HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA
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CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES
Somnath Temple, Gujrat
Somnath Temple is one of the oldest pilgrimage centres in India and finds mention in the ancient books of Shiv Puran, Skanda Purana and Shreemad Bhagvat Gita. Soma refers to ‘Moon God’, thus Somnath means ‘Protector of the Moon God’.
According to a legend, the Indian God of Moon, Soma was cursed by his father-in-law to lose his lustre. It was Lord Shiva who cured his illness and later Soma built this temple in his honour. It is one of the most revered ‘jyotirlinga’ among the 12 jyotirlingas of India.
The temple is located in Prabhas Kshetra in Saurashtra (Gujarat). Prabhas Kshetra is where Lord Krishna is believed to have left his mortal body. The place also has a Somnath museum, Junagadh gate, beach and a sound and light show to amuse the pilgrims.
Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand
Situated in the Himalayan range of Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Kedarnath temple is one of the most sacred shrines in the world. The holy abode of Shiva is believed to have been built by the Pandavas to atone for their sins during Mahabharata.
The temple was restored by Adi Sankaracharya in the 8th century. It is one of the Chota Char Dhams of Uttarakhand and requires the pilgrims to trek a distance of 14 kms on the hilly terrain.
Standing at a height of 3,583 metres, surrounded by the glaciers and snow-clad peaks, the temple is closed during winters due to severe weather conditions. Even the idol of Lord Shiva is shifted to Ukhimath during the months the temple remains closed.
Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu and Kahsmir
One of the most holy sites for Hindu pilgrims, Vaishno Devi Temple is nestled on the Trikuta mountain in Jammu & Kashmir. As per the legend, Vaishno Devi under the disguise of a young girl, Vaishnavi was being chased by a black magician, Bhairo Nath.
He was pestering her to marry him. In order to escape him, she fled to the mountains but he followed her there too. After stopping at present day Banganga, Charan Paduka and Adkwari, the Goddess finally reached the holy shrine. When Bhairo Nath showed no sign of backing down, Vaishnavi was compelled to kill him.
She beheaded him at the mouth of the cave and his head fell at a distant hill top. After realizing his mistake, Bhairo Nath begged for her forgiveness. Taking pity on him, the Goddess blessed him with a boon that anyone who takes up the pilgrimage to the shrine will also have to visit Bhairo Nath Temple, only then will the journey be completed.
Golden Temple, Punjab
Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Darbar Sahib or Golden temple is the most pious site of pilgrimage in Amritsar, Punjab for people who follow Sikhism. The temple is built on the values of universal brotherhood and equality.
The four doors, opening in the four prominent directions, welcome people from any faith or race to seek religious and spiritual contentment. The structure, revered for its majestic architecture, is built on a lower level than that of the immediate surroundings, symbolizing the value of humility.
The holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib, was first placed in Sri Harmandir Sahib after its completion.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttar Pradesh
Located in the oldest surviving city of the world- Varanasi, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most visited temples in India. It is the most revered of the twelve jyotirlingas located in India.
The temple stands in all-might at the western bank of River Ganges and teaches mankind the true meaning of life and death. A one-time visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple is equivalent to the visit to other eleven jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
This heavenly abode is visited by many distinguished personalities such as Adi Shankaracharya, Swami Vivekananda, Goswami Tulsidas, Gurunanak among others.
Shri Jagannath Temple, Odisha
Built in the 12th century, Jagannath temple is situated in Puri, Orissa and is popularly called Jagannath Puri. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple is one of the Char Dhams of India.
Inside the main temple, with the idol of Lord Krishna (Jagannath) in between, the idols of Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are placed. Non-Hindus cannot enter the premises of the temple.
They can get a good view of this magnificent temple from the roof-top of the Raghunandan Library located just opposite to the temple. The annual and world famous Rath Yatra conducted at Puri gives a chance to get a good glimpse of the Lord Jagannath along with Balabhadra and Subhadra riding on the chariots.
