24 places to discover
Akaya Satra is a Vaishnavite monastery located in Akaya village in Barpeta district, Assam. Established within the Ekasarana Dharma tradition propagated by Srimanta Sankardev and Madhavdev, it serves as a religious and cultural centre for the local community. The satra features a Namghar prayer hall, traditional Assamese architecture, and hosts daily prayers, devotional music and annual festivals that reflect Assam's neo-Vaishnavite heritage.
Banganga Tank is an ancient temple tank located within the Walkeshwar Temple complex in Malabar Hill, Mumbai. Built originally in AD 1127 and rebuilt in 1715, it is considered one of the city's oldest continually inhabited sites. The rectangular spring-fed pool is surrounded by stone steps and numerous temples and samadhis. It holds significant mythological importance linked to the Ramayana and remains an active center for Hindu rituals and cultural gatherings.
Bat Pagoda (Chua Doi), also known as Ma Toc Pagoda, is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Ward 3, Soc Trang City, Can Tho, Vietnam. Established in the 16th century and serving the local Khmer community, it is notable for its distinctive Khmer architecture and the large colony of fruit bats roosting in trees within the grounds. The pagoda combines religious function, cultural heritage, and natural interest, making it one of Soc Trang's most visited attractions.
Bibi Ka Alawa is one of the oldest and most respected ashurkhanas (Shia mourning halls) in Hyderabad's Old City. Established during the Qutb Shahi period by Hayat Bakshi Begum, it houses the sacred Bibi-ka-Alam relic. The site is renowned for its historic annual Muharram procession and serves as a significant center for Shia religious observances.
The Brahma Temple is an early 10th-century Hindu temple located on the banks of Khajuraho Sagar in Khajuraho, Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh. Part of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the oldest surviving temples in the complex. Built primarily of granite and sandstone, it is noted for its simple tri-ratha plan, pyramidal shikhara and four-faced Shiva lingam enshrined inside.
The Chapel of St. Sebastian is a whitewashed heritage chapel built in 1818 located in the Fontainhas Latin Quarter of Panaji, Goa. It is historically significant for housing a rare crucifix with open eyes that originally stood in the Palace of the Inquisition in Old Goa. The chapel was dedicated to St. Sebastian, who was venerated for protection against plague and pests. It remains an active religious site and a notable landmark within the historic Portuguese quarter.
The Church and Convent of St. Monica is a 17th-century religious complex located on Monte Santo in Old Goa, North Goa. Built between 1606 and 1627, it was the first nunnery in the East and the only monastic institution for women in Portuguese Goa. The site currently houses the Museum of Christian Art and the Mater Dei Institute. It features the Chapel of the Weeping Cross, associated with a reported miracle in 1636, and exhibits Tuscan, Corinthian, and composite architectural styles.
The Church of Our Lady of Compassion, also known as Our Lady of Piety, is a historic Catholic church located atop a hillock in Piedade village on Divar Island, Goa. Originally established as a chapel in 1541, the present structure was completed in 1724 and designed by a Goan priest. It is considered one of the earliest Christian structures on the island and features distinctive Baroque architecture with panoramic views of the Mandovi River and surrounding countryside.
The Church of St. Stephen is a 16th-century Portuguese-era Catholic church located on the island of St. Estevam in North Goa. Dedicated to St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, it is one of the oldest churches in the Ilhas taluka. The structure features Indo-Portuguese architectural elements and serves as the parish church for the local community. It is recognized for its historical significance within Goa’s ecclesiastical heritage.
Datta Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Dattatreya located in Sanquelim, North Goa. It serves as a significant religious site for the local community and devotees of the Datta tradition. The temple features traditional Goan Hindu architecture and hosts regular rituals and annual festivals. It is situated in the town center and functions as an active place of worship rather than a tourist monument.
Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh is a Sikh shrine located in Sirsa city, Sirsa District, Haryana. It commemorates the visit of Guru Gobind Singh Ji to Sirsa in 1706 during his journey towards Talwandi Sabo. The gurdwara is an active place of worship with a prayer hall, langar hall and sarai. It is maintained by the local gurdwara committee and is visited by devotees and tourists throughout the year.
Jama Masjid in Sanguem is a prominent mosque located in the town of Sanguem, South Goa. It serves as the principal place of worship for the local Muslim community and functions as a religious and social center. The mosque reflects traditional Islamic architectural elements adapted to the regional Goan context. It is situated along the main road in Sanguem town and is recognized locally for its role in daily prayers and community gatherings.
