Secrets of ancient Indian temples. Cave temples of India
The most ancient architecture of India, dating back at least five thousand years, has found its most perfect embodiment in the majestic temple buildings located throughout this vast country...
The ancient temples of India embody the diversity of religious traditions, which either replaced one another or coexisted side by side for many centuries, supporting and complementing each other. It was these traditions that created the colorful and multifaceted image of Indian civilization that was so impressive to Europeans.
In this article we have tried to describe the most famous and revered ancient temples of India. Almost all of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are cultural treasures of all mankind.
Great Stupa at Sanchi
The stupa, or burial site of the Buddha's remains, is of great importance in the religious life of many Hindus. The most famous and revered of them is located in Sanchi, located in Central India. It was built in the third century BC. and has perfectly preserved its appearance.
Nowadays, the Sanchi stupa has undergone restoration. The dome in the form of a hemisphere symbolizes the vault of the sky, and the upper part symbolizes Mount Meru, sacred to Buddhists. Inside the structure, according to legend, there is part of the remains of Buddha.
The sanctuary is surrounded by a massive stone fence with four elaborately carved ceremonial gates, which are one of the most famous symbols of India.
Ajanta Temple Complex
The Ajanta temple complex is one of the most ancient cave temples in India, where not only stone-carved columns and wall decorations have been preserved, but also numerous frescoes with magnificent colorful images.
It consists of 29 cave halls, the most ancient of which were built in the 1st-3rd centuries AD. Temple buildings here coexist with monastery cells, as they were created by monks who were looking for solitude from the bustle of the world.
Each of the halls has a square shape, the ceiling is supported by stone columns decorated with rich carvings. On the sides of the central hall there are small cells in which the monks lived.
Cave temples of Ellora
A beautiful temple complex, including Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples, is located near the village of Ellora (Maharashtra state).
The impressive stone structures are carved from solid rock in the middle of a mountain range that surrounds them on all sides like the walls of a giant bowl.
Here is one of the most revered examples of Dravidian architecture - the Kailas Temple, where you can see giant stone statues of the gods Vishnu, Shiva, the goddess Lakshmi and other representatives of the Hindu pantheon.
Khajuraho Temple
One of the most famous and visited temples by Europeans is Khajuraho, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva the Destroyer. It is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh and is named Kandarya Mahadeva.
This temple is famous for its stone carvings, representing thousands of different scenes of erotic content, made with amazing art and naturalism.
The temple buildings themselves are amazingly beautiful, and the piquant stone carvings attract tens of thousands of tourists who want to see the famous “stone Kama Sutra” with their own eyes.
The annual Indian traditional dance festival is held here in February and March - this is the best time to visit the Khajuraho temple complex.
Lingaraja Temple
The Lingaraja Temple in Orissa is one of the most impressive structures of the phallic cult of Shiva. Built in the 9th century AD, it today is a grandiose temple complex, the central tower of which is 55 meters high and shaped like an ear of corn.
The tower is covered with carvings depicting female figures intertwined with figures of various animals. The main sanctum has a granite lingam about 8 meters high.
Hindus believe that it belongs not only to Shiva, but also to Vishnu - this feature makes the Lingaraja temple unique and one of the most revered in India.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi)
Located in the ancient Indian city of Varanasi (Benares), the Kashi Vishtvanath Temple was repeatedly subjected to complete destruction, but each time it was restored again. Today it is one of the most sacred places for every Hindu.
The walls of the temple are covered with gilding, on which about 800 kg of gold were spent. Unfortunately, the temple is located in the middle of a dense urban area, and in order to see its golden roof, tourists must climb to the third floor of a nearby building.
Inside the temple, in a recess trimmed with pure silver, is its main shrine - the Adi Visheashvara linga, guarded by a silver cobra.
If you want to better understand the history of the ruling dynasties and religious cults of India, preserved architectural monuments that clearly tell about the greatness of ancient empires will help you do this. Of course, one of the most important monuments of ancient history are the cave temples of India, which served as a refuge and the main center of learning for followers of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism from the beginning of our era.
The most famous and well-preserved cave temples are located in the state of Maharashtra near the city of Aurangabad, the ancient capital of the Mughal Empire. Long before the arrival of the Mughals, this region was a center of trade and religion. Ancient trade routes passed through the plains of the Deccan and pilgrims found refuge in caves that were rebuilt into spiritual abodes.
