Famous Churches in India

A religion that was established way back in the 6th century AD in India and now holds the distinctive rank of being the third largest religion after Hinduism and Islam is nothing other than Christianity. As the religion prospered over the years, many beautiful churches were built in India. These churches have magnificent architecture and breed a sense of sanctity. These places of worship are thronged by tourists and visitors all the year round.

Here is a list of some of the most popular churches in India:

1. Sé Cathedral
Place: Old Goa
History: The church was built in the 16 century. The construction of the church began in 1562 and was completed in 1619.
Legend: It was built to commensurate the victory of Portuguese under a Muslim army which eventually led to the capture of Goa city. This was in the year 1510. The victory day happened to be the day of the feast of Saint Catherine and hence the church is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria.
Significant features: This church ranks among the largest churches in Asia. It is 250m in length and 181ft in breath and the front has a height of 115ft. The architecture style of the church is a beautiful mixture of Portuguese, Gothic, Tuscan and Corinthian. The main altar of the church has several paintings on both sides dedicated to St. Catherine.
There are four chapels inside the church around the main altar. These are separated by exquisite carved wooden partitions. The chapel on the right side of the altar is known as the Chapel of the Cross of Miracles. It is believed that Christ had appeared in 1919 in this Chapel. Sé Cathedral church is also known for housing the largest bell in Goa in its tower. The rich colour tone on the bell is noteworthy and hence it is also known as the Golden bell.


2. Parumala Church
Place: Mannar in Kerala
Legend: Named after the great Saint Gregorious Geevarghese, who was also known as Parumala Thirumeni, it is his tomb. This is a Parish church of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. St. Gregorious died on 2 November, 1902 at the age of 54 and his funeral took place at Parumala. It is said that thousands of people and priests attended his funeral. In 1947, Gregorious was blessed and declared a saint by the then Catholics of the church and the church was dedicated to him.
Significant features: It is one of the oldest churches of the world. The old church was renovated and redesigned by renowned architect Charles Correa. The church, at present, can accommodate about 2000 people. The new church is circular in design with three divisions by two chords each of 16m length. The diameter of the circular design is 39m. It is believed that the church has some great powers and worshippers come from all parts of the country to pray at this divine church.
Celebrations: Every year, usually in the month of November, the church celebrates Parumala Perunnal festival or the feast festival as a tribute and remembrance of the death anniversary of Bishop Mar Gregorios Metropolitan.


3. Basilica of Bom Jesus
Place: Goa
History: Around 300 years old
Legend: It is dedicated to Jesus Christ and named “Bom Jesus” which means “good Jesus” or “infant Jesus”. It holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier and the mummified and preserved body is opened for the public at a particular time of the year when thousands of devotees from India and outside flock to this church to pay their respects to the great saint.
Significant features: Declared as a world heritage site by the UNSECO. It is one of the most iconic symbols and the most visited tourist spot of Goa. The church is built in the signature Baroque style. At the top of the façade, there are the letters ‘HIS’ which are the first three letters of Jesus in Greek. The flooring is made of marble, inlaid with precious stones. Elaborated gilded golden work highlights the altar of the church. The church also has a museum.
Celebrations: The feast of St. Xavier is celebrated every year on 3rd December in the honour of his death. Every ten years, the mortal remains are taken down for public reverence around Old Goa. This year in January 2015, thousands of Catholic pilgrims came down to old Goa to witness the once-a-decade exposition of the saint.


4. Malayatoor Church
Place: Cochin, Kerala
History: Dates back to 52 AD and is among one of the oldest churches of India.
Legend: It is dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle who it is believed introduced Christianity in Kerala. Legend says that during prayers, St. Thomas touched a rock after which blood came out of it.
Significant features: One of the most prominent Christian pilgrimage spots declared by the Vatican. Situated on top of the 609m-high Malayatoor Hill in Kerala, it has a life-size statue of St. Thomas. There are also foot imprints of the Apostle on a rock in the church.
Celebrations: Malayatoor Perunal Festival is celebrated every year in the church in the month of March / April, just after Easter. Devotees from around the globe flock to this church by climbing up the hill, chanting the name of the Apostle.