Kardang Monastery is a 12th-century Drukpa Lineage Buddhist monastery located in Kardang village, Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh. Situated at 3,500 meters on the left bank of the Bhaga River opposite Keylong, it is considered the most important monastery in the Lahaul valley. The site houses ancient murals, sacred relics, Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures, and serves as a vital spiritual and educational center for the region.
Khleang Pagoda is a historic Khmer Theravada Buddhist temple located in central Soc Trang city, now part of Can Tho municipality in southern Vietnam. Originally built in 1533 from bamboo and thatch and later rebuilt with wood and tiles, it is regarded as the oldest Khmer pagoda in Soc Trang. Known for its traditional Khmer architecture, gilded decoration and cultural museum, it was recognized as a National Historical-Cultural Relic in 1990 and remains an active religious center.
Masjid Kampung Laut in Kampung Laut, Tumpat, Kelantan is regarded as the oldest surviving mosque in Malaysia, originally built in the 1730s. Constructed entirely of timber without nails in traditional Malay vernacular style with Javanese influence, it features four main pillars and tiered roofs. Located near the Kelantan River, the mosque was relocated to Nilam Puri in the late 1960s due to river erosion, with a faithful replica now standing at its original site for visitors.
Mathi Devi Temple is a historic Hindu shrine located in Chitkul, the last inhabited village on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. Dedicated to Goddess Mathi (also known as Shiromani Mata Devi), the temple is renowned for its traditional Kath-Kuni wooden architecture and intricate carvings featuring dragon motifs. The deity is represented by a walnut-wood ark rather than a stone idol. It serves as the primary village deity and guardian of the Baspa Valley.
The Old Seminary, also known as Pazhaya Seminary or Orthodox Theological Seminary, is a historic religious and educational institution in Kottayam, Kerala. Founded in 1815 with support from Colonel John Munro, it is the first seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and a landmark in Kerala's Christian history. Located in Chungam near Kottayam town, it is noted for its traditional Kerala architecture, historic chapel, and role in starting formal education in the region.
Payul Dechen Gaweling Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in Soreng, Soreng District, Sikkim, India. Affiliated with the Palyul lineage of the Nyingma school, it serves as a religious and cultural centre for the local Buddhist community. Set amid the hills of western Sikkim with views of surrounding valleys, the monastery features traditional Tibetan architecture, prayer halls, and religious artworks, and is visited for its serene setting and spiritual atmosphere.
Pura Meru is the largest Hindu temple in Lombok, located in Cakranegara, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara. Built in 1720 by Balinese prince Anak Agung Made Karangasem, it is dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The temple complex features three towering multi-tiered meru shrines symbolizing Mount Meru, surrounded by 33 smaller shrines within a walled courtyard near the former royal garden of Mayura.
Salugara Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in Salugara on the outskirts of Siliguri, West Bengal. Founded by the Tibetan lama Kalu Rinpoche, it is best known for its 100-foot Great International Tashi Gomang Stupa. The complex serves as an important centre of the Kagyu lineage and attracts visitors for its Tibetan architecture, religious relics, and tranquil setting near the Sevoke Road.
Solomon's Temple is a large contemporary Christian church located in Kidron Valley, Chawlhhmun on the western outskirts of Aizawl, Mizoram. Built by Kohhran Thianghlim (The Holy Church) founded by Dr. L. B. Sailo, construction took place between 1996 and 2017. The white marble structure is modelled on the biblical Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem and is notable for its scale, twelve gates, four towers and capacity for thousands of worshippers.
St. Alex Church is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Calangute, North Goa. Built in 1597 during the Portuguese colonial era, it is one of the oldest churches in the region and serves as an active place of worship for the local Christian community. The church features traditional Portuguese-influenced architecture with a whitewashed facade, bell tower, and simple interior. It stands as a historical religious landmark amidst Calangute's commercial beach area.
St. John the Baptist Church is a historic Catholic church located in Pilerne-Markaim, North Goa. Built during the Portuguese colonial era, it serves as the parish church for the local community and stands as an example of Goan ecclesiastical architecture. The church is noted for its annual feast of St. John the Baptist celebrated on June 24, which includes traditional rituals and community gatherings reflecting Indo-Portuguese cultural heritage.
St. Michael's Church is a 17th-century Portuguese-era Catholic church located in Mazalvaddo, Anjuna, North Goa. Built in 1658, it is one of the oldest churches in the region and features traditional Indo-Portuguese architecture with a whitewashed facade and bell tower. The church remains an active place of worship and serves as a significant historical landmark reflecting Goa's colonial religious heritage within the coastal village setting.