I want to tell about cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora- true diamonds of ancient Indian art and architecture. Even at the beginning of our era, there were trade routes along the territory of the Deccan Plateau (the modern state of Maharashtra); the first Buddhist ascetics walked along with the traders, bringing their faith to the territory of southern India. To escape the seasonal rains and scorching sun, travelers needed shelters. The construction of monasteries and temples is a long and expensive task, so the first pilgrims chose caves in the rocky mountains as their refuge, which provided coolness in the heat and remained dry in the rainy season.
The first Buddhist caves were carved in the 2nd century BC, then they were simple and straightforward shelters. Later, at the turn of the 4th-6th centuries, the cave temple complexes grew into huge monastic cities where hundreds of monks lived, and the caves turned into three-story monasteries, skillfully decorated with sculptures and wall paintings.
In the cave cities of Ajanta and Ellora, three religions were successively practiced - Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Now on the territory of the complexes you can see ancient statues and wall paintings of these three religions. Thus, the first inhabitants of the cave cities were Buddhists, then Hindus came, and the last to be cut out were Jain temples, although it is possible that followers of all religions coexisted here at the same time, creating a tolerant religious society in the middle of the first millennium.
Ajanta
The Ajanta cave temple complex is located 100 km from the city of Aurangabad, it is located in the bed of the Waghur River and has been cut down since the 2nd century BC. to the middle of the 7th century AD Over the centuries, ancient sculptors methodically excavated the soil from the basalt rock, and the interior of the caves was decorated with elegant sculptures and frescoes.
At the end of the 5th century, the Harishen dynasty, which was the main sponsor of the construction of the caves, fell, and the complex was gradually abandoned. The monks left their secluded monastery, and the local residents gradually forgot about the existence of the cave temples. The jungle has swallowed up the caves, sealing the entrances with a thick layer of vegetation. An artificial microclimate was formed in the caves, which has preserved to this day the frescoes of the beginning of the first millennium, which have no analogues not only in India, but throughout the world. Thus, the caves have brought the beauty of ancient masters to the present day.
The complex was discovered by British army officer John Smith in 1819 while hunting a tiger. From the opposite bank of the river. Vaghar he saw the arch of the entrance to cave No. 10.
"Graffiti" by officer John Smith, which he left in 1819.
Later, 30 caves were discovered, the complex was cleared and partially restored, and in 1983 the Ajanta cave temple complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is now one of the most famous landmarks in central India. At the moment, in the complex you can visit 28 caves belonging to the Buddhist tradition. In caves 1,2,9,11,16,17 ancient frescoes are preserved and in caves 9,10,19,26 you will see elegant Buddhist sculpture.
Some caves served as places for rituals and group prayers, they are called "chatyas" or meeting halls, others served as habitats for monks, they are called "viharas" or monasteries. The caves have different layouts and degrees of decoration.
Some caves are under development; these examples clearly show how the construction of the complex took place.
From the opposite bank of the Vaghar River there is a beautiful view of the entire complex; the scale of the complex is truly impressive.
Previously, each cave had its own personal descent to the river for collecting drinking water; a system for storing rainwater and water flow during the monsoon period was developed. The walls of most of the caves were painted with detailed frescoes, the secret of which has not yet been solved; some well-preserved sections convince us of the high level of skill of the ancient painters, and the forgotten history and customs of those centuries appear before our eyes.
Ajanta's "calling card" is the image of the bodhisattva Padmapani!
Of course, a visit to the Ajanta cave temples will create one of the most interesting experiences in India, but it would not be complete without a visit to the Ellora complex, which is located nearby. Despite the fact that both complexes are similar in idea, they are completely different in execution.
Ellora
The cave temple complex of Ellora, located 30 km from Aurangabad, was cut down in the period 5-11 centuries, and has 34 caves, 12 of which are Buddhist (1-12), 17 Hindu (13-29) and 5 Jain (30-34) , cut down in chronological order.
If the Ajanta complex is famous for its frescoes, then in Ellora it is definitely sculpture. Ellora acquired its true dawn with the withering of Ajanta; apparently most of the monks and masters moved here starting from the 6th century AD. In Ellora, the viewer is shocked by the scale of the buildings, for example, some caves are three-story “viharas” - monasteries where up to several hundred monks could live. Of course, such a scale is amazing, especially considering that the construction dates date back to the 5th-7th centuries AD.
But the true gem of the complex is Kailasanath Temple (Lord of Kailasa) or cave number 16.
