Inheritage Foundation
Preserving Our Past, Enriching Our Future
Documenting and digitizing India's architectural heritage
Temple
N/A
Kheer Bhawani Temple
Tulmul (Ganderbal District), Jammu and Kashmir, India
Kashmiri Pandit Temple Style
Important Pilgrimage Site for Kashmiri Pandits, managed by Dharmarth Trust.
Located in Tulmul village near Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Kheer Bhawani Temple is a highly revered shrine dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi. Situated amidst chinar trees within a sacred spring, the temple complex is particularly important for Kashmiri Pandits. The temple gets its name from the traditional offering of kheer (rice pudding). The colour of the spring's water is believed to change, foretelling events for the region. It remains a significant symbol of faith and cultural identity for the community.
Completeness67%
UNESCO World Heritage Site
642
Jokhang Temple
Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Tibetan Buddhist / Vihara Style
UNESCO World Heritage Site (part of Potala Palace ensemble), major Tibetan Buddhist temple.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lhasa, Tibet, the Jokhang Temple is considered the most sacred and important temple for Tibetan Buddhists. Founded in the 7th century, it houses the revered Jowo Shakyamuni statue, believed to be a life-sized image of the Buddha at age 12. The temple complex blends Indian vihara, Chinese Tang dynasty, and Nepalese architectural styles. It remains a major pilgrimage destination, with devotees performing prostrations around it, embodying the heart of Tibetan spiritual life and devotion.
Completeness67%
Temple
N/A
Kanaka Durga Temple
Vijayawada (NTR District), Andhra Pradesh, India
South Indian Temple Style
Major Pilgrimage Site, managed by Endowments Dept. AP.
Situated atop Indrakeeladri Hill overlooking the Krishna River in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, the Kanaka Durga Temple is a famous shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga. The deity is depicted as Mahishasuramardini. Mentioned in sacred texts, the temple is believed to be a 'Swayambhu' (self-manifested) site. It draws vast crowds, especially during the Dasara festival (Navaratri), when special rituals are performed. It's one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Andhra Pradesh, revered by many.
Completeness67%
Temple
1143
Karmanghat Hanuman Temple
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
South Indian Temple Style
Important historical temple, managed by Endowments Dept. Telangana.
Located in Karmanghat, Hyderabad, Telangana, this popular Hanuman temple is believed to date back to the 12th century. According to legend, the idol appeared miraculously, and the temple was built around it. Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, it attracts a large number of devotees, especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays, seeking blessings for strength, courage, and protection. The temple complex has grown over the years and remains a significant place of worship for Hanuman devotees in the Hyderabad region and its areas.
Completeness67%
Temple
1691
Jagannath Temple (Ranchi)
Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Kalinga Influence / Local Style
Important historical temple (17th C replica), likely State recognized.
Built in the 17th century by the king of Barkagarh, Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo, the Jagannath Temple in Ranchi, Jharkhand, is modeled after the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri. Located atop a small hill, the temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. It also celebrates an annual Rath Yatra festival, which is a major local event attracting numerous devotees. While smaller than its Puri counterpart, it remains an important pilgrimage site for the people of Jharkhand and surrounding regions.
Completeness67%
Temple
1850
Jagannath Temple (Agartala)
Agartala (West Tripura District), Tripura, India
Composite (Hindu/Islamic Influence)
Important historical temple (Tripura kingdom heritage), managed by State/Trust.
Located within the Ujjayanta Palace grounds in Agartala, Tripura, the Jagannath Temple is a prominent Hindu shrine in the state capital. Built in the 19th century by the Maharajas of Tripura, the temple is dedicated to Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Its architecture features a unique octagonal base and a four-storied, orange-coloured shikhara (tower), blending Islamic and Hindu styles. It serves as an important religious center for Vaishnavites in Tripura and hosts an annual Rath Yatra festival, drawing crowds.
Completeness67%
Temple
150
Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple
Srisailam (Nandyal District), Andhra Pradesh, India
Dravidian Architecture
Major Pilgrimage Site (Jyotirlinga, Shakti Peetha), managed by Endowments Dept./Trust.
Situated atop the Nallamala Hills in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, the Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple is a revered shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva (as Mallikarjuna) and Goddess Parvati (as Bhramaramba Devi). It holds the unique distinction of being both one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas. This ancient temple complex, mentioned in scriptures, features Dravidian architecture and attracts Saivite and Shakta devotees from across India, making it a major pilgrimage center in South India today.
Completeness67%
Temple
N/A
Kamakshi Amman Temple
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Dravidian Architecture
Major Pilgrimage Site (Shakti Peetha), important religious center managed by Peetam/HR&CE.
Located in the historic city of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, the Kamakshi Amman Temple is a renowned shrine dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi, a form of Parvati. Believed to be established by Adi Shankaracharya, the temple features the goddess in a seated Padmasana posture, unique among Parvati temples. As one of the key Shakti Peethas, it forms part of Kanchipuram's spiritual landscape alongside Ekambareswarar and Varadharaja Perumal temples. It attracts numerous devotees seeking the blessings of the powerful goddess.
Completeness67%
Temple Complex
1680
Maluti Temples
Maluti (Dumka District), Jharkhand, India
Bengali Terracotta / Chala Style
Terracotta Temples recognized for unique heritage; State/National conservation interest.
Located in the small village of Maluti in Dumka district, Jharkhand, this unique site features a dense concentration of about 72 ancient terracotta temples showcasing the regional Chala style of Bengali architecture. Built mostly in the 17th and 18th centuries under the Baj Basanta dynasty, these small temples depict scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata on their terracotta panels. Though many are dilapidated, the site is an important archaeological and heritage location needing preservation efforts.
Completeness67%
Temple
1880
Mariamman Temple
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Dravidian Architecture
Important cultural site for Tamil diaspora in Vietnam.
Located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the Mariamman Temple is a vibrant Hindu temple dedicated to the rain goddess Mariamman. Built in the late 19th century by traders from Tamil Nadu, India, it serves as a spiritual center for the local Tamil Hindu community and also attracts many non-Hindu Vietnamese and tourists. The temple features typical South Indian Dravidian architecture with a colourful gopuram (tower) adorned with deities, reflecting the cultural exchange between India and Southeast Asia.
Completeness67%
Temple
N/A
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Dravidian Architecture
Major Pilgrimage Site & architectural marvel, managed by HR&CE TN.
Located in the heart of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, the Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi (a form of Parvati) and her consort Sundareswarar (a form of Shiva). This sprawling Dravidian complex is renowned for its fourteen towering gopurams (gateway towers) covered in vibrant stucco figures, numerous shrines, and the thousand-pillared hall. A major pilgrimage destination and architectural marvel, it embodies the cultural and religious life of Madurai, drawing vast crowds daily.
Completeness67%
UNESCO World Heritage Site
756
Kailasa Temple (Ellora Caves)
Ellora (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar District), Maharashtra, India
Rock-Cut / Dravidian Influence
UNESCO World Heritage Site (Ellora Caves), ASI protected monument.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site within the Ellora Caves complex in Maharashtra, the Kailasa Temple is an unparalleled architectural feat. Carved entirely out of a single massive basalt rock face in the 8th century under Rashtrakuta patronage, it represents Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. This monolithic marvel features intricate sculptures, multiple shrines, courtyards, and galleries, showcasing extraordinary craftsmanship and devotion. It stands as one of the world's most remarkable rock-cut structures.
Completeness67%