Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam

This towering Vaishnava temple in the historic town of Kumbakonam is one of the most important Vishnu shrines in southern India. Its soaring, sculpture-encrusted gateway tower rises many storeys and its sanctum is designed as a chariot drawn by horses and elephants. Pilgrims circle the vast pillared halls and tanks during major festivals, when the deity is paraded through the streets. The scale of the carved gopuram and the antiquity of the site make it a highlight of the temple-rich Kaveri delta region.