Acknowledged as the Land of Gods and Deities, you are sure to find an unfathomable number of Pilgrimage Places in India. Eminent as the most ancient civilization, India is not only bloated with heritage opulence but also has a glorious mythological past. Every year, people in umteen numbers en route towards the holy shrines, either to find solace or to seek blessings. The enduring journey to many popular pilgrimage destinations attracts tourists from all over the world. Religion and beliefs are deep-rooted and there are many Religion Tours in India that you might wish to explore. Listed below are some of the most popular pilgrimage destinations that you may wish to visit in 2023.
One of the holiest shrines in India, Vaishno Devi is situated at an altitude of 5200 ft and the trek is almost 12 km from the base that lies in Katra, Jammu. The famous shrine in the north of India observes a footfall of more than a million devotees from all over the world, annually. With no statue or idol, it’s three natural rock formations called the Pindies in the cave situated on the mountain peak, are believed to be Goddess Shakti, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Laxmi. The unflinching faith, that all the wishes of her devotees are taken care of by Mata Vaishno Devi makes the enduring trek most rewarding.
Also known as Sai Ka Dham, it is the major pilgrimage destination for the devotees of Sai Baba. Situated in the western part of India in the state of Maharashtra, Shirdi is believed to be the home of spiritual leader Sai Baba. The main condominium includes the magnificent marble statue of Baba alongside his tomb, Dwarkamai and a mosque where Baba used to live. People of different religions have faith in him and throng to the land of spiritual significance all through the year.
Char means four and Dham means abode of God, hence the set of four pilgrimage sites in India, which includes Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri and Rameshwaram together are considered as Char Dham. It is believed that every Hindu must cover these four pilgrimage sites once in their lifetime to attain salvation from the cycle of birth and death. Due to the great significance of these four holy shrines, every year more than 2 lakh tourists visit here even if the climatic conditions are tough.
One of the biggest Sikhism shrines in India, Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib is the holiest Gurudwara in the world. It is located in the heart of the city of Amritsar, Punjab, close to the Pakistan border. The Golden Temple derives its name from the dome of the Gurudwara which is made with 750kg of gold. Its architectural marvel flaunts the blend of Hindu and Islamic style. The temple holds great respect in the heart of every religion as the place is an amalgamation of diverse beliefs under one roof. With utmost respect, The Golden Temple is amongst the most sacred places in India.
Sufi shrine of the famous Sufi saint, Moinuddin Chishti, located in Ajmer, Rajasthan is the main pilgrimage center in India that is majorly followed by Islam however, people from all the religions pay a visit to the pilgrimage with great respect and unshaken faith. Every day after namaz is offered in praise of Allah, hymns are sung by Sufi qawwals inside the hall. The famous Urs Fair is organized every year in the month of March, which makes it an ideal time to visit, however, it's crowded all throughout the year.