India: Srirangam – Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

This one is the motherload of all of them – widely recognized as the largest functioning Hindu temple complex in India and the world, covering 156 acres. Unlike Angkor Wat in Cambodia that is s larger (400 acres) but is no longer a functioning temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy remains an active worship site. Perhaps because of this, it’s not a UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple is located on the island of Srirangam, formed by the Kaveri and Kollidam rivers. Its origins go back to the Sangam period (3-4th century AD), with legends attributing its founding to divine interventions and early Tamil kings. Architecturally, the temple is a Dravidian masterpiece (a style that originated in South India and is characterized by its ornate, towering structures, and intricate stone carvings), characterized by seven concentric prakarams (walled enclosures), vibrant gopurams (towering gateways) including the humongous 239.5-foot Raja Gopuram, and mandapams (pillared halls)(mandapams) – large, open structures supported by intricately carved stone pillars, used for rituals, gatherings, and processions. These halls, such as the Thousand-Pillared Hall, are adorned with detailed sculptures of deities, dancers, musicians, animals (male elephants and horses are somehow very well endowed) and mythological scenes. The temple is just insane – you can spend a day exploring it! And we were allowed to climb in the rooftop!