Famous Temples In India: India is a land of rich culture, heritage, and deep spiritual roots. There are thousands of Famous Temples In India that attract millions of devotees and tourists every year. Check the State Wise Famous Temples in India list along with description and key facts.
Famous Temples in India
India is home to some of the world’s most magnificent temples. These temples are not just places of worship, they are stunning architectural marvels that reflect centuries of artistry, devotion, and tradition. For aspirants preparing for competitive exams like IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Grade B, IBPS RRB PO, and IBPS Clerk, questions about famous temples regularly appear in the General Awareness / Economy / Banking Awareness section. Let us explore the most famous temples in India, state-wise.
State Wise List of Famous Temples in India
The complete State Wise List of Famous Temples in India is as follows:
| S.No. | Temple Name | Location |
| 1. | Badrinath Temple | Badrinath, Uttarakhand |
| 2. | Kedarnath Temple | Kedarnath, Uttarakhand |
| 3. | Kashi Vishwanath Temple | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
| 4. | Golden Temple | Amritsar, Punjab |
| 5. | Amarnath Temple | Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir |
| 6. | Vaishno Devi Temple | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 7. | Akshardham Temple | New Delhi |
| 8. | Konark Sun Temple | Konark, Odisha |
| 9. | Brihadeeswara Temple | Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu |
| 10. | Lingaraj Temple | Bhubaneshwar, Odisha |
| 11. | Somnath Temple | Saurashtra, Gujarat |
| 12. | Jagannath Temple | Puri, Odisha |
| 13. | Kamakhya Temple | Guwahati, Assam |
| 14. | Siddhivinayak Temple | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| 15. | Shirdi Sai Baba Temple | Shirdi, Maharashtra |
| 16. | Khajuraho Temples | Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh |
| 17. | Tirupati Balaji Temple | Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh |
| 18. | Virupaksha Temple | Hampi, Karnataka |
| 19. | Meenakshi Temple | Madurai, Tamil Nadu |
| 20. | Ramanathaswamy Temple | Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu |
| 21. | Padmanabhaswamy Temple | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| 22. | Sabarimala Temple | Pathanamthitta, Kerala |
| 23. | Dakshineswar Kali Temple | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| 24. | Mahakaleshwar Temple | Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh |
| 25. | Dwarkadhish Temple | Dwarka, Gujarat |
Famous Temples in India – Key Features & Facts
Below are the important facts about India’s most celebrated temples, especially relevant for the GA section of IBPS PO Mains, SBI PO Mains, and RBI Grade B Phase I:
| Temple Name | Location | Key Feature / Fact |
| Tirupati Balaji Temple | Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh | Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara; one of the most visited and wealthiest temples in the world with Dravidian architecture. |
| Golden Temple | Amritsar, Punjab | Also called Harmandir Sahib; the holiest Sikh shrine, plated with gold. |
| Somnath Temple | Prabhas Patan, Gujarat | One of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva; reconstructed in 1951 by Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. |
| Vaishno Devi Temple | Katra, Jammu & Kashmir | Situated 5,200 feet above sea level; one of the most-visited cave temples in India. |
| Meenakshi Temple | Madurai, Tamil Nadu | Famous for its Dravidian architecture and elaborate 14 gopurams; dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi. |
| Konark Sun Temple | Konark, Odisha | Built in the 13th century; a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed as a colossal chariot of the Sun God. |
| Khajuraho Temples | Madhya Pradesh | Famous for Nagara-style architecture and intricate sculptures; a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| Brihadeeswara Temple | Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu | Built during the Chola period; a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its tall granite vimana. |
| Jagannath Temple | Puri, Odisha | Dedicated to Lord Jagannath; world-famous for the annual Rath Yatra chariot festival. |
| Kamakhya Temple | Guwahati, Assam | One of the 51 Shakti Peethas; situated on Nilachal Hills, a major Tantric centre. |
| Padmanabhaswamy Temple | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Dedicated to Lord Vishnu in a reclining posture; famed for its Chera-Dravidian architectural style. |
| Kashi Vishwanath Temple | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | One of the holiest Shiva temples in India; located on the banks of the Ganga River. |
| Akshardham Temple | New Delhi | A modern architectural marvel showcasing India’s cultural heritage with intricate stone carvings. |
| Virupaksha Temple | Hampi, Karnataka | Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi; built during the Vijayanagara Empire. |
| Ramanathaswamy Temple | Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu | One of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples; has the longest temple corridor in India. |
Top 10 Famous Temples in India
Here is a quick overview of India’s Top 10 Famous Temples, which are most frequently asked in banking and competitive exams:
1. Tirupati Balaji Temple, Andhra Pradesh – Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, this is one of the richest and most-visited temples in the world.
2. Golden Temple, Punjab – Also known as Harmandir Sahib, it is the holiest shrine in Sikhism and draws millions of pilgrims annually.
3. Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu & Kashmir – Located in the Trikuta Mountains, devotees trek to this cave shrine to seek blessings of Goddess Vaishno Devi.
4. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttar Pradesh – Dedicated to Lord Shiva on the banks of the Ganga; among the most sacred temples for Hindus.
5. Meenakshi Temple, Tamil Nadu – Located in Madurai; known for towering gopurams, vibrant festivals, and elaborate Dravidian carvings.
6. Somnath Temple, Gujarat – One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva; holds immense religious and historical significance.
