10 temples every Sanatani should visit in their lifetime

Sanatan Dharma also known as Hindu Dharma is rich in its spiritual culture and traditions. Devotees must visit many sacred temples in the Sanatan Dharma to empower their spiritual journey. Visiting this temple is not just about traveling but it's about divine energy, understanding ancient wisdom, and connecting with the soul. In today's blog, we will talk about the 10 temples every Sanatani should visit in their lifetime.

1. Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple is located in Uttarakhand. This sacred shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva and comes in one of the Char Dham Temples. Kedarnath Temple comes under the twelve Jyotirlinga. The temple is only open from April to November due to the extreme weather in Uttarakhand. The deity is shifted to Ukhimath for worship for the next six months. This temple is not directly reachable by road. To reach the temple, people must trek uphill from Gaurikund for 17 Kilometers. The meaning of the name Kedarnath is “the lord of the field”.

2. Vaishno Devi Temple

Vaishno Devi Temple is a holy shrine in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. This temple is dedicated to Vaishno Devi who is a manifestation of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. The temple is situated on the Trikuta mountain which is 5000 feet above ground. This temple is a very popular shrine among the devotees, every year millions of devotees visit the temple annually. Navratri is a very prominent festival held at this temple as it celebrates Devi’s victory over evil demons.   

3. Kashi Vishwanath Temple

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple located in Vishwanath Gali at Banaras, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga. The meaning of the name Vishwanath is “the Lord of the Universe”. This temple is believed to be the first Jyotirlinga appeared by itself. The temple is initially known as the Adi Vishveshwar Temple. This temple is a very popular shrine among the devotees, every year more than 45000 devotees visit the temple annually. This temple is one of the Char Dham Temples in India. The deity is worshipped in a black granite in the form of Badrinarayan.

4. Badrinath Temple

Badrinath Temple is a holy temple of Vaishnavites among the 108 divya desams incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The temple is situated in Badrinath in Uttarakhand, India. The temple is only open from April to November due to the extreme weather in Uttarakhand. This temple is a very popular temple in India, more than 28 Lakhs of devotees visit this temple every year. In this temple, the deity is worshipped in black granite in the form of Badrinarayan.

5. Somnath Temple

The Somnath Temple, located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Gujarat, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple comes under the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is not clear when the temple was built, but according to some scriptures, it is estimated from the early centuries of the 1st millennium and about the 9th century CE. Throughout history, the temple was built and destroyed multiple times. The temple represents resilience and faith as it has risen every time from its ruins.

6. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (Shri Venkateswara Swami Temple), is a Hindu temple of lord Vishnu. The temple is believed to have appeared on Earth to save the humans from the kalyug. The temple is popularly known as Kaliyuga Vaikuntha. The temple is located in the hills of Tirumala at Tirupati Urban Mandal in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh. The Temple is popularly known as the Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple, and Tirupati Balaji Temple. The temple is believed to have been built in 300 CE. The temple is mentioned in several ancient scriptures like the Puranas.

7. Ujjain Mahakal Temple

The Mahakaleshwar Temple located in Ujjain, is a very sacred shrine dedicated to lord Shiva. The temple comes under the twelve jyotirlingas of lord Shiva. The temple is believed to have immense spiritual power as this jyotirlinga is considered self-manifested. Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Mahakal (the lord of Time and Death). The Jyotirlinga is in the sanctum house where the deity is bathed and worshiped. There is a special ritual called Bhasma Arti in which the lingam is adorned with ash as an offering to the Mahakal. According to the Hindu scriptures, Lord Shiva manifested as Mahakal to protect the devotees from the Dushan demon.

8. Kamakhya Temple, Assam

The Kamakhya Temple is one of the most sacred shrines of Kamakhya Devi in India. The temple is situated in Guwahati on the Nilachal Hill. The temple worships Goddess Kamakhya, a form of Goddess Sati. The temple holds immense spiritual significance among the devotees as it is one of the 51 Shakti peetha. The temple is dedicated to tantra worship. The temple is believed to be the spot where the womb and genitals of Goddess Sati fell when her body was dismembered by Lord Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra. The temple has strong feminine power and it represents female power, fertility, and creation.

9. Brahma temple, Pushkar

Brahma Temple in Pushkar is one of the few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma worldwide. The temple is very famous and attracts many devotees, sages, and tourists from all around the world. This temple holds great importance as it is known for its rich culture, spiritual environment, and architecture. It is a must-visit temple if you want to explore the spiritual side of India. The Brahma temple is deeply rooted in the Hindu Dharma because it is dedicated to Lord Brahma (the creator). Devotees believe that the Pushkar Lake has spiritual power which is considered very auspicious.

10. Jagannath Temple, Odisha

The Jagannath Temple is one of the most sacred shrines in India and is one of the Char Dham temples. The temple worships Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Krishna, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra. The temple represents universal love and compassion. The grand annual festival at this temple attracts Lakhs of Devotees. The main dome in the temple casts no shadow, irrespective of the time. The temple was built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the 12th century.