Christianity is India's third-largest religion with about 26 million adherents, making up 2.3 percent of the population as of the 2011 census. The written records of Saint Thomas Christians mention that Christianity was introduced to the Indian subcontinent by Thomas the Apostle, who sailed to the Malabar region in 52 AD.
Saint Thomas Christian cross from the 9th century Kadamattom Church
Saint Thomas Christians or Syrian Christians of ancient days from an old painting.
Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, in Muziris present-day Kodungaloor, is believed to be the first Christian church built in India, circa 52 A. D.
Stained glass window of Saint Thomas the Apostle, the traditional founder of Indian Christianity, in his namesake St. Thomas CNI church, the 300 year old Cathedral of Mumbai
Religion in India is characterised by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. Throughout India's history, religion has been an important part of the country's culture and the Indian subcontinent is the birthplace of four of the world's major religions, namely, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, which are collectively known as native Indian religions or Dharmic religions and represent approx. 83% of the total population of India.
Goddess Meenakshi with husband Shiva and brother Vishnu inside the Meenakshi Hindu Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Muslim men in an Islamic library in Delhi
St. Philomena's Cathedral in Mysuru, Karnataka is one of the tallest churches in Asia
A Sikh pilgrim at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab
