8 Oldest Hindu Temples In The World To Visit

1. Mundeshwari Devi Temple, Bihar, India

[{"selector":"#anim-53780780-bca3-4b29-9ff0-155284482e63","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a3e4034-33d1-4ebe-bbd2-50298a206616","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.49168%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f192d784-2361-421b-a8ca-7397bd92b6e1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Estimated to have been built in the 4th century CE, Mundeshwari Devi Temple is considered one of the oldest functional Hindu temples. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

2. Bateshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh, India

[{"selector":"#anim-5c3723d4-8014-4158-990f-c02f6e8d9e79","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-936894d1-f086-4781-ae15-7d30307326a5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 205.55549%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8594d714-a2c1-4d28-a0dd-99ce3c6b38c8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Dating back to the 8th-10th centuries, the Bateshwar group of temples is a collection of over 200 sandstone temples situated near Morena in Madhya Pradesh. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

3. Parashurameshvara Temple, Odisha, India

[{"selector":"#anim-cc633e04-1db0-40f9-b1a8-d802d27f6118","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-091e09ce-b9a3-4e84-937b-f56b2e2e366d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.49168%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e390fc63-b56f-4eaf-9bb3-3560a785810c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Built in the 7th century, this temple is located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is an example of early Orissan architecture. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

4. Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple, Andhra Pradesh, India

[{"selector":"#anim-fc9c92cb-f0e3-4911-aa47-d2b0de2fb5c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70e9f87d-7414-42d4-84fe-1889d2bb6b63","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 266.97521%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7674298-809a-4db4-84b3-daa80f456e59 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Constructed in the 16th century, the Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi is famous for its intricate carvings. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

5. Kailasa Temple, Ellora Caves, Maharashtra, India

[{"selector":"#anim-d48f781a-9811-4342-9867-4b307126ba4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffd6d962-1cf9-48d3-86a5-fb6fbb67340d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.49168%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c63d560f-1c47-4ed3-ab26-e06d509f2e26 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Carved out of a single rock in the 8th century, the Kailasa Temple is a remarkable example of ancient Indian rock-cut architecture. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

6. Brihadeshwara Temple, Tamil Nadu, India

[{"selector":"#anim-58309f8a-6655-4a9f-8128-db696e5ed088","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-126b20bb-948a-48de-af12-783740ed507c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.14980%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-850d5ce9-d10d-47ab-8b3d-c338966d05fd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-12.587076546739134%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Also known as the Big Temple, this grand temple in Thanjavur was built by Rajaraja Chola I in the 11th century. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for its towering vimana. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

7. Virupaksha Temple, Karnataka, India

[{"selector":"#anim-f75d857e-5fa9-43b0-beaf-f3b17d71b433","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16f10c16-afa4-45d1-8ee4-178fe62195b7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.49168%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-437e6925-0cde-4a75-8400-96b1e4ee187e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Believed to have been functioning uninterruptedly since the 7th century, the Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

8. Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Tamil Nadu, India

[{"selector":"#anim-1198af57-7725-4604-b666-8d8bd698042f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cfd8250c-8782-445a-b043-31cfca7b413e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.49168%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3c1491c-1032-4580-b69f-5f5e24309080 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This temple, located in Srirangam, is one of the largest functioning Hindu temples in the world. Its construction began in the 10th century. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

[{"selector":"#anim-d3b4efcb-44ab-4475-94d8-9f04bf4a788d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3e290f5-a49c-4011-89ad-f1f46f35e93b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 351.69740%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b5c5bfd-ee27-417a-9d65-0ccf04a3ac7a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credits: Unsplash These temples offer insights into the cultural and architectural heritage of Hinduism over the centuries.