Visit state, taking in first of temples (4)
I believe the answer is:
stay
'visit' is the definition.
(I know that visit is a more specific form of stay)
'state taking in first of temples' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'say' (speak).
'taking in' is an insertion indicator.
'first of temples' becomes 't' (sst letter of 'temples').
'say' placed around 't' is 'STAY'.
(Other definitions for stay that I've seen before include "Remain; detain" , "Board; continue" , "Thin strip used to stiffen a garment" , "Temporary residence" , "Abide" .)