According to ancient architectural traditions, Hindu temples represent the cosmos symbolically. It is in the temple that the divine becomes visibly manifest. Temples are designed as spaces where the spiritual and material worlds intersect and where one can experience peace and transcendence. Temple architecture was given a lot of significance since ancient times and throughout the country, we can find many beautiful temples. In this article, we will talk about some of the upcoming grand temples in India which will surely become major tourist attractions once they are completed. They will set new milestones in India’s rich heritage and offer the pilgrims an unforgettable experience.
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Chandrodaya Vrindavan Temple
This grand temple was established on March 16, 2014, at the Holi festival and was first conceived by the devotees of the ISKCON temple in Bangalore. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is currently under construction and is expected to be complete and open to the public by 2026. The Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir is considered to be the world’s tallest religious monument that will stand at about 700 feet high. The total cost to build the temple would be approximately 300 crores, thus making it the world’s most expensive temple.
The temple complex sprawls over 26 acres while the temple is spread over 5 acres. The complex under construction will comprise 12 forests and 4 temples. The forests will be named Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamayavana, Khadiravana, Vrindavana, Bhadravana, Bilvavana, Lohavana, Bhandiravana and Mahavana after the twelve gardens of Braja. These forests will be modeled on the gardens described in the stories of Lord Shri Krishna. Each forest will consist of orchards, lush vegetation, green pastures, waterfalls, lotus ponds, musical fountains and artificial hillocks. The temples will be dedicated to Krishna Radha, Krishna Balram, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Swami Prabhupada.
Another special attraction of Vrindavan Chandrodaya Temple will be a capsule elevator that will take the devotees to the top from where they can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Braj Mandal. There is also a watch tower with telescopes that will help you witness the beauty of Vrindavan town.
Shri Ram Mandir, Ayodhya
Ram Mandir is a Hindu temple that is being built in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh at the site of Ram Janmabhoomi which according to the Ramayana epic is the birthplace of Lord Rama, the principal deity of Hinduism. The Bhoomi pujan ritual was performed on 5th August 2020 by India’s Prime Minister Narender Modi and construction work was started. The temple premises will include temples dedicated to the deities Surya, Ganesha, Shiva, Durga, and Hanuman.
The design of the temple has been prepared by the Sompura family of Ahmedabad. The temple will be 235 feet wide, 360 feet long, and 161 feet high. Once complete, the temple complex will be the world’s third-largest temple shrine. Larsen and Toubro offered to oversee the design and construction of the temple free of cost and is the contractor of the project.
Traditional techniques have been used to create the mandir, while at the same time, it has been ensured that the structure is strong enough to sustain natural calamities like earthquakes. The temple will be built on 10 acres and 57 acres of land will be developed into a complex with a prayer hall, a lecture hall, an educational facility, and other facilities like a museum and a cafeteria. The temple is expected to be inaugurated in early 2024.
Om Ashram, Pali, Rajasthan
In 1990, His Holiness Vishwaguru Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda Puri laid the foundation of a large-scale project called the “ Om Vishwa Deep Gurukul Swami Maheshwarananda Ashram Education and Research Centre”. It is commonly referred to as the Om Ashram. The main purpose of this center is to promote the ancient Indian science of Yoga and it is dedicated to the protection of all life, environment, and world peace. This great center is due for completion by the end of 2023.
It is the largest building in the shape of ‘OM’ in the world and has 108 residential rooms, libraries, shops, a conference center as well as a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The central building of this large complex is constructed in the shape of the ancient Sanskrit symbol OM. A lake will represent the crescent moon of the OM symbol.
The OM ashram is a place of pilgrimage for all those spiritual seekers who have embraced Yoga as a way of life. The building also houses various unique pieces of architecture constructed according to the ancient Vaastu shastra.
Maa Umiya Dham Temple Complex Near Ahmedabad, Gujarat
This is a colossal temple coming up near Ahmedabad in Gujarat. On completion, the temple tower is expected to be as high as 431 feet which is 166 feet shorter than the world’s tallest Statue of Unity. The temple dedicated to Goddess Umiya, the clan deity of Gujarat’s Patidar community( that uses the surname Patel), will be the central attraction of the Umiya Dham Complex. It will be spread over an area of 65 acres in Jaspur, Ahmedabad. The estimated budget of this grand temple is 1000 crores.
The temple will have an observation gallery at a height of 270 feet that will offer an exquisite view of the city’s landscape. It had been designed by Indian architects and German artists. The Umiya Mata Dham Temple complex will also accommodate a world-class guest house for NRI visitors, a medical care facility, an all-in-one sports facility, a career development center, a library, a banquet hall, and various recreational facilities like a theatre.
The foundation stone of the temple was laid out in December 2021. It is expected to be thrown open to the public in 2025.
Virat Ramayan Temple, Kesaria, Bihar
The project Viraat Ramayan Temple is the dream and concept of Acharya Kishore Kunal. The dream is to build the largest Hindu temple for Lord Rama in the world. Viraat Ramayan Mandir will be 1080 feet in length, 540 feet in width, and 270 feet in height. The location of this grand temple is Janki Nagar in Kaithwalia- Bahuara villages near Kesaria in North Bihar. The whole complex is spread over an area of 161 acres.
The renowned Hanuman( Mahavir) Temple at Patna, has undertaken the construction of the Virat Ramayan Temple and it is expected to be larger than even Angkor Wat Temple situated in Cambodia which is considered the largest Hindu Temple. The estimated cost of this temple complex is around Rs.500 crores.
The temple will have 18 homes for various Gods with a focus on Lord Rama and Sita. It will have a hall with a seating capacity of 20,000 people. In all, there will be 18 temples with high spires. The Shiva temple will comprise the largest Shiva linga in the world and it will be installed in such as way that devotees can easily offer water, etc. to the deity.
Shri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir , Mayapur, West Bengal
Also called ISKCON Mayapur, this is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple and the headquarters of ISKCON. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deities Radha Madhava. This temple, when completed, is expected to be the world’s largest temple and one of the tallest temples in the world. It was originally slated to be completed in 2022 but due to the COVID pandemic, it got delayed. Now the opening date is expected to be somewhere in late 2023.
Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir was inspired by the vision of ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada and the United States Capitol building. The construction of the temple started in 2010 and the estimated budget was $100 million. A large part of this budget was funded by Alfred Ford, the grandson of Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company.
The temple is a blend of Eastern and Western architecture. When fully completed, it is expected to be the world’s largest religious monument.
FAQs:
Q – What is the most important part of the temple architecture?
A – The Garbhagriha is the most important part of the temple architecture as it houses the image of the chief deity and is considered the heart of the temple.
Q – How did temple architecture began in India?
The temple architecture developed around 4 century B.C. during the Gupta period.
Q – Which is the oldest temple in the world?
The Mundeshwari Devi Temple, located in Ramgarh village, Bihar( India) is believed to be the oldest functional Hindu temple of the world. It is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva.
Q – Which is the wealthiest Hindu temple in the world?
The Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, in Thiruvanathapuram( Kerala, India) is widely regarded as the wealthiest Hindu temple in the world.
Q – Which is the biggest temple in the world in 2023?
The largest temple complex in the world is the Ankgor Wat, situated in Cambodia and dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu.
