Seven temples
From a Himalayan pagoda to a Kerala sreekovil, each mandir is built in a real regional style, with the deity, offerings, music and customs that belong to it.
Nagara · Western IndiaLord Ganesha
A grand mandir of pink sandstone with domed halls and a soaring shikhara, set in gardens of peepal and banyan. Ganesha, remover of obstacles, wears his coat of sindoor in the Maharashtrian way. Begin here, for Ganesha is honoured first in every worship.
Himalayan pagodaLord Shiva
A pagoda of grey stone and dark deodar on dry stone terraces that climb from a glacial river ghat, its three copper roofs edged in gold and hung with bells. Climb past the hill shrines and Nandi on his terrace, then offer water and bilva to the lingam.
Dravidian · South IndiaLord Ram
A Dravidian temple of towering gopurams and long pillared corridors around a sacred tank. In the sanctum stands Ram Lalla, Rama as a child of five, carved in dark stone with a golden bow, as in Ayodhya.
KeralaLord Krishna
A Kerala temple of laterite and teak in the monsoon rain: a round sreekovil under a green copper cone, a cloister of red tiled roofs, a wall of brass lamps lit at dusk and a lotus pond among coconut palms. Home to Krishna as four armed Guruvayurappan.
Bengal terracottaMaa Durga
A nine spired temple of red brick and carved terracotta on a Bengal river plain, its natmandir and puja courtyard open to the autumn sky. Kash grass sways by the ghat and shiuli flowers fall at dawn. The Mother rides her lion, ten armed and serene, with her children beside her.
Hilltop shrineLord Hanuman
A small whitewashed shrine and a saffron flag atop a hill of great granite boulders, reached by a long white stair whose landings carry the Hanuman Chalisa. Inside, Vira Hanuman glows in his orange sindoor chola.
Lotus lakeMaa Lakshmi
A golden lotus bud temple on a marble island in a still lotus lake, reached by a causeway of lamps between white elephants. A star path circles the water with a shrine of one of the eight Lakshmis at every point. Come at dusk, when the lamps double in the water.
Every temple keeps the hours of a temple in India, so devotees everywhere gather at the same moment. Times may differ by a few minutes from temple to temple.