Golden Temple
This stunning temple which is placed in the middle of a sacred lake is the holiest of all Sikh shrines. Gold panels cover most of the exterior of the temple and its dome is also gilded, hence its name. Located in Amritsar, Punjab and has an interesting story. If you visit this temple, try to catch the ceremony held each morning to install the Guru Granth Sahib - the sacred scripture of the Sikhs into the temple or the ceremony held each night to return it to the Akal Takht, the seat of the Sikh parliament.
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Most of India’s more important temples are relatively plain in color. Not the Meenakshi Amman Temple, which is an explosion of colors. Located in Tamil Nadu on the banks of the Vaigai River, it boasts 14 towers that are covered in 33,000 colorful sculptures and is dedicated to Shiva and a consort, Parvati. Though the statues on the towers were once plain, paint has been added to them over the years during festivals, which has created the riot of color that can be seen today.
Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple, which is located in New Delhi, is also known as the Bahai House of Worship or Bahai Mashriqul-Adhkar Temple. Opened to the public in 1986, this is a very interesting looking temple that was built in the shape of a lotus flower. Because the Bahai faith believes in the “Oneness of God, the Oneness of Religions and the Oneness of Mankind,” the Lotus Temple welcomes worshipers of all religions. In addition, no sermons are allowed to be said in this temple. The Lotus Temple is also an architectural treat. The structure which was designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba boasts 27 marble petals that give the building its Lotus shape.
Virupaksha Temple
Built in the 7th century, the temple is famous for being a functioning temple ever since it came into the existence. This temple is located on the Tungabhadra river, it was once a part of the royal city of Vijayanagar, which was the capital of the Vijayanagar empire. A shrine of Shiva, Virupaksha temple is a very important religious as well as the tourist destination. The pilgrimage center has expanded in scale over a period of time. Shiva in the form of Virupaksha is the consort of local goddess Pampa and that is why the temple is also called Pampapathi temple. Many festivals take place in the temple celebrating the engagement and wedding of the couple.
Konark Sun Temple
A dream crafted in stones, Konark Sun temple is a stunning creation of man. A 13th-century construction, the Sun Temple marks the culmination of temple architecture of Orissa. Even in its ruins today the Konark Sun Temple is magnificence personified. Located 65km from the capital city of Bhubaneswar in Konark, the temple is dedicated to the Sun God. The temple was built in the shape of an enormous chariot, with twelve pairs of wheels and drawn by seven horses is a stunner.