Southern India is a grand residence eminent landmark, standing superbly from ages. The engineering of the South Indian landmarks is amazingly excellent and great. From Dravidian engineering to Vijayanagara style of design, from expounding mainstays of Chalukyas to minute stone carvings by Krishnadevaraya, every landmark has an alternate story to tell. From tall, complicatedly cut gopurams to glorious columns and life-sized hallowed places, these South Indian sanctuaries are wealthy in legend and staggering in their loftiness.
From Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh, whole Southern India is spotted with excellent temple complexes that hold massive religious criticalness. A significant number of these complex have been delegated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here is a rundown of top sanctuaries in South India:
Meenakshi Temple: Located on the southern banks of stream Vaigai, Meenakshi Temple is committed to Parvati and her associate, Lord Shiva. Likewise called Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, this building wonder is a throbbing focal point of culture and art. The present structure, worked somewhere in the range of 1623 and 1655 CE, was on the rundown of top 30 candidates for the “New Seven Wonders of the World.” The corridors, gopurams and the places of worship of the sanctuary are fancy and excellent in their appearance. Two exceptionally particular highlights as far as iconography are the sanctum of Meenakshi holding a parrot and the privilege raised leg of Nataraja.
Rameshwaram: The uncommon component at Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram is its shocking pillared lobby, viewed as the longest in India, coating its edge. The apparently unlimited columns of cut columns have an entrancing painted roof. The complex is found just 100 meters from the ocean (Agni Theertham) and explorers scrub down there first, before going inside the sanctuary and washing in its 22 wells. The water is viewed as heavenly and cleansing to mind and body. Rameshwaram, situated on a little island at the tip of the Indian Peninsula, holds a unique spot in Hindu folklore as it’s the place Lord Rama constructed an extension over the ocean to protect Sita from the grip of the evil presence Ravana, in Sri Lanka.
Venkateswara Temple: A South Indian sanctuary which is an examination in richness. Arranged in the slope town of Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is one of the well known and great South Indian sanctuaries. The sanctuary is committed to Lord Vishnu and is otherwise called Tirupati Balaji sanctuary. The development of the sanctuary is accepted to have begun in 300 AD.
Thanjavur (Tanjore): Thanjavur raised as the fortress of Tamil culture in the eleventh century, with Chola King Raja I in charge. The Cholas fabricated in excess of 70 sanctuaries in Thanjavur, with the most extraordinary one being the Brihadeswara Temple. Its significance is recognized by the way that it’s presently an UNESCO World Heritage site. The complex, which turned 1,000 years of age in 2010, is an image of the unrivaled power and may of the Cholas. It’s additionally one of the most established temples devoted to Lord Shiva in India.
Virupaksha Temple: Situated on the banks of the wonderful stream, Tungabhadra, Virupaksha sanctuary is a sublime wonder of Vijayanagara Empire. Devoted to Lord Shiva (Virupaksha), the sanctuary is widely popular for its tall gopuram, excellent engineering and unpredictable carvings. The sanctuary, worked in the seventh century experienced a great deal of increments by different rulers that administered the kingdom, to show their capacity. The focal pillared lobby, Ranga Mandapa, is the most elaborate expansion by Raja Krishnadevaraya. Virupaksha sanctuary is a focal point of relational unions just as the celebrations of Virupaksha-Pampa in December. This South Indian Temple is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Brihadeshwara Temple: The one which is 1005 years of age. A magnificent case of Tamil engineering under the Chola Dynasty, The Brihadeshwar sanctuary is situated in the city of Thanjavur. A standout amongst the most celebrated South Indian temple, it is a piece of “Extraordinary Living Chola Temples”. This superb and great sanctuary is additionally an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Committed to Lord Shiva, this extraordinary India sanctuary has turned 1005 years in 2015.
Kanchipuram: Popularly known as a “City of a Thousand Temples”, Kanchipuram isn’t only renowned for its particular silk saris. Situated around 2 hours southwest of Chennai, on the primary street to Bangalore, it was at one time the capital of the Pallava tradition. Today, just a 100 or so sanctuaries stay, a significant number of them with remarkable compositional excellence. The decent variety of sanctuaries is especially exceptional. There are both Shiva and Vishnu sanctuaries, worked by different rulers (the Cholas, Vijayanagar rulers, Muslims, and British likewise led this piece of Tamil Nadu) who each refined the structure.
Arunachaleswar Temple: It is arranged at Mount Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai. This expansive sanctuary complex has nine towers and three internal patios. As the component of flame, Lord Shiva is revered in this sanctuary. On each full moon, travelers come here to walk restful around the mountain. Numerous hallowed places and sadhus can be seen there.