This is the Ganga flowing along Varanasi. It is one of the most recognised riverfronts of India. Since 2014, these ghats have undergone a major clean-up and rehabilitation along with control of pollution along the river Ganga.

Udupi near Mangalore is a popular pilgrimage. The Sri Krishna temple in Udupi is believed to house the deity of Krishna from Dwarka after the town was submerged in the sea. Krishna is worshipped as a child in Udupi and is seen through a small latticed window with nine holes.

The Thrissur Pooram is held in April/May and is one of the largest and most famous of festivals in Kerala. Pooram is a congregation of deities. Ten deities around the Vadakkunathan temple participate in the Thrissur Pooram. It involves ritual procession of the deities to the Vadukkunathan temple, a rhythmic performance called Panchavadyam, exchange of parasols, elephant procession and fireworks.

Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple was built in 984 AD and improved by many others later. The main deity in the garbhagriha is the colossal image of Vishnu in form of Ranganatha reclining on the coils of adisesha whose widespread seven hoods form a canopy. The temple is set on the banks of the river Cauvery.

The Srrangam temple in Tamil Nadu is the largest living temple complex in the world. The temple was built in the Chola period and was expanded in the Hoysala period. It faced destruction by the sultanates in the 14th century. It has been continuously restored since then. The Gopuram which was the tallest in India when it was completed was constructed as late as 1987.

The colossal monolith deity of Gomateeswara is in Sravanabelagola near Hassan in Karnataka. It is 17.5 meters high and is sculpted from a single piece of granite. It was sculpted in the late 10th century and the complex was gradually expanded since then.

The Sun Temple of Konark was built in the 13th century. It was conceived as a gigantic solar chariot with 12 pairs of exquisitely ornamented wheels dragged by seven horses. It originally consisted of a Shikhara and Jagmohana. The Shikara is now collapsed and only the Jagmohana is intact though with severe damage.

The Kandriya Mahadev temple is the largest of the temples in Khajuraho and is considered as the best example of Indian temple architecture. The temple was built by Chandela rulers in early 11th century. The Shikara rises to 102 feet and has 84 mini spires. It is richly sculpted. The roof consists of a series of graded peaks that resemble a mountain range with which an Indian temple is frequently likened.

Renukaji is set in the secluded Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. Renukaji is the birthplace of Lord Parashurama. His mother, Renukaji, took permanent refuge in the lake and is said to rise from the lake once a year to fulfil Parashurama’s request. The large Renuka lake is named after her and there is a smaller lake for Parashuram. The overflow of Renuka lake feeds Parashuram lake.

The Tiruchendur shore temple dedicated to Lord Karthikeya is one among the oldest temples in Tamil Nadu with references dating to the 9th century, It is one of the six abodes of Lord Karthikeya and is set on a small rock on the sea shore. It has an impressive temple tower that is 45 mts high. The site marks the place where Lord Karthikeya slayed demon Surapadma in an intense six day war.

The Ranakpur temple is dedicated to the first Tirthankara – Adinatha. The temple is designated as Caumukha, with four faces. It was built in the early 15th century. It covers an area of 3716 square meters and contains twenty nine halls. It contains four hundred and twenty pillars and no two are alike. The temple is full of exquisitely carved marble sculptures. It inspired other Caumukha temples like the Dilwara Caumukha temple dedicated to Parsvnatha and Palitana.

The Lingaraja temple dated to 11th century is the loftiest temple with the Vimana reaching upto 36.5 mts height and a Jagmohana which itself reaches to 29 mts in height. The complex has a number of other temples.

Devprayag is the first Prayag from Rishikesh on the way to Badrinath. At Devprayag, Alaknanda and Baghirathi merge to form Ganga. A temple of Raghunathji is at the confluence and is believed to be under worship for 2000 years.

The Bateshwar temples are a cluster of almost 200 mini grandeurs made of sandstone, devoted to lords Shiva and Vishnu. Spread over 25 acres, these shrines were built across slanted hills near Padavali. The temples were constructed in the 8th to 10th century AD probably during the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty. The complex was dilapidated. About 60 temples were restored by Padmashri K.K Muhammed of ASI beginning in the year 2005.

The Jakhoo temple is at the top of the ridge and is the highest point in Shimla. It marks the place where Hanumanji heard Sage Yakoo’s chanting and stopped, before resuming his search for Sanjeevini. The temple complex has a 108 feet tall Hanumanji who looks down at the mall road and Shimla ridge below. The sunrise and the sunset are fabulous at Jakhoo. The slanting rays break through the tree leaves to light up the saffron coloured temple walls from different angles.

Jwalamukhi in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is one of the Maha Shaktipeeths of India. It is one of the rare Hindu temples without a deity. Blue Flames leap out of crevices in the rock and they are worshipped as Shakti. Jwalamukhi is close to Dhamramshala and two other Shaktipeeths, Kangra and Chintapurni.

Unakoti means less than a koti (or crore) in Bengali. The site is in Tripura along its eastern border with Bangladesh.

Prasumrameshwara temple in Bhubaneswar is one of the earliest of Orissa temples, dated to the 7th century AD. The shikara has an excellent carving of Kartikeya. The temple complex also houses a linga in which innumerable smaller lingas are carved. It is the earliest example in Orissa of a temple with a Jagmohana.

Mitaoli is near Morena and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. It is one among the few surviving Yogini temples of India. Circular in shape, it has 64 chambers along the inside circumference of the outer wall, each to host a Yogini which have all been removed now. Each of the chambers were supposed to have been capped by a Shikara but were then flattened later. It was built in the 11th century and is commonly believed as the inspiration for the parliament building in New Delhi.

Ki Monastery forms the grand trio of Spiti monasteries with Dhankar and Tabo. Ki is 1000 years old. It appears much larger than the other monasteries in size. It also houses the largest number of monks. From Kaza, it presents its vertical face in full glory, It looks like a building pinched out of worn out rock and mud face. White and dark brown structures stick out of the mountain face. It follows the contour of the rock and mud face and has several levels sliding one down the other.

The Gwalior Fort is atop a cliff. The Jain community had carved immense sculptures on the vertical rock faces of the hill. These are spread over five locations around the fort. These sculptures date to 15th century AD though some of them are believed to be from the 7th Century AD. These are immense in size but were destroyed by the army of Babur. Jains continue their worship in some of the sites.

The Bijli Mahadev temple is situated at the edge of a cliff overlooking the confluence of the rivers Beas and Parvati. It is regularly struck by lightning breaking the Shiv Ling, which is then put together by application of ghee. The name Bijli Mahadev is a result of these events. A tall staff with a metallic tip serves as a lightning attraction. There are signs warning the visitors not to touch the staff. It is a short trek from the road head approachable from Kullu.

Bharmour is surrounded by 16,000 feet high mountains on three sides. It is set deep within Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh and is one of the remotest locations of India. The Chaurasi temple complex at Bharmour is at a remarkable setting, open on five sides. It is a collection of temples, 84, believed to represent Lord Shiva’s 84 companions on his journey to Manimahesh. Many temples are tiny and many deities share a common space. The central temple of Manimahesh stands alongside a deodhar tree, almost double its height. The present temple structure is atleast 1100 years old.

Sarahan marks the killing of King Banasur by Lord Krishna and the kingdom that Krishna’s son, Pradyumna, started. It is deemed to have had an uninterrupted reign till modern times. The Bhimkali temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths (as per local belief though it is not formally recognised as one) and Sati’s ear is supposed to have fallen here. The temple also has a fearsome reputation of human sacrifice until 17th century, which travellers have written about. The temple is mix of stone, wood and slate, it both stands out and blends into the landscape.