Inheritage Foundation
Preserving Our Past, Enriching Our Future
Documenting and digitizing India's architectural heritage
Temple Complex
734
Eklingji Temple
Kailashpuri (Udaipur District), Rajasthan, India
Nagara / Rajasthani Temple Style
Major historical temple complex (Mewar royal deity), managed by Trust.
Located near Udaipur, Rajasthan, Eklingji is a vast temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva, the principal deity of the Mewar rulers. The complex houses 108 temples within its high walls, with the main temple enshrining a unique four-faced black marble image of Shiva (Eklingji). Originally built in the 8th century and reconstructed several times, it features intricate carvings and silver doors. It remains an important religious site for the Mewar region, attracting devotees seeking blessings from their patron lord.
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 Complex
1668
Gunabati Group of Temples
Udaipur (Gomati District), Tripura, India
Bengali Charchala Style
Protected Monuments of National Importance (ASI).
Situated near Udaipur in Tripura, the Gunabati Group consists of three brick-built temples constructed in the 17th century. Named after Maharani Gunabati, wife of Maharaja Govinda Manikya, these temples showcase the regional 'char-chala' and 'dochala' Bengali architectural styles. Though now mostly in ruins and needing preservation, they represent an important phase of temple construction in Tripura under the Manikya dynasty. The site offers a glimpse into the historical and architectural heritage of the region's past glories.
Completeness67%
UNESCO World Heritage Site
1121
Hoysaleswara Temple
Halebidu (Hassan District), Karnataka, India
Hoysala Architecture
UNESCO World Heritage Site (Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas), ASI protected.
A UNESCO World Heritage site in Halebidu, Karnataka, the Hoysaleswara Temple is a magnificent example of 12th-century Hoysala architecture. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this twin-shrined temple (for Hoysaleswara and Santaleswara) is renowned for its incredibly detailed soapstone carvings covering almost every surface. Elaborate friezes depict animals, scenes from Hindu epics, and deities. Although incomplete and damaged, its artistic excellence makes it a prime attraction for tourists and history enthusiasts studying India.
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%
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
1078
Jagannath Temple (Puri)
Puri, Odisha, India
Kalinga Architecture
Major Pilgrimage Site (Char Dham), Monument of National Importance (ASI - conservation role).
Situated in Puri, Odisha, the Jagannath Temple is one of the most revered Vaishnavite temples in India and a key component of the Char Dham pilgrimage. Dedicated to Lord Jagannath (a form of Vishnu/Krishna), along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, the temple is famous for its unique wooden idols and the annual Rath Yatra (chariot festival), where the deities are paraded through the streets. This massive temple complex is a focal point of Hindu religious life, attracting millions of pilgrims from everywhere.
Completeness67%
Temple
1565
Kamakhya Temple
Guwahati (Kamrup Metropolitan District), Assam, India
Nilachal / Assamese Temple Style
Major Pilgrimage Site (Shakti Peetha), complex includes protected elements/nearby sites (ASI).
Perched atop the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, Assam, the Kamakhya Temple is one of the oldest and most revered Shakti Peethas in India. Dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, representing the essence of female power (Shakti), the temple complex is unique as it enshrines a yoni-like stone formation symbolizing the goddess, instead of an idol. It's a major center for Tantric practices and hosts the annual Ambubachi Mela, attracting pilgrims and sadhus from across the country to celebrate the divine feminine force.
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%
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
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
1750
Durga Mandir (Ramnagar)
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Nagara Architecture
Important historical temple (18th C), managed by trust.
Situated in Ramnagar, adjacent to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, this Durga Mandir is located within the Ramnagar Fort complex, the ancestral home of the Maharaja of Benares. Built in the 18th century in the Nagara style, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. It features intricate stone carvings and is known for its association with the royal family and the month-long Ramlila celebrations held nearby. The temple, accessible within the fort premises, adds a spiritual dimension to the historical site and its many visitors.
Completeness67%