Most beautiful temple in India

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Palani (Pazhani) Muruga (Subrahmanyan) temple

Tamil Nadu's most popular pilgrim centre is located atop of Sivagiri hills in Dindigul district. The Garbagriham is surmounted by a gold gopuram, most admirably worked.

Vibhuthi (sacred ash) and pancha amritham (literally, 'the five nectars' - a traditional preparation of fruit pulp and molasses) are considered holy and distributed to devotees after being offered to the Lord Subrahmanyan in the hill-temple.

How to reach

Palani is 60 km from Dindigul. The hill station Kodaikanal is nearby. From Kerala, Palani can be reached via Kollengode (Palakkad) and Pollachi. Steps are hewn into the rock, besides a wide path meant for the ascent of elephants, up the hill. The hill top temple is 30 min walk away. Rope way is an added aminity for the pilgrims.

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Nellaiappar Shiva temple

The temple is known for its musical pillars and brilliant sculptural splendours. This temple houses a shrine to Shiva and Parvati covering a 14 acre area. Near Tirunelveli, are the nine Vaishnavite temples dedicated to Vishnu (the Alwar Nava Tiruppatis), the Krishnapuram Venkatachalapati temple with its brilliant sculptural work, Tiruchendur with its grand and imposing temple dedicated to Subramanya, and Kutralam a popular tourist resort with its charming waterfalls and abundand natural beauty. The region between Tirunelveli and Kutralam abounds in natural splendour. Mention must be made of Tenkasi, Papanasam and Ambasamudram. The inscriptions in the temple dating back to 950 AD.

The musical pillars in the Mani Mandapam which produce sound in various pitches when struck (7th century AD by Nindrasir Nedumaran or Koon Pandyan), the Somavara Mandapam, the 1000 pillared hall, and the Tamra sabha with intricate wood work, and the Vasantha Mandapam are some of the noteworthy points in this temple. Lifelike sculptures adorn several of the mandapams in the temple, noteworthy ones being in the Sangili Mandapam which links the temples of Nellaiappar and Kantimathi in this vast temple complex.

Tamra Sabhai: The Copper Hall of Dance is a brilliant work of art, and is housed within the inner precincts of the temple.

On the occasion of Arudra Darisanam (occuring in the Tamil month of Margazhi - Dec 15 - Jan 15), the images of Nataraja and Sivakami are housed here, and elaborate worship protocols are observed during the enactment of the Cosmic Dance of Shiva. A shrine to Sandana Sabhapati (adorned with sandal paste) is located right behind the Tamra Sabha and to a visitor walking towards the Tamra Sabha, the combination of these, i.e. the vision of Sandana Sabhapati seen through the Tamra Sabha presents a brilliant spectacle.

Arudra Darisanam attracts huge crowds here.The temple charriot is a massive one, second supposedly only to Tiruvarur. The Bhrammotsavam here lasts for an extended period of time during the Tamil month of Aani (June 15 - July 15).

Other festivals: Navaratri, Tirukkalyanam in Aippasi, (Oct 15 - Nov 15) and Arudra Darisanam.

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Thiruvannamalai Arunachala temple

Thiruvannamalai is the Tejo Sthalam among the Pancha Bootha Sthalams representing Fire. The others are - Tiruvanaikavil (Appu sthalam - water), Kanchipuram (Prithvi sthalam - Earth), Kalahasti (Vayu sthalam - Air) and Chidambaram (Akasa sthalam - Space).

Four Brahmotsavams are celebrated every year, the most famous of which is the one celebrated during the Tamil month of Karthikai (November/December). The ten day event culminates on the day of Karthigai Deepam. On that evening, a huge lamp is lit in a cauldron with three tons of ghee at the top of the Annamalai hill.

Every full moon night, tens of thousands of pilgrims worship Shiva by circumbulating (14 km) the Arunachala hill barefoot. On the yearly Chitra Powrnami (full moon) night in the Tamil calendar year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit the temple.

The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built between the 16th and the 17th centuries by the kings of the Vijayanagara empire. The temple is famous for its massive gopurams.

