Exploring the Spiritual Significance of the Oldest Temples in India

The oldest temples in India are worship centers and impressive testimonies of the country’s long-standing cultural and architectural heritage. Some thousands of years old, these temples shed light on India’s spiritual past and how religious activity has evolved over the ages. 

The oldest Hindu temple in India is of special interest to pilgrims and historians who come for its historical and spiritual value. In this TripzyGo guide, you will explore the oldest temples in India and discover the significance of the most ancient temples in India.

Significance of Temple Architecture

Temples in ancient India were places of worship, meditation, and communal gathering. Initially simple buildings, they later became rich and intricate architectural marvels. Temples attracted kings, rulers, and wealthy benefactors who financed their construction and supported the temple communities. Regional and dynastic forces influenced the layout and architectural styles of ancient Indian temples. 

The style of Indian temple architecture today continues to impress worshippers and tourists worldwide, giving a glimpse of India’s rich historical, architectural, and religious heritage. They are a sacred place for worship, spiritual meditation, and participation in religious functions and festivals. 

10 Oldest Temples in India

The ancient temples of India are spread across the country. Be it the oldest temple in Kerala or the oldest Hindu temple in India, each exhibits a different architectural style and history. For example, the Mundeshwari Temple in Bihar is considered one of the oldest surviving Hindu temples, showing ancient craftsmanship. The detailed carvings, tall spires, and serene spirituality continue to amaze visitors of these temples. Here are the 10 oldest temples in India:

1. Kailasa Temple, Aurangabad
2. Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
3. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram
4. Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka
5. Sun Temple, Konark
6. Cave Temples, Badami
7. Halasuru Someshwara Temple, Bangalore
8. Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur
9. Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar
10. Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati

Kailasa Temple, Aurangabad

The Kailasa or Kailasanatha temple is the largest monolithic rock-cut structure in the world. It is located in cave 16 of Ellora Caves in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Carved out of a single basalt rock from Charanandri Hills, it is one of the exceptional temples of India owing to its massive size, fantastic architecture, and mind-boggling carvings. With its intricate designs on panels, monolithic pillars, and statues of animals and deities, the Kailasa Temple is an engineering marvel perfect for history and architecture lovers.

The temple, constructed in the 8th century under the direction of Krishna I, is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. It is indeed the oldest Shiva temple in India. The temple is associated with many legends. It stuns every visitor, as only one rock has been carved immaculately using traditional methods. Like the Virupaksha temple of northern Karnataka, it was built in 18 years using 2 lakh tonnes of rock. 

1. Entry Fees: INR 10 per person for Indians, INR 250 per person for foreigners
2. Timings: 9 am–5 pm

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is one of the town’s most essential and ancient Shiva temples. The Cholas built it in the 7th century. The temple is characterized by magnificent architecture, the Cholas’ trademark style. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has an extraordinary Shiva lingam. 

1. Entry Fees: Free Entry for all
2. Timings: 6 am–12:30 pm, 4–9 pm

Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

As per legends, the shore temple was part of the Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram. Seven Pagodas, in this regard, is an old Hindu legend. Prince Hiranyakasipu did not believe in Lord Vishnu and punished his son, Prahlada, who was very faithful to Lord Vishnu. Hence, Hiranyakasipu threw him out of the kingdom. After being welcomed again later, he became the king. His grandson Bali also established Mahabalipuram.

Built in the 7th century, Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram is one of the oldest temples in South India. It was built in the Dravidian style, which denotes the royal flavor of the Pallava dynasty. UNESCO has included the temple among its World Heritage sites. The temple is in Mahabalipuram, one of the most photographed monuments along the Bay of Bengal. 

1. Entry Fees: INR 40 for Indians and INR 600 for foreigners
2. Timings: 6 am–6 pm

Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka

The Dwarkadhish temple, known as Jagat Mandir, is dedicated to Lord Krishna and follows Chalukya-style architecture. The town of Dwarka finds its history in the Kingdom of Dwaraka from Mahabharata. The shrine rises to a sweeping height of five stories and is an excellent and splendid monument constructed of limestone and sand. Supposedly, this temple was constructed 2200 years ago by the great-grandson of Lord Krishna, Vajranabh Krishhina, who built it above the land that Krishna had reclaimed from the ocean. 

