Hinduism is not limited to India; it is endorsed by the entire world, with nearly billions of adherents worldwide. With so many Indians moving around the globe, the no. of temples constructed to uphold the faith was sure to grow.
Whether you are a Hindu or not, here are a few Hindu temples outside India that will take your breath away and are a must-see! The religion full of various cultures and traditions, Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion. Hindu temples embody Hindu iconography in India and Nepal, Fiji, South Asia, Trinidad, Tobago, and Mauritius temples. Here is a list of the most famous Hindu temples outside India.
Top 20 Most Famous Hindu Temples Outside India
1. Prambanan Temple, Java, Indonesia
Another one is in Indonesia, this time in the Indonesian province of Central Java. The eight significant shrines, known as “gopuras,” are 47 metres tall. Two hundred fifty minor shrines surround them, making the complex one of the largest in Southeast Asia.
The temple, which goes back to 850 CE, is also a popular tourist destination in Indonesia. The temple walls are intricately carved with stories about Lord Hanuman, Lord Vishnu, Ramayan, and other Hindu deities.
2. Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple, Victoria, Australia
Shri Shiva Vishnu Mandir is devoted to Lord Vishnu & Lord Shiva and is situated in the Carrum Hills area of Victoria. It’s also the state’s most significant Hindu temple. This prominent Hindu temple in Australia was erected 25 years ago in Architectural style, south Indian form.
3. Tanah Lot Temple, Bali, Indonesia
The Tanah Lot Temple is one of the seven seaside temples, each temple lining up with the next and forming a lengthy chain on Bali’s coast. It is located atop a large rock and is a popular tourist site in Bali. It also houses ancient Balinese mythology.
4. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atlanta, U.S.A.
This Hindu temple, one of the largest in the United States, is 32,000 square feet in size and rests on 30 acres of ground. It is also 75 feet tall and was claimed to have taken 1300 artisans, 900 volunteers, 34450 pieces of stone, 4500 tonnes of Italian Carrara marble, 4300 tonnes of Turkish limestone, and 3500 tonnes of Indian pink sandstone to construct.
5. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat translates literally as “capital temple”. This Famous Hindu Temples Outside India was created in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II of the Khmer Kingdom.
One incredible thing concerning it is that it took him 27 years to complete the temple. Angkor Wat is devoted to Lord Vishnu and was initially known as “Varah Vishnu-Lok”. It now accommodates both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
6. Sri Subramaniam Swamy Devasthanam, Batu Caves, Malaysia
Batu Caves, located north of Kuala Lumpur, are a network of limestone caves that house one of Lord Murugan’s most significant monuments (42.7m in height). This temple was erected in 1890 by Tamil businessman K. Thamboosamy Pillai and is currently a popular tourist destination in Malaysia.
Annually, the temple celebrates the famed Hindu festival of Thaipusam, which draws visitors from India, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
7. Akshardham Temple, New Jersey, U.S.A.
This temple opened in 2014 and is one of the biggest in America, occupying 162 acres of ground. This temple is devoted to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and is modelled on the two vast Akshardhams of Delhi and Gujarat.
8. Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple, Tebrau, Malaysia
The Hindu crystal glass temple is the world’s only Hindu temple built of glass. The temple, built in a hut-like form in 1922, attracts people from all over the world. It has been devoted to Lord Shiva since an Athma Lingam shrine was created in the shape of a lotus where worshippers can pour rose water and pray.
Approximately 90% of the temple is built of mosaic glass pieces of various hues (about 300,000 pieces of glass have been used). It is made of Muknirudraksha pearls and has an engraved texture. Each bead has a sung prayer and therefore is embedded in the walls. Ten of the temple’s texts are gold-finished.
9. Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple, Birmingham, U.K.
This temple built a decade ago, is a duplicate of the Tirupati Thirumala temple in Tirupati, India. It is also the earliest temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara in Europe, with a 12ft. sculpture of the Lord.
10. Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
The most famous Shiva temple on the planet is Pashupatinath temple, one of Kathmandu’s oldest temples. It was constructed in 753 A.D. by King Jayadeva and was renovated in the 12th and 17th centuries.
The temple is designed in the Pagoda style, distinguishing it from other Hindu temples in India. Several festivals are held in the temple, including Shivaratri, Teej, and others. Other religions are welcome to view the temple’s grounds, but only Hindus can enter. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read Also: Top 7 Famous Religious Places to Visit in Nepal.
11. Dhakeshwari National Temple, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhakeshwari means “Goddess of Dhaka”, and so this temple is regarded as the most prominent Hindu temple in Dhaka following the destruction of Ramna Kali Mandir by the Pakistan Army during the War For independence in 1971. Because it is government-owned and referred to as a “national temple.”
12. New Vrindaban Temple, West Virginia, U.S.A.
The name derives from the Indian city of Vrindavan, which is part of the ISKCON Global Community of West Virginia (also recognized as Brindavanam).
It first opened in 1970 and has attracted visitors from all over the world. The Washington Post described the shrine, dubbed “The Palace of Gold”, as “Almost Paradise”.
13. The Sri Venkateswara Temple, Pittsburgh, USA
The Venkateswara Temple of Pittsburgh opened on August 7, 1975, and is among the oldest Famous Hindu Temples Outside India in the United States. It is situated in Pittsburgh’s Penn Hills.
14. Sagar Shiva Mandir, Mauritius
This temple is located on Mauritius island. It was only constructed a decade ago and held the statue of Shiva, 108 feet high and bronze in colour. The location makes this temple a monument of beauty and thus is a tourist attraction.
15. Shri Kali Temple, Myanmar
Immigrants established it in 1871 in Yangon’s Little India district when Burma was still a part of British India. The temple is brightly coloured and has sculptures and carvings of several Hindu gods. It is being cared for by the local Indian Hindus.
16. Sri Siva Subramaniya temple, Nadi, Fiji
The Sri Siva Subramaniya shrine in Nadi, Fiji, is a Hindu temple. In Fiji, yes! The most prominent Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere is near Nadi’s southern end.
The Sri Siva temple was built in 1926 and was required to be entirely renovated in 1986. This is the southern hemisphere’s most significant temple.
17. Varun Dev Temple, Manora, Karachi, Pakistan
This is among Pakistan’s ancient Hindu temples, going back 1000 years. However, it is currently in ruins due to the government’s carelessness. Nonetheless, incredible craftsmanship remains visible on the walls & tiles in the remnants of the spectacular areas.
The sad thing is that due to Pakistan’s cold hate of Hinduism, its walls & rooms now serve as restrooms for the residents of Manora’s sandy beach.
18. Shri Krishna Temple, Darsait, Oman
The Shri Krishna temple is among the most famous temples in Oman (the Mideast). Shri Krishna Temple was built in 1987 by the Gujarati Business Community in Muscat and can accommodate 500-700 worshipers at a time. In 2013, the temple was specially decorated, and all tourists were accommodated.
19. Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, Singapore
Sri Thendayuthapani Temple is a Hindu holy structure in Singapore (as well as a heritage site) and is also known as Chettiars’ Temple. The Tamil Chettiar people built the temple devoted to the six-faced Lord Subramaniam and hosted the Thaipusam festival.
Conclusion
After reading this page, you may have learned about the many Hindu Temples found worldwide, their traditions, culture, and so on. So, if you are a pilgrimage traveller or someone who enjoys nature and trekking, you should consider visiting these Top 20 Most Famous Hindu Temples Outside India.
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