Inheritage Foundation
Preserving Our Past, Enriching Our Future
Documenting and digitizing India's architectural heritage, one site at a time
Heritage Sites
Explore and discover India's rich architectural heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Site
950
Khajuraho Group of Temples
Khajuraho (Chhatarpur District), Madhya Pradesh, India
Nagara Architecture (Chandela Style)
UNESCO World Heritage Site, ASI protected monuments.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh, the Khajuraho Group of Monuments comprises stunning Hindu and Jain temples built by the Chandela dynasty between the 10th and 12th centuries. Famed for their Nagara-style architecture and intricate sculptures, including renowned depictions of eroticism alongside daily life and deities, these temples represent a zenith of medieval Indian artistry. Though only about 25 temples survive, they offer profound insights into the era's culture, beliefs, and artistic expression.
Completeness67%
Temple
1801
Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Modern Temple Style
Major Pilgrimage Site, modern structure managed by Trust.
Situated in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Shree Siddhivinayak Temple is one of the most famous and wealthiest temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Originally consecrated in the early 19th century, the temple complex has undergone significant expansion. The main idol features Ganesha with his trunk turned to the right, considered particularly auspicious. It attracts massive crowds daily, including celebrities and politicians, seeking blessings from Siddhivinayak ('Ganesha who grants wishes') for good fortune.
Completeness67%
Temple
625
Bhadrakali Temple (Warangal)
Warangal, Telangana, India
Chalukya Influence
Important historical temple, managed by Endowments Dept./Trust.
Located atop a hillock between Warangal and Hanamkonda in Telangana, the Bhadrakali Temple is dedicated to the fierce goddess Bhadrakali. Believed to have been built during the Chalukya period, it showcases their architectural style and features a unique stone image of the deity with eight arms holding various weapons. The temple, situated near the scenic Bhadrakali Lake, is an important pilgrimage site in the region, attracting devotees seeking the blessings of the powerful goddess, especially during Navaratri festivals.
Completeness67%
UNESCO World Heritage Site
-250
Mahabodhi Temple
Bodh Gaya (Gaya District), Bihar, India
Indian Temple Style (Gupta Influence)
UNESCO World Heritage Site, ASI protected monument.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, the Mahabodhi Temple Complex marks the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The present temple, dating mainly from the late Gupta period, features a towering spire and houses a gilded statue of the Buddha. The complex includes the sacred Bodhi tree, numerous stupas, and monasteries, making it the most revered pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide, a place of deep peace and contemplation.
Completeness67%
Temple
N/A
Bhimakali Temple
Sarahan (Shimla District), Himachal Pradesh, India
Himachali / Tibetan Buddhist Influence
Important historical temple complex, managed by Temple Trust.
Located in Sarahan, Himachal Pradesh, the Bhimakali Temple is a revered Shakti Peeth dedicated to Goddess Bhimakali, the presiding deity of the former Bushahr rulers. This unique temple complex showcases a distinctive blend of Hindu and Tibetan architectural styles, featuring towering structures built primarily of wood and stone. Situated amidst stunning Himalayan scenery, it attracts pilgrims and tourists alike, drawn to its spiritual significance, historical importance, and remarkable architectural character in the mountains.
Completeness67%
Temple
N/A
Kundankuzhi Mahadevar Temple
Near Nagercoil (Kanyakumari District), Tamil Nadu, India
South Indian Temple Style
Likely important local temple, potentially under HR&CE TN management.
Located near Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, the Kundankuzhi Mahadevar Temple is an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. This lesser-known temple holds local significance and reflects regional architectural styles. Devotees visit to seek the blessings of Mahadevar. Its placement in the southernmost part of India adds to its unique geographical context within the vast network of Shaivite temples spread across the diverse landscape of the Tamil Nadu state, preserving local worship traditions well.
