List of largest Hindu temples facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Hindu temples are special places of worship for people who follow the Hindu faith. These temples are often beautiful and very large, built to honor different Hindu gods and goddesses. Some of the biggest temples in the world are truly amazing structures, covering huge areas of land. This article explores some of the largest Hindu temples based on their size.

Amazing Large Temples
Temples Being Built
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Amazing Large Temples

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, a massive temple complex.

Angkor Wat is a massive temple complex located in Angkor, Cambodia. It covers an incredible 1,626,000 square meters, making it the largest religious structure in the world, according to the Guinness World Records. This temple was first built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. Over time, it slowly changed into a Buddhist temple.

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Jersey, USA

Detailed carvings at BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Jersey.

Located in Robbinsville, New Jersey, this huge Hindu temple complex covers 655,591 square meters. It includes a traditional temple, a welcome center, a museum, and event spaces. The main Akshardham temple opened on October 8, 2023. It is the second-largest Hindu temple globally and the biggest in the Western Hemisphere. The temple stands 58 meters tall.

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, India

The grand Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in India.

The Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple is dedicated to Vishnu. It is located in Tamil Nadu, India, and covers 631,000 square meters. This makes it the largest temple in India and the largest religious complex in the world that has been continuously used throughout history.

Sri Lakshmi Narayani Devi Temple, Sripuram, India

The golden Sri Lakshmi Narayani Devi Temple.

This temple is special because its main tower and hall are covered with pure gold! It houses the goddess Lakshmi Narayani, who is the Hindu goddess of wealth. The temple is built on 404,686 square meters of land in Vellore district, India.

Prambanan, Indonesia

Prambanan Temple, known for its tall spires.

Prambanan is a 9th-century Hindu temple complex in Central Java, Indonesia. It covers 398,000 square meters and is dedicated to the three main Hindu gods: Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. It is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. The central building, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is 47 meters tall. Prambanan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chhatarpur Temple, India

Chhatarpur Temple in Delhi.

Officially known as Shri Aadya Katyayani Shakti Peetham, this temple is in Chhatarpur, Delhi, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Katyayani. The entire temple complex is spread over a large area of 280,000 square meters.

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, Delhi, India

Akshardham Temple in Delhi.

This Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India, covers 240,000 square meters. It showcases thousands of years of Indian and Hindu culture, spirituality, and architecture. The Delhi Akshardham temple was opened on November 6, 2005. Thousands of volunteers and artisans helped build this amazing complex.

Prem Mandir, Vrindavan, India

Prem Mandir, the Temple of Divine Love.

Prem Mandir, meaning "The Temple of Divine Love," is a Hindu temple dedicated to Radha Krishna and Sita Ram. It is located in Vrindavan, India, and covers 222,577 square meters. The temple complex is on a 55-acre site and is maintained by Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat.

Kalika Bhagawati Temple, Nepal

Kalika Bhagawati Temple in Baglung, Nepal.

Also known as Baglung Kalika Bhagawati Temple, this important Hindu temple is in western Nepal. It covers 208,185 square meters and is situated on the southern banks of the Kali Gandaki River. The main goddess of the temple is Kalika, a fierce form of Shakti. The temple complex has many smaller temples dedicated to other gods like Shiva and Radha Krishna.

Besakih Temple, Indonesia

The Mother Temple of Besakih in Bali.

The Besakih Temple is a complex of temples in Bali, Indonesia, located on the slopes of Mount Agung. It is the most important, largest, and holiest Hindu temple in Bali, covering 200,000 square meters. The temple is built on six levels, terraced up the mountain slope, with 23 separate but connected temples.

Ramanuja Temple with 108 Divya Desams, India

The Statue of Equality at Ramanuja Temple.

This temple complex in Muchintal, India, covers 182,109 square meters. It features the "Statue of Equality," a statue of the 11th-century Indian philosopher Ramanuja. This is the second tallest sitting statue in the world. The temple grounds also include 108 Divya Desams, which are special Vishnu temples.

Belur Math, India

Belur Math, known for its unique architecture.