The 11 tiered East Rajagopuram towers to a height of 217 feet, while the fortified walls pierced with 4 gopura entrances offer a formidable look to this vast temple complex . The Pei Gopuram, Tirumanjana Gopuram and Ammanaiammal gopuram are the other three. The 1000 pillared hall and the temple tank were built by Krishna Deva Rayarar of Vijayanagar. Each of the prakarams has a huge Nandi and several towers such as the Vallala Maharaja Gopuram and Kili Gopuram.

How to Reach

A railway line between Vellore (near Chennai) and Villupuram passes through Thiruvannamalai.

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Veera Raghavar temple, Tiruvallur

It is one of the 108 sacred shrines of Vaishnavites. There is a pond nearby this temple, where the tank festival is held. There is a Siva temple near this shrine which is also quite popular among the locals. There is also a 40 feet tall Viswaroopa Panchamukha Hanuman temple, where the murti (deity) is made of a single green granite stone.

Tiruvallur is located north of Chennai.

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Murugan temple, Thiruchendur

The seashore temple is in the Thoothukudy district of Tamil Nadu, 55 km from Tirunelveli.

Festivals

Brahmothsavam in the month of Magha (February – March), Vasanthothsavam for 10 days in Chaitra (April – May), Visaka Visakam for 12 days in Vaisakha (May – June) and Skandha Sashti in Asvini (October – November) are celebrated in this temple. Besides these, there are two Maha Utsavams called, in Tamil, as Aavanipperunthirunaal and Maasipperunthirunaal being conducted and celebrated in a grand fashion during Simharavi ie.,Tamil month of Aavani (August-September) and Kumbharavi ie., Tamil month of Maasi (January-February) respectively. These are 12 day festivals which happen twice every year, during the above said periods.

Naazhi Kinaru (sacred well), is outside the temple at a distance of 100 m south of the temple. Devotees are allowed to bathe by scooping out the water with a vessel and the water in the well never dries up. Despite the temple being on the seashore, the water is not salty.

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Aabathsahayeswarar Temple at Aduturai near Kumbakonam
Aabatsahayeswarar Temple at Rudraganga near Thanjavur
Aadi Kumbeswarar Temple at Kumbakonam
Aaduturai Perumaal Temple at Tirukkoodaloor (Tiruvaiyaru) near Kumbakonam
Aatmanathar Temple at Aavudayar Koil near Pudukkottai
Aatmanatheswarar Temple at Tiruvalampozhil (Tirupponthurutti) near Kumbakonam
Abayapradhana Ranganathar temple at Karur
Abhirameswarar temple at Thiruvamathur near Villuppuram
Abhirami - Amritaghateswarar Temple at Tirukkadavur near Kumbakonam
Abhirami - Kalahastheeswarar Temple at Dindukkal
Achchaladheepeswarar temple at Mohanur near Karur
Adhi Madyarjuneswarar temple at Erakkudi near Tiruchirappalli (Kallagam)
Adhidheeswarar Temple at Vaniyambadi, Vellore Dt.
Adhimoolanathaswamy temple at Thirupalaithural near Srirangam, Trichy
Adhimoolaperumal temple at Pudupalayam, Tiruvanamalai district
Adi Jagannatha Temple at Tiruppullani near Ramanathapuram
Adi Kesava Perumal Temple at Chennai
Adi Parasakthi Temple at Melmaruvattur near Chennai
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Arani near Ponneri (Chennai)
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Arpakkam near Kanchipuram
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Chennai
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Kavathur near Madurantakam
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Korattur in Chennai
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Kuram (Injambakkam) near Chennai
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Meyyur (Sadurangapatnam) near Chingelput
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Peramandur (Arantangi) near Pudukkottai
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Pudupalayam near Ponneri (Chennai)
Adikesava Perumal Temple at Ramanjeri near Tiruvallur
Adikesava Perumal temple at Vilambar near Kallakurichi (Villuppuram)

