Top 7 Largest Temples In The World

According to the Cambridge dictionary, a temple is considered a building that is used for the purpose of worshipping a god. While it is not common for a particular religion to classify its place of worship as a temple, it is commonly accepted in certain regions. 

While some temples can be relatively small in size, others can be as huge as the eye can see. There are various huge temples around the world that holds cultural and religious value to people around the world.

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Here we would like to share with you the top 7 largest temples in the world that you can visit. Most of the temples on this list can be found in a single nation.

7. Ekambareswarar Temple (92,860 Sqm)

Ekambareswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. As one of the biggest temples in India, it has a huge area size of 92,860 sqm. At this location, you can find multiple gopuras and shrines with numerous visitors coming here all the time.

Perhaps the most popular structure at the Ekambareswarar would be the thousands-pillared hall and there are many amazing structures for you to see. There have been many legendary stories about this temple and it is definitely a place to go to for religious enthusiasts.

6. Annamalaiyar Temple (101,171 Sqm)

Devotees visiting this temple are warmly welcomed by the majestic grandeur of the edifice. The Annamalaiyar temple is also located in Tamil Nadu, India, and surrounding it will be a relatively calm environment that spread across a huge span area of 101,171 sqm.

It is a prominent Shiva temple associated with the "Pancha Bhoota Stalas" which are the five elements in Hinduism. There is definitely many unique history behind the establishment of this temple.

5. Belur Math Temple (160,000 Sqm)

Belur Math or some might call it Belur Mutt is the headquarter of Ramakrishna Math and Mission that was founded by Swami Vivekananda, a student prefect of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

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The temple is located by the western riverbank of the Hooghly River, West Bengal, India. On top of that, the Belur Math Temple is a crucial institution and the heart of the Ramakrishna movement.

The temple is known for its amazing architecture that combines Hindu, Christianity, and Islam motives as a symbol of religious unity.

4. Thillai Nataraja Temple (160,000 Sqm)

Thillai Nataraja temple or Chidambaram temple is a Hindu sacred temple for the Hindus that will dedicate themselves to the goddess of Shiva. It can also be found in Tamil Nadu, India and it is a huge temple complex with an area of 160,000 sqm in the middle of the city.

The building is fully utilized for the purpose of worshipping and many people visit this temple each day. The temple was constructed during the 10th century when Chidambaram used to be the capital of the Chola dynasty.

3. Akshardham Temple (240,000 Sqm)

Akshardham is a complex Hindu temple that is situated in Delhi, India. It is also referred to as Delhi Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham as this complex features thousands of cultures, spirituality, and traditional Indian architecture.

The building was inspired and handled by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the leader of spirituality. He had 3,000 volunteers who helped 7,000 workers build the Akshardham. The temple has a vast size area of 240,000 sqm making it the third largest temple in the world.

2. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (631,000 Sqm)

Sri Rangathaswamy is constantly listed as the biggest functional Hindu temple in the world. The temple sits at an area of 631,000 sqm and has a perimeter of 4,116 meters. The temple is surrounded by 7 centered walls known as prakarams with an overall length of more than 6 miles.

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This wall is surrounded by 21 Gopurams which are monumental towers of the temple. This temple is fully dedicated to the God of Vishnu. Despite the temple's huge size, not all of them are used for religious activity as some of the space is turned into restaurants, hotels, and residences.

1. Angkor Wat (820,000 Sqm)

Angkor Wat is a unique temple found in Angkor, Cambodia and it was built for its King, Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. It has since become the country's capital city and has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Similar to the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Angkor Wat is a temple fully dedicated to Vishnu and then Buddha. It is recognized as the biggest temple in the world with a massive size area of 820,000 sqm.

Source:

• Cambridge Dictionary

• Hindu FAQs

Also read: Top 6 Largest Palaces In The World