Most Famous Religious Destinations in India ‘s religious places represent location, tradition, people and religious diversity. India is home to many denominations of various faiths and known as the world’s most religiously diverse nations. India’s religious sites include Haridwar— one of the most visited places of worship, Kumbh mela the world’s largest congregation, 12 Jyotirlingas, Meenakshi Temple and Char Dham yatra.
India is a land with multiple religious creeds. A variety of temples, churches , mosques, gurudwaras, monasteries, and many other religious buildings surround this religious property. Both these destinations for pilgrimages are included on India’s pilgrim tours. Every pilgrim has a place of worship, be it Hindu, Islamic, Sikh or Christian.
A pilgrimage to India helps you achieve spiritual bliss and also gives you insight into India’s different cultures and customs.
Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand
The four religious places in Uttarakhand (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath) are known as the very famous Chota Char Dham among religious tourists. Uttarkashi, a six-hour drive from Rishikesh, is one of India’s main pilgrimage destinations.
It is also a test of your courage and commitment. Dangerous climatic conditions and sudden landslides make the trip to this holy area both difficult and exciting. Also known as the Path to Gangotri, Uttarkashi is a religious getaway for those seeking a holy place of residence.
Gangotri and Yamunotri are situated in the Region of Uttarkashi. Some religious attractions include the Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the banks of the river Bhagirathi, Yamunotri Temple, Saptrishi Kund, Surya Kund, Divya Shila, Gangotri Temple, Bhagirath Shila, submerged shiva lingam, and Pandava Gufa. Extend your tour to Chamoli and Rudraprayag to complete the Char Dham Yatra, the most revered pilgrimage destinations in India.
Vaishno Devi Yatra
The holiest Hindu temples dedicated to adi Shakti, found in Jammu and Kashmir on the Katra hills. Following the world-famous Tirumala Venkateswara temple, Vaishno Devi temple is second most visited religious place in India. Maa Vaishno Devi shrine also known as Mata Rani is situated at an altitude of 5300 feet is a Mother Goddess Durga manifestation.
Amarnath Yatra
The most holy Hindu temples dedicated to adi Shakti, located on the hills of Katra in Jammu and Cashmir. Vaishno Devi temple is the second most visited religious place in India following the world-famous Tirumala Venkateswara temple. The shrine of Maa Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani, is situated at an altitude of 5300 feet, and is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Durga. The legend has it that Lord Shiva revealed here the secret of immortality to his consort Goddess Parvati, which a pair of pigeons had overheard. It’s also claimed that a pair of pigeons can still be seen in the cave today. Amarnath is renowned for the Linga that ice produces here every year, naturally. The Amarnath Yatra is an annual event which makes pilgrims to trek to the cave temple.
Puri Rath Yatra
In Odisha’s temple town of Puri the grand annual Rath Yatra started as the holy trinity of Lords Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra began to make their way to their individual chariots in a ceremonial procession rite called the Pahandi.
Nevertheless, due to orders from the Supreme Court to conduct the festival in a restricted manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic no devotees were permitted to participate in the festival for the first time in history.
All the ceremonies for this year’s festival will be carried out by the temple priests and servants.
Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram is one of the sites of the holy Char Dham yatra in India, in Tamil Nadu state. This holiest spot, located on an island called Mannar, is believed to be the location where Lord Rama worshipped and repented after killing Raavan. Spirituality is set deep in Rameshwaram and Ramanathaswamy temple is the best place to encounter it. This beautiful temple is known for its incredible architecture that weaves divinity and culture together.
The most famous religious sites & temples in India:
Hemis Monastery
Hemis is situated on the western banks of the Indus River about 45 kms to the south of Leh. The Monastery of the Hemis is Ladakh ‘s largest and highly richly endowed monastery. This was erected in 1630. Impressive and interesting, Hemis is distinct from other important Ladakh monasteries. On all four sides, the monastery is adorned with colorful prayer flags that float in the breeze and send prayers to Lord Buddha.
The central edifice has white walls. The entrance to the complex is through a wide gate which leads to a large courtyard. The wall stones are embellished and decorated with religious figures. There are two assembly halls on the northern side, and as in most monasteries, one can see the guardian deities and the Wheel of Life here too. Even the Hemis Monastery has an significant Tibetan library books and a very impressive and valuable collection of Thangkas, gold statues and Stupas embedded with precious stones.
Golden Temple
The unparalleled reflection on the ambrosial nectar (lake) of the holy golden edifice and the horde of pilgrims loitering in the shrine complex urge one to visit this famous religious place in India. Built by the fourth Sikh Guru- Ramdass Sahib Ji, Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib is India’s most important pilgrimage site to visit. The Temple of Gold commemorates a number of of Sikh historical events. A bringer of peace, the Golden Temple is nothing short of a legacy in India.
Ajmer Sharif
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is considered one of India’s most holiest Muslim shrines, and is also a prominent landmark in Ajmer. There is enshrined Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti, the Persian Sufi saint. Its doors are open to people of all cultures and religions according to his secular teachings. Some tell Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti believed he was Muhammad’s immediate descendant and preached his beliefs to the masses. When traveling on his planet, Muhammad, in a vision, urged him to visit India. Through Lahore, he entered Ajmer and made it his home from 1192 until his death in AD 1236. The shrine was built in memory of this saint, by Mughal King Humayun. You may walk inside the Dargah through a set of huge silver doors leading into a courtyard where the tomb of the saint is based.The actual tomb is guarded by a silver railing and a marble door, made of marble and gold plaating. Growing year Emperor Akbar made a pilgrimage to Ajmer during his reign. He designed mosques within the shrine complex as did Emperor Shah Jahan. Visitors to the shrine are astounded by the atmosphere of peace and serenity created by the combined effects of flowers, candy and burning sticks of incense.
Shirdi
Shirdi, Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, is the governing and administrative body of Shri Saibaba’s Samadhi Temple and all other temples in this premises, committed to Shirdi village development.
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, is the approved body in the Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple to monitor and manage the daily activities. It also provides various hotel services, meals (free), refreshments, and much more. The Sansthan Trust also runs Junior and Senior Schools, English Medium School from Jr KG to Std X, Institute of Industrial Education (ITI), Drinking Water Supply, Hospitals (Shri saibaba Superspecility Hospital and Shri Sainath Hosoital on Charity basis).
Shirdi, a small rural village in the Ahmednagar district of Rahata taluka in India’s Maharashtra state. Shirdi is a secular place where all religions are regarded first and foremost as one, and a belief in the power of Faith & Patience. A place where all the heads bow down in prayer, where faith prevails, where hope is founded, where patience pays, and where there abounds everlasting joy and eternal contentment. This is the glory of the place belonging to the Holy One, a real repository of knowledge, who delighted with religious dignity and talented human ornaments of humanity and goodwill by saying “SABKA MALIK EK.” Saibaba’s footprints have made the city a holy spot. It constantly flocks millions of devotees from all over India and abroad. Located on Autobahn Ahmednagar-Manmad.