Lord Shiva is present everywhere and the innumerable temples dedicated to Him across the world confirms this belief. Here are the top five shiva temples outside India that you must try to visit once in a life time.
1. Prambanan Temple in Java, Indonesia
This temple, built by Rakai Pikatan of Mataram Kingdom in the 9th century, is not only one of the largest temples in south east Asia but is also the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia.
The name ‘Prambanan’ comes from the word ‘Para Brahman’ which in Javanese stands for the ‘supreme brahman’.
The temple is dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Originally, there were 240 such temples but many are in ruins now.
The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in the innermost section of the compound and is the largest structure.
2. Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
Pashupathinath means Lord of the Animals.
This temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams and is one of the oldest temples in Kathmandu.
Chronicles reveal that it was constructed by Jayadeva II way back in 753 AD. Reconstruction of the temple happened around the 17th century due to enormous damages caused by termites.
Inside the temple is a meter high lingam that has four faces.
3. Katasraj Temple in Chakwal, Pakistan
This temple located in the Chakwal district of Punjab near Lahore in Pakistan is believed to have been in existence since the days of the Mahabharata.
The Pandava brothers are said to have taken refuge here during their days of exile. Legend has it that when Lord Shiva’s wife, Sati, left her body, He cried so much that two pools were created.
One is located in Pushkar and the other was formed here. It houses seven temples of which the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva has been built on a square platform and the entrance has a recessed round arch.
4. Munneswaram Temple in Munneswaram, Sri Lanka
This temple is said to have been in existence since the days of the Ramayana. It is said that Lord Rama prayed to Lord Shiva here after he defeated Ravana.
It is a temple complex comprising of five temples. Of these the one dedicated to Lord Shiva is the central and the biggest one.
This temple has been destroyed twice in the past by the Portuguese before it was finally handed over to the Jesuits who rebuilt it. This temple celebrates Shivratri and Navratri with a lot of grandeur.
5. Arulmigu Sri Raja Kaliamman Temple in Johor Baru, Malaysia
Constructed in 1922, this is one of the oldest temples located in Johor Baru.
The land on which the temple stands was bequeathed to the Indians by the Sultan of Johore. Initially it resembled only a hut but over the years it has grown to become a grand one.
The most unique aspect of this temple is its creative, intricate and neat glass work. As for the sanctum that houses the deity of Lord Shiva, over 3,00,000 Rudraksha beads have been pasted onto the wall.
One should be proud to be born in such a great country- Bharat! Beautiful pictures of all the temples .. Great article , Thankyou,really enjoyed .
Last week I took my wife to Akshardam in Delhi and watched the Light and Sound show. It was amazing and made me proud to be a Hindu. BAPS deserve the accolades for it’s service. If only more temples are well managed , we can walk with our head high.
When I have seen the unknown temples here, I have enjoyed wonderful experience.
Beautiful beyond word.
Honestly speaking by indian we had great treasure of vedas and bhakti culture.
Hope every body do good be good . What our culture said.
OM SHANTI.
This is absolutely beautiful.
Itactually denotes the power Lord Shiva
I never knew that he had so many devotees.
Aum namah Shivaya.
good to see the beautiful temples around the world, Hinduism has such a wonderful culture, beyond comparison.
Nice Article and pictures.
Some of them appear to be not just Shiva temple.
There sare many many temples spread across US – many are multi-deity complexes.
Bangkok too has temples.
Dubai already had now Abu Dhabi is getting on the list.
Please Keep up your efforts of publishing — as we too can enjoy the photos.
All these indicate the extant of Bharatha Varsha.
Suggest map-based articles to show us what Bharatha Varsha was.
I live in UAE.Recently the great rulers of Abudhabi were very kind to accept the Prime minister of Indias request to allocate land for a temple for the Hindu community here.
They said that they have seen the temple in countrys like Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore , Malasia and Combodia and Indonesia.
We have one temple of Lord Shiva at Dubai.
What a beautiful devotional country (BHARATH ) is ! I am proud of an indian. It is our duty to save our culture alive. We must teach the world of our Hinduism, the route religion of all.
I am very much thankful to IndiaDivine. If Lord Siva bless me, i shall try my level best to worship him at least at one temple outside India.
Nice article and photographs.
Thank u
Sir, thoroughly enjoying in reading the articles. Thank you so much for the information .
Respected Sir
I Thanks to INdia Divine. & I have enjoyed wonderful experience.