5. Velankanni Church
Place: Located on the beach of Bay of Bengal, in the Velankanni town of Tamil Nadu.
History: Originated in the 16th century.
Legend: Famous for its Basilica that is dedicated to ‘Lady of Health’ or “Lady of Vailankanni” – the Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is believed that whosoever visits this church and offers prayers to the Mother is cured of his or her illness. Here, candles in different shapes of body organs like heart, lungs etc. are available, based on the ailment of a person. Lighting a candle of a particular organ shape is believed to cure the devotee of that ailment.
Significant features: One among the most scared churches across the globe. This church is a great combination of multicultural, international and religious harmony. Not only Christians but also people following other religions visit this Church to pray. The Pope in the Vatican City has declared Vailankanni as a “Holy city” because of the shrine of ‘Lady of Health’. The Gothic style architecture is a unique feature of the Church. The shrine of the mother is interestingly dressed in the Indian saree. This is one among those few churches in the country where the deity is seen wearing an India costume. Prayers here are held in multiple languages.
Celebrations: Every year in the month of August / September, for a week or so, the Feast of Our Lady of Good Health is celebrated. The feast day prayers are said in various languages like Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Konkani, Hindi and English.


6. St Paul Cathedral
Place: Kolkata
History: Built between 1839 and 1847
Legend: It is an Anglican cathedral of the Victorian age and is dedicated to St. Paul.
Significant features: The largest cathedral in Kolkata and the first Episcopal Church of Asia. The church is built in the Gothic Revival Style. It is 247ft. in height and 81ft. in width. It has beautiful arched windows with stained glass which gives a very beautiful look when the rays of the sun light up the inside of the church in myriad hues.
Celebrations: The midnight mass on Christmas Eve is a celebrated event every year and people of all religions are welcome. The church is lit up completely on this day and it proves to be a very amazing sight that one should not miss out on.


7. Santa Cruz Basilica
Place: Cochin, Kerala
History: It was originally built by the Portuguese in 1505. In 1558, the church was elevated to a cathedral by the then pope, Pope Paul IV. In 1984, it was renamed as Basilica by Pope John Paul II.
Legend: Dedicated to one of the eight Baslicas in the country.
Significant features: One among the oldest churches in India. A heritage monument of the state, it boasts of style architecture. It was built by the Portuguese. But later, it was revamped and redesigned by the British. There are many paintings inside the church; the most popular ones being the seven large canvas paintings, on the passion and death on the Cross. There is also the painting of the Last Supper, modelled on the famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci. The beautiful stained glass windows add an attractive look to the place.

Srirangam temple

Sri Raganatha swami is blessing in three different islands of the holy river Cauvery. It flows from Karnataka to Tamilnadu. The first island is Sriranga Patinam and it is called Aathirnagam (Origin of Rangam), located in Mysore (125 km distance from Bangalore to Mysore route).



The second island is Sivanasha Samuthiram and it is called Mathiyarnagam (Middle of Rangam), situated 70 km distance from Srirangapatinam.

The third island is Thiru navalantheevu and it is called Srirangam and also called Antharngam (last part of Rangam - meaning of heaven) is situated in Tamilandu, Trichirappalli district, India. Sriranagm temple is 7 km away from the Trichirappalli Junction (in the south 321 km from Chennai and in the north east 200 km from Madurai approximately). Srirangam can be reached by bus and train (International airport is also available in Trichy). This prehistoric architectural temple welcomes all pilgrims and tourists with open arms.

Sriranganatha swami at Srirangam temple, sriranganathar is called Anatha Sayana Perumal (seen in lying position in the five headed snake) and blesses with his three wives namely Sridevi, Boodevi and Renganachiyar in the first enclosure of temple Srirangam.

Srirangam temple is covered by 7 enclosures namely:
Thirunazhi Enclosure
Rajamahendra Enclosure
Kulasegaran Enclosure
Aalinadan Enclosure
Agalangan Enclosure
Thiruvikraman Enclosure (Utra Street, in Tamil uthra veedhi)
Kalugaraman Enclosure (Chitra Street, in Tamil chithirai veedi).

Srirangam Temple constitutes of 24 Acres including the 5th enclosure and a total of 156 Acres including the 6th and 7th enclosures. Towards the South direction of the Srirangam temple stands the Rajagopuram (literal:royal tower) which had been started to get constructed by the Nayakar Kings 400 years ago and it was completed in part. The Agobila abbey (cult of vishnuishm) concerned of Rajagopuram and they built with 236 feet height, 13 tired and 13 Copper buds (kalasam) and carried out the kumbabishekam in year 1987.

Srirangam Temple keeps following Sukla yajure vedha inner division Vagineye Ganva for its daily worshipping practise.

Motcha (attaining the status of no re-birth by residing at the feet of Lord) Ramanujar lived and worshipped Srirangam Perumal at Srirangam temple very long time. After the end of his life he got Motcham. Then his student did mummification of his body in the position of Badmasanam using ayurvedaha Muligai (herbal plants). But mythology explains that his corpus arose out of the earth with no human intervention. Aacharya Ramanuja is blessing in a separate sannadhi (temple) in the srirangam temple of 3rd enclosure. No abishekam is conducted for his body. The holy ceremony of applying saffron with Cinnamomum camphora on the divine corpus of Aacharya Ramanuja is celebrated twice in a year at an appropriate interval, in order to preserve the holy body of Sriramanuja, which is fully immersed in the thoughts of Sri Narayana than nothing else.

