5 Most Ancient And Architecturally Stunning Lord Shiva Temples In India

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Varanasi has been named as the land of Shiva and a land of salvation, where actually Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati reside in their fullest glory. It is the world's favourite Hindu pilgrimage centre which is known to deliver one from all past sins as well as confer liberation on him. Totally there are 108 Lord Shiva temples in India which take their own credit for being mysterious and powerful and have long been most popular for their historical legends and architectural brilliance. Out of the 108 Shiva temples, 105 temples belong to the Kerala state, two in Karnataka and one in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. Surprisingly there is a Shiva temple even in China which was named as a Mongolian king called Segasai Khan and this temple was named Khaneeshwaram and was consecrated by a Tamil monk by name Thava Chakravarthi. Proof for this can be found in the Tamil inscriptions.

1. Bhojpur Shiva Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Bhojpur temple, an enchanting architectural construction, is the oldest of Lord Shiva temples in India that is located in Madhya Pradesh. It is immensely liked by the locals and visitors to this temple who become ardent and frequent visitors once they step in. Carved out of a monolithic rock, the Shiva lingam is the tallest in the country, although the construction is largely left incomplete.

2. Kotilingeshwara Temple, Karnataka

Kotilingeshwara temple located in Kammasandra, Kolar, Karnataka, is a sprawling complex that houses over one crore lingams installed by devotees as well. It is the most unique Lord Shiva temple which has the tallest shivalingam of 33 metres height and tallest Nandi idol of 11 metres height in the entire world. Known for its peaceful and therapeutic ambience, this temple is declared as a tourist spot by the government. Amenities for travellers who visit here from all over India and abroad, are arranged by the authorities.

3. Tarakeshwar Temple, West Bengal

West Bengal people are known for their Devi Durga worship and mostly it is the temples for the Goddess that have been erected in Bengal. Shiva is a part of Shakti and hence he is also accorded a place and a temple for his worship. Long-time back, Raja Vishnu Das found this Lingam in the jungles and also had a dream on the same day of Lord Shiva. Waking up, he decided that a temple in Hooghly district of West Bengal would be built for him. Because of its historical significance, royal patronage, and sheer love for Lord Shiva, it has grown into a widely known and a famous pilgrimage spot in West Bengal.

4. Kedareshwara Temple, Karnataka

The stunning architectural beauty of the temple of Kedareshwar at Halebidu Karnataka, is unforgettable and intriguing. Constructed by the Hoysala king Veera Ballala2 and his queen Ketaladevi, it is built as a hub of three shrines in one temple complex. Next in importance to the Hoysaleshwara temple that is built in the same town, the Kedareshwara temple is a soapstone construction which is an archaeological masterpiece on its own. Built in 1219 AD, it is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva and protected by the Archaeological survey of India.

5. Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple, Tamil Nadu

On the shores of the Vegavathi river at Kanchipuram, the temple for Kanchi Kailasanathar was built around 700 CE by Narasimhavarman II a pallava ruler. The entire construction of the temple is built of sandstone. Oldest known temple in Kanchipuram, it has many shrines and innumerable eye catchy sculptures of Lord Shiva, including some where he is seen dancing with lions. It is the most widely worshipped and frequently visited spot in Tamil Nadu.

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