This post is part of #IndiaCommunitySpotlight2025 coordinated by me, a week-long celebration, by #TeamIndia. This is also a part of Community Spotlight 2025, an initiative by @AdrianLunsong to celebrate 10 years of Local Guides.
India is the birthplace of several major world religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. India also has a sizeable population of Muslims, Jews, Parsis and Armenians. Its history is deeply intertwined with these different faiths all of which have influenced Indian culture and society.
Islam first came to India through Arab traders in the 7th century along the western coast, with the first mosque built in 629 CE in Kerala.
Jews first came to India around 2,000 years ago, with the earliest settlers believed to have arrived in the 1st century CE in what is now Kochi, Kerala. According to traditional accounts, some Jewish traders arrived as early as 562 BCE, followed by a larger group of Jewish exiles in 70 CE after the destruction of the Second Temple.
Parsis came to India in the 8th century, with Parsi tradition and historical sources suggesting arrival in 716 CE or 750 CE. They landed in Sanjan, a town in Gujarat, fleeing religious persecution after the Arab conquest of Persia.
The earliest recorded Armenians arrived in India around 8th century, fleeing the Islamic conquest of Arabia and landing on the Malabar Coast.
The Srikalahasti temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was significantly expanded by Vijayanagara king Krishnadevraya in 1516, although its history dates to the 5th century when the Pallava dynasty constructed the original structure. The temple is also significant as a Pancha Bhoota Sthalam, representing the element air (Vayu), and is famous for its unique architecture and for being the site of the Rahu-Kethu pooja
*Chemrey Monastery, Leh was built in 1664 and is dedicated to King Sengge Namgyal. It was founded by Lama Tagsang Raschen and is part of the Buddhist Drugpa monastic order.
The Jal Mandir at Pawapuri is dedicated to Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, and marks the site of his cremation in 527 BCE
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Goa is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order. The Sé Cathedral here is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The church was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese. Both are today World heritage sites
The Afghan Church in Mumbai, also known as the Church of St. John the Evangelist, was built between 1847 and 1858 to commemorate the soldiers who died in the First Afghan War.
The Knesset Eliyahoo Orthodox Jewish Synagogue in Mumbai was built in 1884 by Jacob Elias Sassoon to serve the needs of the Jewish community
The Desai Atash Behram in Navsari was established in 1765 and the holy fire was consecrated by the Bhagarsath Anjuman community. It is the second oldest fire temple in India.
The Armenian Church in Chinsurah was built in 1695–1697 and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It was founded by Khojah Johannes Margar and completed by his brother.
The Dhai Seedhi Ki Masjid was built by Sardar Dost Muhammad Khan in 1726.It is a small mosque built on top of the remains of Bhopal’s Fatehgarh Fort. Many historians consider it to be one of the smallest mosques in Asia.
Shahjahanabad one of the seven cities of Delhi was built as a walled city by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1638-1648. The imperial residence Red Fort was built on banks of river Yamuna.
Chandni Chowk (moonlight square) was designed by his daughter Jahanara around the same time. The central median had the Red Fort at one end and Fatehpuri Masjid at another end. There used to be a canal all along the median fed by the Yamuna River. The moonlight was reflected in its clear waters giving the place its name- Chandni Chowk. It is now covered up and used as pedestrian street.
At this most sceular street in the world you can find a Jain temple, Hindu temple, Sikh gurudwara, Two Mosques and a Two churches Church on the same road which is less than a km!!
This road is a true testimony to the secular nature of India
At the start is Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir first built by the Jain community in 1656 CE.
Next is the Gauri Shankar temple, built in 1761 CE by Appa Gangadhara, a Maratha Brahman in the service of the Scindias when Delhi was under their influence.
A little ahead is the Central Baptist Church, one of the oldest in North India, going back to 1814 when it was set up by the Baptist Missionary Society.
Next is the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib first built in 1783 by Baghel Singh to commemorate the martyrdom site of the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur, in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. The current building was largely constructed after 1930.
Near the Gurudwara is the Shahi Sunehri Masjid in Chandni Chowk was built in 1721 by the Mughal nobleman Roshan-ud-Daula Zafar Khan. The mosque is also known as the Golden Mosque and was constructed during the reign of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. Persian ruler Nadir Shah watched the brutal sack of Delhi from its roof in 1739. He ordered the city’s plunder from the mosque, leading to immense violence and destruction, making the Sunehri Masjid a grim landmark associated with this event.
At the end of the road is Fatehpuri Masjid. It was built in 1650 by Fatehpuri Begum, one of the wives of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. t is located at the western end of Chandni Chowk in Delhi, directly opposite the Red Fort.
Nearby is the St. Stephen’s Church built in 1862, by Anglican missionaries in the style of Italian Gothic architecture.
To know more about the #IndiaCommunitySpotlight series read the post here
, Chandni Chowk is a powerful reminder that diversity and harmony can thrive side by side, this street truly represents the soul of India. Thank you for sharing such a meaningful perspective. 
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