There are twelve temples surrounding the Mysore Palace within the compound. Some of them are built in typical Dravidian style including the Varashaswamy Temple with a gopuram that set the pattern for the later Sri Chamundeswari Temple on Chamundi Hill.

Sri Laxmiramanaswami Temple is located at one of the entrances of the Palace of Mysore. Exquisite carvings and stone work is done on the exterior of the walls

Camera image (no PhotoShop manipulation) of the Janamashtmi Celebrations in Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai.

Krishna Janmashtami is observed on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha (the dark half) of the month of Shraavana in the Hindu calendar, when the Rohini Nakshatra (Western star name: Aldebaran) is ascendent. The festival falls during August/September. In 2005, it was celebrated on 27th Aug'08.

The ritual is to fast the previous day followed by a night-long vigil commemorating the birth of Krishna at night. At midnight, the deity of the infant Krishna is bathed, placed in a cradle and worshipped.The fast is completed after aarti (a special prayer).

Janmaashtami, popularly known in Mumbai and Pune as Dahi Handi is celebrated with enormous zeal and enthusiasm. Various Handis are set up locally in several parts of the city, and groups of youngsters, called Govinda, travel around in trucks trying to break as many handis as possible during the day.

Ash and colour smeared Sadhu (medicant) with his "lota" (the pot behind) and "kamandal" near Pashupatinath Mandir, Kathmandu, Nepal.

The huge Buddha statue in Bangkok, Thailand which is named Luang Phor TO was believed to be first constructed back in 1867 during the reign of King Rama IV and lasted probably 60 years. The work on it actually stretched to King Rama VII! Phra Soomdej Toh who originated the idea actually never saw its completion and passed away in the temple when he was 80 years old (1872).

Kek Lok Si Temple (Penang Hokkien for "Temple of Supreme Bliss") is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam, Penang and is one of the best known temples on the island. Mahayana Buddhism and tradional Chinese rituals blend into a harmonious whole, both in the temple architecture and artwork as well as in the daily activities of worshippers.

Kek Lok Si Temple (Penang Hokkien for "Temple of Supreme Bliss") is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam, Penang and is one of the best known temples on the island. Mahayana Buddhism and tradional Chinese rituals blend into a harmonious whole, both in the temple architecture and artwork as well as in the daily activities of worshippers.

Statues of Lord Buddha seated on lotus in a Buddhist temple in Ayuthaya, Thailand.

WAT PHO (Recline Buddha) is one of Bangkok's oldest and largest temples. Wat Pho was built by King Rama I nearly 200 years ago and houses the gigantic gold-plated Reclining Buddha. WatPho is also regarded as the first centre of public education and is sometimes called "Thailand's First University".

Haji Ali, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro). The splendid square and colonnade, Bernini's finest work, form a superb entryway to the greatest church of Christendom. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and Sovereign of the Vatican City (a city within a city) and this has been the case since the time of St. Peter. At the time of Christ, Rome was the Capital of the Roman Empire - the most important City in the Western world.