SHATRUNJAYA HILL
A group of white marble temples dating from the 10th and 11th centuries, ...Read more
NATARAJA TEMPLE
Temple dedicated to Shiva as lord of the dance, with wall sculptures ...Read more
KAPALEESWARAR TEMPLE
Temple dedicated to Shiva and Parvati, with 2 entrances surmounted by a ...Read more
BRIHADEESWARA TEMPLE
Temple dedicated to Shiva with a vast, rigid statue of Nandi carved out of ...Read more
TEMPLES - WEST GROUP
Numerous temples to visit, including Lakshmana, dedicated to Vishnu, and ...Read more
JAMA MASJID & SHEIKH SALIM CHISHTI MAUSOLEUM
A historic site with a beautiful mosque built by Akbar and a white marble ...Read more
SHORE TEMPLE
Hindu religious complex built with granite blocks, offering 3 temples on a ...Read more
BIRLA MANDIR (LAKSHMI NARAYAN TEMPLE)
Hindu temple featuring a peaceful white marble sanctuary dedicated to ...Read more
SACRED LAKE
Rectangular lake lined with ghats, small traditional buildings and a temple ...Read more
PARADESI SYNAGOGUE
Synagogue built in 1568, with a beautifully decorated floor featuring a ...Read more
TSUGLAGKHANG COMPLEX
Complex comprising the official residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a ...Read more
MATRIMANDIR
Building known as the soul of Auroville, a place dedicated to meditation, ...Read more
TRICHY ROCK STRONG
Monument on the banks of the Cauvery, perched on a rocky massif 83 m above ...Read more
AKSHARDAM TEMPLE (AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE)
Temple built in 2005, the largest Hindu complex in India, built by ...Read more
JAGDISH TEMPLE
Temple dedicated to Jagannath, avatar of the god Vishnu, an example of ...Read more
TEMPLES - EAST GROUP
Numerous temples scattered around the eastern part of the city, to be ...Read more
KARNI MATA TEMPLE
Temple of the Rats singular pilgrimage sanctuary dedicated to Karni Mata, ...Read more
SOMNATH TEMPLE
Temple with one of the country's twelve most sacred jyotirlinga, the first ...Read more
BABULNATH TEMPLE
A white temple dedicated to Shiva, located near Chowpatty beach and exuding ...Read more
LAXMINATH TEMPLE
Temple dedicated to Laxmi, with recent brightly coloured murals, built for ...Read more
ETTUMANOOR MAHADEVAR TEMPLE
Ancient temple dedicated to Shiva, famous for its Dravidian mural ...Read more
MAHALAXMI TEMPLE
Complex comprising a seafront temple dedicated to Mahalakshmi, built in ...Read more
SACRÉ-CŒUR CHURCH
Read moreThis basilica mixes Gothic and colonial styles for a result slightly less "cream cake" than other churches in the city. It has very beautiful centuries-old stained glass windows. Today is one of the most important Christian pilgrimage Sites in the country.
MANAKULA VINAYAGAR TEMPLE
Colorful temple dedicated to Ganesh, the elephant-headed god, prayed to ...Read more
LOTUS TEMPLE (BAHA'I TEMPLE)
A lotus-shaped temple, a symbol common to Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and ...Read more
ST FRANCIS CHURCH
Early 16th-century church, Fort Kochi's pride and joy as the oldest ...Read more
RANI SATI TEMPLE
Temple containing numerous brightly-colored statues and gleaming frescoes, ...Read more
ALOOBARI MONASTERY
Buddhist monastery dating from 1914, dedicated to world peace, with statues ...Read more
MULLACKAL RAJARAJESWARI TEMPLE
Temple dedicated to the goddess Rajarajerswari, where 2 festivals are ...Read more
THRIKKADAVOOR MAHADEVA TEMPLE
Read moreLocated only a few kilometres from the city, it is the largest temple in the Kollam district dedicated to Shiva. Although the entrance to the sanctuary is closed to non-Hindus, you can still visit the complex and admire, in the evening, hundreds of oil lamps illuminating the site.