Thank you for sharing such gems from around the World. The one closest to Bharat and the one in need of most repair & preservation is in Pakistan. What a beautiful setting it must have been! It’s direct link to Mata Parvati Ji and the Psdavas–It can be a true centre of pilgrimage and in Muslim Pakistan. Can we not collectively restore it to its former glory that Hindus from around the globe can visit Pakistan, helping it to be a more tolerant society? I for one will be part of this efforts and with eternal blessings of Lord Shiva, we all should. Aum Namah Shivia–Harish Dhokia
Amazing
I can say one thing we should be proud of being HINDU. Hindu Religion is oldest religion on earth. Before every jiv is born they born as hindu and then they are converted into Christianity islam aur whatever religion they are in . Hinduism doesn’t forces anything.and teaches you to respect all religion on earth and all living things.
Thanks to India Divine for such a wonderful information. Please keep up for sending such a wonderful and informative Articles.
I my wife are very happy that we had time to prey in 3 Shiva Temples of Prambanan, Pashupathinanth and Malaysia. May our Hindu brothers also will have such a good time also.
what a pride and proud of being an Indian and the
Bharat of ours had such a vast coverage and lost.
UAE says about many more temples AROUND the World,it is imperative of our Prime Minister to spare funds for these to be put on the Renewal
Status and books on such Valuable Data.Hope done asap.Proud to be an Indian in Yokohama Japan{One showed resembled as Kali Mata,of Bengal?}
Hi
There is a shiva temple in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Please include the same.
Om Namah shivaiya
Hi
Infact here are 2 temples in Muscat, Land allocated by His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. The Krishna Temple had celebrated 20 years anniversary about 3 years ago.
The Shiva temple is also almost the same. We hindus are indeed grateful to His Majesty for giving us this privilege of having temples in Oman, an Islamic country. Infact HM is so benevolent and so religiously tolerant to all as there are two churches as well here.
Gratitude to His Majesty as we are able to keep our religious practices here without any restrictions.
Thanks a lot for the valuable information that too with photographs .
proud to say we have many shiva temples in mauritius
I just can not express myself any better than say as such ……to live in wonder of the past glory.I wish more Hindus would take pride of being born one.
I am so so touched everyday to come to this site& find such a lot of information………well all I can say a huge THANK YOU !
Thank you for the beautiful pictures & info of the great & superb temples.
With much thought I thank you for providing me with the pictures of Lord Shiva. You are great shiva, you are.
Thanks a million ton.
Beautiful. Would like to visit all of them. Would like to share that there is a shiva temple in Muscat, Oman which is thronged by hindus during shivratri and other festivals. Many hindu communities celebrate their festivals there.
I had been to Malaysia but was not knowing there is a Lord Shiva Temple in Johar Baru. Becuase of India Divine I came to know. Feel proud of being Hindu. Thanks to India Divine for such a wonderful information.
Thanks for the wonderful information
It is indeed gratifying to know that there are many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in countries out side India.I would like to know if there are any other temples in Pakistanother than the one presented here.
ji,
very good information .please try to bring a comprehensive survey of all Hindu temples around the world . this will be highly helpful to all. iwish all success
Maravilhosos !! (wonderfull)
Thank you for the wonderful information
enviando lotes de paz, amor e saúde á todos.
(sending lots of peace, love and health will all.)
Claudio CEsar Augusto (Brazil)
i like it very much.
Love to read all the articles published.i try to share a lot with my kids too who are teenagers ! I’m so glad they connect and respect our traditions so well and I’m able to answer to the many questions they ask me because I read up all the articles. Keep up the good work!
I have Bali Indonesia in 2009, but due to shortage of time unable to visit Jawa Shiva Temples.overwhelmed to see the pictures shiva temple.
Even though we could not visit the places, we have chance to view the photos. I appreciate the interest taken by you. If you could have given inner photos also. Any how thank you for your photos.
We are happy with the informations compiled for our satisfaction. Thanks lot.
An excellent photographs,I never seen.
What has been said by Tarra is not right. The Shiva Temple in Muscat, Oman has been in existence for a long time as I had prayed in that Temple in January 1984 and I was informed at that time that it had been there for a long time and members of Khimjis and Dharamsey Nensey business families used to pray there. The Sri Krishna Temple has been there for over 20 years.
Any way … we must be proud … that we are Indian we are Hindu ! ., We are belongs to Bharat Desh !
Hindusthan… We belongs to Lord Krishna! .. Lord Shiva! .. Lord Rama !
Hare Krishna!
Rana