South Indian Temples are the best example of craftsmanship that exhibits the superb architecture of South India. Tourism South India offers ample opportunities to explore the famous South Indian temples.
1. Guruvayur Temple
A major attraction for the devotees of Lord Krishna, the Guruvayur Temple is popularly known as the Dwarka of South India. Situated in Guruvayur town of Thrissur district, this 5,000-year-old temple holds the legend that Lord Brahma himself worshipped the idol of Lord Krishna there. Incidentally, Lord Krishna is referred to as Guruvayurappan. The architecture of the temple is enriched with the Gopurams (gateways), Mandaps, and subsidiary shrines. The walls of the main shrine are garnished with exotic paintings and elaborate illustrations. Certain festivals like Mandalam, Utsavam, and Chembai Music Festival are celebrated in a ceremonious way in this temple.
2. Sabarimala Temple
The very name of this temple finds recognition almost anywhere in India. One of the most noteworthy among all the Sastha Temples, Sabarimala is located in the Sahyadri Mountains in Kerala. A worship center for Lord Ayyappa, this shrine holds the legend that the great sage Parashurama rescued Kerala from the sea and installed the idol of the Lord there. Sabarimala Temple is flooded with devotees from November to January as Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku are celebrated during that period. Otherwise, the temple is not open to the general public for the rest of the year barring the first five days of the Malayalam month and Vishu.
3. Meenakshi Temple
Meenakshi Temple and the town of Madurai almost co-exist with each other. Madurai is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu, and Meenakshi Temple is its landmark. Kulasekara Pandya, the rulers from the famous Pandyan dynasty built the original temple, yet the grandeur and glory of the shrine owes a lot to the Nayak rulers. This majestic shrine is attributed to Lord Shiva and his companion Parvati who is referred to as Meenakshi here. Accordingly, it accommodates two altars for Sundareswarar (Shiva) and Meenakshi (Parvati) besieged by a few smaller shrines. Special mention should be made of the 12 gopuras that easily catch attention.
4. Murugan Temple
Tirupporur, a town lying a mere 45 km from Chennai is the place where one finds the Murugan Temple. Some other names like Poriyur Yuddhapuri or Samarapuri are used to refer to this shrine. A coveted religious center, Murugan Temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the son of Lord Shiva. One of the most common legends says it was this father-son duo that released Lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi from the anathema of sage Kanav. Subsequently, Agastya Muni revealed the meaning of Pranava (the Universal Truth) to Lord Murugan and his consorts in this place. The temple bears testimony to the inscriptions that goes back to the 10th and 12th century.
5. Kanchipuram Temple
A semi-urban locality that sits at 75 kms from Chennai truly justifies the phrase The Land of Thousand Temples which is usually coined for the state of Tamil Nadu. The enormous crowd of temples in this town has earned it the distinction of being the Religious Capital of South India. A perfect blend of Vaishnavism and Shaivism, Kanchipuram is the home to temples like Kamakshi Amman Temple, Varadaraja Temple, Kailasanathar Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Kumara Kottam, Ulagalantha Perumal Temple and lot more. All these temples are marked by different festivals at different points of time in the year.
6. Kanyakumari Temple
Apart from being the southernmost point of India, Kanyakumari sees the convergence of as many as three seas; the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal. The temple in Kanyakumari is dedicated to the virgin goddess Kanyakumari who is a manifestation of the goddess Parvati. The Idol of the Goddess which is made of blue stone is said to be installed by Parasurama. The major festivals celebrated here are mainly in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May – June). Navratri is also observed with devotional activities in September – October.
7. Mahabalipuram Temple
The town of Mahabalipuram is another town in Tamil Nadu that flaunts its coffer of temples. Placed 58 km from Chennai, this town has a history that spread over two thousand years. The temples in Mahabalipuram are marked by their unique structure and formation. Two of the most prominent types are the Mandapas and Rathas and a visitor will find numerous temples built on these two heads.
8. Rameshwaram Temple
The great shrine of Sri Ramanatha is always a popular destination for Hindu pilgrims. To put it easily, what Kashi is to North India, Rameshwaram is to South. As the name itself suggests, Rameshwaram is closely and tightly associated with the epic Ramayana. The temple of Sri Ramanatha is in the shape of a conch and stands on the Eastern shore of an island. Mythology holds that, it was here that Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva after the fall of Ravana.
9. Tirupati Tirumala Balaji Temple
Described very often as the richest temple in the world, Tirupati Tirumala Balaji Temple is located on a hill at Tirumala. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara and is one of the most visited sites for pilgrims who travel for the famous Darshan season. Bearing the marks of past centuries, this shrine is a superb piece of art from Dravidian architecture. The rituals in the temple were stipulated by the sage Ramanujacharya and they are followed with honor till today.
10. Thousand Pillar Temple
Established in the year 1163 AD by King Rudra Deva, the Thousand Pillar Temple is an excellent instance of Kakatiya architecture and sculpture. This marvel of art is situated on the Hanamkonda – Warangal highway, which is some 150 kms from Hyderabad. As the name suggests, the highlight of the temple is the majestically engraved pillars and the Nandi bull made out of black basalt. Besides these, there are numerous Lingam sanctums scattered in the garden. Made in the form of a star, this shrine is attributed to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Surya.
11. Badami Cave Temple
Situated in the northern part of Karnataka, Badami is a town that is closely associated with the famous Chalukya Empire of south India. Another aspect that always catches the traveler’s attention is the caved temples of Badami which speaks a ton about the Chalukyan style of architecture. The four renowned cave temples are engraved out of sandstone on the cliff of hills and accommodate a shrine, pillars, and even an open porch. This magnificent piece of architecture is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva.
12. Somanathapura Temple
A quaint hamlet, Somnathpur, that sits on the banks of the Kaveri, 140 kms, southwest of Bangalore is a fitting example of the popular saying big bang in a small package. This village flaunts the grand Kesava Temple, which dates back to 1268 AD. It is a terrific monument established by the Hoysala rulers. A walled premise houses the shrine that is covered around with a verandah with some 64 cells. The shape of the temple is simply thrilling and breathtaking with three carved spires standing on a raised platform.
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