Tamil Nadu has 33,000 temples to be precise. It comes as no shock because it is a land of high religious significance and spirituality. It also has a rich cultural history as mentioned in the Sangam literature (South Indian’s ancient literature). All of these features have allowed Tamil Nadu to build some of the most astonishing temples.
Some of these temples even date back to the 1st century while some are even mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures. The state’s temples are famous globally and if you are planning a temple visit to Tamil Nadu, here are the top 5 that you cannot miss.
* Meenakshi TempleIt has been nominated as one among the 30 options for the new seven wonders of the world. That in itself speaks volumes about the kind of temple it is.Situated in Madurai, Meenakshi Temple is visited by people across the globe. In a land where most of the grandest temples are dedicated to gods, this one temple is dedicated to Parvati, a powerful goddess and Shiv’s consort. It is one of the largest and oldest temples in India and maybe in the world as well.According to Hindu mythology, this temple was found by Indra, the leader of gods. A naturally formed Shiv lingam in the temple could also be a reason for the importance given to it. Anyhow, the temple was looted by the Mughals during their reign, and it was restored in the 16th century to its present glory. It is estimated that during the annual festival of Meenakshi Temple, approximately 1 million people visit it.
* Rameshwaram TempleThe Rameshwaram Temple is located in the small city of Rameshwaram. The complex is gigantic, and it’s made up of white sandstone. It is built in the typical architectural style that most temples in South India are built. The temple also has a small river near it with clear water.Just like all the other temples, this temple also has many legends. But the reason that it has acquired the position of a holy Dham is that of one of Vishnu’s famous incarnation, Lord Ram. After killing Ravan, Lord Ram and his wife Sita stopped at Rameshwaram, right at the place where the temple stands today. Since Ravan was a Brahmin and killing a Brahmin is the greatest sin in Hindu religion, Lord Ram decided to ask for penance to Lord Shiv. He asked Hanuman to bring an idol of Shiv from Mount Kailash, and Sita herself made a Shiv Ling. Both the Shiv Lingams are in the temple today. It is because of Lord Ram’s descent here that this place became holy.
* Brihadeeshwarar TempleThis magnificent temple in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu has been a place of absolute fascination and awe among tourists and scientists.This temple is unique for many reasons. The first reason, which is the most amazing and strange at the same time is that this is the only temple in the world that is completely built out of granite. Now you have to keep in mind that this temple is one of the largest in the world and one of its towers has a height of 216 ft (tallest in the world). To achieve such a tremendous feat at that time, given the fact that the temple turned 1000 years old in 2010, is almost impossible. It is a hard task even today with all the advanced machines. Also, there was no granite quarry within a 100 km radius of this temple. This has left historians and scientists baffled as to how they could then build such an opulent structure.
* The Ruined Temples of MahabalipuramMahabalipuram translating to the land of Mahabali is situated on a strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake. It is one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sights. According to legend, this town was named after King Mahabali who was known throughout the country for his generous and kind nature.Today, Mahabalipuram stands as a testimony to the absolutely excellent architectural skills of India even during the 7th and 8th centuries. Because of its ideal location, this town was the most famous seaport for trading since the 1st century and continued to be so even during the reign of the Pallava dynasty.
* Sri Ranganathaswamy TempleBelieved to be one of the 108 holy abodes of Lord Vishnu, this temple is very popular, especially among the Hindus. If its religious significance wasn’t enough, then its architecture makes up for that. Just like many other temples in Tamil Nadu, this one also displays the perfection of the Dravidian architecture. The intricate carvings, distinctive structural style and applications of various colours make this temple stand out.The temple is spread over a large area of 150 acres. But unlike other temples in Tamil Nadu where the entire area is dedicated solely to the functions of the temple and nothing else, this temple allows human settlement and township within its compound as well.