NAINA DEVI TEMPLE
Marble Hindu temple on a mountain, with a beautiful view on sunny days, ...Read more
SHRI HANUMAN GARHI MANDIR
10th-century temple dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman, one of the city's ...Read more
CHHOTA IMAMBARA
Monument containing the mausoleums of Muhammad Ali Shah, his mother and the ...Read more
ENCHEY MONASTERY
Superb monastery belonging to the Nyingmapa order, with spectacular views ...Read more
GURDWARA SIS GANJ SAHIB
Delhi's holiest Sikh temple, where the ninth Guru, Teg Bahadur, was ...Read more
DAKSHINESHWAR KALI TEMPLE
Temple built in 1855 and dedicated to the goddess Kâlî, with a roof ...Read more
DO-DRUL CHÖRTEN
Sacred Buddhist monument, one of the most imposing in Sikkim to visit, ...Read more
EKLINGJI TEMPLE
Complex of 108 marble temples built by the Guhila dynasty of Mewar in honor ...Read more
SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH
Anglican church with mausoleum of Jacob Charnock, founder of Calcutta, and ...Read more
SACRÉ-CŒUR CHURCH
Gothic-style church designed by French architect Jacques Duchatz, ...Read more
DILWARA JAIN TEMPLES
Read moreDilwara means "the place of temples". Five white marble temples built between the eleventh and sixteenth centuries rise from the surrounding hills to form an outstanding complex. The interiors, though somewhat massive on the outside, rival each other in beauty and grandeur. Not a single corner has been overlooked in the decoration work. The delicacy of the carvings, the chiseled ceilings and pillars, the countless polished marble statues reveal an extraordinary mastery of Indian craftsmen and an unparalleled creative fertility. Considered as the most beautiful examples of Jain temples in India, these temples are the object of an important cult among the members of the sect. Jainism was born out of a split with Hinduism in the 6th century B.C. and while many of the tenets are similar between the two religions, such as the attainment of enlightenment, no one deity occupies a central place. The tirthankars enshrined in the temples are the enlightened Masters, who lead the devotees to follow the path of supreme enlightenment. The temples of Mount Abu are among the five holiest places in Jainism, along with Ranakpur in Rajasthan and Palitana in Gujarat. Pilgrims come here in large numbers throughout the year. Considering their condition, it is hard to believe that only a few renovations have been undertaken over the centuries. After the partial destruction of the Vimal Vasahi in 1311, major repairs were initiated a decade later. It underwent another phase of care in 1906, following which the site was rededicated. Finally, another major maintenance cycle took place from 1950 to 1965. One can see the difference in patina between the old, yellowed marble and the more recent, white one.
Vimal Vasahi. This temple, the oldest, dates from 1031. It was built by Vimalsha, a minister of King Bhima I of Gujarat. It is dedicated to Adinath, the first holy man of Jainism(tirthankar). It is one of the finest examples of Jain architecture. You will be lulled by the spiritual atmosphere of the place. The temple stands in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by about 50 courtyards containing statues of other tirthankars, i.e. a holy man who has attained "enlightenment". The corridors, pillars, porticoes, arches and ceilings are gracefully carved in white marble. The motifs represent lotus flowers, plants, animals and scenes related to Jain mythology. In the main hall, the mandap row, the central dome is supported by 12 pillars beautifully decorated with women playing music and the 16 vidyadevis, the goddesses of knowledge. Do not miss to raise your head to admire the stone rose window. The gudh mandap which contains the idol of Adinath, is all in sobriety. But the door which gives access to it is richly decorated. Opposite the temple is the hatishala, the "house of elephants". Built in 1147 by a descendant of Vimalsha, the row of elephants carries the family lineage on its back.
Luna Vasahi. This temple is dedicated to Nenimath, the 22nd tirthankar and was erected in 1230 by two brothers, both ministers of the king of Gujarat. They built it in memory of their deceased brother Luna. You will be able to admire its so particular architecture, its extremely fine and meticulous sculptures. It took more than 2,000 craftsmen to build this real work of goldsmith. The highlight is the dome of the mandap row, the main hall. seventy-two tirthankars are depicted seated in a circle. The second concentric band represents 360 miniature figures of Jain monks. In the center of the ceiling, a magnificent chiseled stone pendant seems to float. The temple is surrounded by nine cells that compete for grace and lightness. The idol representing Neminath was carved in black marble. The black marble column on the left side of the temple is an addition of Maharana Khumba of Mewar.
Pittalhar Temple. The construction of this temple was undertaken by Bhima Shah, a minister of the Sultan of Ahmedabad, in the 15th century. More modest in size, and comprising only a few cells, it is unfinished. The temple takes its name from the imposing 2.40 meter high alloy statue of Adinath. In Hindi, copper is called pital. An inscription engraved on the statue states that it weighs 4 tons and that it is the work of an artist named Deta. The main shrine or gudh mandap contains an idol of Adinath in white marble.
Temple of Parshvanath. The construction of this temple undertaken by Mandlik dates back to 1458. Dedicated to Parshvanath, the 23rd tirthankar, it is the largest of the Dilwara temples. Four halls facing the cardinal points support the three-story structure. The exterior sculptures, of grey sandstone, are reminiscent of those of the temples of Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh): celestial beings, vidyadevis, yakshinis (fairies), salabhanjikas (woman standing near a tree and holding a branch)...
Temple of Mahavir Swami. This temple is the most recent of the group and dates from 1582. It is dedicated to Mahavira, the 24thand last tirthankar. Having lived from 599 to 527 BC, this saint is considered to have given Jainism its present form. He is particularly venerated for this reason. Paintings added in 1764 by Rajasthani artists can be seen on the upper parts of the entrance porch.
DHAMEK STUPA
Imposing bell-shaped stupa in a large, well-kept park, marking the place ...Read more
SHRI BHARAT MANDIR
Temple, the city's oldest, located in the railway station district and ...Read more
BARA IMAMBARA
Great tomb of a great Shiite saint with a central hall 50 m long and 15 m ...Read more
BRAHMA SAROVAR
Sacred pool where pilgrims from all over India come to purify themselves, ...Read more
TAKHAT SRI HARIMANDIR JI PATNA SAHIB
One of the Sikh community's sacred places of pilgrimage, with Sikh ...Read more
Shri Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga
The island's most sacred temple, containing a jyotilinga symbolizing the ...Read more