Cauvery water Abishegam

In the Tamil month of Aani (month of July) on the day of the star "Keytayam" Srirangam temple Swami Ranganathar will be coated with "herbal fragrance oil"(Thailabisegam), and on the same day 22pots of Holy Cauvery water (Abisegam) will be spilled out on Him. On this day only His golden costumes will be unrobed.

Sriranganathar at Srirangam temple swami will be getting Jostabisegam from the 48th day of Adiperukku urchavam. People celebrate the festival on Aadi 28th or Aadi 18th (in the end of July) at Srirangam Amma mandpam. On that day Swami Ranganathar will give blessing to his devotees and people give saris, kungumam (vermillion powder - a holy thing of Hinduism), Katholai, Karugamani (Pam tree leaf ring for years and black coloured artificial Pearl) as a present to mother Cauvery. These gifts are taken from the temple by the temple elephant called Aandal and then let float on the river Cauvery.


Kambar (a prehistoric Tamil poet) was revealing (arangetram in Tamil) Ramayana in Srirangam temple at Kambar Arangetra mandbam (literal: hall) for the first time. On his Ramayana he wrote about Lord Narasimmar. But others did not accept his opinion and criticised that he was blabbing. Kambar was frustrated and came under stress. He prayed to Narasimmar. At the same moment Lord Narasimmar appeared on the pillar and roared.  Everyone regretted that, they had put baseless blame on Kambar. Since Lord Narasimma appeared there for his devotee, he is called Metalagiya Narasimmar.


Amudha kalasa Garudalvar (meaning: King of birds) has a separate Sannathi (temple). Swami Srirnganatha demolished Asuras (demons) and rescued back the Vedas from them. He asked Garudalvar to keep the Vedas preserved. In order to execute the order of Lord Vishnu, Garudalvaar preserves Vedas in Kalasam (small pot) on his hand. His statue is made up of Salak wood. Here special pooja is made for Garudalvar with jasmine and turmeric. Garudalvaar relieves those who are suffering from nightmares and hallucinations. Those who are affected by the radiations and the transitions of the planets Uranus and Neptune will be safeguarded by Garudalvaar. Garudalvaar open His wings (whose width and height are immeasurable), covers His devotees and preserves them from all sorts of harmful causes.

Thaniya laksmi (Goddess) anna perumal sannidhanam (sub temple) is in the 2nd enclosure, by blessing us with Sri Krishna on Her right hand side and with Narasimar on Her left hand side. It's an amazing and unique position among the Hindu vaisnava temples.  Thaniya lakshmi shelters those who are affected by the planet Venus (Sukran). Those who trust Her, will not feel the pinch of hunger. In Srirangam temple at special poojas silks and white been seed are used. Thaniya laksmi is the direct Avataram of Sri Ranganathar and she looks with thanyam (literal: spices and maize) and kalasam (a small pot). On every bramochavam Sriranganathar gives Thaniyam (spices and maizes) to Annalaxmi with his wife Ranganachiyar, in order to allay hunger of all the organisms of the universe.

Every year three Bramorchavams are celebrated in the months of Thai (January), Panguni (March) and Chithirai (April). First Bramorchavam is in the month of Panguni. This festival is celebrated by Bramma (God of creation) and it is called Aadhi Bramorchavam. During this festival Sri Ranganatha swami will be giving blessings to his devotees along with his wife Sri Ranganachyar on the star utra Natchahiram. The second Bramochavam is during the “car festival” (to lead the life peacefully) is celebrated every year in the month of April/May (Tamil month: Chithirai). This is called Chithirai festival. The third Bramochavam is in the month of Thai. Ramar had celebrated a festival in Ayodhi for remembering Sriranganathar. This festival is called Boopathi festival. The wife of Srirenganathar is also called Boomadevi.
In Tamil ‘Pathi ‘means "Husband" Booma + pathi becomes Boopathi festival.

More than being just an extraordinary expression of art, these sculptures function as three-dimensional story-books of Hindu mythology. Similar in purpose to the stained glass windows of Europe's medieval cathedrals, these beautiful sculptures were intended to visually communicate religious myths to a largely illiterate population.

