Top 10 Famous Temples in India (2026)
The most famous temple in India is the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, one of the most visited and richest places of worship in the world. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir, Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi and the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya complete the top five. Together they draw many millions of pilgrims every year.
The full ranking — 10 picks
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Top pickRank 1. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
Tirupati, Andhra PradeshSet in the Tirumala hills, the temple of Lord Venkateswara is one of the most visited places of worship in the world and among the richest. Pilgrims often wait hours for darshan, and many offer their hair as a vow. The temple trust, TTD, runs online darshan booking and a famous free meal service, and the laddu prasadam is known across India.
Lord Venkateswaradeity Andhra PradeshstateBest forPilgrims willing to book darshan slots in advancePhoto: Nikhilb239 · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Rank 2. Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib)
Amritsar, PunjabThe holiest gurdwara of Sikhism sits in the middle of the Amrit Sarovar pool, its upper floors covered in gold. The langar serves free meals to tens of thousands of people every day regardless of faith. Visitors must cover their heads and remove shoes, and the complex is open around the clock.
Sikhfaith PunjabstateBest forAnyone, of any faith, who wants to see the langar in actionPhoto: Shagil Kannur · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Rank 3. Vaishno Devi
Katra, Jammu and KashmirThe cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi sits in the Trikuta hills and is reached by a trek of about 12 km from the base town of Katra, with helicopter, battery car and pony options for parts of the route. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in north India, and registration through the shrine board is required.
Mata Vaishno Devideity Jammu and KashmirstateBest forPilgrims fit enough for a long uphill trekPhoto: Yatin. 123 · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Rank 4. Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Varanasi, Uttar PradeshOne of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Kashi Vishwanath stands close to the ghats of the Ganga in one of the oldest living cities in the world. The Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor, opened in 2021, links the temple directly to the river and made the crowded lanes far easier to walk. A visit is often combined with the evening Ganga aarti.
Lord Shivadeity Uttar PradeshstateBest forCombining with the Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh GhatPhoto: Architkumar1234 · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Rank 5. Ram Mandir
Ayodhya, Uttar PradeshThe temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site was consecrated on 22 January 2024 and has since become one of the most visited places in India. Built in the Nagara style from pink sandstone, it is dedicated to Lord Ram as a child, Ram Lalla. Ayodhya also got a new airport and a rebuilt railway station around the time of the opening.
Lord Ramdeity Uttar Pradeshstate 2024openedPhoto: Prime Minister's Office · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · GODL-India -
Rank 6. Jagannath Temple
Puri, OdishaBuilt in the 12th century, the Jagannath Temple is one of the four Char Dham sites and is best known for the Rath Yatra, when the deities are pulled through Puri on huge wooden chariots. Its kitchen is often described as one of the largest in the world. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple.
Lord Jagannathdeity OdishastateBest forVisiting during the Rath Yatra in June or JulyPhoto: Prachites · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Rank 7. Meenakshi Amman Temple
Madurai, Tamil NaduThis huge temple complex in the heart of Madurai is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi and her consort Sundareswarar, a form of Shiva. Its 14 gopurams, or gateway towers, are covered with thousands of painted sculptures. The temple is a major example of Dravidian architecture and hosts the Chithirai festival every spring.
Goddess Meenakshideity Tamil NadustateBest forAnyone interested in temple architecturePhoto: எஸ்ஸார் · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY 3.0 -
Rank 8. Somnath Temple
Prabhas Patan, GujaratSomnath is traditionally counted as the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas and stands on the Arabian Sea coast in Gujarat. It was destroyed and rebuilt many times through history, and the present temple was completed in 1951 after Independence. An evening light and sound show tells its story.
Lord Shivadeity Gujaratstate 1951rebuiltPhoto: B. SurajPatro1997 · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Rank 9. Kedarnath Temple
Rudraprayag, UttarakhandAt about 3,580 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas, Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and part of the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand. It is reached by a trek of about 16 km from Gaurikund, or by helicopter, and is open only from around April or May to October or November because of snow.
Lord Shivadeity Uttarakhandstate Summer season onlyopenBest forPilgrims who can manage altitude and a long trekPhoto: Shivam Kumar 766 · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Rank 10. Brihadeeswarar Temple
Thanjavur, Tamil NaduBuilt by the Chola king Rajaraja I and completed around 1010 CE, the Brihadeeswarar Temple is one of the largest temples in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Great Living Chola Temples. Its tall granite vimana tower dominates Thanjavur, and the temple is still in active worship.
Lord Shivadeity Tamil Nadustate about 1010 CEbuiltPhoto: Original: Rainer Halama Derivative work: UnpetitproleX · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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How this list was made
This list is ranked on how widely known each temple is across India, how many pilgrims it draws and how often people search for it, as of 2026. Visitor numbers are not measured the same way everywhere, so we do not quote exact counts. We have included one site from each of several traditions and regions rather than listing several Jyotirlingas or Char Dham shrines back to back. The Golden Temple, Sri Harmandir Sahib, is a gurdwara rather than a Hindu temple, but it is widely known as a temple and is one of the most visited religious sites in India, so it is included. Timings, dress codes and darshan booking rules are set by each temple and change often, so check the official website before you travel.
About this list
Top 10 Famous Temples in India (2026) runs from 1 to 10. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple takes the top spot, and Brihadeeswarar Temple closes it out at number 10. It was first published on 24 September 2026.
Spotted something out of date, or an entry you would rank differently? Tell us — the order on this page is revised as the picks change.
