India is the birthplace of Hinduism. For centuries, Indian rulers, spiritual leaders, prosperous merchants, and other powerful men and women, have exhibited their dedication to their religion, their power and prosperity, by building some of the largest and most beautiful Hindu temples. Although, the world's largest Hindu temple is located in Cambodia, most other large temples are located in India. Below is a description of the five largest Hindu temples in India. Also, find a table mentioning the 10 largest temples in India at the end of this post.
1. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
The largest temple in India is located in Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. It occupies an area of 631,000 square meters. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Ranganatha who is a reclining form of Lord Vishnu. The temple features Dravidian Architecture. A temple at the site has existed for centuries and it finds mention in numerous texts written by ancient scholars and travelers. There are 50 shrines, 39 pavilions, and 21 towers located in the temple complex. It also holds the title of being the second largest Hindu temple in the world after Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
2. Akshardham
India’s second largest and the world’s third largest temple complex, the Akshardham, is located in the capital city of India, Delhi. It has an area of 240,000 square meters. The temple is a relatively recent one and was open to the public on November 6, 2005. It draws nearly 70% of all the visitors to Delhi. The temple is dedicated to the Swaminarayan, a famous Hindu ascetic. The design of the temple complies with the Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra of Hinduism, similar to Feng Shui of Chinese. The temple was planned to be built by Yogiji Maharaj, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha’s spiritual head. The beauty of the temple complex enthralls all visitors to it. Besides the shrines dedicated to Hindu deities, the complex also hosts a thematic garden, a water show, exhibitions detailing Hindu culture and customs, a cultural boar ride, and more.
3. Beluṛ Maṭh
This beautiful temple complex encompasses an area of 160,000 square meters, making it the third largest Indian temple. It is located on the west bank of Hooghly River in Belur, West Bengal. It serves as the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, a Hindu religious institution that is internationally famous for its social work for the poor, destitute, and the needy. The mission was founded by the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda. The design of the temple blends Hindu, Islamic, and Christian motifs to represent the cultural unity of India.
3. Nataraja Temple
The Nataraja Temple is located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to Nataraja, the dancing form of Lord Shiva. The temple covers an area of 160,000 square meters, ranking it at the same position as the Belur Math in India. The present temple was built in the 10th century by rulers of the Chola Dynasty. It is thus one of South India’s oldest temple complexes.
4. Brihadishvara Temple
This Hindu temple, also dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It has an area of 102,400 square meters. It is one of the best examples of Tamil architecture. The temple was built between 1003 and 1010 AD by one of the great Chola emperors, Raja Raja Chola I. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most visited attractions in Tamil Nadu and an exemplary example of ancient Indian history, culture, and architecture.
5. Annamalaiyar Temple
This Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the Thiruvannamalai town of Tamil Nadu at the base of the Annamalai hills. The 1,01,171 square meters large temple complex hosts four gopurams or gateway towers. Numerous shrines, halls, and pillars are part of the temple’s architecture.
5. Dakshineswar Kali Temple
This temple shares the title of being India’s fifth largest temple with the Annamalaiyar Temple. It is located in Dakshineswar, West Bengal near the city of Kolkata. The temple is located on the bank of the Hooghly River. It is dedicated to the Goddess Bhavatarini, an aspect of Goddess Kali. The temple’s history dates back to 1855 when it was built by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist, and social reformer. It is associated with Ramakrishna, the 19th-century mystic whose disciple Swami Vivekananda later founded the Belur Math.
The Ten Largest Temples In India
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