There are several Hindu temples in India and abroad that are renowned for their awe-inspiring architecture, magnificent gopurams, intricate sculptures, paintings, and carvings. These temples speak of the glories of a bygone age and are redolent of history. They whisper the stories of great kings and queens, whose devotion, munificence, and desire to leave behind grand and timeless legacies led to their creation.
Given below is a list of the 10 largest Hindu temples in the world.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Occupying a vast expanse of 500 acres, Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple complex is the largest religious structure in the world. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. It comprises hundreds of stone temples and remnants of the Khmer empire. Constructed by the Khmer ruler, Suryavarman II, in the 12th century, Angkor Wat was first dedicated to Lord Vishnu. But later on, it became a Buddhist temple.
Angkor Wat, unlike other Hindu temples, faces the West. Archaeologists felt that Angkor Wat was also a mausoleum. Sandstone is the main construction material. The Angkor Wat represents the sacred Mount Meru. The temple’s center tower stands at a height of 65 meters is surrounded by four smaller towers. The main entrance on the western side has many sculptures and carvings. A 3.2 meters high sandstone statue of Vishnu is present here. Important scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata adorn the inner wall.
Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam
This is the largest Hindu temple in India. The huge temple complex occupies 156 acres of land in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu. The temple enshrines the reclining form of Vishnu, called Ranganatha. The temple is also called Bhoologa Vaikundam and Bhogamandalam and is one of the finest Dravidian monuments in India. Different dynasties like the Chola, Pandya, Hoysala, and Vijayanagar kingdoms played a role in the renovation of the temple. The temple has 21 towers and 39 pavilions. The Rajagopuram or main tower is 236 ft tall and is the second tallest temple tower in Asia. Ranga Vimana, a shrine over the main sanctum of the temple, is shaped like the sound ‘Om’. A hall with 1000 pillars, profusely decorated with sculptures, is a great attraction.
Akshardham temple, Delhi
This iconic Hindu temple complex stands on the banks of the Yamuna river in Delhi. It is spread across an area of 100 acres. The central part of the temple houses idols of Sita Ram, Shiv Parvati, Radha Krishna, and Lakshmi Narayanan. The temple was built by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. It is made of sandstone and marble. There is a magnificent Gajendra pith – 1070 ft long – that symbolizes the animal kingdom. It features 42 birds, 148 full-sized elephants, and 125 human sculptures, all carved in pink stone. The main monument has 234 carved pillars and nine domes. The carvings provide a wealth of information about Hindu deities, arts, plants, and animals.
Thillai Nataraja temple, Chidambaram
This temple is one among the Panchabhootha sthalams, and it represents the sky element or Akasha. Located in Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, the temple’s main deity is Lord Shiva in his Ananda Tandava pose (Nataraja). This historic Hindu temple covers an expanse of 50 acres. There is a Shiva linga in the innermost sanctum, called ‘Aakasha linga’. The sanctum also contains idols of Shiva and Parvathi.
Various dynasties like the Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara, and Cheras have renovated the temple. It is believed that the temple is located in the lotus of the universe or ‘virat hridhaya padhma sthanam’. A wooden structure called Chitsabha forms the main sanctum of the temple. The main Shivalinga is kept here. Near the Chitsabha is the golden hall which also contains images of Shiva in ‘Urdhva Tandava posture’.
Four main towers or gopuras, 250 feet high, face four different directions. The towers are decorated with 108 different Bharatanatyam poses and images of Hindu mythology.
Belur Math, Howrah
This grand temple in West Bengal is the international headquarters of the Ramakrishna mission established by Swami Vivekananda in 1897. Belur math is designed to resemble a temple, church, or a mosque from every angle. It is a fusion of Hindu, Islamic, Rajput, Buddhist, and Christian architectural styles. Belur math symbolizes the unity of all religions. The temple complex covers an area of 40 acres. The complex houses temples for Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, and Sarada Devi. The temple’s main gate has symbols of different religions. There is a museum that houses different artifacts used by Sri Ramakrisha and Swami Vivekananda.
Annamalaiyar temple, Thiruvannamalai
Annamalaiyar temple is located in Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, and is said to be one of the grandest Shiva temples in India. This temple is also a Panchabhoota sthala and represents ‘Agni’ or fire. The main Shiva linga here is called ‘agni linga’. The temple is also called Arunachaleswarar, a form of Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvathi is worshiped here as ‘Unnamulai Amman’.
The towers and masonry complex date back to the 9th century and were built by Chola kings. The temple rests on 10 hectares of land. It has several halls and four massive gateway towers. The tallest of these is 217 feet tall. A big hall with 1000 pillars found here was built by King Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagar. The temple towers and pillars sport exquisite sculptures.
Ekambareswarar temple, Kanchipuram
The temple is Kanchipuram’s (Tamilnadu) biggest Hindu temple. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is a ‘Panchabhootha sthalam’ that represents earth or Prithvi and covers 23 acres. The Rajagopuram is 59 meters tall and is one of the tallest gopurams in India. Paranthaka Chola built the temple in 650 A.D. In March and April, the sun’s rays fall directly on the main Shiva linga here. Five different courtyards are seen here. The temple’s inner wall has 1008 Shiva lingams. Another attractive feature is a hall with 1000 pillars called ‘Aayiram kaal mandapam’. A holy river is said to flow under the temple.
Jambukeswarar temple, Trichy
Located in Trichy, Tamilnadu, Jambukeswarar, or Thiruvanaikaval Shiva temple is also a Panchabhoota sthalam. This temple represents the Water element. The temple’s main sanctum has an underground water stream. The main deity is Jambukeswararar, a form of Shiva. Mythology says that Akilandeswari (Goddess Parvathi) once came here from ‘Kailasam’ to conduct penance. She made a lingam using water from the Cauvery river. It’s the reason why the temple represents water or neer. The Shiva lingam here is called ‘Appu lingam’ or ‘lingam made of water’. Emperor Kocengannan Chola built the temple in the 1st century. There are five enclosures within the complex. Vibhuti Prakara, the huge outer wall of the temple complex, is a mile long and 25 feet tall.
Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
This huge Hindu temple is an iconic structure of Madurai city and a marvelous example of Dravidian architecture. It is dedicated to Shiva and Parvathi or Meenakshi. Shiva is called ‘Sundareswarar‘ here. The temple occupies 17 acres of land. The 14 ‘gopuras’ are 40 – 50 meters tall. Four of the tallest gopuras are entrances, and the smaller ones lead to the main shrines. The gateway towers face four directions. The multi-storeyed gopuras sport carvings of animals, Gods, and demons.
The temple was originally built by King Malavarman Kulasekara Pandyan in the 13th century. In the 14th century, the Muslim invader, Malik Kafur, ransacked the temple. It was later rebuilt by the Nayak ruler Viswanatha Nayakar in the 16th century. Golden plates cover the sanctum of Meenakshi and Shiva. The ‘Mandapam’ has 985 granite pillars. Some of these unique pillars produce music when tapped. An art gallery for drawings, icons, and photos that illustrate ancient Indian temple architecture is an added attraction.
Vaitheeswaran Koil, Nagapattinam
Vaitheeswaran Koil is in Tamilnadu. The temple deity is Vaitheeswaran, a form of Shiva. This temple is one of the Navagraha sthalams in India and represents Planet Mars or Angaraka. Some of the Shivalingas here were supposedly worshipped by Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Surya, and Jatayu, the vulture king. Five main gopuras and huge enclosures are found here. Metal images and stone sculptures of Surya, Lord Subramanya, and Durga are present in the temple. The holy water and sacred ash of this temple are believed to have curative powers.