Pilgrimage Sites in India
Looking for a spiritual journey? Come to India - the land that bridges the material world to the spiritual. A land that has given birth to religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Ancient pilgrimage centers of India have been a source of enlightenment for many a soul. The temple sites in India is perfect for those seeking peace of mind and rejuvenation. These tourist places in India are renowned for its religious shrines and a must-see when you travel to India.
Vaishno Devi
The Vaishno Devi shrine forms one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India. The shrine is located in a cave towards the top of the Trikuta Mountains in Jammu-Kashmir.Vaishno Devi is mostly identified with Mahalakshmi although She is the combined Shakti's of all three. This is believed to be the only place where these three Devi's are found in one temple as natural pindies.
Tirupati Balaji
Another most visited pilgrimage site is the shrine of Tirupati Balaji, located on a hill at Tirumala, a cluster of seven hills known as Seshachalam or Venkatachalam with an elevation of 2,800ft above the sea level. Known as the richest temple in the world, it is a vibrant cultural and philanthropic institution with a grand history.The temple of Tirupati Balaji in south India is one of the most revered and sacred shrines in the country.
Golden Temple
The Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib, situated in Amritsar, Punjab, is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all over the world. In the evolution of the Darbar Sahib, is entwined the history and ideology of Sikhism.
Hemkund Sahib
Hemkund is the World`s highest shrine, situated at an altitude of 4329 mts, and is on the bank of a glacier lake surrounded by several towering pinnacles of snow, reflected in its clear water. It is believed that Guru Govind Singh , the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith had mediated on the bank of this lake. There is a Sikh Gurudwara & a Laxman Temple on the bank of the lake.
Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. Apart from being a significant archaeological site, it is also a vital Buddhist centre. Devout Buddhists and tourists from all over the world visit Bodhgaya, to study Buddhism and the art of meditation, or to simply absorb the aura of solemn grandeur that surrounds the place.
Dharamsala
Dharamsala is another important Buddhist pilrimage site. It overlooks the plains and is surrounded by dense pine trees and Deodar forests. A nearby snowline with numerous streams and cool healthy atmosphere makes the surroundings very attractive.
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is just 24 Kms from Haridwar. Located in the laps of lower Himalayas, this place is considered to be the access point of three other pilgrim places of Badrinath - Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri the four great places which combine to make Chardham . Rishikesh is surrounded by scenic beauty of the hills on three sides with Holy Ganga flowing through it.
Haridwar
Haridwar is situated on the right side of the bank of the holy Ganga, and is the point where the river spreads over the northern plains. Associated with both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, Haridwar is among the seven sacred cities of India. It is also one of the four venues for the Kumbh Mela, held in its magnitude every twelve years.
Varanasi
Varanasi, or Benaras, is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi's prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrivalled. One of the earliest descriptions of Varanasi is found in the Buddhist scriptures as also in the epic, 'Mahabharat'. The 'Pali' version of Varanasi was 'Baranasi' which ultimately gave birth to the name 'Banaras'.
Kanyakumari
At the southernmost tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies Kanyakumari, an important south India pilgrimage site. Kanyakumari is also known as Cape Comorin.Pilgrims visit the place to bathe in the sacred waters and to worship the goddess Devi Kanya, an incarnation of Shiva's wife, who conquered demons and secured freedom for the world. The Kumari Amman temple, here, is dedicated to Parvati, the virgin goddess who did penance to obtain the hand of Lord Shiva.
Madurai
The great temple town of South India, Madurai, is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. It is situated on the banks of river Vaigai. Madurai has a rich cultural heritage, which is more than 2500 years old. The city is believed to have been built by the Pandyan King, Kulasekara in the 6th century BC. It is also known as the Athens of the East and is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu.
Mathura
Mathura is an important place of pilgrimage. The city stretches along the Right Bank of the Yamuna and the continuous line of ghats (riverbanks) along the river makes a splendid spectacle when viewed from the opposite bank. These picturesque ghats are of great architectural, cultural and ritual interest, for devotees from far and wide. With their steps leading to the water's edge, arched gateways and temple spires they emphasize the sacred character of the town.
Hampi
Hampi is located in the central part of the state of Karnataka, in the southern part of India. It is 353 km from Bangalore, and 13 km from Hospet.The temples of Hampi, its monolithic sculptures and monuments, attract the traveler because of their excellent workmanship. The Hindu style of architecture found at Hampi reflects the splendor of the Vijaynagar Empire. The rugged landscape adds to the historic ambience of this site.
Shirdi
Shirdi, 260 kms from Mumbai, 130 kms from Aurangabad is holy city of Sai Baba. The saga of Sai Baba of Shirdi started in the middle of last century when as a boy of about 16 years of age, he first appeared here under a neem tree absorbed in a hard penance. The most important festivals and events that are celebrated in Shirdi are Guru Poornima, Dusshera, and Ram Navami. These are the only days when the Samadhi Mandir of Shirdi opens for the whole night. Every Thursday, a palakhi bearing a photograph of the sage is taken out from the temple.
Puri
Situated on the eastern coast along the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, Orissa offers to magnificent temples, sunny beaches, colorful wildlife, traditional tribal culture and a rich heritage. While several temples have vanished or have declined in importance, the great temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri is still a living and vibrant temple. Over the centuries it has attracted kings, conquerors, religious teachers, devotees and pilgrims.
Pushkar
Pushkar is famous for its biggest cattle fair which falls in the month of Kartik. It commences two days before the full moon of the month and ends a day after it. Men and women congregate from all over Rajasthan and other nearby places with their horses, camels and cattle to buy and sell. In addition to its commercial importance, the fair is also a window to the cultural richness of Rajasthan. Days before it begins, tradesmen, craftsmen, troupes of dancers and singers, all gather here.
Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi , in the southern flanks of the country, has given birth to one such prophet, Sri Satya Sai Baba. Innumerable devotees, from all over the globe flock to this small town every year to have a glimpse of the seer, and be touched by his divine presence.
Ranakpur
Ranakpur in the state of Rajasthan is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. It is home to an exceptionally beautiful temple complex in the Aravali ranges and a must visit for the tourists coming to this region. It is situated around 60 km north of Udaipur in Pali district and boasts of one of the largest and most important Jain Temples in the country.
Churches of Goa
Churches of Goa are of permanent interest to the historians, the archaeologists, and the student of art and architecture, the tourist and indeed to every curious intellect. To begin with, the most visible legacy of the Portuguese is their churches, not only imposing monuments of old Goa but also more typically white- washed facades nestling among palm trees elsewhere. Most of the churches in Goa display a tiered frontispiece and are framed with columns and pilasters and were built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Most important churches in Goa include Basilica of Bom Jesus and Goa Se Cathedral.
Ganga(Ganges)
The sacred River Ganga is a popular pilgrimage destination visited by a large number of Hindus every year.It forms one of the major stopovers on tours to Rishikesh,Haridwar,Kedarnath and Bardinath.
South India Temples
The temples of south India are famous for their architecture and design. There is a mention of the temples of south India in many known legends of south India. Every temple in south India has its own significance. Visit the famous Krishna Temple at Guruvayoor, the oldest Shiva temple of Vishwanatha Swamy at Kalpathy,temples at Mahabalipuram, Meenakshi, Somnath and Tirupati.
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