If you are interested in knowing the roots of India and exploring the unadulterated part of Indian history, then you need to visit the temples of Southern India. 

The temples are majestic, have some intriguing hidden story behind them, and are in perfect geometrical alignment with the cosmos. Well, I cannot shut up once I start speaking about the awe-inspiring South Indian temples. 

If it were up to me, I would have declared that every temple in the south is a must-visit one. But I cannot do that, so instead, I will give you the names and some details of five temples that you just cannot miss during your travels to the southern part of India. 

Without further ado, let us head to the list.

 Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

This temple has hidden secrets in its archaeology that will make you ask, ‘Were our ancestors more advanced than us’! Let me tell you five secrets. 

• This temple has a hall consisting of a thousand pillars that are arranged in a fashion that you can see all the pillars till the end when you stand at the entrance of the hall. The surprising fact is that the entire structure is made of a single rock! It looks absolutely mesmerizing. 
• You will find musical pillars in the temple. Different pillars give out different music notes (like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa). I tried this myself, and the experience is still imprinted in my memory. 
• Another important fact about this temple is that it is dedicated to a female deity, Meenakshi, a Parvati form (which is a kind of uncommon phenomenon in the southern part of India). 
• The temple also has a unique Nataraja idol with its right leg raised to depict Shiva’s dancing. Usually, a Nataraja idol is seen with the left leg raised. 
• It is a colorful temple that houses 33000 sculptures in it. 

In short, this temple is an architectural marvel with the depiction of Dravidian architecture at its best. When in Tamil Nadu, visit this temple in India. 

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

We popularly know this temple as Tirupati Balaji Temple and it is one of the most worshipped temples in Southern India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (an incarnation of lord Vishnu). The temple nestles amidst the Venkata Hills, which is a part of one of the 7 hills of Tirumala Hills. A good thing about the place is you can embark on a solo trip to this place. (well, if you are a solo traveller, there are some amazing solo travelling places in India to check out). 

This temple became extremely famous because we believe that it will be the abode of Lord Vishnu himself when Kali Yuga arrives. The architecture of the temple adheres to the ideologies of Agama Shilpa (an architectural style specific to southern India). The temple contains towering Gopurams, magnanimous courtyards, and intricate carvings on the walls of the temple. 

• It is one of the most sacred pilgrimages of Hindus, especially in the South. One quirky fact about this temple is that people offer their hair in the temple as a token of devotion. 
• You will be amazed to know that this temple is one of the richest temples in the world. Devotees offer cash, precious metals, and other valuable offerings in the temple. 

Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 

This is a special temple and for a variety of reasons. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is an important pilgrimage site for many devotes. Apart from being a sacred spot for many, the temple is also known for its architectural grandeur. Let us see how.

• The main tower of the temple is 66m tall, which makes this temple the tallest one in the entire world
• The entire temple is made with granite which is hard to find near a temple site. Over and above that, we can also find a massive rock structure at the peak of the temple. This is a representation of engineering skills at its best. 
• Around the temple, there are fortified walls that enhance the grandeur and magnanimity of the temple. You will be amazed to see that the stones of this temple are joined without mortar, signifying interlocking joints serving as the foundation of the temple. 
• One quirky fact about the temple is that it casts no shadow at noon, on the ground. This shows that the engineers who built this temple were way ahead of their time in architectural genius. 

To sum up, this temple is a testament to the artistic capabilities and brilliance of the Chola Dynasty, and you should visit this temple to see the brilliant structure. When you are here, do not miss checking out the gigantic Nandi structure carved out with a single rock. 

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 

You must have heard about this temple because of the reclining Vishnu idol (because that is a rare occurrence for any temple in India). If we talk about architecture, you will find architectural elements of the Dravidian style and Kerala style. To witness the beauty of the temple, you will need to come to Thiruvananthapuram. If you are travelling from nearby state, then I will suggest you to take the bus to reach here. You can find a lot of bus services offering great discounts on online bookings and a lot of freebies to go along with it. 

• The temple is quite a famous name because people believe that there is a lot of wealth hidden beneath the temple grounds. The temple also has hidden vaults. The most famous among all the vaults is Vault B. There are a lot of interesting stories and mysteries surrounding this vault!
• The temple is not only of religious importance but also has historical importance to it. The temple dates back to the 8th century and has a lot of stored hidden secrets behind its walls.

Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

We know that one of the much-acclaimed forms of Shiva is that of lord Nataraja and this temple is a tribute to this particular form of the lord. Nataraja is a form of creation along with dance, and all the artists wanting to do something in the dancing field, worship this form of Shiva. 

• If you believe you are really spiritual, then this temple can be a litmus test of your belief. The temple features a hidden space named, Chidambara Rahasyam. It is believed that lord Shiva and goddess Parvati are present in their original form in this space, but are visible only to a truly spiritual person. 
• Unlike the entire Shiva temple, this temple features an image of Nataraja adorned with precious jewels. 
• The temple is also an architectural marvel. Right from the placement of tiles on the roof of the temple to the entrance path, everything depicts a human body and the body’s energy channels. 
• Some researchers say that the temple is constructed right at the center of the earth’s magnetic equator. This temple is also one of the Pancha Bhuta Sthalam temples (five elements) in India, representing ether. 

Our Last Words

Once I completed my Southern Sojourn, I started believing in the fact that India is much more than what meets the eye. There are a lot of secrets hidden in the Indian temple walls and grounds. There is a lot of architectural brilliance and expertise hidden in the construction of these temples. You just need to visit these temples with an open eye, open mind, and definitely an open heart; you will witness all the magic and miracles, right in front of your eyes.