If you believe marriages are made in heaven, getting married in a temple is the most divine thing to do. In today’s day and age, it is an unconventional sight. The soulfulness, calmness and positiveness of a temple make the wedding a very low-key affair. The simplicity that comes along with the spiritual atmosphere is a different experience altogether! If you’re a millennial who doesn’t want the mainstream extravaganza, here’s a list of temples where you could say your vows to your significant other:

1. Bhoga Nandishwara Temple, Karnataka

Want to get married amidst the hills? Bhoga Nandishwara Temple is situated at the bottom of Nandi Hills, 54km from Bangalore. Devoted to Lord Shiva, it is said to be the oldest temple in
Karnataka. The Uma Maheshwari shrine at the temple depicts Lord Shiva’s marriage to the goddess Parvati. This is the reason why this shrine is popular among newly weds who come to seek
blessing.

2. Konark Sun Temple, Odisha

Along the coastline of Odisha, 35km from Puri remain the ruins of the Konark Sun Temple Known for its exquisite stone carvings, it appears to be a 100 foot high chariot with immense wheels and horses. The Europeans called it Black Pagoda due to its dark colour and its magnetic power (hopefully you’re not getting married to Iron Man, so this shouldn’t cause any dilemma) that drew ships into the shore.

3. Brihadishwara Temple, Tamil Nadu

More than a millennium old, Brihadishwara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated in the city of Thanjavur. A part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, this temple is full of mysteries and
spellbinding architecture. It has the world’s tallest vimanam (temple tower) and a massive statue of Nandi (sacred bull) which is carved out of a single rock. It is one of the most visited tourist
attractions in Tamil Nadu.



 
 
 
4. Chaturbhuj Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Located in an island formed by the Betwa river in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, Chaturbhuj temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is a flawless mix of a palace, a fort and a temple. This temple is the only shrine in the whole of India where Sri Rama is worshipped as a king. If you’ve never seen a fort temple, this is the place for you.
 
 

 
 
 
5. Dakshineswar, West Bengal

Situated on the eastern banks of the Hooghly river, Dakshineswar temple is one of the holiest places in Eastern India. Being dedicated to Goddess Kali, it is said that those who get married in front of her, always get her blessings.
 
The Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu temple founded in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni—a philanthropist, a devotee of Kali and zamindar of Janbazar, Kolkata. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali,
meaning, “She who liberates her devotees from the ocean of existence i.e. Saṃsāra.” The temple is famous for its association with Ramakrishna, a mystic of 19th Century Bengal. Built in the traditional ‘Nava-ratna’ or nine spires style of Bengal architecture, the three-storeyed south-facing temple has nine spires distributed in upper two storeys, and stands on a high platform with a flight of stairs measuring 46 feet square and 100 feet high. The garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) houses the idol of goddess Kali (Bhavataraini), standing on the chest of a lying Shiva, and the two idols are placed on a thousand-petaled lotus made of silver. Close to the main temple are the row of twelve identical Shiva temples built facing the east in the typical
‘Aat Chala’ Bengal architecture. They are built on either side of Dakshineswar Ghat. To the Northeast of the Temple complex is the Vishnu Temple or the Radha Kanta’s Temple. A flight of steps lead to the columned verandah and into the temple where a silver throne rests with a 21 1⁄2-inch idol of Lord Krishna and a 16-inch idol of Radha. The temple complex also has a shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni. “Nahavat-Khana” (concert-room), a chamber in the northwestern
corner in a building known as “Kuthibari” just beyond the last of the Shiva temples, is where Ramakrishna spent a considerable part of his life. In this room Sri Ramkrishna passed through different phases of his Sadhana and many aspects of his spiritual life was actually revealed in
this place. This historic building is a slient witness to the process of transition from Gadadhar to Sri Ramakrishna, from manhood to divinity.
 
6. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu

Often listed as the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, Ranganathaswamy Temple is located in Srirangam. It resides on a large island bounded by the Kaveri and Kollidam river. Spread over an area of 156 acres, it is the largest temple in India, rich in legend and history. 
 
 

 
There’s nothing better than getting married with your heart, mind and soul in sync with the serenity of your environment. Find an escape from the chaos and have a ceremony with just your family and close friends!