There is well a known quote about India – “Unity in Diversity”. If you want to understand the real essence behind this quotation, take a spiritual tour in the country. A great conflux of varied religions can be seen here, creating a unique and astounding spiritual environment. It is here that every village has a mosque, temple or church, and almost every people associated with some religious group. There are countless of pilgrimage sites, where people from far and wide come to experience India’s rich traditions & cultures. There have been many great thinkers, who wrote extensively about religions, cultures and peace & non-violence. These texts have been catering the answers to anyone looking for some soul searching and spirituality.
India has hundreds of pilgrimage centers related to varied religions. To begin with, Amarnath cave and Veshno Devi temple in Jammu & Kashmir are must-visit religious centers for Hindus. Amarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva, while Veshno Devi Shrine is said to be adobe of Maa Shakti. Both these destinations witness masses of crowds on special occasions. Amarnath Yatra begins in July-August, while Veshno Devi is open for pilgrimage year-round. Raghunath Mandir in Jammu & majestic Buddhist monasteries in Leh-Ladakh are other famous religious centers in the northernmost Indian state Jammu & Kashmir.
Coming to the north-plains, there is beautiful Golden Temple in Amritsar and historical temple towns Mathura & Varindawan, which are revered Shikh and Hindu pilgrimage sites respectively. Apart from that, Haridwar, Varanasi, Rishikesh and Kedarnath are among famous spiritual towns in North India. Ajmer Shrif in Rajasthan has been a popular religious site for Muslims, located in close proximity to Puskhar where only temple of Lord Brahma is situated.
Jagannath Puri in Orissa is among the famous char dhams for Hindus and draws a large number of pilgrims during the annual Cart Festival. This holy city is known for its rich spiritual legacy and inspiring traditions & cultures. Awesomely designed Puri hotels cater every needed facility to the pilgrims and tourists to Puri beach.
Spiritual tour in India remains incomplete until you visit Tirupati temple – the ‘Only Vaikuntham on Earth’. This grand structure on seventh hill of Trimula is the most visited place of worship in India and one of the richest shrines around the world. Thousands of devotees visit the temple every day, and it’s therefore booking for Tirupati darshan is done well in advance.
Another popular pilgrimage site in South India is Sirdi – a city where the great Saint Shri Sai Baba spent his life and gave lesson of peace, humanity and brotherhood. Like Tirupati hotels and Puri hotels, Sirdi hotels also ensure pilgrims an easy and comfy stay in this holy city. Moreover, Rameshwaram, Mahabalipuram, Brihdeshwara and Chennai are some must-visit destinations, when you’re on spiritual tour to India.
A wide range of packages are offered by travel agencies for hassle-free and enjoyable trip to these religious sites in India.