India is a land of gods and old traditions. Out of these, Lord Shiva is the most celebrated god in India. In addition to India, some of the most beautiful Shiva temples are also located in foreign countries. The glory of Lord Shiva is widely known, and every year thousands of devotees visit the Shiva temple to seek the blessing of Shiva for a prosperous life. He holds great importance in Hindu tradition. Mahashivratri is the biggest celebration in which Hindus celebrate the mairrage anniversary of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati. Here is a list of some of the most famous Shiva temples spread throughout the world.
Pasupati Nath Temple, Nepal:-
Located in Kathmandu district, Nepal, on the bank of the Baghmati River, Pashupati Nath Temple is dedicated to Pashupati Nath, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The marvelous temple of Pashupatinath is built on 246 hectares, and the temple consists of 518 mini temples and the main pagoda house. The original date of its construction is unknown, but it is believed to have been constructed in 1692 CE. This temple is only open to Hindus; non-Hindus are not allowed to enter. To maintain the serenity of this temple, leather items like purses, belts, leather shoes, etc. are strictly prohibited in the temple compound. Every year, thousands of devotees visit this temple, and a ritual of special attention is Pashupati Baghmati aarti.
Amarnath Temple:-
Another marvel of nature located in India is Amarnath Temple, where shivling forms every year on its own. The shivlinga located here is known as Swayambhu Lingam, i.e., the lingam is naturally formed inside a 40-meter-tall cave. This shivlinga is believed to have been formed due to the water droplets falling from the roof of the cave. This holy shrine of Lord Shiva is located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. As per the holy scriptures and folklore, it is believed that after leaving everyone at different places and performing tandava, Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati entered into this cave. Lord Shiva became the lingam of ice, and Maa Parvati turned into the yoni of rock. The duration of the yatra is totally dependent on the duration of the lingam. It keeps on varying from 20 to 60 days in a year. Beside being a holy shrine, the view all around the Amarnath temple is extraordinary. For the Amarnath Yatra, you need to get yourself registered, and slots are provided as per the quota of states. Before visiting Amarnath Temple, you are supposed to go through multiple medical tests to ensure that you can survive the adverse climate and difficulties that arise from the high altitude. You can reach here on your own, but it's really tough to get everything arranged for you, so the best option is to book your Amarnath Yatra tour package with some reputation, and they will take care of all your travel needs.
Kedarnath Temple:-
The oldest and most important temple of Lord Shiva located in India is Kedarnath Temple. This temple is most important as it is a part of 12 jyotirlingas, panch kedar, chota char dham, do dham yatra, etc. Kedarnath temple is located at an altitude of 3583 meters above sea level in the middle of snow-capped mountains and the river Mandakini flows along the temple. Just by visiting this temple, you can attain salvation. Thousands of pilgrims visit this temple every year to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. Some of the pilgrims visit this temple on their own, while others take kedarnath yatra packages from any reputed company. In general, the price of a Kedarnath tour package ranges from 8000 to 10,000 per person, depending on the quality of services the company is providing. Kedarnath yatra holds great importance in Hindu tradition and is believed to have been done by Pandavas for the first time. The hump of a bull is being worshipped here. This is the only place in the world where shivlinga is in triangular form. In addition to being a pilgrimage spot, Kedarnath Temple is also known for its natural beauty. Thousands of youngsters visit Kedarnath Temple to admire the beauty of this temple. Kedarnath temple remains open only for six months a year due to heavy snowfall in this area. The most idle time to visit the Kedarnath temple is from May to June.
Munneshwaram Temple, Sri Lanka: -
Another prominent Hindu pilgrimage site of Lord Shiva is Munneshwaram Temple. As per the local Sri Lankan language, the word "man" means a long time ago, and "eshwaram" means god. As per the legend, it is believed to be associated with the Hindu epic Ramayana. It is believed that this temple is located at the same place where Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva after killing Ravana and atoning himself for the sin of Brahmahatya. This temple is one of the panch ishwaram and is a collection of five temples, including one Buddhist temple. The other three temples present in the temple compound are dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Kali, and Ayyanayake. So this temple is equally popular among Buddhist devotees. The temple has a wide history of construction and reconstruction. During the Portuguese invasion, this temple is believed to have been completely destroyed, but locals here saved many idols, which were re-established in the temple after its reconstruction by the locals. Manneshwaram and Navratri are two prominent festivals being celebrated in this temple. Thousands of pilgrims visit this temple during this time.
Prambanan Temple, Indonesia:-
The last temple in our series is Prambanan Temple, located in Indonesia. Located in southern Java, Indonesia, this temple is dedicated to Trimurti, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. This temple is announced as a world heritage site as it is the largest Hindu temple located in Indonesia and the second largest temple in Southern Asia. This temple is believed to have been standing here since the 9th century, and its beautiful architecture attracts thousands of pilgrims throughout the year. You can book your package for Prambnan Temple from any of the reputed companies that can take care of all your travel needs, including meals, guides, stays, etc.
