10 Temples in Tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage

1. TEMPLES AT BISHNUPUR, WEST BENGAL

The terracotta temples date to the 17th century built by Malla rulers. They were built in brick and laterite stone, with characteristic sloping roofs.

2. SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE, SRIRANGAM, TAMILNADU

The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, dedicated to Ranganatha, is the world's largest operating Hindu temple and is in fact a temple town. There have been temples at the site for over two millennia, however, the key buildings standing today date to the time of the Vijayanagara Empire, from the 14th to the 16th century.

3. SACRED ENSEMBLES OF THE HOYSALA

This nomination comprises two clusters of monuments (in Belur and Halebidu) dating to the time of the Hoysala Empire, between the 11th and 14th centuries. Hoysala architecture combined the elements of the Dravidian architecture with influences from northern India. The temples are richly decorated with stone sculptures and carvings.

4. EKAMRA KSHETRA – THE TEMPLE CITY, BHUBANESWAR

Ekamra Kshetra, the old part of the city of Bhubaneswar. It is a holy city and has earned the nickname of "Temple City" due to about 700 temples that once stood here. The temples were built between the 3rd century BCE and 15th century CE in the Kalinga style.

5. AIHOLE-BADAMI-PATTADAKAL TEMPLE CIRCLE, BAGALKOT DISTRICT, KARNATAKA

This nomination comprises several temples in Aihole, Badami, and Pattadakal, that were built between the 6th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty. They demonstrate the evolution of Hindu temple architecture with rock-cut and free-standing temples and were influential in temples from later periods.

6. THE HISTORIC ENSEMBLE OF ORCHHA, MADHYA PRADESH

The town of Orchha was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela clan to serve as their capital. In the following century, it came under the Mughal influence. The architecture of the Fort complex, palaces, temples, and gardens, represent a mixture of styles from Rajput and Mughal architecture.

7. TEMPLES OF KANCHIPURAM, TAMILNADU

Kanchipuram; the capital of the Pallava dynasty from the 6th to 9th century; used to have hundreds of temples. The architecture marks the shift from rockcut temples to free-standing structures. Eleven temples from the temple town are listed in the nomination.

8. SRI VEERABHADRA TEMPLE AND MONOLITHIC BULL (NANDI), LEPAKSHI, ANDHRA PRADESH

The construction of the temple started around 1100, while the major development took place during the period of the Vijayanagara Empire, from 1350 to 1600, when a large complex was built. The temple contains important examples of Vijayanagara art, including the only surviving frescoes from that period.

9. ROCK CUT SCULPTURES AND RELIEFS, UNAKOTI, TRIPURA

Unkoti Hill is a sculptural emblem and ancient Shaivite place that hosts numerous rock carvings figures and stone images of gods and goddesses. Among the rock-cut carvings, the central Shiva head and gigantic Ganesha figures deserve special mention.

10. SUN TEMPLE, MODHERA, GUJRAT

The Sun Temple of Modhera is dedicated to Surya and is located at Modhera village of Mehsana district, Gujarat. It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty. The temple complex has three components: Gūhamanapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamanapa, the assembly hall and Kuna, the reservoir. The halls have intricately carved exterior and pillars. The reservoir has steps to reach the bottom and numerous small shrines.