Belur Math is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda. It is located on the west bank of the Hooghly River in India and covers 160,000 square meters. This temple is famous for its architecture, which blends Hindu, Christian, and Islamic styles to symbolize the unity of all religions.

Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, India

Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram.

Also known as the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, this Hindu temple is dedicated to Nataraja, who is Shiva as the lord of dance. It is located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India, and covers 160,000 square meters. The temple complex also has shrines for other deities like Sivakami Amman and Vishnu.

Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur, India

The majestic Brihadisvara Temple, also called the Big Temple.

The Brihadeeswarar Temple, or the Big Temple, was built in 1010 CE and is dedicated to Shiva. It covers 102,400 square meters in Thanjavur, India. This temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its grand tower (Vimanam) which is 66 meters high. It also has a huge statue of Nandi, Shiva's bull, weighing about 25 tonnes.

Arunachalesvara Temple, India

Arunachalesvara Temple with its tall towers.

The Annamalaiyar Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Tiruvannamalai, India. It covers 101,171 square meters and is the second-largest temple by area used entirely for religious purposes. It has four tall towers and strong stone walls, like a fort. The tallest tower, the Rajagopuram, is 66 meters high.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple, India

Dakshineswar Kali Temple by the Hooghly River.

This temple is on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River in Kolkata, India. It covers 101,171 square meters. The main deity is Bhavatarini, a form of the goddess Kali. The temple was built in 1855 and is one of the largest temples in Bengal.

Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram, India

Gopuram of Varadharaja Perumal Temple.

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple is in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. It covers 95,000 square meters. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, which are special temples believed to have been visited by ancient poet saints.

Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi, India

Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannargudi.

The Rajagopalaswamy Temple is a Vaishnavite shrine in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, India. It covers 93,000 square meters. The front temple tower is 47 meters tall. The main deity is Rajagopalaswamy, a form of Lord Krishna. This temple is sometimes called Dakshina Dwarka, meaning "Southern Dwarka."

Ekambareswarar Temple and Nilathingal Thundam Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram, India

Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram.

This Hindu temple complex in Kanchipuram, India, covers 93,000 square meters. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. It is one of the five major Shiva temples representing the element Earth. It is also one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu.

Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur, India

Thyagaraja Temple in Tiruvarur.

The ancient Sri Thyagaraja Temple in Tiruvarur, India, is dedicated to Shiva. The temple complex covers over 81,000 square meters. It has a very large temple tank called Kamalalayam, which covers about 6.5 hectares. The temple also has the largest temple chariot of its kind in Tamil Nadu.

Vaishnava Nambi and Thirukurungudivalli Nachiar Temple, India

Thirukkurungudi Temple.

This temple in Thirukkurungudi, Tamil Nadu, India, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It covers about 74,866 square meters. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams and is sometimes called Bhuloka Vaikuntam, meaning "Heaven on Earth."

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto, Canada

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto, Canada, is a traditional Hindu place of worship. It covers 72,843 square meters. The temple was built in 18 months using 24,000 pieces of hand-carved marble and stone. It is the largest of its kind in Canada.

Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval, India

Jambukeswarar Temple in Thiruvanaikaval.

Thiruvanaikaval is a Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli, India. It covers 72,843 square meters. The temple was built by Kocengannan, an early Chola king, about 1,800 years ago.

Nellaiappar Temple, India

Nellaiappar Temple in Tirunelveli.

The Nellaiappar Temple, dedicated to Shiva, was built thousands of years ago in Tirunelveli, India. It covers 71,000 square meters. This temple is famous for its musical pillars, which make different sounds when struck, and its beautiful sculptures. Its temple car is the third largest in India and is over 510 years old.

Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, India

Meenakshi Temple in Madurai.

The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his wife, Parvati (known as Meenakshi). It covers 71,000 square meters and is the heart of the 2500-year-old city of Madurai, India. The complex has 14 magnificent towers called Gopurams, which are beautifully sculpted and painted.

Batu Caves, Malaysia

The impressive Batu Caves temple complex.

