18 places to discover
Batu Caves is a limestone hill with a series of caves and cave temples in Gombak District, Selangor, about 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur. The site features a massive 42.7-metre Murugan statue and 272 colourful steps leading to the main Temple Cave. Formed around 400 million years ago, it is a major Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan and a prominent natural and cultural attraction drawing visitors for religious, geological and sightseeing interest.
Chamunda Mata Temple is a prominent Hindu hilltop temple located atop Chotila Hill in Chotila town, Surendranagar district, Gujarat. Dedicated to Goddess Chamunda, a form of Durga, it is reached by climbing about 635 stone steps. The temple is a major pilgrimage centre in Saurashtra, situated beside National Highway 47 between Rajkot and Ahmedabad, and is especially crowded during Navratri festivals.
Chennimalai Murugan Temple is a hilltop Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located on Siragiri Hill in Chennimalai town, Erode District, Tamil Nadu. Situated about 400 meters above sea level and reached by 1,320 stone steps, it is an important pilgrimage center in the Kongu region. Known for its Dravidian architecture, panoramic views of the surrounding plains, and association with saint Saravana Munivar, the temple attracts devotees year-round, especially during Thai Poosam and Panguni Uthiram festivals.
Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple is a hilltop Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located on Sivagiri Hill in Palani, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the Six Abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Murugan and houses an idol made of navapashanam by Siddhar Bogar. Reached by 690 steps, winch and rope car, the temple overlooks Palani town and attracts large pilgrim crowds, especially during Thaipusam and Panguni Uthiram festivals.
The Dharmasthala Bahubali Statue is a 39-foot monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshwara) located atop Ratnagiri Hill near Dharmasthala town in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka. Installed in 1973 and consecrated in 1982, it is carved from a single granite rock. The statue overlooks the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple town and is an important Jain pilgrimage site and visitor attraction.
The Karkala Bahubali Statue, also known as the Gomateshwara Statue, is a 42-foot monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali located atop Bahubali Betta in Karkala, Udupi District, Karnataka. Built in 1432 CE, it is the second tallest Bahubali statue in Karnataka after Shravanabelagola. Carved from a single block of granite, it is a major Jain pilgrimage center and a notable example of medieval Jain art and architecture.
Kumaragiri Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located atop Kumaragiri Hill in Ammapet, Salem, Tamil Nadu. Situated about 3 km from Salem city centre, the temple is reached by a flight of steps and offers panoramic views of Salem city. It is a popular local pilgrimage site, especially during festivals like Thaipusam and Panguni Uthiram, and is known for its peaceful hilltop setting.
Lung Cu Flag Tower is a national monument atop Dragon Mountain in Lung Cu Commune, Dong Van District, Tuyen Quang Province, near Vietnam's northern border with China. Standing about 33 meters high with a 54-square-meter flag representing Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, it marks the country's northernmost landmark. Rebuilt in 2010 on the site of earlier flag towers, it offers panoramic views of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark and surrounding villages.
Pahari Mandir is a hilltop Shiva temple in central Ranchi, Jharkhand, situated atop a hill about 2140 feet above sea level and around 350 feet above ground level. Reached by climbing 468 stone steps, it enshrines a Shiva linga and offers panoramic views of Ranchi city. Historically known as Tiriburu, the hill gained prominence after Independence when the national flag was first hoisted there. It remains a major religious and sightseeing landmark.
Sri Muthumalai Murugan Temple is a Hindu hill temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located on Muthumalai Hill near Pethanaickenpalayam in Salem district, Tamil Nadu. Situated a few kilometres from Attur, the temple is reached by a flight of steps and offers views of the surrounding plains and Eastern Ghats foothills. It is a locally revered pilgrimage site known for its peaceful hilltop setting, traditional Dravidian architecture, and vibrant festivals such as Thaipusam and Panguni Uthiram.
St. Thomas Mount is a small hillock and Catholic shrine located in St. Thomas Mount, southwest Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is traditionally associated with St. Thomas the Apostle and houses the 16th-century Shrine of Our Lady of Expectation built by the Portuguese in 1523. The hill rises about 91 metres, is reached by 134 stone steps, and offers panoramic views of Chennai city and the airport.
Talupulamma Lova Temple is a prominent Hindu Shakti temple dedicated to Goddess Talupulamma, located at Lova village about 5 km from Tuni in Kakinada District, Andhra Pradesh. Situated on a hillock amid the Eastern Ghats and forested Darakonda hills, it is revered as a Grama Devata shrine. The temple attracts large numbers of devotees, especially during annual festivals, and is known for its scenic hill setting and tranquil surroundings.
Tiruchirappalli Rockfort is a historic fortification and temple complex built on a massive 83-metre-high ancient rock in the centre of Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. The rock, estimated to be 3.8 billion years old, houses the Ucchi Pillayar Temple at the summit and the Thayumanaswamy Temple midway. Fortified by the Pallavas, Nayaks and Vijayanagara rulers, it is noted for its architecture, panoramic city views and role in the Carnatic Wars.
Vallimalai Murugan Temple is a Hindu hill temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located on Vallimalai hill near Katpadi in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu. Revered as the birthplace of Valli, consort of Murugan, the complex includes a hilltop shrine reached by about 350 stone steps and an ancient rock-cut cave temple at the foothills. Known for its Pallava-era architecture, religious significance and panoramic views of the surrounding plains, it is an important pilgrimage site in northern Tamil Nadu.
Vindhyagiri Hill is a prominent Jain pilgrimage hill in Shravanabelagola, Hassan District, Karnataka. It is renowned for the 57-foot monolithic statue of Lord Gommateshwara (Bahubali) at its summit, commissioned in 981 CE. Rising about 3,288 feet above sea level and accessed by approximately 614 rock-cut steps, the hill houses several Jain basadis and offers panoramic views of the town and surrounding landscape.
Waterfall Hilltop Temple is the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located on a hilltop above the Penang Botanic Gardens in Kebun Bunga, George Town, Timur Laut District, Penang. Reached by 513 steps, it is one of the oldest and largest Murugan temples outside India and is notable as the focal point for Thaipusam celebrations in Penang.
Wat Sangkat Rattana Khiri is a historic Buddhist temple atop Khao Sakae Krang hill in Uthai Mai, Mueang Uthai Thani, Uthai Thani Province. Reached by 449 steps, it is the town's landmark hilltop temple offering panoramic views over Uthai Thani. The temple enshrines a Mondop with a revered Buddha footprint replica and Buddha images, and serves as the center for the annual Tak Bat Thewo festival.
Yoga Anjaneyar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Sholinghur, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu. Located on a small hillock at the foothills of Ghatikachala, it enshrines Hanuman in a rare yoga posture facing the Yoga Narasimhaswamy Temple hill. The temple is notable for its 406 stone steps, its association with the Sholinghur Divya Desam pilgrimage, and its legend of Hanuman receiving Shankha and Chakra from Lord Narasimha.