India is home to diverse landscapes, from marvellous coastlines and lofty mountain ranges to gorgeous plateaus and more. In these landscapes, lie some stunning Shiva temples that stand glorious with their splendour and awe-inspiring surroundings. A trip to these temples will let one embrace profound serenity and attain a heightened solace. Here is a list of 6 most striking Shiva temples of India:
12 Stunning Shiva Temples In India You Must Visit
1. Murudeshwar Temple, Karnataka
Surrounded by the vast Arabian Sea on three sides, the Murudeshwar Shiva Temple sits on Karnataka’s Kandula hill. The temple features a 20-storied gopura, and the temple authorities have also installed a life facility to allow guests to have a splendid view of the 123-feet Shiva statue, which is also known as the second tallest statue of Shiva in the world.
2. Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand
Nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, near the Mandakini river, the Kedarnath temple is the most popular Shiva temple in India that attracts thousands of devotees from all parts of the world. Owing to extreme weather conditions, the temple remains open to general public. in the summer months, between April to November. During wintertime, the vigraha from Kedarnath temple is brought down to Ukhimath. The deity is worshipped here for the next six months.
Also Read: This Uttarakhand Temple Is Believed To Be The Place Where Mahadev Got Married To Devi Parvati
3. Siddhesvara Dham, Sikkim
Around 2 hours drive away from Sikkim’s capital, Gangtok, lies the marvellous temple compound of Char Dham, or Siddhesvara Dham locked away by spectacular mountains. It comprises four shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, Lord Jagannath and Lord Shiva. The shrine compound falls on the hilly route between Melli and Jorethang. The sweeping compound houses 12 jyotirlingas and a 108-feet statue of Lord Shiva.
4. Shivoham Shiva Temple, Karnataka
The Shivoham Shiva Temple is known for its 65 feet tall colossal Shiva structure. The temple has the biggest Shiva Linga gate in the city of Bangalore. The temple also houses a 32-feet-tall statue of Lord Ganesha. A great part about this shrine is that it supports the homeless by contributing its proceeds with the A.i.R Humanitarian Homes present in three locations in Bangalore.
5. Nageshwar Temple, Gujarat
Nageshwar Temple sits at a distance of 15 kilometres from Dwarka and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Major attractions at this temple are a beautiful garden with a pond and the 25-metre tall statue of Lord Shiva. The temple is also referred to as the Nagnath Temple. The main deity of Lord Shiva here is known as the Nagnath Temple. According to beliefs, those who offer prayers at the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga become free from all poisons, snake bites and worldly attractions.
6. Shree Kotilingeshwara Swamy Temple, Karnataka
The Kotilingeshwara temple is home to one of the largest Shivalingams in the world. It is located in the village of Kammasandra in the Kolar district of Karnataka. The prodigious linga here measures around 108 feet. This huge linga is surrounded by numerous small lingas over an area of 15 acres, and together, they look spectacular. The compound also houses a 35-foot-tall Nandi idol.
Also Read: This Shiva Temple In Tamil Nadu Has Pillars That Make Music!
7. Baijnath Mahadev Temple, Madhya Pradesh
Bajinath Mahadev Temple in India is one of the most unique Lord Shiva temples as it was built by a British couple who witnessed the deity’s miracles first-hand. Lieutenant Colonel Martin and his wife built this temple in Madhya Pradesh after the former claimed Lord Shiva himself helped him during a war against the Afghans. The 15th-century temple is the only temple in India that was built by the British during colonial rule.
8. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Madhya Pradesh
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain is one of the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. Sitting at the edge of Rudra Sagar Lake, it’s believed Lord Shiva’s presence can be experienced in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple where the deity resides in the form of a liga, deriving currents of power within himself.
9. Brihadisvara Temple, Tamil Nadu
One of the most recognised temples of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Brihadisvara Temple is known for its spellbinding Dravidian architecture. The massive corridor and breathtaking sculptures like the brass Nataraja are captivating. The temple also houses one of the largest Shiva lingas in the world. The 29-foot-high Shiva Linga occupies two storeys of the sanctum, making it one of India’s largest monolithic sculptures.
10. Baba Baidyanath Dham, Jharkhand
At Baba Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand, a Jyotirlinga, Lord Shiva is believed to heal his devotees like a doctor. ‘Vaidyanath’ literally means ‘doctor. Legends say Lord Shiva treated Ravana’s slashed heads like a doctor after the latter severed his own heads to please the deity. Baba Baidyanath Dham is a massive temple complex housing 22 smaller temples of dissimilar heights dedicated to various other deities.
11. Lingaraja Temple, Odisha
Bhubaneswar city’s most prominent landmark, Lingaraja Temple is synonymous with its Kalinga architecture. Built in the Deula style, the temple features 50 shrines, and a 180-feet-tall central tower and is surrounded by a huge compound wall. This temple’s lingam is believed to be self-originated and is worshipped by both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Moreover, the astronomical alignments of this Lord Shiva Temple have been fascinating devotees for decades.
12. Somnath Dham, Gujarat
Somnath Dham in Gujarat is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Nestled at the confluence of the former Saraswati, Hiran and Kapila rivers, the history of Somnath Dham tells a story of perseverance. A finely sculpted structure made of gold was destroyed 17 times yet rebuilt by its devotees with prayer on their lips and devotion in their hearts. The sound and light show at this Lord Shiva Temple mustn’t be missed!
Which of these Shiva temples in India have you already ticked off from your bucket list?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro
Authors: Suchismita Pal and Sanjana Shenoy
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