- Popular destinations for Temple weddings are -Triyuginarayan
Temple Uttarakhand, Swamimalai Temple near
Thanjavur, Mangateshwar Temple Khajuraho, Meenakshi and Murugan Temples
Madurai, Kanchi Mutt Temple Kashi.
India is undergoing a deep civilizational and cultural resurgence over
the past decade, characterized by various phenomena, including the construction
and Pran Pratishtha of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, rise in Dharmic tourism, revival
of ancient Sanatani heritage sites, fostering of pan-Indian Sanatani
consciousness through mega Dharmic events like the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, etc.
As Indians grow increasingly comfortable with their Hindu heritage and embrace their Dharmic roots, these developments are impacting various aspects of society and culture. Weddings are one such aspect. A Hindu marriage ceremony isn’t just a wedding celebration, but a Dharmic Sanskar marked by various traditional rituals, including the auspicious ritual of “Kanyadaan” characterized by the seven vows or “saat phere”.
Moving away from the flash and pomp of typical wedding ceremonies held in marriage halls and hotels, Indians are increasingly going for temple weddings. Though still at a relatively nascent stage, the “temple wedding” trend is fast catching up. Traditionally, Hindu marriage ceremonies were conducted within the premises of a temple, with the focus on maintaining the purity and sanctity of the rituals. Receiving the Ashirwad, that is blessings of Gods and Goddesses on the auspicious day of “Vivah Sanskar” has been an intrinsic part of Indian culture. Thus, the new trend of temple weddings, ironically enough, isn’t a departure, but marks a return to the original conception of a Hindu wedding ceremony.
Before knowing about popular wedding destinations one can visit the Thirumanancheri Temple near Kumbakonam, if one is not getting married. A friend, who visited
met a number of unmarried boys and girls at this 10th century Chola temple. “Parvathi Devi performed Tapas in this sthalam to marry Shiva Perumaan and finally got married in this sthalam and because of this the sthalam is called as Thiru Mananchery.” To see album
It is said that if we perform special poojas for Gokilambal sametha Sri Kalyana sundar by offering him with Garland, all the hurdles in your marriage gets cleared and the marriage takes place very quickly.
Another popular temple near Chennai. “Thiruvidanthai
Temple (Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple) is famous for marriage
blessings, where devotees pray to Lord Vishnu
(Varaha Perumal) for timely marriages or marital harmony.” To read visit Temple
site. To
read Travelogue
I am sure
there are similar temples in other parts of India too. If you know please mail esamskriti108@gmail.com Must add that I am talking
about the marriage ritual in a temple not the entire wedding. For popular
destinations read on -
1. Triyuginarayan Temple, Uttarakhand
The legendary Triyuginarayan temple, a spiritual haven nestled in the
Himalayas, is fast becoming a popular wedding destination.
The temple is said to be constructed by Adi Shankaracharya, symbolizes the three Yugas or epochs of time in Dharma Itihasa – The Sat Yuga, Treta Yuga, and Dwapar Yuga. Located 12 kms from the Kedarnath temple in the village of Triyuginarayan, the temple is said to be at the exact spot where Bhagwan Shiva and Devi Parvati got married. The celestial wedding of Bhagwan Shiva and Mata Parvati, which took place in the Sat Yuga, was officiated by Bhagwan Vishnu himself, with Brahma as the Priest conducting the official ceremony.
According to local folklore, the divine union of Shiva and Parvati was blessed
by all sages of that time, and the eternal flame, housed in a Havan Kund,
became a silent witness to the divine Vivah Sanskar.
The Triyuginarayan temple has become such a sought-after venue for Hindu
marriage ceremonies that the mandir website has a separate section dedicated to bookings. The temple offers options
for all kinds of budgets, right from a simple marriage ceremony with minimal
expenditure, as well as different packages involving more elaborate arrangement
and accommodation and meals for guests.
Most importantly, irrespective of the budget involved, one is expected
to follow temple etiquette and respect local traditions and customs, sticking
to the formation of a non-ostentatious Satvik wedding, rooted in the ethos of
Sanatani culture and civilization.
Arrangement - Local
wedding planner is Raman Shelly 91+78929 50554. According to him marriage
ceremony takes 3-4 hours. Rs 30,000/ is to be paid to Mandir Committee. Only
local Purohits (priests) can do ceremony. Keep Rs 5,000/ for sundry wedding
cost. Food, taxi, marriage ceremony cost extra. Nearby resorts are Sudesh
Ganga, Shivalik Valley Resort (please do research and decide).
How to reach – It is close to Sonprayag. Closest airport Dehradun (app 250 kms). Closest station Rishikesh/Haridwar (app 240 kms). Sonprayag is 13 kms from Triyuginarayan and very close to Gaurikund i.e. the base for Kedarnath.
2. Brihadeeswara Temple,
Thanjavur
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Brihadeeswara temple is famous for its grand architecture, rich historical legacy, and
sacred ethos, offering Hindu couples the perfect spiritual setting to exchange sacred
vows.
The temple’s classic architecture, enriched by elements like the towering gopuram and intricate stone carvings, makes it a spiritually enriching, although somewhat offbeat wedding destination. The temple’s majestic ambience provides an ethereal backdrop, transporting one to the Vedic era, as the couples exchange sacred vows during the auspicious Kanyadan ceremony.
Dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva, represented by a “Lingam”, the Brihadeeswara temple was built during the reign of the Chola dynasty around 1010 AD. The temple also houses a mammoth statue of Nandi.
Arrangement – I spoke to a local guide Selham 91 97512 15179 who said that marriage rituals are not allowed in the temple by ASI.
Also see – Maratha Palace, Big Temple , Tanjore Paintings in market
Swamimalai Temple is popular for marriages. Swamimalai is 40 kms from Thanjavur and 5 kms
from Kumbakonam. To see album
How to reach – Trichy airport is 61 kms away. Trichy is well connected by train.
Vadapalani Murugan Temple Chennai is also popular.
3. Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
A stunning architectural masterpiece with immense historical significance, the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is the perfect wedding destination for recreating the grandeur of a traditional Vedic marriage ceremony. The vibrant sculptures, towering gopurams, and the centuries-old unique rituals of the temple echo the whispers and murmurs of the bygone times of ancient India’s rich architectural, scientific, cultural, and Dharmic legacy.
Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, is ideal for couples looking for a traditional
wedding because of its favorable location, ensuring a comfortable winter
wedding with pleasant temperatures ranging from18 to 28 degrees Celsius. The
temple offers stunning backdrops for the Mandap ceremony and the ideal ambience
for traditional wedding photography.
Arrangement – According to gottirupati.com only wedding cost is app Rs 20,000/ All conditions can be known from link. Marriage
Hall 2-3 kms from temple.
The Meenakshi
Thirukalyanam (divine wedding) - “is the spectacular
centerpiece of the Chithirai
Thiruvizha, a 15-day festival in Madurai, India, celebrating the
celestial marriage of Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati) and Lord Sundareswarar
(Shiva). Held annually in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May).” Search To see video 3 minutes
Also see – Meenakshi Temple, Meenakshi Temple Inside, Nayak Palace
Murugan Temple near Madurai – is another popular temple for weddings i.e. about 30 minutes away. It has a marriage hall too. To see album
How to reach – Madurai is well connected by road and train.
4. Khajuraho Temples, Madhya
Pradesh
With ancient sculptures that echo the whispers of bygone times and embody the poetic and visual footprints of Bharat’s rich civilizational past, the Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh offer one of the most visually evocative wedding venues in India.
The rich tapestry of sculptures narrates poignant stories of love,
devotion, and celebration, making the backdrop ideal for exchanging sacred
wedding vows.
Khajuraho temples are the perfect setting for a winter wedding – temperatures typically hover between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius during the winter season, making the time ideal for hosting marriage ceremonies. The open landscapes and the group of temples offer the added attraction of instaworthy photography, making the venue a balanced confluence of tradition and modernity, Dharmic consciousness and a contemporary sensibility.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Khajuraho temples are ASI-protected;
thus, ceremonies require formal permission in advance, and rituals can be
conducted only in designated areas.
Mangateshwar Temple - It is the only temple in
Khajuraho where live worship is permitted. You might need ASI permission. For
local assistance contact guides Om Patel 91 94253 05057 or Shatrughan 91 83598
54429.
How to reach – There are direct flights from Delhi to Khajuraho. Train connectivity with Delhi and Gwalior is good. Or get off train at Jhansi from where Khajuraho is about a two hour drive.
5. Kashi
Vishwanath Temple Corridor, Varanasi
The newly renovated Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor has been emerging
as one of the most popular temple wedding destinations in India.
The immense historical and Dharmic significance of the Kashi Vishwanath
Temple, and its association with Bhagwan Shiva contribute immensely to its
rising popularity as a wedding destination. Furthermore, the corridor has
improved infrastructure and accessibility immensely, contributing to the
convenience and comfort of wedding guests.
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor doesn’t offer much flexibility in terms of experimentation. Couples and guests are expected to adhere to strict traditional protocols, including that of a dress code. Moreover, only certain rituals are allowed during specific times.
The auspicious occasion of Dev Deepawali, celebrated approximately 15
days after the celebration of Diwali, is especially sought after for conducting
marriage ceremonies.
Restrictions – The Corridor has two
halls, 250 capacity each. However, marriage ceremony not
allowed. They allow Ring ceremony, Marriage Anniversary. Rental for each hall
as on 18.12.25 is Rs 103,250 (including GST). Food is provided (no onion, no
garlic) at no extra cost. To know more and book hall
Kanchi
Mutt Temple
- Varun Gandhi married Yamini Roy at the Shri Kashi Kaamkoteeshwar Mandir in 2011.
Sankat Mochan Mandir – Marriages not permitted. Perhaps, they stopped it after the 2006 Bomb blast.
On Ghats of Kashi – the marriage ritual ceremony can be held on the ghats say local Pandit Bharat Pandey 91 96707 06939.
Also see – Ghats of Kashi, Temples of Kashi
How to reach – It is well connected by road and train.
Reference Links
1. shaadivyah.com
2. triyuginarayantemple.com
3. euttaranchal.com – useful for Triyuginarayan Temple
4. weddingz.in
5. tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in
6. stayvista.com – Useful.
7. curlytales.com
8. outdoorkeeda.com – Useful information