11 Unique Temples of India You Dont Know About

India is the land of temples where more than 33 crores gods are worshipped – some are conventional, while some are mind boggling.

Yes, there are such unique temples in India which are worth to visit.

In those temples rats, dogs and bullets are worshipped and some bizarre offerings are made to the deities.

Many devotees also claim that all wishes get fulfilled if one prays at these temples.

So, let’s see one by one..

1. Karni Mata Temple, Rajasthan

Karni Mata Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Bikaner in Rajasthan, India. The main deity of this temple is Karni Mata(incarnation of Goddess Durga). It is also known as the Temple of Rats, where more than 25000 black rats live (The rats here called as kabbas). It is believed that the rats are incarnations of the Goddess Karni Mata and her four children.

Whether you like rats or not, you will find rats roaming around your feet while you are praying inside the temple. The devotees consider themselves lucky after eating the foods eaten by the rats. And if you spot a white rat inside the temple, it is said that you are blessed by Karni Mata. Here a silver statue is created after every rat dies.

2. Om Banna Temple, Rajasthan

Om Banna Temple is situated at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India. The deity of this temple is Late Om Singh Rathore, whose bullet bike (350cc Royal Enfield Bullet RNJ 7773) is being worshipped by the devotees. This temple is also known as the Bullet Baba’s Temple.

Yes, A 350cc Royal Enfield, is being worshipped! Shocked?

Well the story behind this is, Om Banna was travelling to Pali from Chotalia on his bullet bike. He lost his control while riding and hit a tree. He died on the spot whereas the motorcycle fell into a nearby ditch. The next morning after the accident, local police took the motorcycle to a nearby police station and very shockingly, the bike got disappeared from the police station and found back at the accident site. Police, once again, took the motorcycle, this time emptying its fuel tank and putting it under lock and key. Despite their efforts, the next morning it again disappeared and was found at the accident site. This incident is nothing but a miracle for the local residents and since then they started worshipping the bike.

Every travellers ensures that they bow down in front of this temple and It is believed that the spirit of Om Banna protects the travellers.

So next time when you are travelling by this route, don’t forget to pay a visit here. And yes, don’t forget to grab a bottle of liquor for offering at the temple.

3. Kal Bhairav Temple, Madhya Pradesh

The Kal Bhairav temple is a Hindu temple situated at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, India. The main deity of this temple is Kal Bhairav. He is the guardian deity of Ujjain and is considered as Senapati of the town. Many years ago there were 5 items offered to the deity as tantric ritual offerings known as panchamakara i.e. madya (alcohol), maansa (meat), meena or matsya (fish), mudra (gesture or parched grain) and maithuna (sexual intercourse). But now, only alcohol is offered. The vendors outside the temple sell a thali including coconut, flower and alcohol to offer to the shrine. There are many other shops outside the temple set up by the Government where you will get both country and foreign liquors.

And one interesting fact is that the devotees hand over the liquor bottles to the priest and then the priest opens the bottle and put half of the liquor into a shallow plate which is placed near the mouth of the idol and after sometimes the liquor starts disappearing. And one can observe this from very close. No one knows that where the liquor goes but it has been happening since ages.

4. Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara, Punjab

Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara is situated at Talhan in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. It may sound strange but this Gurudwara has made people believe that if you wish to go abroad, you offer prayers along with a toy aeroplane and it will be answered. No surprise that the shrine is now popularly known as ‘Hawaijahaj’ (aeroplane) gurudwara. There are shops around the Gurudwara selling plastic planes in different sizes for the devotees to offer.

So, if you’re ever struggling to get a Visa application, you know where you need to go!

5. Channapatna Dog Temple, Karnataka

Are u a dog lover?

So, welcome to the Channapatna Dog Temple which is situated at Agrahara Valagerehalli village in Karnataka, India.

Here dogs were worshipped! Yes, you read it right.

In 2010, A business man built this temple dedicated to the main deity of the village, Goddess Kemapamma. As per villagers, two dogs mysteriously got disappeared from the village. And few days later, the goddess herself appeared in that person’s dream and asked him to built a temple for those lost dogs close to her temple for the protection of the village and the villagers. Since then, dogs have been worshipped in this temple. You can find the statues of those dogs installed inside the temple.

6. Chinese Kali Temple, Kolkata

The Chinese Kali Temple is situated at Kolkata’s famous Tangra area called “China Town“, India. The main deity of this temple is Goddess Kali.

