South India Temples

The Virupaksha Temple in Hampi, Karnataka, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest functioning temple in India, dedicated to Lord Shiva as Virupaksha.

Known as the Ayodhya of the South, this temple on the Godavari river was built by the legendary devotee Bhakta Ramadasu.

A popular cave temple that recently underwent a massive stone architectural renovation following ancient traditions.

A 12th-century Kakatiya masterpiece dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Surya, famous for its perforated stone screens.

One of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, located in a complex that also houses nine ancient 7th-century Chalukyan temples.

One of the only two prominent Saraswati temples in India, it is a primary center for Akshara Abhyasam for children.

Known as 'Dakshina Kasi', this Shiva temple is a symbol of communal harmony, housing a Dargah within its complex.

Famous for a permanent shadow that falls on the main Shiva Lingam all day, with no visible object casting it.

Historic lakeside Shakti shrine in Warangal featuring a massive 2.7-meter black stone Bhadrakali idol, traditionally attributed to Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II (625 CE) and rebuilt by Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva.

Located at a river confluence, it uniquely houses two Shiva Lingams representing Lord Shiva and Lord Yama on one pedestal.

The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, built by Rajaraja Chola II between 1146 and 1172 CE, is one of the three UNESCO World Heritage 'Great Living Chola Temples.' It is renowned…

The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, built by Rajendra Chola I in 1035 CE, is a UNESCO World Heritage 'Great Living Chola Temple.' Its 53-metre vimana with recessed corners and six pairs…

Kampaheswarar Temple in Tribhuvanam, built by Kulothunga Chola III in 1202 CE, is one of the later great Chola temples and completes the quartet of magnificent Chola stone temples alongside…

Koranganatha Temple, built during the reign of the Chola king Parantaka I (907-955 CE) at Srinivasanallur near Tiruchirappalli, is a well-preserved example of early Chola architecture with exquisite stone carvings.

The Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) are a set of five monolithic temple structures carved from single granite outcrops during the reign of Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla, 630-668 CE) in Mahabalipuram.

Olakkaneswara Temple, located on a rocky outcrop at the southern end of Mahabalipuram beach, was built by the Pallavas in the 7th century.

Built by the Pallava king Nandivarman II in the 8th century (circa 770 CE), the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram is a key monument of Pallava architecture featuring three tiers…

Arunachaleswarar Temple at the foot of Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai is one of the largest Shiva temples in the world, covering 25 acres.

Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram represents the earth element (Prithvi) of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.

Jambukeswarar Temple in Thiruvanaikaval represents the water element (Apas) of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.

Chidambaram Nataraja Temple represents the space element (Akasha) of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.

The largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, a temple-city spanning 156 acres with seven concentric walls, 21 gopurams, and the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams.

The oldest structure in Kanchipuram, built in the 8th century; it served as the inspiration for the Tanjavur Brihadeeswarar.

The Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and a Char Dham site, famous for its magnificent thousand-pillared corridors, the longest temple corridor in the world, and…

The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture with 14 towering gopurams, the legendary Hall of Thousand Pillars, and the living tradition of worship of Goddess Meenakshi…

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the southernmost among them, Mallikarjuna Temple at Srisailam is uniquely also a Shakti Peetha where the goddess Bhramaramba is worshipped alongside Shiva.

The wealthiest religious institution in the world, this ancient temple houses a massive 18-foot reclining Vishnu visible through three doors and a 7-tier gopuram with equinox sun alignment.

Known as 'Bhuloka Vaikuntha', this is a sacred Krishna temple in India, famous for its strict rituals and elephant sanctuary.

A UNESCO award-winning ancient Shiva temple, famous for its massive gopurams and the 1000-year-old ghee offerings that never melt.

Known as the 'Sabarimala of Women', it holds the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of women for religious activity.

One of the world's largest annual pilgrimages (50+ million participants), dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, accessible only after a rigorous 41-day vratham (penance) involving celibacy, vegetarianism, and wearing black attire.