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Adinathaswami Temple (Tirukkurukoor) at Alwar Tirunagari near Srivaikuntam (Tuticorin)
Adiratneswarar Temple at Tiruvadanai (Devakottai, Sivaganga district)
Aeri Katha Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu at Maduranthakam, Chingleput district
Agastheeswarar Temple at Arungulam near Tiruttani
Agastheeswarar Temple at Chennai
Agastheeswarar Temple at Chunampet near Madurantakam
Airavata esvara Temple at Darasuram near Kumbakonam
Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram near Kumbakonam
Airavatesvara Temple at Pazhanthandalam near Thiruneermalai (Chennai)
Airavateswarar Temple at Melaittirumanancheri (Tiruvelvikkudi) near Mayiladuturai
Akshaya Lingeswarar Temple at Keezh VeLur near Thanjavur
Aksheeswaraswamy Temple at Acharapakkam near Madurantakam
Alagarswamy Temple at Palayur near Tirumangalam (Madurai)
Alwar Temple in Iraniel at Iraniel near Padmanabhapuram (Kanyakumari)
Amanalingeswarar temple at Tirumurthimalai near Udumalpet (Coimbatore)
Amarapatheeswarar Temple at Sirukalathur (Pallavaram) near Chennai
Ambalavana Eswarar Temple at Angambakkam near Walajabad
Ambaleeswaraaswamy Temple at Nemali near Tiruttani
Ambravananathar Temple at Tiru (Vada) Maanthurai near Lalgudi
Ammaiappar Temple at Ambasamudram (Tirunelveli)
Ammainathaswami Temple at Cheranmahadevi near Tirunelveli
Amritaghateswarar Temple at Kuzhagar Kovil near Vedaranyam
Amritaghateswarar Temple at Tirukkadambur(Inanoykutyr) near Chidambaram
Amritakaleswarar Temple at Tirukkalayanalloor near Kumbakonam
Amudeswarar Temple at Tirusaikadu (Sirkali) near Chidambaram
Anaikatha Perumal Temple at Kalappal (Mannargudi) near Thanjavur
Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple at Chennai
Anantheeswarar Temple at Anantheeswaram near Chidambaram
Anantheeswaraswamy temple at Udalyarkudi near Chidambaram
Andal and Vadapatrasayee Temple at Srivilliputtur near Tirunelveli
Anekathanga Paadeswarar Temple at Kanchipuram
Angalamman temple at Melmalayanur near Gingee
Anjaneyar Temple at Chennai (Mylapore)
Anna Kamatchi Amman temple at Omandur near Trichy
Appakkudathan Temple at Tirupper Nagar near Lalgudi
Apparswamy Temple at Chennai (Mylapore)
Araianinatheswarar temple at Arakkandanallur near Tirukkovilur (Villuppuram)
Arangulanathar temple at Thiruvarangulam near Pudukkottai
Aranya Sundareswarar Temple at Keezh Tirukkattuppalli (Tiruvengadu) near Chidambaram
Arappaliswarar temple of Kollimalai at Valappurnadu near Namakkal (Salem)
Arasilinathar Temple at Arasili (Irumbai Maakalam) near Puducheri
Aratturai Nathar Temple at Tirunelvayil (Pennadam) near Villuppuram

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Rajadirajeswarar Temple at Mannargudi near Thanjavur
Rajagopala Temple at Mannargudi near Thanjavur
Rajagopala Temple at Tiunangur (Sirkali) near Chidambaram
Rajagopalaswamy Temple at Mannarkoil near Ambasamudram (Tirunelveli)
Rajagopalperumal Temple at Manimangalam (Vandalur) near Tambaram
Rajarajeswari Temple at Nanganallur (Chennai)
Rajendra Choleeswarar Temple at Arantangi near Pudukkottai
Rama (Kolavalvilli) Temple at Tiruvelliyangudi near Kumbakonam (Divya Desam)
Rama Temple at Kodiakkadu (Mannargudi) near Thanjavur
Rama Temple at Poovannur (Mannargudi) near Thanjavur
Ramachandraswamy temple at Padavedu near Arani (Vellore)
Ramalinga Chowdambigai Amman Temple at Tevaram near Bodinayakkanur (Madurai)
Ramalingeswarar Temple at Chennai (Teynampet)
Ramalingeswaraswamy Temple at Karnizhampattu near Tiruvallur
Ramanatha Eswarar Temple at Athipattu near Ponneri (Chennai)
Ramanathar Temple at Ramanadeeswaram near Tiruvarur (Paadal petra stalam)
Ramanathaswamy Temple at Porur near Chennai
Ramanatheeswarar Temple at Tiruvarameswaram (Mannargudi) near Thanjavur
Ramanatheeswarar temple at Anniyur near Villuppuram
Ramaswamy Temple at Cheranmahadevi near Tirunelveli
Ramaswamy Temple at Kumbakonam
Ramaswamy Temple at Padmanabhapuram (Kanyakumari) near Nagarkoil(Kanyakumari)
Ramaswamy Temple at Pappankulam near Ambasamudram (Tirunelveli)
Rameswaram Temple at Rameswaram (Jyotirlinga Kshetram,, Longest Corridor)
Ranganathaperumal Temple at Devadanam near Ponneri (Chennai)
Ranganathar Temple at Tirubhuvanam near Kumbakonam (Divya Desam)
Ranganathar Temple at Tirumandankudi (Tiruvaiyaru) near Thanjavur
Ranganathaswamy Hill temple at Singavaram near Gingee
Ranganathaswamy Temple at Karamadai near Coimbatore
Ranganathaswamy Temple at Tiruneermalai (Pallavaram) near Chennai
Ranganathaswamy tcmple at Vasishtapuram near Pennadam (Vriddachalam, South Arcot)
Ranganathaswamy temple at Pallikondaperumalkoil near Gangaikondacholapuram (Aduturai)
Rathnagireeswarar temple at Sivayam near Kulittalai (Tiruchirppalli)
Ratnagireeswarar Temple at Chennai (Besant Nagar)
Ratnagireeswarar Temple at Tirumarugal near Tiruvarur
Ratnasabhapathi Temple at Tiruvalankadu near (Cosmic Dance, Ratna Sabha)
Renukambal Temple at Padavedu near Arani (Vellore)
Rishabanadheeswarar temple at Melsevur near Gingee
Rishabha Deva Jain Temple at Vijayapuri near Erode