Have you ever heard of desi Chinese food being served as prasad in temples?

Yes, you read it right. Here the prasad offered to Goddess Kali is a part of the Chinese cuisine. Noodles, Chop-suey, Sticky Rice and many other Chinese dishes are offered to the Goddess.

It is believed that this temple plays an integral part in the life of Chinese people. Every Chinese entering this temple ensures that they go in barefoot just like us Indians.

7. Chemmoth Sree Subramanya Swami Temple, Kerala

Chemmoth Sree Subramanya Swami temple is situated at Alappuzha district in Kerala, India. The main deity of this temple is Lord Murugan. Lord Murugan is also known as ‘God of War’. It seems to be an ordinary temple from the outside. But the unique thing about this temple is that munch chocolate is offered by the devotees in this temple.

Yes, you read it right. Munch chocolate!

It is believed that it happened many years ago that a child fell ill and he kept calling Lord Murugan in his sleep. His parents brought him to the temple the other day and offered flowers. But the child was adamant to share his favourite chocolate with Lord Murugan. Even the god had to accept before the innocence of the child and he recovered from the illness. But, it is the fact that the story got spread among all the devotees and they started replacing “Laddu” with Munch in the platter. In the past few years people have believed that Lord Murugan loves Munch the most. So people asks for a wish and they offer munch when it gets fulfilled.

8. Brahma Baba’s Temple, Uttar Pradesh

Brahma Baba’s Temple situated at Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. This is a unique temple in which people pray to a peepal tree. They tie wall clocks to the peepal tree and believe that the Brahma baba fulfills the wishes of his devotees who perform this ritual.

As per the local legends, several decades ago, a man had wished to become a truck driver. He offered a wall clock, hanging it around the peepal tree and his wish was fulfilled and since then the belief is on.

It is believed that if you offer a clock or even a wrist watch at the temple, your bad time ticks away and good times enters in. Those whose wishes are fulfilled also offer clocks as thanks giving. Devotees insist that no one has ever returned from this temple with wishes unfulfilled.

9. Digambeshwara Temple, Karnataka

Digambeshwara Temple is situated at Nagrala in Karnataka, India. The main deity of this temple is Lord Digambeshwara. In this temple a horrible ritual is followed by the devotees from the ancient times. Here the Toddlers are tossed from the balcony of the temple which is 30ft high above the ground, onto a sheet of cloth held by a group of men. People believe this would bless the infants with good health and good luck. It is followed by both Hindus and Muslims. This ritual was once banned by the “Child Rights Activists” in 2011, but few years back this annual ritual again started by the devotees by arguing that it is their religious duty to attend the ceremonies.

10. Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan

The Mehandipur Balaji Mandir is a Hindu temple situated at Karauli district of Rajasthan, India. The main deity of the temple is Balaji (Lord Hanuman). It is one of the most mysterious temples in India. Here the priest practices exorcism to free a person from a negative spirit. However, it is a site of Lord Hanuman, and every day, thousands of people visit this temple to cure their family persons under the influence of black magic or an evil spirit.

And yes, visit to this temple is disturbing for many because sights like people hanging from the ceiling, pouring boiling water on themselves, banging their heads against the walls and people who are possessed with negative spirits are chained by a priest.

This is not just a regular temple in India because of its strange rituals but also a must-visit place in Rajasthan to attend the evening Arti ceremony on Tuesday as it is dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

And remember, once you leave the temple, you must not turn back to look at the temple premises and do not eat anything given by anyone in this temple their is no such prasad offered in this temple.

11. Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, Kerala

Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple or Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Kodungallur in Kerala, India. The main deity of this temple is Goddess Bhadrakali(A form of Maha Kali). This temple is famous for its festival known as Bharani Festival that falls in between March-April every year. Earlier, animals lives were sacrificed in the name of ritual, but now it is completely banned.

The amazing thing about the temple is that devotees from their village enter the temple following drinking as a ritual. The more bizarre thing is devotees chant abusive words and sing lewd bhakti songs. Both men and women actively participate in the festival for 7 days annually and carry swords in their hands. They also hit themselves in the head with swords which in return makes blood pours freely. It is said to be the part of ritual which is done to please the goddess. After this festival ends, the temple premises remain shut for cleaning bloodstains.

Hope you like this article and if you know some more unique temples in India or if you have ever visited any of the temples listed above then please let me know in the comment section.

Sopnil