The country of unity in diversity, India, is full of colours of different cultures. India has deep roots in spirituality and divinity. There are crores of deities worshipped and thousands of temples all over the country but exceptions are always there.

Here is a list of top 7 unusual temples you must definitely put in your travel bucket list:

Stambheshwar Mahadev in Kavi Kamboi, Gujarat

"Gupt Tirth - a secret pilgrimage", as it is called, is a temple which submerges and reemerges from the sea. It can be visited only during the low tide hours as it is mostly submerged. Tourists come from all over the world to watch the splendid view of the disappearing temple. The trademark of this temple is that, here the Arabian sea itself comes to shower the 'Shivling', with its water, twice a day. This temple is situated in a small town of Kavi Kambol at the outskirts of Vadodara and along the bay of Khambhat, in Arabian Sea.

Om Banna Shrine, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

On the Pali-Jodhpur National Highway 65, 40 kilometres from Jodhpur, is a shrine devoted to Om Banna aka Bullet Baba. The shrine has a very unusual history. The story is of a man named Om Singh Rathore who loved his bullet bike and died in an accident when he crashed his bike into a tree while riding drunk. As claimed by the police, the bike was taken to the police station but the bike was found at the same spot, the next day. The bike was permanently placed at the spot, which is now a shrine. It is believed that the spirit of Om Banna protects the travellers which is why the shrine is revered.



Dog Temple, Channapatna, Karnataka

Channapatna's Ramanagar district has a community which has made a very unusual temple for worshipping man's best friend-dog. People worship the dog statues and offer prayers to the dog god. The temple of the canine is situated next to the temple of a village deity. It is believed by the community that the dog possesses the power of stopping any wrong doings along with the deity.

Temple of the Visa God, Balaji Temple, Chilkur, Hyderabad

The Balaji Temple in Chilkur, in the past few years has become the pilgrimage specifically for the U.S. Visa seekers. It is believed that the deity has the power to grant a visa. People from all over the country come to this temple to take the blessings for their visa interviews.

Karni Mata Temple, Bikaner, Rajasthan

Located in a town named Deshnoke, at a distance of 30 kilometers away from Bikaner, this temple is known for its devotion to the little furry animals-rats. It is believed that the rats are the incarnations of the Goddess Karni Mata, who is an incarnation of the goddess Durga and her four children. Believers protect these rats and feed these furry beings with milk and food.

Levitating Stone, Shivapur, Maharashtra

16 Kilometres from Pune, located in a small village known as the Khed Shivapur, the Hazrat Qamar Ali Darvesh Dargah is on the main highway of Pune-Satara road. 800 years ago, the shrine used to be a gymnasium. The shrine has a very unusual history which says that the saint put spells on the rocks used for body building, as he was taunted by the wrestlers. Magically, the 70 Kilogram levitating rock can be lifted by 11 finger tips touching it and calling out his name loudly.

Nau Gaja Pir, Haryana

On the Grand Trunk Road, near Kalyana Village, midway between Ambala and Kurukshetra, lays the Nau Gaja Pir. The term "Nau Gaza/Gaja" is basically a unit of length and when translated, it is equivalent to approximately eight meters in English. It is believed that the people, who come and pray here, reach home safely and on time. Travellers come here and offer clocks, garlands and mustard oil.