The temple shows an extraordinary profusion of artistic work by the ancestor dynasties ruling the region. It also houses a grand black idol of Lord Krishna. Subhadra, Balarama, Revathy, Vasudeva, and Rukmini are other shrines within the temple house. 

1. Entry Fees: General: Free, Special: INR 200, VIP: INR 500
2. Timings: 7 am–12:30 pm, 5–9 pm

Sun Temple, Konark

Located at the northeastern edge of Puri, Konark Sun Temple is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Odisha’s prime tourist spots. It resembles a massive chariot of the Sun God being drawn by seven horses- four on the left and three on the right. Three different sides of the temple house the three deities dedicated to the Sun God, who receive the sun’s direct rays during morning, noon, and sundown. 

1. Entry Fees: INR 30 for Indians; INR 500 for foreigners
2. Timings: 6:00 am to 8:00 pm; every day

Cave Temples, Badami

The Cave Temples of Badami comprise four distinct temples, all containing exquisite carvings and portrayals. The first three temples contain artworks of Shiva and Vishnu in various forms, representing Brahmanical art. The last temple is devoted to Jain Tirthankaras. The beautiful red sandstone temples are candidates for the status of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

1. Entry Fees are INR 5 per person for Indians, INR 100 for foreigners, and INR 25 for video cameras.
2. Timings: 6 am–6 pm

Halasuru Someshwara Temple, Bangalore

This is the oldest temple in Bangalore, located in the suburb of Halasuru (Ulsoor) of Bangalore. Dedicated to Shiva, it belongs to the Chola period. The Karnataka government’s Endowment Department looks after the management and maintenance. The Hoysalas were constructed around the 12th and the 13th century.

The shrine is built in the Vijayanagar style and has excellent, beautiful carvings on the walls and placid interiors. In addition to the main temple, several other shrines are within the compound of other deities, such as Kamakshamma, Arunachaleswara, Bhimeswara, Nanjundeswara, and Panchalingeswar.

1. Entry Fees: Free
2. Timings: Morning 06:00 – 12:30 Evening 17:30 – 21:00

Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur

The main attraction in Thanjavur is the Brihadeeswara temple, also called the Big Temple. Constructed during the reign of the Great Chola emperor, Raja Raja Chola, the temple is an architectural wonder.

Deep trenches on either side protect this temple, with the Grand Anicut River flowing through another; thus, this temple is a pilgrim’s delight. The shrine itself is a 216 feet structure. The walls of the inner sanctum are decorated with paintings going back to the Chola and Nayak periods, while one finds a statue of Nandi the Bull greeting visitors at the entrance.

1. Entry Fees: Free
2. Timings: 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar

The Lingaraj Temple is the largest and most ancient temple in Bhubaneswar. It is exclusively dedicated to Lord Shiva according to its name. The temple was built in the 7th century by King Jajati Keshari. It is highly revered owing to the belief that the Linga, a manifestation of Lord Shiva, appeared naturally. It rises to a massive height of 8 inches above the floor level and is about 8 feet in diameter. Lingaraj Temple is easily accessible via local transport within the city and is located in the older parts of Bhubaneswar. 

1. Entry Fees: Free
2. Timings: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati

This is one of the holiest and most opulent temples, and millions of devotees visit it daily for their respect. An average of 50,000 people follow the trail to the temple daily, which is stupendous. Consequently, there is a whole procedure of egress that efficiently terminates at the shrine to allow one to perform the darshan.

Entrance into the Temple of Vaikuntam Queue Complex is where buddies lead the holy space to the main temple. These palace-like halls have been thoroughly cleaned for comfort and facilitation of various needs. 

1. Entry Fees: Free, INR 300 for unique entry
2. Timings: 2:30 AM to 1:30 AM

Conclusion

The oldest temples in India are timeless treasures that reflect the nation’s deep spiritual roots and architectural brilliance. Ancient structures like the Kailasa and Sun Temple display various styles and historical importance. They are not only places of worship but also monuments of cultural heritage, attracting pilgrims, historians, and travelers. With a reliable trip planner like TripzyGo, you can visit the best religious places in India. TripzyGo lets you plan your trip with AI to see the historical places in India with your group type