India has rich cultural and historical heritage well preserved in its temple architecture and pilgrim sites. From the majestic Himalayan ranges in the North, to Kanyakumari in the South, there are thousand of shrines, worship places and temples in India dating back to hundreds of years. Many theories have been formulated to explain the existence of these holy sites in such a huge number, paving the path to attain salvation or "nirvana". The statuary and adornment in these ancient temples of India showcases one of the world's foremost artistic heritages. The designs of major temples of India have augmented into enormous architectural splendor.