21 Spectacular Places Of Worship In India

    From glistening domes to minarets of red sandstone, India has it all.

    Imaan Sheikh
    by Imaan Sheikh

    BuzzFeed India Contributor

    Hemis Monastery, Ladakh.

    alex hanoko / Via Flickr: alex_hanoko

    Every June, the Hemis festival, which is held in the honour of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), is held at the monastery. Traditional dancing and musical performances are involved.

    Jama Masjid, Delhi.

    Dennis Jarvis / Via Flickr: archer10

    The construction of the Jama Masjid, which has minarets made of red sandstone and white marble, was completed in 1656 AD. It cost Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ₹ 10 lakhs at the time.

    Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh.

    Lev Yakupov / Via commons.wikimedia.org

    The twelve-story monastery is built at an altitude of 3,600 metres, about 19 kilometres east of Leh.

    Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati.

    ShashiBellamkonda / Via Flickr: drbeachvacation

    The Tirumala Venkateswara is one of the most-visited places of worship in the world. It receives some of the heftiest donations any temple has been given.

    The Taj Mahal Mosque, Agra.

    Honza Soukup / Via Flickr: forthlinroad

    There is more to Taj Mahal than the mausoleum itself. You can have a full frontal view of the Taj from the gates of the mosque.

    The Harmandir Sahib AKA "The Golden Temple", Amritsar.

    jasleen_kaur / Via Flickr: jasleen_kaur

    Every day, over a 1,00,000 worshippers visit the temple, which is an exquisite sight especially in the night when its golden glow reflects in the water around it.

    Asifi Masjid or "Bara Imambara", Lucknow.

    Areeb Anwer / Via Flickr: areebanwer

    The Bara Imambara is one of the most magnificent buildings in all of Lucknow. It has its own labyrinth too!

    Chhota Imambara, Lucknow.

    Aquarajiv / Getty Images

    Located near the Bara Imambara, the Chota Imambara is called the Palace of Lights, because it is decorated with lights during the sacred month of Muharram.

    Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, Delhi.

    Art Poskanzer / Via en.wikipedia.org

    The best-known and the oldest Jain temple in all of India, the Lal Mandir (Red Temple) sits closely across the renowned Red Fort.

    Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa.

    Aruna Radhakrishnan / Via Flickr: arunar

    Among other beautiful things, this early 17th century church has a marble floor inlaid with precious gemstones.

    The Charminar, Hyderabad.

    Chris Connelly / Via Flickr: c_conn

    The Urdu words "char minar" translate to "four towers" which, in this case, are absolutely grand. From a landmark point of view, the Charminar is to Hyderabad what the Eiffel tower is to Paris.

    Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim.

    Indrajit Das / Via commons.wikimedia.org

    The scenery of a river flowing and a mountainous backdrop of this monastery make it an absolute treat to the eyes and soul.

    Keshava Temple, Somanathapura.

    Nikhil Verma / Via Flickr: nikhilverma

    The elaborately designed temple was built in 1268 C.E. by King Narasimha the Third.

    Se Cathedral, Old Goa.

    Aruna Radhakrishnan / Via Flickr: arunar

    The Se Cathedral is said to be the largest in Goa.

    Namdroling Monastery, Mysore.

    Sahyadri H S / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Over 5,000 monks and nuns live at the exquisite Namdroling, which is short for "Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub Dargyeling."

    The Lotus Temple, Delhi.

    Naveen0301 / Getty Images

    The lotus-shaped Bahá'í temple is an architectural wonder and a popular attraction in the city of Delhi.

    St. Philomena's Church, Mysore.

    Vikas Rana / Via Flickr: ranavikas

    The Neo Gothic style church was built in 1936, and its design was inspired by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

    Dakhineshwar Temple, Kolkata.

    Knath / Via commons.wikimedia.org

    The Dakhineshwar Temple is not only beautiful to look at, but also rich in history.

    St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Bangalore.

    Saad Faruque / Via Flickr: cblue98

    The mid-nineteenth century cathedral houses three whole schools!

    Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara, Fatehgarh Sahib.

    jasleen_kaur / Via Flickr: jasleen_kaur

    The glorious gurdwara was built in the memory of Guru Gobind Singh martyred sons, who were bricked alive into a wall in 1704 by the then governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan.

    Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi.

    Sakeeb Sabakka / Via Flickr: sakeeb

    The golden domes of this 1664 gurdwara glisten in the waters near it at night.

    Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram.

    Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / Via Flickr: dalbera

    The Thillai Natarajah or Chindambaram Temple is covered with extremely intricately designed art, which is not only a strikingly beautiful to look at, but also rich in philosophical meaning.