10 Incredible Temples to Visit in Southern India

The South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh are home to more than 100,000 Hindu temples, which have stately towers called gopurams often recognizable from far away. These temples serve as religious areas for worshipers who congregate there daily or seasonally to demonstrate their devotion to the major gods (Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva) and their consorts. Most of the temples are dedicated to Shiva or Vishnu, often with intricately carved corridors, mysterious inner sanctums, and idols often fashioned out of gold or silver. The darshan—the moment of seeing this holy person or deity—is considered a sacred moment for many temple visitors.—Charu Suri