temple

Lord Ganesha (as Siddhivinayak)·Other tradition

Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Mumbai's most iconic temple, visited by film stars and everyday devotees alike

Sri Ayyappa Temple, Sabarimala

Lord Ayyappa (son of Hari-Hara)·Other tradition

Periyar Tiger Reserve, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala

Famed for its 18 sacred steps, drawing over 40 million devotees annually

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple

Lord Guruvayurappan (a form of Krishna as a child)·Vaishnava

Guruvayur, Thrissur district, Kerala

The 'Dwarka of the South' — one of Kerala's most revered Krishna shrines

Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri

Lord Jagannath (Krishna), Balabhadra, and Subhadra·Vaishnava

Puri, Odisha

The eastern seat of the Char Dham — birthplace of the world-famous Rath Yatra

Shri Badrinath Dham

Lord Badrinarayan (Vishnu)·Vaishnava

Chamoli district, Himalayas, Uttarakhand

Part of both the Char Dham and Chhota Char Dham circuits, nestled between the Nar and Narayan peaks

Shri Dwarkadhish Temple

Lord Dwarkadhish (Krishna)·Vaishnava

Dwarka, Gujarat

The western seat of the Char Dham — Lord Krishna's historic capital city

Shri Amarnath Cave Temple

Lord Shiva (as a naturally forming ice linga)·Shaiva

Himalayas, Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir

Famed for its naturally forming and waning ice lingam — one of India's most physically demanding annual pilgrimages

Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Lord Shiva (as Brihadeeswarar)·Shaiva

Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu

A UNESCO World Heritage Site — the pinnacle of Chola architectural achievement

Konark Sun Temple

Surya (the Sun God)·Other tradition

Konark, Odisha

A UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the form of a colossal chariot for the Sun God

Khajuraho Group of Temples

Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Jain Tirthankaras (across different shrines)·Shaiva

Khajuraho, Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh

A UNESCO World Heritage cluster showcasing the Chandela dynasty's remarkable Nagara architecture

Shri Sai Baba Temple, Shirdi

Shri Sai Baba·Other tradition

Shirdi, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra

Samadhi shrine of the saint who taught 'Sabka Malik Ek' — visited by devotees of every faith

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Lord Padmanabhaswamy (Vishnu, reclining on Sheshnag)·Vaishnava

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

One of the world's wealthiest temples, deeply linked to the former royal house of Travancore

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam

Lord Ranganatha (Vishnu, reclining on Adishesha)·Vaishnava

Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu

The world's largest functioning Hindu temple complex, foremost among the 108 Divya Desams

Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram

Lord Nataraja (Shiva, in his cosmic dance form)·Shaiva

Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

One of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, representing the element of space — Shiva enshrined in cosmic dance

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Ayodhya

Lord Shri Ram (as Ramlala, in his child form)·Vaishnava

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh

The newly built grand temple at Lord Ram's birthplace, consecrated in January 2024

Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, Mathura

Lord Shri Krishna·Vaishnava

Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

The birthplace of Lord Krishna — believed to be the very prison cell where he was born

Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple, Pandharpur

Lord Vitthal (a form of Vishnu/Krishna) and Goddess Rukmini·Vaishnava

Pandharpur, Solapur district, Maharashtra

Heart of Maharashtra's Warkari devotional tradition — often called the 'Kashi of the South'

Shri Khatu Shyam Ji Temple

Baba Khatu Shyam (Barbarik, blessed by Krishna)·Vaishnava

Khatu, Sikar district, Rajasthan

Known as 'Hare ka Sahara' (support of the defeated) — Falgun Mela draws millions of devotees

Shri Salasar Balaji Temple

Lord Hanuman (as Balaji)·Vaishnava

Salasar, Churu district, Rajasthan

Famed for its distinctive bearded-and-moustached Hanuman idol — Rajasthan's leading Hanuman shrine

Shri Karni Mata Temple, Deshnok

Karni Mata (a form of Durga)·Shakta

Deshnok, Bikaner district, Rajasthan

The 'Rat Temple' — home to thousands of sacred rats revered as the goddess's own children

Shri Brahma Temple, Pushkar

Lord Brahma (the Creator)·Other tradition

Pushkar, Ajmer district, Rajasthan

India's only major temple dedicated to Brahma, set on the shore of the sacred Pushkar Lake

Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Goddess Bhavatarini (a form of Kali)·Shakta

Dakshineswar, Kolkata, West Bengal

The site of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's spiritual practice, a grand nine-spired temple on the Hooghly

Gorakhnath Temple

Yogi Guru Gorakhnath (linked to the Shaiva Nath tradition)·Shaiva

Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh

The principal seat of the Nath sect, after whom the city of Gorakhpur is named

Kapaleeshwarar Temple

Lord Shiva (as Kapaleeshwarar) and Goddess Karpagambal (Parvati)·Shaiva

Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

A grand Dravidian-style Shiva temple woven into Chennai's earliest history

Srikalahasti Temple

Lord Shiva (as Kalahasteeswara, representing the element of air)·Shaiva

Srikalahasti, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh

Represents the element of air among the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams — renowned for Rahu-Ketu puja

Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai

Lord Shiva (as Arunachaleswara, representing the element of fire)·Shaiva

Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu

Represents the element of fire among the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams — famed for the Girivalam hill circumambulation

Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval

Lord Shiva (as Jambukeswarar, representing the element of water)·Shaiva

Thiruvanaikaval, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu

Represents the element of water among the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams — with a spring that flows continuously in the sanctum

Murudeshwar Temple

Lord Shiva (as Murudeshwar)·Shaiva

Murudeshwar, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka

Home to one of the world's tallest Shiva statues, overlooking the Arabian Sea

Kukke Subramanya Temple

Lord Subrahmanya (Kartikeya, worshipped in serpent form)·Shaiva

Subrahmanya, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka

One of India's foremost pilgrimage sites for remedying Sarpa Dosha and Kaal Sarpa Dosha

Udupi Sri Krishna Matha

Lord Krishna (as a child)·Vaishnava

Udupi, Karnataka

Where devotees glimpse Krishna through a window — a matha founded by the saint Madhvacharya

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Yadagirigutta

Lord Narasimha (Vishnu's fourth incarnation)·Vaishnava

Yadagirigutta, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, Telangana

Telangana's revered 'Bhagya Lakshmi Narasimha' shrine, worshipped in five forms within a hill cave

Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy Temple, Bhadrachalam

Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana·Vaishnava

Bhadrachalam, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana

South India's leading Ram temple on the Godavari, linked to the legend of the devotee Ramadasu

Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple

Goddess Tulja Bhavani (a form of Durga)·Shakta

Tuljapur, Dharashiv (Osmanabad) district, Maharashtra

Kuladevi of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — one of Maharashtra's three-and-a-half Shakti shrines

Sri Manjunatha Temple, Dharmasthala

Lord Manjunatha (Shiva), alongside Jain Tirthankaras and the deity Annappa Swamy·Shaiva

Dharmasthala, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka

Where Hindu and Jain traditions have been worshipped together for centuries, managed by the Heggade family

Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna

Lord Shiva (as Mahabaleshwar, the Atmalinga)·Shaiva

Gokarna, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka

The 'Kashi of the South' — where Ravana's Atmalinga became forever fixed in the earth

Belur Math

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (temple complex, headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission)·Vaishnava

Belur, Howrah, West Bengal

Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, blending Hindu, Islamic, and Christian architecture in one structure

Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Simhachalam

Lord Narasimha (in a combined Varaha-Narasimha form)·Vaishnava

Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

Where the idol stays perpetually covered in sandalwood paste — its true form visible only once a year

Sri Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada

Goddess Kanaka Durga (a form of Durga)·Shakta

Indrakeeladri Hill, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh's leading goddess shrine, perched on Indrakeeladri hill above the Krishna river

Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar

Lord Harihara (a combined Shiva-Vishnu form, worshipped as Tribhubaneswar)·Shaiva

Bhubaneswar, Odisha

One of the oldest and grandest temples in the 'Temple City' of Bhubaneswar, a high point of Kalinga architecture

Sri Gnana Saraswati Temple, Basara

Goddess Saraswati (goddess of knowledge and learning)·Other tradition

Basara, Nirmal district, Telangana

One of South India's very few major Saraswati temples, set on the banks of the Godavari

Maa Sharda Devi Temple, Maihar

Goddess Sharda (a combined form of Saraswati and Durga)·Shakta

Maihar, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh

Enshrined atop Trikuta hill — a shrine linked to the musical legacy of Ustad Allauddin Khan

Chamunda Devi Temple, Himachal Pradesh

Goddess Chamunda (a form of Kali)·Shakta

Near Baijnath, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh

Set on the banks of the Baner Ganga, cradled by the Dhauladhar mountain range

Shri Eklingji Temple

Lord Eklingji (Shiva, the tutelary deity of the Mewar dynasty)·Shaiva

Kailashpuri, Udaipur district, Rajasthan

Tutelary deity of the Mewar Maharanas, who traditionally ruled as mere 'Diwan' (regents) on his behalf

Shri Mumba Devi Temple

Goddess Mumba Devi (the patron goddess after whom Mumbai is named)·Shakta

Bhuleshwar, Mumbai, Maharashtra

The goddess who gave Mumbai its name — patron deity of the local Koli fishing community

Gangotri Dham

Goddess Ganga·Other tradition

Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand

The Chota Char Dham seat of Goddess Ganga, on the banks of the Bhagirathi

Yamunotri Dham

Goddess Yamuna·Other tradition

Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand

The first stop of the Chota Char Dham, with hot springs at the source of the Yamuna

Shrinathji Temple, Nathdwara

Shrinathji (Krishna as a seven-year-old)·Vaishnava

Nathdwara, Rajsamand, Rajasthan

The principal seat of the Pushtimarg tradition, where Shrinathji is served eight times a day

Virupaksha Temple, Hampi

Lord Shiva (as Virupaksha)·Shaiva

Hampi, Vijayanagara district, Karnataka

The one temple at Hampi that never stopped being worshipped

Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur

Goddess Mookambika (Adi Parashakti)·Shakta

Kollur, Udupi district, Karnataka

A Devi shrine below the Kodachadri hills, where the goddess is worshipped in a svayambhu linga

Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani

Lord Murugan (as Dhandayuthapani)·Shaiva

Palani, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu

One of Murugan's six abodes, where he stands on the hill as an ascetic

Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Lord Shiva (as Ekambareswarar, the earth linga)·Shaiva

Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

The Shiva temple of the earth element among the Pancha Bhoota Stalas

Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur

Lord Shiva (as Vadakkunnathan)·Shaiva

Thrissur, Kerala

A high point of Kerala temple architecture, and the centre of Thrissur Pooram

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple

Goddess Bhagavathy (Attukal Amma)·Shakta

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

The Devi temple of Attukal Pongala, where lakhs of women cook the offering together

Shani Shingnapur Temple

Lord Shani (Shanaishchara)·Other tradition

Shingnapur, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra

Shani worshipped as a bare stone under the open sky

Khandoba Temple, Jejuri

Lord Khandoba (Shiva as Martanda Bhairava)·Shaiva

Jejuri, Pune district, Maharashtra

The turmeric-showered hill shrine of Maharashtra's most widely kept family deity

Vishnupad Temple, Gaya

Lord Vishnu (worshipped as a footprint)·Vaishnava

Gaya, Bihar

Vishnu's footprint on the bank of the Phalgu, and the chief site for Pitru Paksha shraddha

Mundeshwari Devi Temple, Kaimur

Goddess Mundeshwari and Lord Shiva·Shaiva

Ramgarh, Kaimur district, Bihar

A very early temple with an octagonal sanctum, on the Kaimur plateau

Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple, Panchkula

Goddess Mansa Devi·Shakta

Bilaspur, Panchkula, Haryana

Haryana's principal Devi shrine, at the foot of the Shivaliks

Shri Mangueshi Temple, Goa

Lord Manguesh (a form of Shiva)·Shaiva

Mangueshi, Priol, Ponda, Goa

One of Goa's largest and most visited temples, and the kuladeva shrine of the Saraswat Brahmins

Tripura Sundari Temple, Udaipur

Goddess Tripura Sundari (Kurma Peeth)·Shakta

Udaipur, Gomati district, Tripura

The Shakti Peeth on a tortoise-shaped mound that gave the state its name

Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar

Goddess Chandi Devi·Shakta

Haridwar, Uttarakhand

The goddess on Neel Parvat, one of Haridwar's Panch Tirth

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

Lord Shiva (as Neelkanth)·Shaiva

Pauri Garhwal (near Rishikesh), Uttarakhand

Where, by tradition, Shiva held the poison of the churning of the ocean

Sun Temple, Modhera

Surya, the sun god·Other tradition

Modhera, Mehsana district, Gujarat

A Chaulukya-era sun temple and its great stepped tank

Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple, Ahobilam

Lord Narasimha (in nine forms)·Vaishnava

Ahobilam, Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh

Nine shrines of Narasimha spread through the gorges of the Eastern Ghats

Mehandipur Balaji Temple

Balaji (Hanuman in his child form)·Vaishnava

Mehandipur, Dausa district, Rajasthan

A well-known Hanuman temple, distinctive for the rituals performed there

Chennakeshava Temple, Belur

Lord Vishnu (as Chennakeshava)·Vaishnava

Belur, Hassan district, Karnataka

The high point of Hoysala architecture, carved in extraordinary detail in soapstone

Shri Banke Bihari Temple

Shri Banke Bihari Ji (Lord Krishna)·Vaishnava

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

Vrindavan's most-visited temple — famous for a curtain that opens and closes every few seconds

Prem Mandir

Radha-Krishna and Sita-Ram·Vaishnava

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

A modern marble temple famous for its evening musical fountain and light show

Shri Radha Raman Temple

Shri Radha Raman Ji (self-manifested from a shaligram shila)·Vaishnava

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

One of Vrindavan's Sapta Devalaya (seven principal temples) — its deity is said to have self-manifested from a shaligram shila

Shri Radhavallabh Temple

Shri Radhavallabh Lal Ji (Radha represented by a crown placed beside the deity)·Vaishnava

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

The founding temple of the Radhavallabh Sampradaya, where Radha is worshipped as a crown rather than a separate idol

Shri Govind Dev Temple

Shri Govind Dev Ji (Lord Krishna)·Vaishnava

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

Built by Raja Man Singh of Amber — regarded as one of Mughal-era India's grandest temples

Nidhivan (Rang Mahal)

Radha-Krishna (associated with the Nikunja Leela)·Vaishnava

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

A sacred grove believed by tradition to be the nightly site of Radha-Krishna's raas leela

Shri Madan Mohan Temple

Shri Madan Mohan Ji (Lord Krishna)·Vaishnava

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

One of Vrindavan's oldest temples, standing on a hillock near the Yamuna

Shri Shahji Temple

Shri Chhote Radha Raman Ji (Lord Krishna)·Vaishnava

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

Known for its twelve spiralled marble pillars and Belgian cut-glass chandeliers