Perched atop Chamundi Hills at 3,489 feet, the Chamundeshwari Temple is the tutelary shrine of the Wodeyar dynasty of Mysore.

The Badami Cave Temples are a complex of four rock-cut cave temples carved into the soft sandstone cliffs of Badami, the capital of the Early Chalukya dynasty.

The Durga Temple at Aihole, built in the 7th-8th century CE, is a distinctive architectural experiment of the Early Chalukya period.

The Lad Khan Temple at Aihole is a pivotal monument in Early Chalukya architecture.

The Meguti Temple atop the Aihole hill is a Jain temple built in 634 CE by Ravikirti, the court poet of the Chalukya emperor Pulakeshin II.

The Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu, built circa 1121-1160 CE, is the largest Shiva temple built by the Hoysalas.

The Kedareshwara Temple at Halebidu, built in 1319 CE by the Hoysala king Veera Ballala III, is a Hoysala-era temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The Keshava Temple at Somanathapura, built in 1268 CE by Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of the Hoysala king Narasimha III, is one of the finest surviving examples of Hoysala architecture.

The Lakshminarasimha Temple at Nuggehalli, built in 1246 CE by the Hoysala king Vira Someshwara, is a well-preserved example of Hoysala architecture dedicated to Lord Narasimha (the half-man half-lion avatar…

The Hazara Rama Temple (meaning 'Thousand Ramas') in Hampi served as the royal chapel of the Vijayanagara kings.

The Krishna Temple in Hampi was built in 1515 CE by the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya to commemorate his successful military campaign against the Gajapati kingdom of Odisha.

The Achyutaraya Temple, built in 1534 CE during the reign of the Vijayanagara emperor Achyutaraya (1530-1542 CE), is one of the largest and most impressive temple complexes in Hampi's sacred…

The Vittala Temple is the crowning architectural achievement of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Home to the world's second-tallest Shiva statue (123 feet) and a massive 20-story Raja Gopuram overlooking the Arabian Sea.

A world-famous 13th-century temple where the deity is worshipped through a silver-plated window with nine holes, known as Kanakana Kindi.

A world-renowned temple where Lord Subramanya is worshipped as the lord of all serpents, famous for Sarpa Dosha Nivaran rituals.

The Chennakesava Temple in Belur, Karnataka, is the finest example of Hoysala architecture, dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Chennakesava, built in the 12th century.

The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, built by Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the tallest Shiva temple in India, crowned by…

Simhachalam Temple, also known as Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, is a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha, the half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu.

Kanaka Durga Temple, situated on the Indrakeeladri Hill on the banks of the Krishna River in Vijayawada, is a popular Shakti temple in South India.

Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi is a 16th-century Vijayanagara masterpiece, renowned for its hanging pillar, monolithic Nandi, and exquisite ceiling murals.

Ahobilam, situated in the dense Nallamala forest of Kurnool district, is the sacred landscape where Lord Narasimha — the half-man, half-lion avatar of Vishnu — is believed to have manifested…

Amaralingeswara Temple, located in Amaravati on the southern bank of the Krishna River, is the foremost of the Pancharama Kshetras — the five ancient Shiva temples of coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Srikalahasti Temple, situated on the banks of the Swarnamukhi River at the foot of Srikalahasti hill in Tirupati district, is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Srikalahasteeswara.

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, situated in the hill town of Tirumala in Tirupati district, is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu.

A UNESCO World Heritage site showcasing the unique blend of Nagara and Dravidian temple architecture from the Chalukya dynasty.

One of the oldest structural stone temples of South India, built by the Pallava dynasty on the Bay of Bengal coast.

A 13th-century Kakatiya temple famous for its floating bricks and intricate carvings, the newest UNESCO temple site in India.

A UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of three Hoysala temples known for their star-shaped platforms and hyper-real soapstone carvings.