7. Jagannath Temple, Odisha – Famous for the annual Rath Yatra and deep cultural heritage; dedicated to Lord Jagannath.
8. Amarnath Temple, Jammu & Kashmir – A Himalayan cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva; pilgrims visit during a short summer yatra.
9. Akshardham Temple, Delhi – A modern wonder built with intricate pink sandstone; dedicated to Swaminarayan and Indian civilisation.
10. Brihadeeswara Temple, Tamil Nadu – A UNESCO World Heritage Chola temple in Thanjavur, famous for its towering 66-metre vimana.
Temples of India as UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Must Know for Banking Exams
UNESCO World Heritage Sites overlap heavily with the temples listed above, and this combination is a high-frequency topic in IBPS PO Mains and RBI Grade B Phase I GA sections. Below are the key temple-related UNESCO sites you must not miss:
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | State | Year of Inscription |
| Konark Sun Temple | Odisha | 1984 |
| Brihadeeswara Temple (Great Living Chola Temples) | Tamil Nadu | 1987 / 2004 |
| Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh | 1986 |
| Hampi (includes Virupaksha & Vitthala Temples) | Karnataka | 1986 |
| Mahabodhi Temple Complex | Bihar | 2002 |
| Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1987 |
| Ajanta & Ellora Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 / 1983 |
Banking Exam Tip: In IBPS PO and SBI PO Mains, Static GK questions frequently combine temple locations with their UNESCO status, the year of inscription, or the dynasty that built them. Always revise these together rather than in isolation. Refer to PracticeMock’s blog on Static GK for RBI Grade B for a comprehensive topic-wise approach.
How Famous Temples GK Helps in Banking Exams – Section-Wise Importance
If you are a banking aspirant, you might wonder why temples matter in your exam prep. Here is exactly where this topic appears:
IBPS PO Mains – General/Economy/Banking Awareness: Banking awareness and current affairs questions dominate the GA section, with around 60–70% of questions from these areas, while the rest come from Static GK and general topics. Temples, national monuments, and heritage sites form a consistent part of that Static GK pool.
SBI PO Mains – General Awareness: The GA section in SBI PO Mains is typically a mix of current affairs from the last 6 months, banking awareness, and static GK, with questions related to RBI circulars, financial terms, and government schemes. Temples that are in the news — such as newly opened corridors or those linked to government schemes — become current affairs + Static GK crossover questions.
RBI Grade B Phase I – General Awareness: Static GK for RBI Grade B is deeply connected with current affairs, banking awareness, reports, RBI updates, international organizations, committees, and economic developments — making it important for aspirants to stop preparing Static GK in isolation. Temples under ASI protection or linked to tourism economic data can appear here.
IBPS RRB PO Mains – General Awareness: Static GK is an important part of the IBPS RRB PO Syllabus and covers most concepts such as national parks, rivers, lakes, banking institutions, important days, books and authors, and major financial institutions. Famous temples by state are a standard sub-topic within this.
To sharpen your Static GK and GA performance across all these exams, try PracticeMock’s topic-wise tests and Banking Live Tests that simulate real exam conditions.
Upcoming Banking Exams 2026 – Prepare Static GK Now
Static GK on Indian temples is relevant for all major banking exams coming up this year. Here is a quick snapshot of upcoming exams where this topic can help you score:
| Exam | What to Expect in GA |
| IBPS PO 2025 | Static GK, Banking Awareness, Current Affairs – temple-related questions in Mains |
| IBPS RRB PO 2025 | State-wise GK including temples, national parks, and rivers |
| RBI Grade B 2025 | Heritage sites linked to economic/cultural policy questions |
| SBI PO 2026 | Descriptive + objective GA; temple corridors linked to govt schemes |
| IBPS Clerk 2025 | State-wise Static GK; location-based temple questions |
Pro Tip from PracticeMock: Don’t just memorise temple names. Link each temple to its state, deity, architectural style, and whether it is a UNESCO site. This multi-layered approach helps you answer both direct and application-based GA questions confidently. Start your preparation today with a Free IBPS PO Mock Test or a Free RBI Grade B Mock Test on PracticeMock.
Other Related Links
| Topic | Link |
| List of National Parks in India | PracticeMock Blog |
| IBPS PO General & Banking Awareness Weightage | PracticeMock Blog |
| How to Prepare Static GK for IBPS RRB PO | PracticeMock Blog |
| RBI Grade B Static GK Top Topics | PracticeMock Blog |
| IBPS RRB Notification 2025 | PracticeMock Blog |
| SBI PO Notification 2025 | PracticeMock Blog |
FAQs
Where is Badrinath Temple located?
Badrinath Temple is located in Badrinath, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Which is the richest temple in India?
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala is considered the richest temple in India.
Which state has the most famous temples in India?
Tamil Nadu is often called the “Temple State of India” owing to its thousands of ancient Dravidian-style temples.
Where is the Golden Temple located?
The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is located in Amritsar, Punjab.
Which temple has the longest corridor in India?
Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu has the longest corridor among Hindu temples in India.
Is temple GK asked in IBPS PO and SBI PO?
Yes. Famous temples, their state, deity, and UNESCO status are regularly asked in the Static GK component of the GA section in IBPS PO Mains, SBI PO Mains, RBI Grade B, and IBPS RRB PO Mains exams.