Rising almost 100 meters above the ground, the Batu Caves temple complex in Malaysia covers 65,000 square meters. It has three main caves and several smaller ones. The largest cave, Cathedral Cave, has a very high ceiling and beautiful Hindu shrines. Visitors climb 272 steps to reach it. A 42.7-meter tall statue of Lord Murugan was unveiled here in 2006.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Yadadri, India

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Yadadri.

Also known as Yadadri or Yadagirigutta temple, this Hindu temple is on a hill in Yadagirigutta, Telangana, India. It covers 62,000 square meters. The temple is dedicated to Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple, Victoria, Australia

Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Victoria.

This temple in Victoria, Australia, covers 61,000 square meters and is the largest Hindu temple in Victoria. It focuses on worshipping both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, bringing together two main Hindu traditions. It is popular for celebrating festivals like Holi and Diwali.

Vaitheeswaran Koil, India

Vaitheeswaran Temple.

The Vaitheeswaran Temple in India is dedicated to the god Shiva. It covers 61,000 square meters. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as "Vaitheeswaran," meaning "God of medicine." Many people believe that praying here can help cure diseases.

Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex, India

Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex.

This group of Hindu temples in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India, covers 54,106 square meters. It is built where the Hindu god Shri Krishna is believed to have been born. The temple has a very long history, dating back to at least 600 BCE.

Jagannath Temple, Puri, India

Jagannath Temple in Puri.

The Jagannath Temple in Puri, India, is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu. It covers 37,000 square meters. The name Jagannath means "Lord of the Universe."

Birla Mandir, Delhi, India

Birla Mandir in Delhi.

Also known as the Laxminarayan Temple, this Hindu temple in Delhi, India, covers 30,000 square meters. It is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and her husband Narayana (Vishnu). The temple was built between 1933 and 1939 by the Birla family.

Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, India

Gopuram of Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

This Hindu temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, covers 29,000 square meters. It is widely considered the world's richest Hindu temple. The city's name, Thiruvananthapuram, means "The City of Ananta," referring to a form of Vishnu. The temple's architecture blends Kerala and Dravidian styles.

ISKCON Temple, Bangalore, India

ISKCON Temple in Bangalore.

The Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra Temple in Bangalore, India, is one of the largest Krishna-Hindu temples in the world. It covers 28,000 square meters. It is dedicated to the Hindu deities Radha Krishna.

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Karachi, Pakistan

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Karachi.

The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Karachi, Pakistan, is the only Swaminarayan temple in the country. It covers 27,000 square meters. The temple is known for its size and is visited by both Hindus and Muslims. It celebrated its 150th anniversary in April 2004.

Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, India

Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple.

This temple in Thiruvellarai, Tamil Nadu, India, covers 26,300 square meters. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Legends say it was built by King Sibi Chakravarthy millions of years ago, making it older than the Srirangam temple. It has ancient inscriptions and sculptures from the Pallava period.

Temples Being Built

Here are some large Hindu temples that are currently under construction:

Planned Area (m²)	Capacity	Name	Expected Completion	City	Country	Comment
150,000	TBA	Perth Ram Temple	TBA	Perth	Australia	The Perth Ram Temple is planned to be one of the tallest religious monuments in the world. It is also expected to be one of the most expensive temples globally.
250,905	30,000	Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir	2024	Vrindavan	India	The Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir was expected to be the tallest religious monument in the world once completed. It is also likely to be one of the most expensive temples.
909,371	20,000	Viraat Ramayan Mandir	2025	Kesaria	India	The Virat Ramayan Mandir is planned to be almost double the height of the famous 12th-century Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia.
490,000	100,000	Ram Mandir	2024	Ayodhya	India	The Ayodhya Ram Temple is a Hindu temple being built at the pilgrimage site of Ram Janmabhoomi.
303,514	20,000	Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir	2022	Mayapur	India	The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur is a large Hindu temple that will also function as a Hindu planetarium.
110,000	–	BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi	2024	Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates	The BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi was expected to be the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East upon completion.
526,091	–	Carolina Murugan Temple	Yet to be confirmed	North Carolina	United States
6,968	1,500	Gurudarbar Sindhi Temple	2022	Dubai	United Arab Emirates