The Most Beautiful Churches You Need To Visit In India

Although India’s temples have garnered attention from travelers around the world, the country has stunning churches, too. Christianity has survived for thousands of years in India and many churches stand tall to tell an interesting history. Built in Gothic, Baroque, or a local tribal style, here are the most beautiful churches you must visit in India.

Mary Help of Christians Cathedral in Kohima

This Cathedral in Kohima, Nagaland lies amid dreamy pastures. The building was designed to look like local Nagaland homes and blend into the scenic landscape. Japan considers Mary Help of Christians Cathedral a memorial to their soldiers who died in the Battle of Kohima during World War II. They funded a part of the structure, too. The wood carved crucifix is one of the tallest in Asia at 16 feet.

The church is built keeping in mind local Nagaland homes

Mateer Memorial Church in Trivandrum

The church is built in Hallenkirsch of Hall Church style

Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in Kunkuri

Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral seats 8,000 people at a time and is the second largest Catholic church in Asia. It is a significant landmark of Kunkuri, a scenic, quiet town in the North Indian state of Chhattigarh. Inside, the church has seven arch-shaped arcades and seven sacrament symbols made of angle iron. The cathedral is run by local tribal groups and attracts millions of visitors during Christmas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BawFunWHYhL/?hl=en&tagged=kunkuri

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX5deYWgoEo/?hl=en&tagged=kunkuri

Medak Church in Telangana

The Medak diocese is the largest in Asia and only second to the Vatican in the world. It took a decade to finish the Gothic Revival building. The roof of this stunning church in Telangana has been made soundproof with hollow sponge fittings. On the inside, it is decorated with mosaic tiles that were specially imported from Britain. The church has some of the most amazing stained glass windows.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbt4B3ajRPY/?hl=en&taken-at=515661837

St. George Orthodox Koonan Kurish Old Syrian Church in Cochin

A unique building amid abundant palm and coconut trees in a beautiful area called Mattancherry in Cochin, St. George Orthodox Koonan Kurish Old Syrian Church stands out among the most beautiful churches in India. Built in Egyptian Nubian vault style, the church has 13 sinusoidal vaults and a dome. It was entirely built using compressed earth blocks.

The church is built of clay entirely with no concrete or steel involved

Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours in Thrissur

Belonging to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Thrissur, Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours is the third tallest church in Asia, with 11 altars and sky-high belfries. Made in Indo-Gothic architectural style, it was the first Catholic church in Kerala and its church bells were imported from Germany. This beautiful church sits right in the heart of Thrissur and is decorated extensively during Christmas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcD-dwNnmTY/?hl=en&taken-at=462315610

The beautiful interior of Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours in Thrissur

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Goa

Known as the crown of Panjim in Goa, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is set atop a hill and overlooks the entire city. The all-white building was made in Portuguese-Baroque-style architecture. Originally built in 1541 A.D., the zigzag pattern stairway in front of the façade and a few more additions were only made in the 18th century. Framed with long palm trees, the church building was built where traders from Lisbon used to dock their ships.

The zig-zag stairway was built in the 18th century

St. Mary’s Basilica in Bangalore

The Gothic style church is a beautiful sight in the heart of India’s metropolitan city, Bangalore. There are stained glass windows and Corinthian pillars inside that give the church a majestic appeal. The building today is the 19th century renovated version of the original thatched roof house of worship that used to stand before, built by the Christian migrants from the charming little district of Gingee in Tamil Nadu.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba1jFQEH4ZO/?hl=en&taken-at=294862403

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Pondicherry

An attractive sight in the coastal Union Territory of Pondicherry in India, the red and white façade of Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is more than 100 years old. The structure was built in 1907 in Gothic style. The magnificent stained glass windows inside the church makes it look particularly beautiful when it’s decorated during festivities. It has become a pilgrimage site for Christians in India.

The beautiful red and white church in coastal town of Pondicherry

Sacred Heart Cathedral in Shimoga

In the picturesque land of Shimoga in the Southern state of Karnataka, the Sacred Heart Cathedral accommodates about 5,000 people at the same time, making it the second largest Church in India. The grey façade and Roman and Gothic architecture makes the building seem like a pipe organ, distinctly unique from the rest of Shimoga’s little village landscape.

Shettihalli Rosary Church in Shettihalli

This church was built by the French Missionaries in the 1860s in Gothic-style architecture. Unfortunately, after the construction of a reservoir and dam in 1960, the church was completely abandoned. What remains today is a beautiful skeleton of what one can imagine being a grand splendid church. Tourists flock to the site, especially during monsoons to see the structure partly submerged in the sea. It has attracted lots of photographers in the recent years.

Shettihalli remains to be a beautiful ruin and a great place for photography

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.