This 30 meter high temple was carved over 100 years during the 8th century. For its construction, 400,000 tons of basalt rock were extracted, and not a single part was brought into the temple from the outside, everything was cut out of the basalt rock from top to bottom, like on a modern 3D printer. Of course, I have never seen anything like it anywhere in India. This masterpiece of ancient architecture is on a par with the Angor Wat temples in Cambodia and Bagan in Burma, but the construction dates are almost a millennium earlier!
The temple is an allegory of the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet, where, according to legend, Lord Shiva meditated. Previously, the entire temple was covered with white plaster to resemble the snow-capped peak of Kailash, all the sculptures were skillfully painted with colors, the details of which can still be seen, many galleries of the temple are decorated with detailed stone carvings. To understand the greatness of the Kailasanath Temple, you need to see it with your own eyes. Photos can hardly convey its grandeur and beauty!
Aurangabad
The Ajanta and Ellora temples attract many tourists from India and all over the world. During holidays, the temples can get quite crowded, and to better understand the history in the stone, it is recommended to take a tour accompanied by a guide.It is better to choose the city of Aurangabad as a base for visiting the temples; there are many hotels for every taste and budget; you can get here by train, plane or bus from Mumbai and Goa. Vacationers in Goa can combine a visit to cave temples with a beach holiday.
In addition to the cave temples, the city itself contains many historical monuments, albeit from a much later period. In the 17th century, the great Mughal Sultan Aurangazeb ruled here. The most impressive monument of that time is the mausoleum of “Bibika Maqbara”, which is often called the little Taj. This beautiful white marble mausoleum was built by Emperor Aurangzeb in memory of his wife Rabia Ud Daurani and bears great resemblance to the Taj Mahal in Agra, where Aurangzeb's mother is buried.
A visit to the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora is certainly one of the most vivid and memorable impressions of India.
A trip to Aurangabad can easily be completed in 2 days; visiting the cave temples will be a great addition to your holiday on the beaches of Goa. Join our tours and discover the ancient treasures of India.
Publication 2018-09-07 Liked 9 Views 6512
7 Indian temples of love and sex
Everywhere you look there is sex
India is a sacred land of wonders, full of mysteries. Mysteries of spiritual and physical. From all over the world, millions of people come here to ancient temples for answers. But some of them raise more questions than answers. Especially Indian temples of sex and love.
The first Europeans, seeing sex scenes on the walls of Indian temples, were pretty shocked
Sex scenes on the walls of temples in India
Thousands of people flock to India to see the so-called temples of sex and love. These incredible Indian religious buildings are stunning with their beauty and erotic scenes on the walls. Skillful bas-reliefs and stone sculptures depict gods, ordinary people and animals in very piquant situations. It is explicit scenes of a sexual nature that make tourists freeze in amazement, and some are literally shocked. After all, these temple erotic sculptures are hundreds and hundreds of years old! Why is there so much sex in places of worship? And why do we need intimate architecture in India?
An architectural hymn to sex in India
According to one version, the ancient Indians attached equal importance to both bodily and spiritual principles. There were no taboos regarding sex. Moreover, the art of love was specially taught: remember the famous Kama Sutra, which began to be written back in the 4th century. BC. But there was also a clear understanding of what place sex should occupy in a person’s life. Indian temples are a clear confirmation of this. All pictures of lust are depicted only outside the temples on the lower levels of the walls, so that every worshiper can cleanse himself of base feelings and learn to control them.
Intimate architecture in India celebrates love in all its forms
TOP 7 Indian temples of love and sex
There are, of course, many more Indian temples illustrating the sex of the ancients. We have selected only seven of the very best.
Gomateshvara - the world's tallest monolith statue (18 m)
Khajuraho - the most famous temple
This famous symbol of temple erotic sculpture of ancient India is perfectly preserved. Since 1986, a complex of 20 surviving temples in the town of Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) has been protected by UNESCO. All of them are dedicated to the gods of Vaishnavism, Jainism, Shaivism and were built between 950 and 1100.
Sex without taboos in ancient Indian temples
Erotic images are found on friezes and bas-reliefs of temple facades. Most often these are surasundaris - buxom beauties, personifying heavenly female beauty. But there are also scenes of a homosexual nature. It is noteworthy that sex is presented for only one purpose out of three possible in Indian philosophy - the purpose of pleasure. We are not talking about enlightenment and procreation. According to Indologists, there is not much eroticism in these bas-reliefs. Of the total number of sculptures, there are only 2-3% that are overtly sexual. But what kind!
