Top 7 Lord Shiva Temples To Visit Once In A Lifetime

Lord Shiva Temples: Lord Shiva is one of the most significant gods among the Hindu trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha. He is known as the destroyer among the Trimurti. Lord Shiva is revered by many beautiful names like Mahadev and Bholenath. Lord Shiva is the chief deity of the Shaivites. Shiva is a multifaceted being who possesses both dread and kindness. He is portrayed as an omniscient Yogi leading an austere life on Mount Kailash in positive aspects. There are several Lord Shiva temples located all across India. Let us check out the list of the top 7 ancient and prominent Lord Shiva temples in India that every Lord Shiva devotee must visit once in a lifetime.

Lord Shiva is one of the most prominent Hindu gods and the chief deity in the Shaivite traidition. (Image Source: Canva)

Top 7 Lord Shiva Temples To Visit Once In A Lifetime 

1. Kashi Vishwanath Temple - One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, or temples devoted to Lord Shiva is the magnificent Kashi Vishwanath Temple which is located in Varanasi on the western bank of the sacred Ganga river. Lord Shiva, sometimes referred to as Vishwanatha or Vishweshwarar, which means "the ruler of the universe," is the primary deity of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple is crowded with devotees all year round since it is commonly thought that visiting it and then taking a bath in the sacred Ganges is the best way to achieve emancipation, or "Moksha." 

2. Tungnath Temple - Nestled at a height of 3680 metres, the highest Shiva temple in the world is located in the Rudraprayag District, amidst the magnificent mountains of Tungnath. It is thought to have been from a bygone era that was nearly a millennium old and is one of the Panch Kedars. Arjuna (the third Pandava Prince) laid the foundation stone for this temple. There are twelve shrines dedicated to different gods encircling the temple, which was constructed in the North Indian architectural style.  

3. Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple - On the southern bank of the Vaigai River in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, sits the ancient Meenakshi Amman temple. Constructed approximately between 1623 and 1655, the site's magnificent construction is well-known around the world. The principal deities of Meenakshi Temple are Devi Parvati, also known as Meenakshi, and her husband Lord Shiva. This temple is distinct from the others in that it worships both God and Goddess simultaneously. 

4. Lingaraj Temple - The greatest temple in the city is the Lingaraj Temple, an old temple located in Bhubaneswar. The temple was constructed in the seventh century by King Jajati Keshari and is, as its name implies, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Linga here, a manifestation of Lord Shiva, is thought to have emerged naturally, which is why it is widely venerated. 

5. Lepakshi Temple - The magnificent Lepakshi temple also called the Veerbhadra temple, is situated in the remote Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh. It is well-known for its stunning architecture, which features ceiling-mounted pillars and astonishingly large cave chambers! Lepakshi, which served as the centre of the Veerabhadra shrine, is important both culturally and archaeologically. It was once the centre of the Vijayanagara Empire.  

6. Draksharamam - One of the five most significant and potent temples in the nation devoted to Lord Shiva is Draksharamam Temple, which is situated on the eastern bank of the Godavari. The temple's architecture, located 40 kilometres from Rajahmundry, is from the eleventh century.  

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7. Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple - Located in Srisailam, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple also known as the Srisailam Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to the deities Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati. Being one of the eighteen Shakti Pithas and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, this temple holds significance for both Shaivism and Shaktism in Hinduism. The lingam is used to symbolise Lord Shiva, who is revered as Mallikarjuna.