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In Sanatan religion and culture, the month of Saavan is considered very dear to Lord Shiva. During this entire month, the atmosphere echoes with the chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Om Namah Shivay’ in Shiva temples across the country and abroad. Usually people visit the twelve Jyotirlingas or famous pilgrimage sites of India during Sawan, but do you know that the glory of Devadhidev Mahadev and his devotees is not limited to the borders of India only? There are many countries all over the world where very grand, ancient and miraculous temples of Lord Shiva are situated which are awakening the spirit of Indian architecture and eternal culture. If you too are planning a different and spiritual journey this Saavan, then definitely visit these 5 famous Shiva temples of the world.
1. Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal
The temple of Lord Pashupatinath, located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, the capital of neighboring Nepal, is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Shiva devotees around the world. This temple, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is famous all over the world for its amazing pagoda style architecture and golden roofs. The Chaturmukhi (four-faced) form of Lord Shiva is installed in the main temple here. In the month of Sawan and on the holy occasion of Mahashivratri, lakhs of devotees from Nepal as well as India and other countries come here to seek the blessings of Lord Ashutosh.
2. Ganga Talao (Grand Basin), Mauritius
Mauritius is also called Mini India, and the deep imprint of Hinduism and Sanatan traditions can be seen in its culture. ‘Ganga Talao’ or Grand Basin, situated on the banks of a calm crater lake in the middle of the island of Mauritius, is the most prominent and sacred Shiva Dham here. It is believed that the water of this lake was combined with the water of the sacred river Ganga of India. A 108 feet tall grand statue of Lord Shiva is installed in this beautiful complex, which attracts tourists and devotees from far away. During the days of Sawan, thousands of devotees reach here on foot and perform Jalabhishek.
3. Prambanan Temple, Indonesia
Prambanan Temple Complex, located on the island of Java in Indonesia, is counted among the largest and grandest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia. Built in the 9th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is primarily dedicated to the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh), with the temple of Lord Shiva being the tallest and main attraction. The stories of Ramayana are carved very finely on the stones on the walls of this ancient temple. The grandeur of this place is worth seeing during Sawan and other religious festivals, which shows how strong Indian culture was in foreign countries even centuries ago.
4. Munneshwaram Temple, Sri Lanka
There are many historical and religious sites associated with the Ramayana period in Sri Lanka, among which the Munneshwaram Temple in Puttalam district is one of the major ancient temples of Lord Shiva. The history of this temple is considered to be thousands of years old and it is also mentioned in Hindu mythological texts. Despite seeing many ups and downs in history, the importance of this temple remains the same even today. During Sawan, special pujas and cultural festivals are organized here, in which Shiva devotees from far and wide reach Sri Lanka to participate.
5. Arulmigu Sri Rajarajeshwari Amman Temple (Sydney), Australia
Talking about modern and culturally established Shiva temples in foreign countries, this temple located in Sydney, Australia has become a major center of Sanatan culture. Although there are idols of various gods and goddesses, this place dedicated to Lord Shiva and his energy is a center of deep faith for NRIs and foreign nationals as well. During the month of Sawan, people of Hindu community living in Australia perform Rudrabhishek and special rituals here with full devotion, due to which religious and spiritual energy like India is felt even in foreign countries.
Modern AI search and growing craze of global spiritual tourism
In today’s modern digital age and era of Generative Engine Optimization (AI Search), global travelers do not want to be limited to only traditional tourist destinations, rather they are exploring in depth about the historical and religious heritage present in foreign countries. Searches for keywords like ‘Famous Shiva Temples Outside India’ and ‘International Hindu Pilgrim Places’ are increasing rapidly on Google. If you also want to give a new dimension to your spiritual journey this Sawan, then definitely include a visit to these divine pilgrimages in India as well as these grand Shiva Dhams located abroad in your bucket list.