What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of South India? Probably, captivating and sacred temples if not dosa.A heavenly abode of magnificent temples is what South India is. The architecture is beautiful and bold. These architectural gems are one of the best features of the Indian architecture and form the backbone of rich heritage and culture of the nation. You can feel the presence of God in every breath in these breath-taking beauties.
From Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu, South India is full of temples that hold immense religious value. From Vijayanagar style of architecture to Dravidian architecture, from little stone cravings of Krishnadevaraya to pillars of Chalukyas, each monument holds a different story to it. The south Indian temples are stunning in grandeur and rich in legend.
1. Meenakshi Temple, Tamil Nadu
The Meenakshi Amman Temple is solely dedicated to Goddess Parvati who is worshipped as Goddess Meenakshi in the temple. The temple also worships Lord Shiva, the consort of Goddess Parvati who is known as Sundareswarar in the temple. Thus, the temple has one more name, Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. Built during 1623 and 1655 CE, this beautiful architecture made it to the list of Top 30 nominees in the new “Seven Wonders of the World.”
Meenakshi temple finds its mention in the Tamil literature. The temples have 14 gopurams or gateway towers and as many as 33,000 sculptures. The gopurams, the shrines, and the halls are ornate and gold, with absolute brilliance in appearance. The two very distinct features are the shrine of Meenakshi holding a parrot, and the right raised leg of Natraja.
The temple has a gathering of around 15,000 visitors every day and about 25,000 on weekends. Find yourself comfortable and in reach accommodation to the temple with Oyo rooms and save big with the best of oyo new user offers.
The mandapams are also the attraction for the visitors. The prominent Mandapams are Killi Kootu Mandapam, Ashtashakti Mandapam, Meenakshi Nayakan Mandapam, Aaiyiram Kal Mandapam. Every Mandapam is designed beautifully and has a history attached to it.
2. The Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur
A UNESCO world heritage site, the Brihadeshwara Temple is 1008 years old! The temple worships Lord Shiva and is a splendid example of the architecture under the Chola Dynasty. Being one of the most beautiful and famous South Indian temples, it’s a part of “The Great Living Chola Dynasty temples.”
The temple was mainly constructed for royal ceremonies. The temple was constructed to depict the vision and power of the emperor. The temple was the engineering marvel of its time as it has been built on the rules of axial and symmetrical geometry. The temple is made all the more beautiful by the magnificent carvings on the outside of the temple.
As Lord Shiva is said to have three eyes, inside the temple, there’s a huge idol of Lord Shiva with three eyes. The entire temple has about 250 lingams (representatives of Lord Shiva). Granite was used to constructing the entire temple. It’s said that around 13,000 tons of Graphite were used for the construction of the temple. The temple is 216 ft high, making it one of the highest temples.
3. Sri Rangnathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
Located in Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli the Sri Rangnathaswamy temple is situated on an Island. The temple worships Ranganatha, a form of Lord Vishnu. The temple is huge and is spread over an area of 156 acres and is built on an island in river Kaveri. The temple is exclusively rich in architecture and culture. Featuring Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is one of the largest religious complexes in the world and is magnificent in its cultural and architectural details. The temple is amongst the most revered temples dedicated of Lord Vishnu.
The temple one out of 108 DivyaDesams dedicated to Lord Vishnu and also one of the 8 “Swayam Vyakt Kshetras” of Lord Vishnu. The temple comprises of seven prakarams or concentric rectangular enclosures formed by massive walls. Thus, the structure of the temple is quite unique. The prakarams run around the deity. Sri Ranganathswamy temple is one of the largest functioning temples of the world.
4. Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Andhra Pradesh
Also known as the “Temple of seven hills”, Sri Venkateshwara Temple is situated in the hill town of Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh. It is a Vedic temple solely dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, who is also an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is a majestic and one of the most famous South Indian temples.
It is also called “Tirupathi Balaji Temple”. The temple architecture has a special building with beautiful architecture. The construction started in 300 AD. Tirupathi Balaji is one of the richest temples in the world. It receives a huge amount of donations every year. This temple also has a Dravidian style of architecture. Make you trip easier by getting accommodation nearby to the temple and save big with the latest oyo new user offers.
The temple is the last DivyaDesam and 106th in number. The temple has many visitors and is one of the most visited worship places in the world. There are multiple legends related to the temple. One legend says that there’s one idol of Lord Venkateshwara that’s here to stay till the Kal Yuga ends. The temple is a study in opulence.
5. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal
Virupaksha Temple is also a UNESCO World Heritage and is a part of a group of monuments at Hampi and is considered highly sacred. The temple worships Lord Shiva who is known as Virupaksha in the temple. The interior of the temple is made all the more magnificent with intricate carvings and aesthetically designed sculptures. Small and big inscriptions are engraved in the walls of the temple. The temple has visitors from every part of the country and is a must visit spot for the foreigners. Many festivals are celebrated here in the temple. The main attraction of the temple is the Annual Chariot Temple. It’s observed in February and is attended by many devotees.
Conclusion
The South Indian temples are a symbol size, opulence, grandeur, and sheer magnitude. These temples represent a culture different from the rest of the county, unique in their way, although with shades of all other cultures. A deep plunge into the rich history of the south, many of these are architectural masterpieces with craftsmanship that’ll make you wonder of the times past and the different level of creativity associated with it.
