Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram: This temple is famous for its long corridors lined with intricately carved pillars. It is also said to be one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.
Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this temple is an example of Dravidian architecture at its finest. The towering vimana (shrine) is the tallest in South India.
Meenakshi Temple, Madurai: This sprawling temple complex is dedicated to Parvati, also known as Meenakshi, and Shiva. It is famous for its intricate carvings, colorful gopurams (gateway towers), and the Hall of 1000 Pillars.
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi: This temple complex is located in the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is dedicated to Virupaksha, a form of Shiva, and is known for its intricate carvings and chariot hall.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram: This opulent temple is dedicated to Vishnu and is known for its gold-plated gopurams and its immense wealth. The temple's inner sanctum is one of the most mysterious places in India, as it is said to be booby-trapped and has never been fully opened.
Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram: This group of temples is carved out of granite rock and is one of the oldest structural temples in South India. The Shore Temple, facing the Bay of Bengal, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram: This temple is unusual in that it enshrines all three aspects of the Hindu godhead – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. It is also known for its musical pillars, which produce different musical notes when struck.