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Ten unmissable magnificent ancient temples in India

India is a land of diverse cultures and ethnicity where people from various faiths co-exist peacefully. And since our country is rich culturally and spiritually, it is bound to have monuments that reflect its beliefs and philosophy through architecture. In this web-post, we have listed out ten unmissable ancient monuments, which will leave you spellbound.

Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Brihadeeswara

This temple that is situated in the Thanjavur region of Tamil Nadu is an architectural marvel. Built during the regime of Raja Raja Chola I, this magnificent monument is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country. The pinnacle of the main temple is constructed in such a way that its shadow doesn't fall on the ground. No matter what time of the day it is, one cannot see its shadow. Built between 1003 and 1010 AD this captivating complex is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva.

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh

khajuraho

The Khajuraho Group of temples in Madhya Pradesh dates back to the 950 AD - 1050 AD. It was built by the Chandela dynasty and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The artistic works and the intricate sculptures carved on the exterior and interior walls of the temples will leave you speechless. It may be a  small wonder that it attracts visitors from across the globe.

The Konark Temple, Odisha

konark temple

Built during the times of Narasimha deva I, the Konark Temple is a 13th-century architectural marvel carved out of stone. Situated near Puri, the coastal city of Odisha, the Konark Temple is famous for the sculptures that are engraved on the exterior and interior walls. The giant wheels carved out of stone leaves visitors mesmerised.

Temples in Bishnupur, West Bengal

Bishnupur

Bishnupur in the Bankura district of West Bengal is home to some of the most spell-binding pieces of monuments that showcase the craftsmanship of the region. Built during the 17-18 century, there a group of temples scattered sporadically in the area. And what makes them unique is that they are built with laterite stones and terracotta. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, some of these temples have scenes from the Mahabharata depicted on them. The carvings on the rocks and terracotta also leave an indelible impact.

Hampi, Karnataka

Hampi

This group of monuments in the Hampi area of Karnakata is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are attributed to the Vijayanagara Empire that ruled the region during the 14th century. Most of these monuments are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his various avatars. The gigantic structures carved out of stone reflect the architectural skills of the craftsman of those times and the striking feature is a shrine dedicated to Garuda. It is a chariot made of stone at Vitthala temple.

Kailash Temple, Maharashtra

Kailash Temple

The Kailasha rock-cut temple in the Ellora caves in Maharashtra attributed to Rashtrakuta king Krishna I in the eighth century is a unique monument carved out of a single piece of rock from the top. It means that the entire temple complex has been built by carving out stone from the top, unlike the traditional way of making a monument where the foundation is laid underground. 

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu

mahabalipuram

The group of temples in Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu dates back to the seventh century. These monuments find a mention in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. The temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Goddess Durga, also have structures built in honour of the Pandavas of Mahabharata. This heritage site will leave you enchanted for sure.

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka

pattadakal

This group of monuments in Pattadakal in Karnataka dates back to the seventh century. Small wonder that these architectural marvels are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage site list. Mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva, some of these monuments are also built in the memory of Lord Vishnu.

Dilwara Temple, Rajasthan

Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, the Dilwara Jain temples near Mount Abu in Rajasthan are specimens of the most exquisite carvings on marble. The detailing and intricate sculpting reflects the craftsmanship of the sculptors of those times. The carvings on the ceilings will make your jaw drop.

Meenakshi Amman Temple, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu

meenakshi temple

The temple complex dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Sundareshwara is an architectural marvel dating back to 1190-1216. The temple is attributed to Kulasekara Pandiyan. The complex has fourteen gigantic gopurams with each having intricate and detailed carvings of deities. The exquisite craftsmanship and the beauty of the entire temple complex will leave you spellbound.

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