- India's temples are symbols of religious devotion.hindu temple in india image by Michael Drager from Fotolia.com
Located throughout India are large structures that have stood for thousands of years built from stones, brick and mortar. Many of these monuments such as the Taj Mahal have become international tourist destinations. Religious monuments offer visitors another side of India's history, one that shows the religious devotion of its rulers, whether Hindu, Buddhist or Muslim. The religious monuments, which served as former temples, are also feats of architectural design. - The Mahabodhi Mahavihard, also known as the Bodhgaya Temple or Great Stupa, was created in 260 B.C. by Emperor Asoka. One of 84,000 shrines erected by the former leader, it is located in Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar. It covers 12 acres and is sanctified as the location where Siddhartha Gautama Buddha was enlightened in 531 B.C. before spreading Buddhism to the world. It provides visitors with many attractions including the Sacred Bodhi Tree, the tree where Buddha spent the first week after enlightenment; the 164-foot Main Temple, where Buddha spent his second in meditation; the Vajrasana, known as the Diamond Throne where Buddha was enlightened; Cankamana, a cloister walk where Buddha spent his third week of meditation; and Ratanaghara, the Jewel House where Buddha spent his fourth meditative week. Several other attractions honor the further meditative locations of Buddha. The Meditation Park, located southeast of the temple, is a relatively new addition that includes congregation and discussions courts, two large prayer bells, private meditation huts, and two water fountains. Visitors can meditate during the day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a small donation, and at night from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. with permission of the Chief Monk and a copy of a passport or Indian identity card. The temple also includes a book shop and library that includes a large number of books on Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Jainism.
- The stupas at Sanchi represent love, peace, trust, and courage.stupa image by Balogh Eniko from Fotolia.com
The Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, located 28 miles from the city of Bhopal in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, is a group of religious monuments that date between 200 and 100 B.C. Abandoned since the 14th century, it was re-discovered in 1818 and established as an archaeological site and museum with more than 50 monuments. The main monument is the Great Stupa, also known as Stupa 1, which dates back to the 2nd century B.C. The overall location provides a number of Asokan monoliths, palaces, temples and monasteries, each in a different state of preservation. Known for its wealth of Buddhist art and architecture, it has become one of the important places for Buddhist pilgrimages with a number of stupas that represent love, peace, trust, and courage. As of November 2010, the monuments are open to visitors from sunrise to sunset and the entrance fee is $5 for non-Indian residents and free for children under the age of 15. - The Temples of Khajuraho are located in the town of Khajuraho in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh approximately 385 miles southeast of New Delhi. The largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in India, there are more than 85 temples built between the years 950 to 1150. The Kandariya Temple is the best surviving example of a temple that combines both sculpture and architecture belonging to the Hindu and Jain religions. The temples are mostly constructed from sandstone without the use of mortar and consist of towers up to 116 feet high with a weight of up to 20 tons. It is also considered one of the seven wonders of India by the UNESCO World Heritage Site and proof of the Chandela Culture that existed before the Muslim invasion in the 12th century. The suggested way to visit the large property is on bicycle or by bicycle-rickshaw, which can be hired at several shops near the temples.
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