Legendary tales claim that these sites are haunted by paranormal activity
Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple, situated in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, was built around 700 CE.
Pashupatinath Temple in Katmandu is one of seven monument groups in UNESCO's designation of Kathmandu Valley.
The 19th-century Sri Mariamman Temple is located in Singapore's busy central Chinatown vicinity.
Typical of Tamil architecture, Koneswaram Temple is part of a classical-medieval Hindu temple complex in Trincomalee.
Set somewhat incongruously in the Santa Monica Mountains in California, the Malibu Hindu Temple is built in the traditional South Indian style. According to Today, Britney Spears had her four-month-old son blessed in a large ceremony by the Hindu priests of this temple in 2006.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple, popularly known as Neasden Temple, is a sanctuary of vibrant Hindu worship in north-west London.
Believed to have been constructed between the 12th and 15th centuries, Penataran Temple at Blitar is one of the largest Hindu temple ruins complex in East Java, Indonesia.
The landmark Laxminarayan Mandir was the first large Hindu temple built in Delhi. It was completed in 1939.
The Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is widely considered as the world's richest Hindu temple, its vaults crammed with gold and other precious items.
Completed in 1634,the Ramaswamy Temple in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, is celebrated for its exquisite sculptures on the pillars of the temple depicting various Hindu legends.
Originally built in 1859 and reconstructed in the early 1980s, the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple is one of Singapore's Hindu community's most important monuments.
The Ranganathaswamy Temple is currently on UNESCO's tentative list as a World Heritage Site, and no wonder! Located in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, this is one of the most richly decorated and illustrious Vaishnava temples in South India, rich in legend and history.
Sitting on foundations that date back to the 10th century, Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, was eventually completed in 1161. It's an important Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu.
Completed in 1986, the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago is a Hindu temple complex located in Lemont, Illinois. It includes a Rama temple and a temple dedicated to Ganesha, Shiva, and Durga.
Another historic temple renowned for its highly decorative exterior, Meenakshi Temple, is situated in the ancient temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Replete with two stunning towers, Ramanathaswamy Temple is set on Rameswaram island in Tamil Nadu. An interesting architectural reference is the temple's corridor—the longest among all Hindu temples in India.
Located in Trincomalee in Sri Lanka's eastern province, Pathirakali Amman Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali. It's built in the classical Dravidian style of architecture and textured with dazzling sculpture.
Lingaraja Temple is one of the oldest and largest Hindu temples situated in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the Indian state of Odisha.
Located in Tamil Nadu, the Ekambareswarar Temple at Kanchipuram in one of the largest temple complexes in India. The building is noted for its intricate stucco decoration.
One of the most remarkable temples in the country, Akshardham Temple in New Delhi reflects millennia of traditional and modern Hindu culture, spirituality, and architecture.
Hockessin in Delaware is probably not somewhere you'd expect to find an Indian-style temple, but that's exactly where you'll stumble upon the icing-cake Hindu Temple of Delaware.
The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, a city in Tamil Nadu, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples."
Guwahati in Assam is the location of Kamakhya Temple, which has the privilege of housing one of the oldest and most revered centers of Tantric practices found anywhere.
An idyllic oceanfront location helps highlight the Somnath Temple in Veraval, Gujarat. This is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus in India.
Myth and legend surrounds the venerable Munneswaram Temple, situated near Chilaw, Sri Lanka. It has been in existence since 1000 CE and is especially associated with the popular Indian epic 'Ramayana,' and its legendary hero-king Rama.
The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala. The Tirumala Hills are part of Seshachalam Hills range.
Sources: (Today)
See also: Inspiring ancient temples of the world
A wonderful example of classic Kerela-style architecture, Vadakkunnathan Temple, situated in Thrissur, is also on the UNESCO tentative list of World Heritage Sites.
The old Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple in Bhuj was completed in 1823 and suffered considerable damage during the Gujarat earthquake of 2002. A new temple (pictured) was built a short distance from the original site.
Hinduism, originating from ancient Vedic culture around 3000 BCE, is one of the world's oldest religions and ranks as the third-largest globally, after Christianity and Islam. Followers refer to it as Sanatana Dharma, meaning Eternal Law in Sanskrit. With its primary presence in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, Hinduism influences social and political structures, including the caste system.
Temples of diverse styles and colors in various locations are central to Hindu worship, embodying the beauty of this ancient faith. Explore this gallery and wonder at these remarkable religious structures.
Incredible Hindu temples: architecture of exquisite beauty
Replete with color and texture, these extraordinary places of worship truly captivate!
TRAVEL Hinduism
Hinduism, originating from ancient Vedic culture around 3000 BCE, is one of the world's oldest religions and ranks as the third-largest globally, after Christianity and Islam. Followers refer to it as Sanatana Dharma, meaning Eternal Law in Sanskrit. With its primary presence in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, Hinduism influences social and political structures, including the caste system.
Temples of diverse styles and colors in various locations are central to Hindu worship, embodying the beauty of this ancient faith. Explore this gallery and wonder at these remarkable religious structures.