Khajuraho - birthplace of the Kama Sutra
Sun Temple - the most obscene
This stunning creation of Indian architecture of the 13th century in Konark (Orissa) is dedicated to the Sun God and looks like a chariot of incredible size with wheels and columns. The temple with erotic figurines is located near the ocean, and, unfortunately, did not reach its contemporaries in its original form.
Indian temple of sex and love in Konark built in honor of the Sun
The main tower, 60 meters high, lies in ruins. But the bulk of the stone sculptures and bas-reliefs have survived to this day. Most are devoted to the topic of the most frank carnal pleasures. At one time, the British considered them obscene. And archaeologists are still confident in their sacredness.
Sex in this temple was dedicated to the Sun. Much better than sacrifices
These days, the Sun Temple is bustling with life. In addition to pilgrims, people come here every year for the classical festival.
Boramdeo - the most poetic
Due to the many obscene sculptures on the walls, this complex of four temples in Chattisgarh state is often compared to Khajuraho. Their beauty is so perfect that they are also called “sparkling poetry in stone.” The temples are dedicated to Shiva and built by the Nagvanshi kings using stone and brick. Many of the sex scenes on the walls of these Indian temples reflect... For example, in the Madha Mahal temple there are 54 of them.
The Indian temple of Boramdeo was built during the period of prosperity of tantrism and occultism
Tripurantaka - the most skilful
This temple, built in 1070 AD. in Karnataka, is now in a dilapidated state, but is still famous for its perforated stone carvings. Walls, windows, ceilings, screens - everything is replete with miniature figures of mythical animals and people engaged in sophisticated sex.
A thousand years ago, sex was not under the puritan's sights
Temple of the Sun - the most destroyed
Connoisseurs of Indian temple architecture should definitely take a look at the Sun Temple in Gujarat. It was built in the 11th century on the banks of the river and over the centuries was subjected to either looting or erosion. But the unique elements of stone carving have been preserved. Along with everyday scenes from the lives of gods and people, on the walls of the temple there are fragments of the sexual life of that era - pure and not subject to strict morality.
In Ancient Indian Sun Temple, Sex Symbolizes Fertility
Markandeshwar - the most demonic
According to legend, this temple of the god Shiva was built on the bank of the river by evil forces in just one night. Pilgrims still visit it today, considering this place holy. However, this Indian temple is not very well known to most tourists. The complex, skillful stone carvings distinguish it from other structures. In addition to the usual everyday scenes, sex is also given a lot of subjects on the walls.
According to legend, the Markandeshwar temple was built overnight by evil forces.
Virupaksha is the most ancient
Located in Hampi (Karnataka), the Shiva temple is also a UNESCO heritage site. It was built in the 7th century on a vast area near the Tungabhadra River and consists of many parts. Despite the destruction, Virupaksha still attracts numerous pilgrims and tourists. Especially in early December when the Virupaksha and Pampa wedding festival is held here. The ancients perceived physical love differently, and it is quite clear that the decor of this Indian temple is also not devoid of scenes of carnal pleasures.
Erotic scenes on the temple walls attract many tourists to Hampi
Everywhere you look there is sex
The Indians sincerely believed that erotica on the walls contributed to the renunciation of base impulses. Therefore, sculptures of lovers having sex can be found in many other Indian temples. We recommend visiting:
- ancient Nanda Devi temple in Almora (Uttarakhand state)
- Lingaraja Temple and Bhubaneswar, (Orissa)
- Jain sex temple Osian Jain, (Rajasthan state)
- Jagdish Mandir, built in honor of Vishnu (Udaipur state)
- ruins of Padavali temples, (Madhya Pradesh)
- Kailasa Temple, located in the Ellora Caves (Maharashtra State)
- Ranakpur - white marble temple dedicated to Adinata, (Rajasthan)
Another version: sex was depicted on the walls of temples for sex education
Through the centuries, these exciting erotic images, captured in stone, help contemporaries better understand the history of this wondrous, passionate country. The intimate architecture of India will excite many generations of earthlings.
Kamasutra- an ancient Indian treatise dedicated to kama - the sphere of sensual, emotional life, lust and love. He describes 64 sexual positions, calling them "arts"
Vaishnavism- one of the main directions of Hinduism. His followers worship Vishnu and his incarnations - Krishna and Rama.
