In competitive exams like JKSSB, SSC, and Railways, temple-related questions are common in Static GK. You’ll often be asked where a temple is located, who built it, which river it’s near, and which deity is worshipped.
This post organizes key temples based on exam patterns and PYQs, making it easy to revise and retain.
🔱 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva (Most Asked)
| Temple Name | Location (State) | Built By / Dynasty | River Nearby | Deity Worshipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somnath | Gujarat | Rebuilt by Sardar Patel | Arabian Sea | Lord Shiva |
| Mallikarjuna | Andhra Pradesh | Chalukya Kings | Krishna River | Lord Shiva |
| Mahakaleshwar | Madhya Pradesh | Gupta Period; rebuilt by Marathas | Shipra River | Lord Shiva |
| Omkareshwar | Madhya Pradesh | Paramara Kings | Narmada River | Lord Shiva |
| Kedarnath | Uttarakhand | Adi Shankaracharya | Mandakini River | Lord Shiva |
| Bhimashankar | Maharashtra | Bhimashankar Temple Trust | Bhima River | Lord Shiva |
| Kashi Vishwanath | Uttar Pradesh | Ahilyabai Holkar | Ganga River | Lord Shiva |
| Trimbakeshwar | Maharashtra | Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao | Godavari River | Lord Shiva |
| Vaidyanath (Deoghar) | Jharkhand | Raja Puran Mal | No major river | Lord Shiva |
| Nageshwar | Gujarat (Dwarka) | Not Clearly Known | Arabian Sea | Lord Shiva |
| Rameshwaram | Tamil Nadu | Pandya Kings | Bay of Bengal | Lord Shiva |
| Grishneshwar | Maharashtra | Ahilyabai Holkar | Near Ellora Caves | Lord Shiva |
✅ PYQ Tip: “Where is Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga located?” → Maharashtra, near Godavari River
🌸 Major Shakti Peethas (Goddess Temples)
| Temple Name | State | Built By / Dynasty | River Nearby | Deity Worshipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamakhya Temple | Assam | Rebuilt by Ahom Kings | Brahmaputra River | Goddess Kamakhya |
| Jwala Ji Temple | Himachal Pradesh | Raja Bhumi Chand | No major river | Goddess Jwala (Flame) |
| Kalighat Temple | West Bengal | Sabarna Roy Chowdhury Family | Adi Ganga Canal | Goddess Kali |
| Tara Tarini Temple | Odisha | Kalinga Rulers | Rushikulya River | Goddess Tara & Tarini |
| Vaishno Devi Temple | Jammu & Kashmir | Natural Cave Shrine | Trikuta Hills | Goddess Vaishno Devi |
✅ PYQ Tip: “Kamakhya Temple is a Shakti Peeth located in?” → Assam
🏛️ UNESCO World Heritage Temples
| Temple Group / Name | Location (State) | Built By / Dynasty | River Nearby | Deity Worshipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Temple, Konark | Odisha | King Narasimhadeva I (Ganga) | Chandrabhaga River | Sun God (Surya) |
| Brihadeshwara Temple | Tamil Nadu (Thanjavur) | Raja Raja Chola I | Kaveri River | Lord Shiva |
| Khajuraho Temples | Madhya Pradesh | Chandela Dynasty | Ken River | Shiva, Vishnu, Devi |
| Mahabalipuram Temples | Tamil Nadu | Pallavas (Narasimhavarman I) | Bay of Bengal | Various Hindu deities |
| Pattadakal Temples | Karnataka | Chalukya Kings | Malaprabha River | Shiva, Jain deities |
✅ PYQ Tip: “Which temple is known as Black Pagoda?” → Sun Temple, Konark
🛕 Other Famous Temples Asked in Exams
| Temple Name | State | Built By / Dynasty | River Nearby | Deity Worshipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jagannath Temple | Odisha (Puri) | King Anantavarman Chodaganga | Near Mahanadi Delta | Lord Jagannath (Krishna) |
| Meenakshi Temple | Tamil Nadu (Madurai) | Nayaka Dynasty | Vaigai River | Goddess Meenakshi |
| Ramanathaswamy Temple | Tamil Nadu (Rameswaram) | Pandya Dynasty | Bay of Bengal | Lord Shiva |
| Lingaraja Temple | Odisha (Bhubaneswar) | Somavamsi Dynasty | Bindusagar Lake | Lord Shiva |
| Virupaksha Temple | Karnataka (Hampi) | Chalukyas, Vijayanagara Kings | Tungabhadra River | Lord Shiva |
| Dwarkadhish Temple | Gujarat (Dwarka) | Vajranabh (Krishna’s grandson) | Gomti River | Lord Krishna |
| Akshardham Temple | Delhi | BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha | Yamuna River | Lord Swaminarayan |
| Amarnath Cave Temple | Jammu & Kashmir | Natural Cave | Lidder River | Lord Shiva (Ice Lingam) |
| Kanchi Kailasanathar | Tamil Nadu (Kanchipuram) | Pallava King Rajasimha | Palar River (nearby) | Lord Shiva |
| Padmanabhaswamy Temple | Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram) | Travancore Royal Family | Karamana River | Lord Vishnu |
| Badami Cave Temples | Karnataka | Chalukya Dynasty | Malaprabha River | Shiva, Vishnu, Jain deities |
✅ PYQ Tip: “Who built Jagannath Temple in Puri?” → King Anantavarman Chodaganga
🎯 Quick Exam Tips & Tricks
- 3 M’s of Maharashtra Jyotirlingas:
- Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Grishneshwar – all Shiva temples.
- UNESCO Memory Aid:
- Konark, Khajuraho, Mahabalipuram, Brihadeshwara, Pattadakal – focus on architectural style + dynasty.
- River Association Boost:
- Kashi Vishwanath → Ganga
- Kedarnath → Mandakini
- Omkareshwar → Narmada
📝 Conclusion
Temples of India are not just spiritual landmarks but also represent the cultural, architectural, and historical richness of the country. For aspirants preparing for JKSSB, SSC, Railways, and other competitive exams, temple-related questions are frequent, factual, and high-scoring.
This blog post provided a structured, PYQ-based classification of temples:
- 🔱 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva
- 🌸 Shakti Peethas of Goddess Shakti
- 🏛️ UNESCO World Heritage Temples
- 🛕 Other famous temples asked in exams
By remembering key facts like location, built by, river, and deity, you can answer temple-related questions quickly and accurately. Use the memory tricks, PYQ cues, and categorized tables provided here as your one-stop revision guide.
Stay consistent in revision and pair this post with mock tests and MCQs to maximize your Static GK score. Temples are a favorite among paper-setters—make them your strength!
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