Meenakshi Temple, Tamil Nadu
This architectural wonder is situated in Madurai, Tamil Nadu and is dedicated to Goddess Parvati (also known as Meenakshi) and her husband Lord Shiva. Madurai is the second biggest city of India and is also one of the oldest cities of the world.
A dip in the Golden Lotus tank, situated in the temple, is considered auspicious and is usually taken before visiting the main shrine of the God and Goddess. As per a legend, the pond was created by Lord Shiva and is even older than the temple.
The temple has a hall, which consists of 985 pillars; each pillar is intricately carved with distinct figurines. The 12th century colorful temple was among the thirty nominees of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’.
Amarnath Cave Temple, Jammu and Kashmir
The holy cave of Amarnath is located at an altitude of 3,888 meters in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Engulfed with snow-clad mountains, the cave mostly remains covered with snow during the year.
In the summer season, between the months of June and August, it becomes accessible and hence opens up for the pilgrims. The cave is believed to be 5000 years old. As per a popular legend, Buta Malik, a Muslim shepherd, met a holy man who handed him a bag of coal.
On reaching home, he found that the coal got converted into gold. Moved by the miracle the shepherd went in search of the saint and instead found the sacred abode of Lord Shiva.
Tirupati Balaji Temple, Andhra Pradesh
Located in the hilly town of Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, the temple is also known as Tirumala Venkateswara temple. The temple is devoted to Lord Venkateshwara, who is popularly called ‘Balaji’ and is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Venkateshwara Tirupati Balaji is the second richest temple in India. The ancient temple was visited by many rulers of great South-Indian dynasties. The temple celebrates many festivals, most famous of them being Brahmotsavam (also known as ‘Salakatla brahmotsavam’), which goes on for 9 days and witnesses thousands of devotees.
The prasadam offered in the shrine is famous all around the world for its unique delectable taste. As a religious ritual, people get their heads tonsured in large numbers here, so much so that every year about 6 million US dollars are earned through the auction of hairs.
Virupaksha Temple, Karnataka
Built in the 7th century, the temple is famous for being a functioning temple ever since it came into existence. Located in the village of Hampi, it is one of the most famous temples among the various other temples of Hampi. All heritage sites of Hampi have been recognized and are a part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
A shrine of Shiva, Virupaksha temple is a very important religious centre as well as a popular tourist destination. The pilgrimage centre has expanded in scale over period of time. Shiva in the form of Virupaksha is the consort of local Goddess Pampa and that is why the temple is also called Pampapathi Temple. Many festivals take place in the temple celebrating the engagement and wedding of the couple.
Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala literally means the ‘City of Lord Anantha’. Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred dwellings of Lord Vishnu).
The temple can be visited only by the Hindus. There is a strict dress code while entering the temple for men (dhoti without any kind of shirt) and women (sari or skirt and blouse). The elegant and splendid idol of Lord Vishnu is reclining over the five hooded serpents called Anantha in a deep yogic sleep.
The idol is very fascinating as it displays the supreme trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (or Shiva). Lord Brahma is shown sitting on a lotus coming out of the navel of the Lord’s statue. That is why Lord Vishnu is also called Padmanabha, i.e. lotus-navel.
Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat
The holy abode of Lord Krishna, Dwarkadhish temple is situated in the Dwarka city of Gujarat. Also known as Jagat Mandir, the temple has two doors for entry and exit of the pilgrims. The entry door is called the Swarg Dwar (doorway to heaven) and the exit door is called Moksha Dwar (the doorway to liberation).
A part of the pious Char Dham Yatra, the 5-storied temple is supported by 72 pillars. Situated on the banks of River Gomti the temple reaches the height of 51.8 meters and a flight of 56 steps need to be taken to reach the Swarg Dwar. Inside the shrine, Lord Krishna dazzles his devotees through his idol built in black stone.
Kamakhya Temple, Assam
Nestled in the Nilachal Hill in the western part of Guwahati, Assam, is the Kamakhya Temple. According to Kalika Purana, Kamakhya Temple is one of the four primary shakti-peethas of Goddess Sati. It is also a centre for Tantra worship.