Jainism- an ancient dharmic religion that was formed around the 9th-6th centuries BC. e. The philosophy and practice of Jainism are based primarily on self-improvement of the soul to achieve omniscience, omnipotence and eternal bliss.
Shaivism- one of the main directions of Hinduism, the tradition of worshiping Shiva. Shaivism is widely practiced throughout India and beyond. Indologist R. N. Dandekar considered Shaivism to be the oldest existing religion of the civilized world.
Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar, Golden Temple)
Harmandir Sahib is the main shrine of the Sikhs and also the most famous golden temple in India. It is located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, in the center of the sacred Amritsar Lake, into which pilgrims plunge before entering the temple. The walls of the building are covered with gold slabs and precious stones, and the interior decoration is even richer than the exterior. Sikhs preach equality and unity of all religions, so free entry is open to everyone, you just need to wash your feet and put on a hat. More than 20,000 people visit Harmandir Sahib every day. The temple has a free canteen where anyone, whether a tourist or a pilgrim, can eat simple Indian food. You can also stay overnight here; there are special sleeping rooms for this.
Meenakshi Temple 
The delightful temple complex is located in a square in the heart of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and covers an area of 6 hectares. The structure was erected in honor of the wedding of Shiva and Meenakshi, one of the avatars of Parvati. This event is celebrated annually to this day. The Meenakshi Temple represents the entire colorful world of Hinduism: the walls are covered with figures of gods, mythical animals, guards, priests, musicians, men and women. The scale and diversity are amazing. It is interesting to visit here for both adults and children; about 15 thousand people visit the temple every day.
Great Stupa at Sanchi 
The stupa, or burial site of the Buddha's remains, is of great importance in the religious life of many Hindus. The most famous and revered of them is located in Sanchi, located in Central India. It was built in the third century BC. and has perfectly preserved its appearance. Nowadays, the Sanchi stupa has undergone restoration. The dome in the form of a hemisphere symbolizes the vault of the sky, and the upper part symbolizes Mount Meru, sacred to Buddhists. Inside the structure, according to legend, there is part of the remains of Buddha. The sanctuary is surrounded by a massive stone fence with four elaborately carved ceremonial gates, which are one of the most famous symbols of India.
Ajanta Temple Complex 
The Ajanta temple complex is one of the most ancient cave temples in India, where not only stone-carved columns and wall decorations have been preserved, but also numerous frescoes with magnificent colorful images. It consists of 29 cave halls, the most ancient of which were built in the 1st-3rd centuries AD. Temple buildings here coexist with monastery cells, as they were created by monks who were looking for solitude from the bustle of the world. Each of the halls has a square shape, the ceiling is supported by stone columns decorated with rich carvings. On the sides of the central hall there are small cells in which the monks lived.
Ellora Cave Temple 
A beautiful temple complex, including Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples, is located near the village of Ellora (Maharashtra state). Impressive stone structures are carved from solid rock in the middle of a mountain range that surrounds them on all sides like the walls of a giant bowl. Here is one of the most revered examples of Dravidian architecture - the Kailas Temple, where you can see giant stone statues of the gods Vishnu, Shiva, the goddess Lakshmi and other representatives of the Hindu pantheon.
Khajuraho Temple 
One of the most famous and visited temples by Europeans is Khajuraho, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva the Destroyer. It is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh and is named Kandarya Mahadeva. This temple is famous for its stone carvings, representing thousands of different scenes of erotic content, made with amazing art and naturalism. The temple buildings themselves are amazingly beautiful, and the piquant stone carvings attract tens of thousands of tourists who want to see the famous “stone Kama Sutra” with their own eyes. The annual Indian traditional dance festival is held here in February and March - this is the best time to visit the Khajuraho temple complex.
Lingaraja Temple 
The Lingaraja Temple in Orissa is one of the most impressive structures of the phallic cult of Shiva. Built in the 9th century AD, it today is a grandiose temple complex, the central tower of which is 55 meters high and shaped like an ear of corn. The tower is covered with carvings depicting female figures intertwined with figures of various animals. The main sanctum has a granite lingam about 8 meters high. Hindus believe that it belongs not only to Shiva, but also to Vishnu - this feature makes the Lingaraja temple unique and one of the most revered in India.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi) 
Located in the ancient Indian city of Varanasi (Benares), the Kashi Vishtvanath Temple was repeatedly subjected to complete destruction, but each time it was restored again. Today it is one of the most sacred places for every Hindu. The walls of the temple are covered with gilding, on which about 800 kg of gold were spent. Unfortunately, the temple is located in the middle of a dense urban area, and in order to see its golden roof, tourists must climb to the third floor of a nearby building. Inside the temple, in a recess trimmed with pure silver, is its main shrine - the Adi Visheashvara linga, guarded by a silver cobra.
