The most beautiful religious buildings South India

The complex of rock temples of Badami is a site of exceptional beauty which is moreover candidate for a future inscription with the heritage of UNESCO.

Vatipa Nagar, the ancient name of Badami, was the capital of the Chalukiya empire from the 6th to the 7th century. This site consists of a huge artificial reservoir of the^5th century named Agastyatirtha, surrounded by ochre cliffs in which cave temples have been carved in the rock. On the tops of these cliffs are forts intended to watch the surroundings. These monuments are representative of the Chalukiya architectural style. The site has a total of four rock temples: three Hindu and one Jain. The Hindu temples would have been even the first to appear on the Deccan plateau. Two are dedicated to Vishnu and one to Shiva. A fifth cave, of lesser size, would be perhaps dedicated to Buddha... Another temple is located near the artificial lake and also deserves your attention.

Cave n° 1. The access is by a staircase framed by figures of ganas, the dwarfs guardians of Shiva. The porch is supported by 4 columns with bas-reliefs of Shiva dancing. Two stone guardians welcome the visitor. They are dwarapalas (doorkeepers) 1.88 m high. The cave is decorated with numerous sculptures and bas-reliefs, including representations of Laxmi and Parvati surrounding a huge Harihara (half-Vishnu, half-Shiva) of more than 2 meters high. But the most beautiful image is undoubtedly that of Nataraja, or Shiva dancing. He has 18 arms, most of whose hands are in mudra position (symbolic hand representation). Only three of them carry objects, including a trident, a drum and an axe. At Shiva's feet, you will recognize Nandi, his ox, and Ganesh, his son. The ceiling of the cave is also decorated with 5 carved panels. The central panel represents Shesha, the snake who carries on his heads all the planets.

Cave n° 2. This cave dates from the 6th century and is dedicated to the god Vishnu, represented under different avatars. The porch is supported by four rectangular pillars, carved on their upper parts. You can see battle scenes, or others referring to Krishna at his birth and in his youth. The door frame is adorned with an entablature inlaid with gavakshas, the semi-circular forms. On the outer wall, note the beautiful depiction of Vahara (Vishnu's avatar in the form of a boar) saving the earth represented by the goddess Budhevi. Inside, Vishnu is represented as Trivikrama (a dwarf) with one foot on the earth and the other pointing north. Another panel again depicts Vahara saving the earth from the depths of the ocean. This sculpture is made in the center of a circular form. The ceiling is supported by 8 pillars and decorated with bas-reliefs. The top of the wall is decorated with a frieze representing scenes from the mythology of Vishnu or Krishna.

Cave n° 3. The unusual dimensions of this cave make it difficult to imagine the work required for its excavation. 20 meters wide, 21 meters deep and 4.6 meters high, it was necessary to dig the mountain on 15 meters deep! The cave contains many sculptures and bas-reliefs, the most notable of which are on the many pillars that support the weight of the ceiling. Will you find the scene of the Kamasutra representing a couple in an erotic posture? The walls of the cave are decorated with bas-reliefs, many of which depict Vishnu in different forms: Vishnu with 8 arms standing; Vishnu sitting on Shesha, the many-headed snake; Narasimha (half-man, half-lion avatar); Trivikrama armed; or Harihara. The ceilings still show traces of frescoes, which are among the oldest painted frescoes of Indian art known to date.

Cave n° 4. This cave, the most recent of the complex, is dedicated to various figures of Jainism. The porch is supported by 4 pillars with capitals. Parshvanath, the 23rd tirthankar, is depicted standing with his head haloed by a multi-headed snake symbolizing protection and respect. A few steps lead up to the shrine. In the shrine, Mahavira, the 24th tirthankar, rests on his pedestal. Inside the cave, you can admire a beautiful statue of Bahubali, the son of Adinath the^1st tirthankar, snakes coiled along his calves.

Cave n° 5. It is the smallest of the caves and it is almost necessary to make contortions to penetrate there so much the entry is narrow. Inside, a man is represented sitting on a throne and surrounded by bas-reliefs representing people holding fans, a tree, elephants and lions ready to attack. No one knows for sure who this statue represents and interpretations are rife. Some think that it is a statue of Buddha and that the cave would have been then dedicated to Vishnu. Other scientists lean more for a representation of a figure of Jainism. Other archaeologists, finally, emit the hypothesis that it is a king. Unfortunately, the statue has suffered greatly from the ravages of time and part of its face has crumbled.

