Pilgrimage Places in India

Haridwar
Haridwar, also referred to as "the Gateway to the Gods", is considered as the gateway to the four pilgrimages in the Uttarakhand region. According to Hindu mythology, Haridwar is one of the seven holiest places of Hindus. Haridwar is famous as being the very place, blessed by the trinity of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma and it is also one of the major Shaktipeeths.

Rishikesh
Rishikesh located in the Tehri-Garhwal region of Uttaranchal is a gateway to the Himalayas. The town is situated at an altitude of about 1360 feet above sea level, and is surrounded on its three sides by hills. Sprawling on the right banks of the river Ganga, Rishikesh lies at the confluence of Ganga and Chandrabhaga stream. The banks of the Ganga is dotted with several temples.

Chardham
Chardham - Four Sacred Spots of Hindus.
Chardham, which means four sacred spots, are the holiest of all pilgrimage sites. According to the ancient scriptures of Hindus, Chardham includes the holy sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. For several centuries, saints as well as pilgrims, have reached these mystical sites in their search for the divine. It is believed that the journey to Chardham, not just washes one’s sins, but it ensure release from the cycle of birth and death. It is also believed that earth and heaven converge in these four holy places.

Amarnath ji
The Amarnath Yatra is organized every year by the J &K Govt. during the month of sharavan (July and August); the dates however, vary every year looking at the weather conditions and according to Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) in the month of Sharavan (Vikrama Samwat).

Vaishno Devi Temple (Katra)
Shri Maa Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the oldest shrine of India, located at a height of 5300 feet on the holy Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Hill Range. The Holy cave is 13 Kms from the Base Camp Katra. The Town Katra is 50 Kms away from Jammu and 35 Kms from District HQ Udhampur and is linked by road. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the most popular Shrines of India.

Mathura Vrindavan
Mathura is better known as the birth place of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna was borne in prison which today lies in Sri Krishna Janamabhumi, a vast temple complex in the heart of Mathura. Located on the west banks of the sacred Yamuna, Mathura is fifty-six kilometers away from Agra and is at a distance of hundred and forty five kilometers from Delhi. Mathura is dotted with several significant landmark associated with the life and times of Lord Krishna. The Dwarkhadhesh temple, the Kansa Qila, the Sati Burj and the Jama Masjid are some of the major tourist attractions of Mathura.

Rameshwar
Rameshwaram is an island situated in thegulf of manner at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. A very important pilgrim centre of the Indians. Rameshwaram is the place from whereLord Rama, built a bridge across the sea to rescue his consort Sita, from her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana. Both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit this pilgrimage which is known as the Varanasi the south.

Varanasi
According to the Vamana Purana, the Varuna and Assi rivers originated from the body of the primordial Person at the beginning of time itself. The tract of land lying between them is believed to be Varanasi, the holiest of all pilgrimages. The word Kashi originated from the word Kas which means to shine. Steeped in tradition and mythological legacy, Kashi is the orignal ground created by Shiva and parvati, upon which they stood At the beginning of time. more about varanasi...

Golden Temple (Amritsar)
Golden Temple - the most sacred temple for Sikhs. Golden Temple located in Amritsar city of Punjab, is named after God Hari, the temple of God. The Sikhs all over the world, throng the temple to pay obeisance. Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak conceived the idea to built a central place of worship for Sikhs.

Tirupati Balaji
The town of Tirupati is one of the most ancient and spectacular places of pilgrimage in India. It is situated in the Chittoor district in southern Andhra Pradesh. The town owes its existence to the sacred temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara situated on the Tirumala Hill adjoining it. With a history that dates back to over twelve centuries, the temple is the jewel in the crown of ancient places of worship in southern India.

Kanya Kumari
Kanyakumari is a popular pilgrimage centre of the Hindus. It is dedicated to the goddess Kanyakumari - Youthful Virgin, who is an incarnation of Devi,- Sivas wife. Legends say that the Virgin Goddess, did penance to obtain the hand of Lord Siva. When she was unsuccessful in her attempt, she vowed to remain a virgin (Kanya). Hence the name Kanyakumari.

