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News India Live, Digital Desk: These cities of India are not just pilgrimage sites, but they are living proofs of our ancient engineering and art. Let us know about them:
1. Madurai, Tamil Nadu (Madurai)
Madurai, known as the ‘Athens of the East’, is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
Main Attractions: Meenakshi Amman Temple. Its 14 grand ‘Gopurams’ and thousands of carved sculptures are an architectural marvel.
2. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Kashi, one of the oldest living cities in the world, is the city of salvation.
Main Attractions: Kashi Vishwanath Temple And Ganga Ghat. The evening aarti here provides a supernatural experience.
3. Hampi, Karnataka
Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Main Attractions: Virupaksha Temple and Vitthal temples (stone pillars emitting music). It is mandatory to see the stone chariot here.
4. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
Famous for its erotic sculptures and Nagar style architecture, Khajuraho is included in the UNESCO list.
Main Attractions: Kandariya Mahadev Temple. These temples built by Chandela kings are the pinnacle of Indian art.
5. Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Known as the ‘City of a Thousand Temples’, Kanchipuram is the center of Pallava architecture.
Main Attractions: Kailashnathar Temple And Ekambareshwar Temple. The city is also world famous for its silk sarees.
6. Puri, Odisha
One of the Char Dhams, Puri is known for its annual Rath Yatra.
Main Attractions: Jagannath Temple. The miracles of this temple (like the flag fluttering against the wind) are still a mystery to science.
7. Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
One of the richest and most visited temples in the world.
Main Attractions: Venkateswara Swamy Temple (Tirupati Balaji). The city is situated on seven hills (Saptagiri).
8. Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu
Located on the coast of the Indian Ocean, this city is associated with the Ramayana period.
Main Attractions: Ramanathaswamy Temple. The corridor here is one of the longest temple corridors in the world.
9. Bhubaneswar, Odisha
The capital of Odisha is known as the ‘City of Temples’, which once had more than 7,000 temples.
Main Attractions: Lingaraja Temple And Mukteshwar Temple.
10. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, this city is a confluence of the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’ and ancient temples.
Main Attractions: Neelkanth Mahadev Temple And Trimbakeshwar Temple.
Travel Tips: Be careful while visiting the temple
dress code: Traditional dress is mandatory in many temples in South India (such as Madurai or Tirupati).
Time: Most temples remain closed from 12:00 to 4:00 pm, so choose an early morning or evening time.
Photography: Carrying a camera or mobile is prohibited in the main sanctum sanctorum of many temples, follow the rules.
