Housing the world’s most sacred sand mound (a lingam said to have been created by Rama's wife Sita, so that he could worship Shiva), this temple is one of India's holiest shrines. Dating mainly from the 16th to 18th centuries, it's notable for its long, exquisite 1000-pillar halls and 22 theerthams (temple tanks), in which pilgrims bathe before visiting the deity. Attendants tip pails of water over the (often fully dressed) faithful, who then rush on to the next theertham .
The legend goes that, when Rama decided to worship Shiva, he figured he’d need a lingam to do the thing properly. Being a god, he sent Hanuman to find the biggest lingam around – a Himalayan mountain. But the monkey took too long, so Sita made the simple lingam of sand now enshrined in the temple's inner sanctum.
Cameras and phones are forbidden inside the temple. Only Hindus may enter the inner shrine.