Located in the white city, this temple also called Vedapureswarar is dedicated to the god Vishnu. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its sanctuaries. It has a gopuram, the temple's entrance tower, with five levels. The temple was originally built by the Cholas in the 11th century and later enlarged by the Pandyas. With its superb Dravidian architecture and colourful colours, it is undoubtedly the most beautiful temple in the city.

This 8th century temple was built by Nandivarma Pallava. The battle scenes exalting the courage of the Pallava are engraved on the panels surrounding the parikrama of this temple. You can also admire statues of Vishnu.

10 km from the city centre, on the road to Dhanushkodi, is the beautiful Sri Kothandarama temple where, according to legend, Vibishana, brother of the demon Ravana who kidnapped Sita, was crowned when he went to Rama. Pilgrims go there at sunset.

Located on the coast, northeast of Port Colachel, this temple is dedicated to the Goddess Amman Bhagavathi. Amman is in the shape of a 3.65 m high ant farm, with five heads, and is believed to continue to grow. The annual Mondaikadu Kodai festivities are celebrated in March for 10 days. The temple, although small, attracts a large crowd of people from the district in addition to a regular flow of pilgrims from Kollam in the state of Kerala. Tamil Nadu Tourism Department organizes a photographic exhibition during the festivities.

On the bus ride from Kodaikanal to Palani, you have a beautiful view of the plains and scattered rock outcrops. The temple of the city of Palani is dedicated to the god Murugan and an electric cable car takes the faithful to the summit, but it takes a while to queue before you can reach it! About 200,000 pilgrims gather there during the Pusam Thai Festival in January.

This large basin (theertham) located in the heart of the city would fill with the water of the Ganges every twelve years. Thousands of pilgrims flocked to bathe there. On a daily basis, water comes from the Cauvery River. The population uses it to perform its ablations, wash and do its laundry.

It is one of the 6 houses of the God Subramanya. Perched on a hill, the temple is accessible by road or by train. 365 steps, which represent the days of the year, leads to the top of the hill. Tiruttani passes to be the place where the god married Valli (one of his two wives). The Fête festival, which takes place in December, is celebrated with splendour.

It is the birthplace of the saint Ramanujar, the father of the Vishishishtadvaita philosophy of Vishnuism, and therefore an important pilgrimage centre for the Vishnuites. It is also the place where Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, was killed in a bomb explosion during a meeting in 1991.

A cave temple, one of the 6 homes of the god Subramaniya. It is here that Lord Muruga married Devayanai, daughter of Indra, after defeating Surapadman. Separate altars are dedicated to Shiva, Ganapathy, Durgai, Vishnu and other gods. At the entrance to the temple are 48 artistically sculpted pillars. Cut into the rock, the temple of Subramaniya is filled with pilgrims on days of worship. Its most secret altar is dug into a solid rock.

Suchindram bears the imprint of various kingdoms. The Thanumalayan Temple, repository of art treasures belonging to these kingdoms, is famous for its musical columns and its impressive 6 m high statue representing the monkey god Hanuman. The main statue represents Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, the trinity of the Hindu pantheon. Inscriptions dating back to the 9th century have been found in this temple.

Dedicated to Krishna, this temple contains a magnificent collection of mural paintings. The temple of Durga is adjacent to it.

This pretty little Orthodox church, inaugurated in 1920, is located in the heart of the city, along a canal. The church celebration takes place on August 15th of each year. A very photogenic place.

This Hindu temple is one of the 108 sastha temples of Kerala. 

A temple dedicated to Rama, famous for its copper roof.

This temple dating back to the ninth century is an important pilgrimage place for Vishnou followers. You may be able to see the priests feeding Babya, the vegetarian crocodile of the temple.

Located in Gorai, just north of the city. Inaugurated on February 8, 2009, this impressive Buddhist monument is a replica of the Yangon pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. Its golden roof is visible from Sanjay Gandhi Park!