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Sadaimudinathar Temple at Tiruvalanchuzhi near Kumbakonam
Sadasiva Murthy Temple at Puliyarai near Sengottai (Tirunelveli)
Sakala Bhuvaneswarar Temple at Tirumeeyachur (Peralam) near Tiruvarur
Sakshinatheswarar Temple at Tiruavalivanallur (Saliamangalam) near Thanjavur
Saktagireeswarar Temple at Senganur near Kumbakonam
Sama Eswaraswamy Temple at Pulicat near Ponneri (Chennai)
Samavedeeswarar temple at Lalgudi (Tirumangalam)
Sambamoortheeswarar temple at Ethapur near Attur (Salem)
Sampangi Pichandeeswarar Temple at Arani near Ponneri (Chennai)
Sangameswarar temple at Bhavani near Erode
Sanjeevirayar temple at Pidampatti near Tiruchirappalli
Sanjivarayar (anjaneyar) Temple at Ayyangarkulam near Kanchipuram
Sankaranarayanar Temple at Sankaran Koil near Tirunelveli
Sankaranarayanar Temple at Tanjore near Thanjavur
Sankararameswarar Temple at Tuticorin
Sankarunadeswarar Temple at Tiruttalaichankudi(Aakkoor) near Mayiladuturai
Santanaramaswamy Temple at Needamangalam near Thanjavur
Santhaleeswarar Temple at Pillayarpalayam near Kanchipuram
Saptarishiswarar Temple at Lalgudi near Tiruchirappalli
Saptharisheeswarar temple at Thiruthalaiyur near Musiri (Tiruchirappalli)
Saranathan Temple at Tirucherai (Nachiar Koil) near Kumbakonam
Sarangapani Temple at Kumbakonam (Divya Desam)
Saraveereswarar Temple at Tirukkaraveeram near Tiruvarur
Sarguna Lingeswarar Temple at Marudanda Nalloor near Kumbakonam
Sarguna Natheswarar Temple at Idumbavanam (Tirutturaippoondi) near Vedaranyam
Sarguna Natheswarar Temple at Tirukkaruvili (Annur) near Mayiladuturai
Sarpapureeswarar Temple at Tiruppaathaleeswaram (Mannargudi) near Thanjavur
Sathyagireeswarar Rock Cut temple at Thirumayam near Pudukkottai (Divya Desam)
Sathyanathaswamy Temple at Pulivai near Kanchipuram
Satyagireeswarar Temple at Tirucheinallur(Tiruppanantal) near Kumbakonam
Satyanarayana Perumal Temple at Chennai (T Nagar)
Satyanatheswarar Temple at Tirukalimedu near Kanchipuram
Satyavageesar Temple at Kalakad near Nanguneri (Tirunelveli)
Satyavageeswarar Temple at Anbil near Lalgudi
Sekkizharswamigal Temple at Kunrathur (Pallavaram) near Chennai
Sellandiamman temple at Kachchupalli near Sankari (Salem)
Selva Vinayagar/Somasundareswarar Temple at Shenbakkam near Vellore
Semmeni Natheswarar Temple at Tirukkanur (Tirukkattuppalli) near Thanjavur
Senchadaiappar Temple at Tiruppanthaal near Mayiladuturai
Senchadainathaswamy Temple at Tirumalugandhan Kottai near Mudukulattur (Ramanathapuram)
Senneriappar Temple at Tirucherai near Kumbakonam