It is believed that the ‘garbhagriha’ of the temple houses the mythical womb of the Goddess. Known across the nation as the unique temple that celebrates womanhood, the Brahmaputra river near the temple turns red every year during the month of June. It is believed that the Goddess menstruates during this period which is celebrated as the power of woman to give birth.
Kakatiya Rudreshwara Ramappa Temple
Ramappa Temple, also known as the Rudreshwara temple, is a Kakatiya style Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, located in Palamet village, Mulugu district, Telangana, India. It is 15 km from Mulugu, 66 km from Warangal, 209 km from Hyderabad.
Kakatiya Rudreshwara Ramappa Temple
Ramappa Temple, also known as the Rudreshwara temple, is a Kakatiya style Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, located in Palamet village, Mulugu district, Telangana, India. It is 15 km from Mulugu, 66 km from Warangal, 209 km from Hyderabad.
FOREST HERITAGE SITES
Sundarban National Park
Sundarbans National Park is a large coastal mangrove forest, shared by India and Bangladesh. The area is home to the Royal Bengal tiger, plus other endangered species such as the estuarine crocodile and Ganges River dolphin. Boats from Khulna city travel south along the river to a quiet mangrove beach at Kotka. Here, a watchtower offers views of the forest and its birds and animals.
Manas National Park
Manas National Park is a national park, Project Tiger reserve, and an elephant reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it borders the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park is a protected area in the northeast Indian state of Assam. Spread across the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River, its forests, wetlands and grasslands are home to tigers, elephants and the world’s largest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses. Ganges River dolphins swim in the park’s waters. It’s visited by many rare migratory birds, and gray pelicans roost near Kaziranga village.
Keoladeo National Park
Keoladeo National Park is a vast bird sanctuary and former royal game reserve in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. South of the ancient city of Bharatpur, the park’s woods and man-made wetlands protect over 350 species of migratory and resident birds, including herons, cormorants and eagles. To the southeast, Fatehpur Sikri is home to sandstone temples and a mosque, built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.
Nanda Devi National Park
The Nanda Devi National Park or Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, established in 1982 is a national park situated around the peak of Nanda Devi in Chamoli Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, in northern India. The entire park lies at an elevation of more than 3,500 m above mean sea level.
Valley of Flowers National Park
Valley of Flowers National Park is an Indian national park which was established in 1982. It is located in Chamoli in the state of Uttarakhand and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora.
HISTORICAL HERITAGE SITES
Mahabalipuram
Mamallapuram, or Mahabalipuram, is a town on a strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s known for its temples and monuments built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries. The seafront Shore Temple comprises 3 ornate granite shrines. Krishna’s Butter Ball is a massive boulder balanced on a small hill near the Ganesha Ratha stone temple.
Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the second century BCE to about 480 CE in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state in India. Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, is a historic railway terminus and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The terminus was designed by a British architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens from an initial design by Axel Haig, in an exuberant Italian Gothic style.
Khajuraho
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India. They are about 175 kilometres southeast of Jhansi, 10 kilometres from Khajwa, 9 kilometres from Rajnagar, and 49 kilometres from district headquarter Chhatarpur.
Great Living Chola Temples
The Great Living Chola Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for a group of Chola dynasty era Hindu temples in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple at Thanjavur was added in the list in 1987, while the other two temples were added in 2004.
Konark
Konark is a medium town in the Puri district in the state of Odisha, India. It lies on the coast by the Bay of Bengal, 65 kilometres from the capital of the state, Bhubaneswar. It is the site of the 13th-century Sun Temple, also known as the Black Pagoda, built in black granite during the reign of Narasinghadeva-I.
Group of Monuments at Hampi
Hampi is an ancient village in the south Indian state of Karnataka. It’s dotted with numerous ruined temple complexes from the Vijayanagara Empire. On the south bank of the River Tungabhadra is the 7th-century Hindu Virupaksha Temple, near the revived Hampi Bazaar. A carved stone chariot stands in front of the huge Vittala Temple site. Southeast of Hampi, Daroji Bear Sanctuary is home to the Indian sloth bear.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself.