For 2000 years the temples of Srirangam have been a center of Bhakti Yoga, which may be defined as the practice of devotional love of god as a spiritual path leading to enlightenment. Because of the generous financial support of the temple by numerous dynasties of ancient India, Srirangam has always been a haven for persons wishing to dedicate their lives to the practice of meditation and devotion. Many of India's most loved saints and sages have spent time at Srirangam including the 11th century sage Ramanuja who lived and was buried in the temple grounds.


Srirangam temple Garudalvar Sanathi is situated opposite to the Ranganathar Sannathi and it is in the second enclosure of the temple. This Garudalvar is 25 feet in height and he is wearing Asta Nagabaranam (literal: Snakes as cloth). He looks like in the position of worshiping Lord Renganathar, and wearing 30 meters dhoti. Here no abishegam (holy bath) is made to Him. Garudalvar is worshipped by the devotees with Kolukattai (rice based food famous in south india) on every Thursday. Here Sukrivan and Angathan stand on the left and right sides of Garudalvaar like Thuvarabalaga (guards) respectively. Every year Margazhi (December) the days belong to star Thiruvadarai are famous for Garudalvar festivals.

Every year on the day of Karthigai visaga yegathesi at the time of valarpirai (growing moon period) in the night Lord Srirnaganathar keeps wearing 365 different types of blankets until the day dawn.


God of Medicine looks after the health of all the organisms. He has separate sannidhanam (temple) at srirangam temple near Thayar sannadhi. He has Amirtha (the holy liquid for immortal life) kalasam. On his hand millipede is there (the scientific reason beyond this is, Millipede can suck blood. So the God of Medicine has millipede, in order to suck the infected blood of patient) Mahalaxmi devi dwells at his heart. Those who are sick, who cannot be cured even after they have undergone treatment, should trust Him. Castor oil lamp pooja is the famous festival in this Sannithanam at Srirangam temple.


In the Srirangam temple Boomadevi, Sridevei and Utchava Ranga nachyar dwell in the same sanithanam and it becomes the holiest vaishnava temple in India.

Laxmi Narayan Temple

Birla Mandir or Laxminarayan Temple is a hindu temple dedicated to Laxminarayan in Delhi, India. The temple is located on the Mandir Marg , west of Connaught Place. The temple is one of Delhi's major temples and a major tourist attraction. The temple is dedicated to Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Narayana (the preserver).

Lakshmi Narayan Mandir is situated to the west of Connaught Place in Delhi. Constructed by Raja Baldev Das in the year 1938, it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. Also known by the name of Birla Mandir of New Delhi, this temple has quite an interesting history attached to it. Built over a period of 6 years, the temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. But, he kept a condition that he will inaugurate the Delhi Laxmi Narain Temple only if the people from all castes, especially untouchables, would be able to gain entry inside it. The temple constitutes of one of the major draws of the city and is visited by numerous devotees and international tourists every year.

Lakshmi Narayan Mandir is built magnificently, although with a modern touch. Adorning the interiors of the temples are beautiful carvings depicting the scenes from mythology. Numerous Hindu symbols and quotes from the Gita and the Upanishads ornament the temple walls. The highest Shikara (tower) in the temple soars to an altitude of 165 ft, while the ancillary one is about 116 ft. Facing east and standing on an elevated platform, Birla Mandir of Delhi also enshrines the holy Vedas. The main shrine is dedicated to Lord Narayan and Goddess Lakshmi, while the smaller ones are of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman and Goddess Durga.

To the north of the New Delhi Laxmi Narain Temple is the Geeta Bhawan, devoted to Lord Krishna. There is also a Buddha temple in this temple complex, adorned with murals describing his life and work. All the statues in the temple are made up of marble and were brought from Jaipur. Miniature rock temples, which dot the temple, hold a special attraction for the children. The splendor of the temple is enhanced by an artificial landscape in the back, with mountains and cascading waterfalls. The festival of Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, lends an enhanced significance to the temple.

The three-storied temple is built in Nagara style of hindu temple architecture. Hundread of skilled craftsman from Benares headed by Acharya Vishvanath Shastri carved the idols of the temple. The idols of the temple were made by marble brought from Jaipur. Kota stone from Makarana, Agra, Kota and Jaisalmer were used in the construction of temple premises. The main temple houses idols of goddess Lakshmi and lord Narayan. Birla Temple attracts thousands of devotees on the hindu festivals of Janmasthtami and Diwali.

Laxmi Narayan Temple, also known as Birla Mandir, is one of Delhi's major temples and a major tourist attraction. Built by the industrialst Sh. J.K. Birla in 1939, this beautiful temple is located in the west of Connaught Place.

The temple is dedicated to Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Narayana (The preserver). The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes will be allowed to enter the temple.