Completeness67%
Archaeological Site/Ruins
N/A
Sharada Peeth Ruins
Sharda (Neelum Valley), Jammu and Kashmir
Kashmiri Architecture
Historically Major Center of Learning/Pilgrimage (ruins); status sensitive due to location.
Located near the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Sharada Peeth is the ruins of an ancient center of learning and a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Sharada (Saraswati). Considered one of the Maha Shakti Peethas, it was a major pilgrimage site and educational hub for centuries. Though now inaccessible to most Indian pilgrims and largely in ruins, it remains a powerful symbol of Kashmiri Pandit heritage and the region's shared scholarly and religious past, awaiting much needed focus.
Completeness67%
UNESCO World Heritage Site
850
Prambanan Temple Compounds
Prambanan, Central Java/Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Central Javanese Hindu Architecture
UNESCO World Heritage Site, major archaeological park protected by Indonesian authorities.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Central Java, Indonesia, Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and one of the most spectacular in Southeast Asia. Built in the 9th century, it is dedicated to the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva). The central compound features towering, intricately carved temples, with the largest dedicated to Shiva. Though damaged by earthquakes, restoration efforts highlight its architectural grandeur, reflecting the region's historical Hindu-Buddhist cultural fusion.
Completeness67%
Jain Temple
1439
Ranakpur Jain Temple
Ranakpur (Pali District), Rajasthan, India
Maru-Gurjara Architecture
Major Jain Pilgrimage Site, architectural marvel managed by Trust.
Situated in Ranakpur village, Rajasthan, this spectacular 15th-century Jain temple is dedicated to Adinatha (Rishabhanatha), the first Tirthankara. Built from light-colored marble, it is renowned for its intricate carvings and architectural complexity, featuring 1,444 uniquely carved pillars, numerous domes, and detailed ceilings within its vast Chaumukha (four-faced) layout. Considered one of the most important and architecturally brilliant Jain temples in India, it attracts pilgrims and tourists alike.
Completeness67%
UNESCO World Heritage Site
700
Shore Temple
Mahabalipuram (Chengalpattu District), Tamil Nadu, India
Dravidian Architecture (Pallava Style)
UNESCO World Heritage Site (part of Mahabalipuram group), ASI protected monument.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, the Shore Temple dates back to the 8th century CE during the Pallava dynasty. Built with granite blocks on the Bay of Bengal coast, it comprises two main shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and a smaller one to Lord Vishnu. It exemplifies early Dravidian structural temple architecture and has withstood centuries of coastal erosion, standing as an iconic landmark of Pallava artistic and building achievements near the vast ocean.
Completeness67%
Archaeological Site/Ruins
50
Fayaz Tepe Buddhist Ruins
Termez, Surxondaryo Region, Uzbekistan
Greco-Bactrian / Kushan Buddhist
Important Archaeological Site (Buddhist ruins), protected by Uzbekistan authorities.
Fayaz Tepe, located near Termez in Uzbekistan, is an important archaeological site revealing extensive Greco-Bactrian and Kushan-era Buddhist monastery ruins dating from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE. Excavations uncovered stupas, courtyards, sanctuaries, monks' cells, and numerous artifacts including sculptures, murals, and pottery reflecting Gandharan artistic influences. These ruins provide valuable insights into the spread and practice of Buddhism along the ancient Silk Road routes connecting India and Central Asia in ancient times.
Completeness67%
Temple
N/A
Baidyanath Temple
Deoghar, Jharkhand, India
Nagara Architecture (Variant)
Major Pilgrimage Site (Jyotirlinga), managed by Temple Committee.
Located in Deoghar, Jharkhand, Baidyanath Temple is a revered Hindu pilgrimage site, enshrining one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest representations of Lord Shiva. Known as Baba Baidyanath Dham, the complex comprises the main Shiva temple and 21 other temples dedicated to various deities. It attracts vast crowds, particularly during the Shravan Mela, where devotees carry sacred water from the Ganges to offer to the Jyotirlinga. The site holds immense religious importance for Hindus across India and beyond.
Completeness67%