Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Built by Raja Raja Chola I in 1,002 AD, the magnificent Brihadeshwara Temple is deeply embedded in the Dravidian architectural legacy as a tribute to Lord Nataraja. Perched along the shores of the Cauvery, the temple was constructed using over 1,30,000 tonnes of granite—a momentous feat, considering that granite is nowhere to be found within a 100-mile radius. Notably, the temple casts no shadow on the ground when the sun is at its pinnacle, a fitting emblem of its sanctitude and spiritual significance. Some architectural gems in the complex include a glorious Nandi monolith weighing 20 tonnes, intricate Bharatnatyam carvings on the temple exterior, and a spectacular spread of musical pillars.
Tungnath Temple, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand
Situated 3,680 metres above sea level, the Tungnath Temple is the highest of the five Panch Kedar temples nestled in the wondrous Rudraprayag mountain range of Uttarakhand. The temple’s exquisite location beckons travellers from India and abroad to witness its magical, mythological aura. Legend has it that Lord Shiva took a bull’s avatar during the war of the Mahabharata in an attempt to evade the Pandavas, only to rematerialise in a disincarnate form, his bull’s body divided across five different locations. The site of the Tungnath is where Shiva’s hands are believed to have appeared. Interestingly, the temple is so small that it only permits ten people at a time.
Vitthala Temple, Hampi, Karnataka
Part of the expansive Vijayanagara temple landscape, this 15th-century temple, built by King Devaraya II, is a homage to Lord Vishnu. Regarded as the most majestic temple in Hampi, the structure is a sculptural and artisanal masterpiece, with imposing walls and resplendent gateways. The temple complex is bejewelled with enchanting shrines, chambers and piles made of stone. Also worth admiring are the temple’s musical pillars, famous for their acoustics. The British apparently were so stunned by these magical pillars, that they hacked a pair off, only to find nothing inside.
Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka
A confluence of North Indian Nagra and Dravidian Vimana Shaili architectural styles, this temple is emblazoned with extravagant friezes, epigraphs and reliefs that narrate stories of divine glory. Observe closely, and you’ll see that the structure is seeded in curious mathematical concepts. Recurrent fractal patterns modelled on natural wonders, a triangular dome, and square-shaped layouts echo the geometry of nature. The temple was commissioned by Queen Lokamahadevi in the 8th century to immortalise her husband King Vikramaditya’s triumph over the Pallavas. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Somnath Temple, Saurashtra, Gujarat
The crowning glory of the Saurashtra peninsula, many believe that the central structure of Somnath was made in gold and silver by the moon and sun divinities respectively, in timber by Lord Krishna, and in stone by the 11th-century ruling Rajputs. The indelible layers of time have led to several reconstructions of the temple, with the seventh occurring as recently as 1951, in the Chalukya style. The temple’s architectural paragon contains ornate engravings, silver partitions, convex pyramidal forms and an awe-inspiring Nandi idol.
Terracotta Temple, Bishnupur, West Bengal
Built by the Malla dynasty in the 17th century, this rustic terracotta temple complex, devoted to Lord Vishnu, mirrors the thatched architecture of rural Bengal. The architecture of Bishnupur is inspired by a coalescence of styles and cultures from surrounding regions. Rustic terracotta tiles, buildings in laterite and brick, and carved panels narrating mythological epics reign as the temples’ most prominent attributes.
Dilwara Temples, Mount Abu, Rajasthan
A white marble magnum opus, the Dilwara Temples’ complex enshrines five prominent Jain idols, each housed within a separate courtyard. The complex is bordered by bijou shrines honouring holy tirthankaras (saints). Built by the Solankis in the eleventh century, the temples are renowned for their marble ornamentation and carvings. Among the many mysteries harboured within the temple walls, perhaps the greatest is how long-ago labourers managed to transport huge blocks of marble from Arasoori Hill to Mount Abu, along an incline of 23 kilometres, on elephant back.
Kailasa Temple, Ellora, Maharashtra
Carved from solid rock, this titanic temple construction was helmed by King Krishna I in 760 AD as a symbolic expression of Lord Shiva’s Himalayan abode. Observe the temple structure and it’s clear that its creation was nothing short of an architectonic miracle. Enveloped by three immense trenches whose hollows would have required the manual removal of 2,00,000 tonnes of rock, the sanctum sanctorum features remarkable engravings of scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
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