Pushkar (Rajasthan)
Pushkar is a unique gem amongst the grandeur of Rajasthan. A Tourism delight and the Holy City. Pushkar is internationally known for its colorful cattle fair when thousands of devotees from all faiths assemble to take a dip in the holy lake. "Rajasthani" Dance, "Rajasthani" music, gaily-attired folks and various cultural events add to the fun and major Attraction of the occasion.

Goa Churches
Goa Churches - Once the administrative capital of the Portuguese empire in the East, Old Goa is blessed with churches, chapels and convents of unsurpassed architectural beauty, befitting its label as ‘Golden Goa’ or ‘Rome of the East’. The conquest of Goa by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510 saw the advent of several religious orders like the Franciscans, Jesuits, Augustinians, Dominicans and Carmelites, who left their stamp with the many monuments they built in Old Goa.

Hemkund Sahib
Hemkund (Snow Lake) Sahib, as the name itself suggests, is a high-altitude lake (4329 m) surrounded by seven huge now-covered mountains, which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat. Close to the lake is a sacred Gurudwara that is a pilgrimage centre for Sikhs and Hindus from all over the world.

Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya, situated 12 Kms south of Gaya, is one of the most visited Buddhist pilgrimage centres in India. The town sprawling on the western banks of the Falgu river, has its associations with Buddhism, since time immemorial. Buddhists from all over the world come to visit this sacred place to have a glimpse of the century-old miracles.

Sarnath
Sarnath is a small village in Uttar Pradesh, India, about 13 km north-east of Varanasi. It's famous as the site of the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma and also where the original Sangha was formed. Consequently, it is one of the 4 main Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. Within the deer park complex is the large Dhamekha Stupa, constructed by the Emperor Ashoka in 249 BCE, and several other Buddhist structures that were added between the 3rd century BCE and the 11th century CE.

Dargah Sharif Ajmer
It is the landmark of Ajmer and one of the holiest of Muslim shrines in the country. It has a secular appeal and revered by people of all sects. Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, a Sufi saint from Persia made this place his abode from 1192 till he died in 1236 AD. Mughal King Humayun completed the construction of the shrine. The Dargah is approached through a massive gate with silver doors built in several stages. Emperor Akbar made an annual pilgrimage to Ajmer.

Haji Ali Dargah
Honoring the Muslim saint Haji Ali this mosque, in Mumbai, was built in the middle of the sea with only a narrow path leading to it giving it an ethereal look. As per the Muslim traditions separate praying rooms for ladies and gents are provided here to pay their respects. It is set 500 yards into the sea and can be reached only in low tide. The Haji Ali mausoleum has an offshore location, opposite the Mahalakshmi racecourse. During high tide, the connecting causeway is submerged in water giving the impression that the mosque and tomb are floating out at sea in splendid isolation. This is The Haji Ali Dargah, the floating tomb of a wealthy Mohammedan merchant who renounced his worldly ways before embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Shirdi
Sai Baba, one of the foremost saints of modern India, lived in the small village of Shirdi in the state of Maharashtra for sixty years. Due to his presence there even after his Samadhi, today the small village has transformed itself as a great spiritual center to people from all religions. Shri Sai Baba, inspite of his great spiritual stature, never publicized himself through discoursing, touring and preaching - unlike today's many 'so - called' saints. Rather, he discouraged unnecessary publicity. But still, his spiritual perfection is still drawing innumerable devotees to him from all over the world.

Pilgrimage Places in India
Haridwar	Rishikesh	Chardham
Amarnath Ji	Vaishno Devi Temple	Mathura Vrindavan
Rameshwar	Varanasi	Golden Temple
Tirupati Balaji	Kanya Kumari	Pushkar (Rajasthan)
Goa Churches	Hemkund Sahib	Bodhgaya& Sarnath
Shirdi	Dargah Sharif Ajmer	Haji Ali Dargah

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