When planning a trip to India, there are several attractions that must top every to-do list.
Along with the usual suspects (think Agra's Taj Mahal, Goa's beaches, and Jaipur's street shopping vendors), there are also tons of sacred, drop dead gorgeous temples dotting the South Asian country. Each presents something unique, but all offer a space for locals and tourists to congregate and find a moment of peace in an otherwise crowded, chaotic spot on the map.
From a lotus-shaped temple to a gilded house of worship floating in the water, here are nine of the most beautiful temples in India.
1. Akshardham Temple
It’s not every day you stumble across a Hindu temple that boasts an IMAX theater, musical fountains, gift shops, and a lotus garden, but then again New Delhi's Akshardham Temple, which opened in 2005, is not your everyday Hindu temple. The big talking point of this 60-acre complex is its awe-inspiring Mandir, which is constructed out of white marble and pink sandstone and embellished with stone elephants and statues of divine personalities. Turn your spiritual visit into a history lesson and hop aboard the 15-minute on-site boat ride, which highlights over 10,000 years of India’s past. Admission to the temple is free, but expect a small fee for a few of the exhibitions. Oh, and it takes Mondays off, so plan accordingly.
2. Golden Temple
Open almost around the clock (6 a.m.-2 a.m., to be more specific), this temple in Amritsar is a holy place for Sikhs. Rumor has it Buddha stopped by to meditate here back in the day and Guru Nanak (he’s the one who founded the Sikh faith) followed in Buddha's footsteps. Drawing from Hindu and Islamic architectural influences, the temple -- also known as Harmandir Sahib (literally abode of God) -- is blinged out in gold. It gets even more wow factor, courtesy of the reflections in the surrounding water and pristine white marble complex. Equally gorgeous during the day and night (it's illuminated after hours), the magnificent site caters to both early birds and night owls.
3. Laxminarayan Temple
Also referred to as Birla Mandir, this Hindu temple was inaugurated by Gandhi in 1938 with the idea that it would welcome all castes and religious faiths with open arms. Tip: It's proper etiquette to remove shoes upon entering. Sprawled over 7.5 acres, the grounds boast marvelous red and white columns, fountains, waterfalls, several shrines to ancient gods and goddesses -- namely Vishnu and Lakshmi -- and more. Like the Akshardham Temple, this building is also closed on Mondays. And if you can swing it, we recommend dropping by during Diwali (the Festival of Lights) or Janmashtami (Krishna’s birthday), when the temple is beautifully lit up.
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