Haridwar, Badrinath
& Kedarnath
At hardwar is situated the sacred kund, Hari-ki-charan, or the foot of
Vihnu. It is considered a priveledge to have a dip in its water. On its
wall can be seen the footprint of Vishnu.
At a distance of about 290 kilometers from Hardware, at a height of more
than 3000 meters, is situated the famous temple of Badrinath. It is
surrounded by mountains which rise to a height of 7000 meters. On one
side stand the grand Narayan Parvat wrapped up in silver hued snow; on
the other side flows the Alakananda.
The deity of Badrinarayan, is a manifestation of Vishnu. The beautiful
image is seen in a meditative mood with a variety of jewels covering his
body. A canopy of gold is suspended over his head. 
The Vishwanath Temple in
Varanasi
One of the holiest place for
the hindus is Kashi, The temple of Vishweshwara is niether high nor very
big but is one of the most sacred places in Indian culture. Varanasi is
also known as Kashi and Varanasi is derived from the two lines of Ganga,
varun and asi flowing through this city. The city has more than 1500
temples, incluing Buddhist shrines. The chief deity of the city is
Vishweshwara another name for Shiva. His abode is the famous Vishwanath
Temple. The present temple of Visweswar was built by Ahalyabai the
celebrated queen of Indore. Ranjit Singh the lion of Punjab contributed
to the gold that covers the crown.
Buddha, Shamkara, Ramanuja, Kabir, Nanak, Tulsidas and Sri Chaitanya Dev
visited this holy place.
Bahai Temple
Since its inauguration to public worship in December 1986, the Bahá'í
House of Worship in New Delhi, India has drawn to its portals more than
50 million visitors, making it the most visited edifice in the world,
its numbers surpassing those of the visitors to the Eiffel Tower and
even the Taj Mahal. The maximum number of visitors the Temple has
received in a single day has been 150,000. They have come regardless of
the scorching summer heat of Delhi which rises above 40°C during the
months of June to September, and have braced the chill and cold rains
that Delhi experiences during winter. These visitors have admired the
beautiful lotus form of the Temple, and have been fascinated by the
teachings of the Bahá'í Faith impressed by its tenets of the oneness
of God, oneness of religions and oneness of mankind. This "House of
Worship of the Indian subcontinent" joins six other Bahá'í
temples around the world. Each of these Houses of Worship, while sharing
some basic design concepts, has its own distinct cultural identity
embodying the principle of unity in diversity. The lotus, the national
flower of India, is a recurring symbol in the religious architecture of
the Indian subcontinent. This ancient symbol has been given a modern and
contemporary form in the structure of the Bahá'í House of Worship
drawing into its sanctum sanctorum people from all races, religious
backgrounds and culture from around the globe.
To the people of India the lotus flower signifies purity and peace, a
representation of the Manifestation of God. Rising pure and unsullied
above stagnant, muddy waters, the Indians have seen this flower as
worthy of emulation, teaching them to be detached from material
preoccupations. It is because this flower is so revered in Indian
mythology and cultures that its translation into the design of a temple
has caught the attention of the people at large.
The structure of the House of Worship is composed of three ranks of nine
petals; each springing from a podium which elevates the building above
the surrounding plain. The first two ranks curve inward, embracing the
inner dome; the third layer curves outward to form canopies over the
nine entrances. The petals, constructed of reinforced white concrete
cast in place, are clad in white marble panels, performed to surface
profiles and patterns related to the geometry. The double layered
interior dome, modelled on the innermost portion of the lotus, is
comprised of 54 ribs with concrete shells between. The central hall is
ringed by nine arches that provide the main support for the
superstructure. Nine reflecting pools surround the building on the
outside, their form suggesting the green leaves of the lotus flower.