Top ten most curious temples in India

India is a land of mystery. The centuries-old tradition of Hinduism has ensured a huge amount of temples in India. Some of these are not what you might expect. Can you imagine worshipping at the shrine of a rat? Perhaps, to many tourists, this is unthinkable. However, any luxury vacation package to India reveals a wealth of surprises. Deep in religious mysticism, the temples in India have to be seen to be believed. Here we have compiled a list of the 10 oldest temples in India for tourists. Hopefully, this will encourage you to book a trip to the land of spice very soon!
This temple reveres the goddess of destruction, Kali. Worshipping this goddess herself is not unheard of. However, this temple is a little different. The altar of gifts is often laden with Chinese food. This includes from noodles to dim sum. The reason for this is that the temple is located in Chinatown. A district with a large population of Chinese immigrants. The most unusual aspect of this temple is that traditional Chinese do not affiliate themselves with Indian religions. However, here we have a little piece of curiosity in the big city.

Kali Singh Temple, Uttar Pradesh

This is a temple entirely devoted to cattle. Cattle are prized in India and so it is not bizarre to think there are temples dedicated solely to the animal. Devotees travel from all over the region to leave gifts and say prayers for the animal. They often leave food and make milk products within the temple itself.

Sinking Shiva, Varanasi

This temple is currently abandoned, due to safety reasons. However, in the past, it was well-known as a religious site. It was built next to the river banks. With the time, as the river grew, the temple eventually began to submerge. It is unique to India and a great photo opportunity.

Disappearing Temple of Vadodara

Much like the previous temple, this religious site was built close to water. It stands in the Arabian Sea and can only be seen at low tide. Take care not to be there when the tide comes in! It is still used by the people of the town and is a curious example of India´s culture.

The Bullet Baba, Jodhpur

This is one of the most interesting religious sites in all of India. This temple is focused on the worship of an old motorcycle, the Bullet. People regularly offer the shrine liquor and food. It has become a talisman of road safety. A kind of St. Christopher for travelers.

Akshardham, Delhi

This religious site is closer to what we would associate with temples in India. However, it was built in 2005 and is entirely modern. It has well over 200 pillars and 20,000 idol sculptures. They all were made by hand by local artisans. It regularly attracts tourists and is a highlight of any trip to India.

Belur Math, Kolkata

This temple is unique not only to India but to most of the world. It combines Hindu, Christian and Islamic architecture in one building. The purpose is to highlight the unity of religion and is truly breathtaking.

Karni Mata, Deshnok

This temple is not for the fainthearted. The subject here is the worship of rats. Locals believe that the animals are reincarnations of the goddess Karni and her children. Rats are common here and are treated as sacred.

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh

This is one of the world most visited temples in India. It is also notorious for being the richest in the country. Visitors regularly make offerings to the god of prosperity Venketeshwara in the hope to gain riches. It is equally popular among locals and is often packed with devotees receiving blessings.

Guruvayur Shree, Kerala

This temple is considered to be Vishnu´s choice among the rest of all the temples in India. He was supposed to establish here his residence on Earth. It dates back hundreds of centuries and is a fine example of traditional Indian architecture. This temple is one of the holiest and most famous in India. In fact, the idol of Krishna is considered to be the best in the world. You can also feed the temple elephants here, which makes for an interesting experience.

Travelling further afield for more temples in India

This is just a short list of the many curious temples in India. There are hundreds more and it would take a lifetime to see them all. From the Hindu complexes of Tamil Nadu to temples made famous by celebrities in Maharashtra, there is something to satisfy any curiosity. Touring the temples of India is a wonderful way to experience this intriguing country. Glimpsing into the past is also a glimpse into the exciting future of a sub-continent whose star is rising quickly.

If this has inspired you to visit at least some temples in India, please check out Exoticca for information on luxury vacation packages and tours to this wondrous country.

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