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Servarayan temple at Shevaroys near Yercaud (Salem)
Shanbaga Eswaraswamy Temple at Udalkarakuppam near Madurantakam
Shanmukha temple at Karivalamkulam near Nanguneri (Tirunelveli)
Shanmukhanathar Hill/Cave Temple at Kunnakkudi near Karaikkudi
Shiva Temple (Rajaraja Chola) at Perumagalur near Pattukkottai (Thanjavur)
Shiva Vishnu Temple at Chennai (T Nagar) Shore Temple
Sikkal Singaravelan Temple near Naga
Siddhanathar Temple at Tirunaaraiyur near Kumbakonam
Siddheswarar Temple at Kanjamalai near Salem
Sindhakanneeswarar Temple at Kattavoor near Ponneri (Chennai)
Singeeswaraswamy Temple at Mappedu (Kadambattur) near Tiruvallur
Sishta Gurunatheswarar temple at Thiruthoraiyur or Thirutturaiyur near Cuddalore
Siva Kozhuntheeswarar Temple at Sathimutham (Patteeswaram) near Kumbakonam
Siva-Vishnu Devasthanam at Sankari near Sankari (Salem)
Sivagiri Temple at Iraniel near Padmanabhapuram (Kanyakumari)
Sivakkozhundeeswarar Temple at Tiruttinai Nagar (Alambakkam) near Chidambaram
Sivaloganatha Eswarar temple at Tiruvennainallur near Villuppuram
Sivaloka Tyagarajar Temple at Achalapuram (Sirkali) near Chidambaram
Sivalokatyagesar Temple at Aachapuram (Kollidam) near Chidambaram
Sivanandeswarar Temple at Periyapalayam near Chennai
Sivanandeswarar Temple at Tiruppanthurai near Kumbakonam
Sivapuranathar Temple at Tiruchivapuram near Kumbakonam
Sivapureeswarar temple at Sivayam near Kulittalai (Tiruchirppalli)
Somanatha Devar Temple at Pazhaiyarai near Kumbakonam
Somanathaswamy Temple at Kolathur (Villivakkam) near Chennai
Somanatheswarar Temple at Somangalam near Tambaram
Somanatheswarar Temple at Tiruneedur near Mayiladuturai
Somanatheswarar Temple at Veligram (Nagari) near Tiruttani
Someswarar Temple at Ramanjeri near Tiruvallur
Someswarar Temple at Vadatali (Patteeswaram) near Kumbakonam
Someswaraswamy Temple at Vijayapuri near Erode
Sopureswarar Temple at Tyagavalli (Gudalur) near Chidambaram
Soundara Raja Perumal Temple at Thadikombu near Dindukkal
Soundara Raja Perumal Temple at Vadamadurai near Dindukkal
Soundararaja Perumal Temple at Palayanur (Padalam) near Madurantakam
Soundareswarar Temple at Ettukkudi near Nagappattinam
Soundareswarar Temple at Tiruppanaiur near Nannilam (Tiruvarur)
Sowmya Damodara Perumal Temple at Villivakkam near Chennai
Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple at Tirukkottiur near Tiruppattur (Karaikkudi)
Sowriraja Perumal Temple at Tirukkannapuram near Nannilam (Tiruvarur)
Sree Tali Parameswarar Temple at Tirupputtur (Karaikal) near Mayiladuturai
Sreetalinathar Temple at Tirupputtur (Kunnakkudi) near Karaikkudi
Sreevaikunthanathar Temple at Sreevaikuntham near Tirunelveli ppattinam Adikesava Perumal Temple