Venkateswara Temple 
The Venkateswara Temple, which is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh in Southeast India, occupies an area of more than two hectares. It is one of the most visited sanctuaries in the world, called the Hindu Vatican and dedicated to the god Vishnu. The temple was erected more than a thousand years ago on one of the seven hills of Tirumala (Holy Mountain). Every adherent of the Hindu religion must visit it at least once in his life. The luxury of decorations and decoration of the temple amazes not only believers, but also tourists: the central vimana tower is covered with pure gold, the interior decoration is also made of gold and precious stones. The Venkateswara Temple is distinguished not only by the exceptional wealth of its donations, but also by their originality. Believers sacrifice their own hair to Vishnu, the total weight of which reaches about 15 tons per year.
The temples of India are, in my opinion, the most interesting attraction of this ancient country, although they are inferior to forts and palaces in size, but personally, some temples were my main goal.
Indian architecture is completely separate from secular architecture, and in addition to the unusualness of the architectural styles themselves, many Indian temples can also surprise with stunning sculpture, and the best of them are included in the register.
Even specialized Indian websites cannot list all the temples in India; there are temples in all cities and villages, and sometimes completely unique, beautiful buildings are located in tiny settlements, where a researcher’s foot cannot reach, and they can only be discovered by chance.
It is not possible to name the 5 best, most beautiful or amazing temples in India, but I will try to classify them according to arbitrary types, I hope that my list of types of temples will give tourists and novice travelers some idea, based on which they can choose the most interesting for themselves, and on your trips to touch the beauty of Indian temple architecture.
The most ancient temples in India
The oldest temples in India are cave or, they began to be built before our era. And the best example of temples of cave (rock) architecture is the largest temple in the world, carved from a single rock, this is the Kailasanatha temple in a village not far from it, this is a state; in general, there are quite a few ancient temples of this type scattered across southern India. 
The photo shows a view of the roof of the rock temple in Ellora, one of the most ancient temples in India, + taken on camera
The most beautiful temples in India
The most beautiful Indian temples - in my opinion, are definitely the temples built by the rulers, first of all this is the Hoysaleshwara temple in a village in Karnataka; there are quite a lot of beautiful temples of this style in this state. Hoysala temples differ from other temples in India not only in their unique style of architecture, but also in their stunning detailing with the finest detailing of elements. 
The photo shows a view of the star-shaped platform of the temples in Halebid + a short video with a panorama from the temple
Marble temples of India
The beautiful white marble temples of Rajasthan and Gujarat are only slightly inferior to the Hoysala temples in sophistication and fine workmanship, and in addition to their general aesthetic delight, they amaze with their architecture - as if the lightest translucent vaults of these temples floating in the air are stunning. Marble temples were usually built; in the photo, the largest marble temple in India is a view from the inside. 
At the beginning of the article there is a photo of the walls of another white marble temple decorated with sculpture - in the village.
The largest temples in India
The largest temples are located in southern India, the first place among them belongs to the temple in the state, a huge temple surrounded by 6 rows of high walls with gopuram gate towers, it occupies the whole area several kilometers in size. Other South Indian temples built in the style, although smaller, are not inferior to Srirangam in grandeur. 
The photo shows a view of the Srirangam temple complex from the 4th gopuram.
The most unusual temples in India
There are quite a lot of unusual temples in India, I will name 2 of the most, in my opinion.
Firstly, this temple of rats, more precisely the temple of Karni Mata in a village in Rajasthan. I have already described the legend of this temple in stories, so the details can be found there. 
In the photo, rats drink milk, which is specially placed for them in the Deshnok temple, + short video
Secondly, temple of bells, the temple is called Chitai, it is located in the vicinity of a resort town in the state. There are bells in any Indian temple, but here.... 
in the photo and video you can see how many bells there are in the Chitai temple, and you can even hear them :)
And no one knows how many more such amazing temples are scattered across the vast expanses of India.....
If you are a traveler and know something interesting on the topic, please write, I haven’t traveled all over India, I don’t know and haven’t seen a lot.