India is the land of gods and goddesses and is famous for its divine power. More than 33 crore gods and goddesses in Hindu culture, 12 jyotirlingas and Panch Kedar devoted to lord Shiva, Char Dham, 7 stupas, Ramayana circuit and many more make our culture more vast and vivid. Here I am going to present a list of the top 15 pilgrimage sites that have great importance in Hinduism.
Kedarnath Temple:- One of the 12 jyotirlingas in India and Panch Kedar dedicated to lord shiva, this divine shrine is one of the most visited places in India. However, this holy shrine remains open only for six months due to the adverse climate and heavy snowfall in this area. Kedarnath yatra is considered to be very auspicious in Hinduism and believed to be a way to attain salvation. This holy pilgrimage site became more popular after the temple came unhurt even after the vast destruction caused by the 2013 flood. You can directly book your Kedarnath tour package from Haridwar or Rishikesh to visit this place. Kedarnath yatra package cost will be around 9000 to 10000 per person from Haridwar to Haridwar.
Badrinath Temple:- Another popular pilgrimage site in India is Badrinath temple. It is also considered the temple of Satyuga and part of the Bada Char Dham Yatra Circuit and Chota Char Dham Circuit located in Uttarakhand. The temple dedicated to lord Vishnu remains open only for six months i.e. May to October. it has great importance in Hindu culture but the architecture of this temple is of Buddhist theme.
Vaishno Devi:- Another well-known pilgrimage site in India is the temple of Vaishno Devi the incarnation of Adi Shakti or goddess Durga. Located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of 5200 feet above sea level at Katra on Trikuta Mountain. Every year millions of devotees visit this temple and the most special occasion to visit this place is during Navratra when more than a crore of devotees visit this place to seek blessings of Vaishno devi.
Shirdi:- If we are talking about pilgrimage sites in India then how can we miss Shidi? Famous for Sai Baba, every year millions of pilgrims visit Shirdi to take the blessing of Sai Baba. Located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, Shirdi is most famous as the home of the late 19th-century saint Sri Sai Baba. The Shiridih Sai Baba Trust is among one of the richest trusts in India.
Bodh Gaya:- Another famous pilgrimage site in India dedicated to lord Buddha is Bodh Gaya. Located in the Gaya district of Bihar, this holy shrine holds great importance for Buddhists. It is believed that lord Buddha got enlightenment at this place under a peepal tree famous as the Mahabodhi tree. It is believed that this temple was first built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.
Amarnath Temple:- Located at an altitude of 3888 meters above sea level in Anantnag district of Uttarakhand. The Shivlinga is naturally formed under a 40-meter-tall cave. The linga is formed due to the freezing of water droplets falling from the room of the cave resulting in its formation. As per Hindu belief, the formation and melting of the linga is the result of phases of the moon. As per Mahabharta and Vidic scriptures, this linga is considered as Shiva. Holy shrines open in the months of July and August for devotees to seek the blessings of lord shiva.
Yamnotri / Gangoti Temple:- Another most famous pilgrimage site in India is Yamnotri and Gangoti temple. Located on the origin of River Ganga and Yamuna. Both rivers are considered to be the holiest river in India It is a part of the Chota Char Dham yatra located in Uttarakhand. Every year millions of devotees visit this place to seek the blessing of goddesses Yamuna and Ganga and to admire the beauty of this location.
Puri:- Located in the coastal city of Odisha Puri, is another most famous pilgrimage place in India. Dedicate to lord Jagarnath which holds great importance for the people of India. It is also the part of holy Char Dham Yatra which is considered to be the most holy and must-do pilgrimage in India.
Varanasi:- Another most famous jyotirlingas in India is in Varanasi dedicated to lord Shiva. Located in Uttar Pradesh Varanasi located on the bank of river Ganga is also famous as Banaras and has found a major portion in holy scriptures and Vedas. It is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites and millions of pilgrims visit this place every year. It is a must-visit place on the occasion of Shiv Ratri.
Golden Temple ( Suvarna Mandir):- Located in Amritsar, Punjab is considered to be the holiest gurdwara of Sikh. The man-made pool constructed on the compound of the Golden Temple was made by the fourth guru Ram Das in 1577. It is one of the popular destinations for both Hindus and Shikhs of India.
Mathura:- Last but not least Mathura is another famous pilgrimage site in India. It is believed to be the birthplace of lord Krishna and holds great importance in Hindu mythology. In fact, it is the most loved and most visited tourist spot in India where everyday lakhs of devotees visit this place to witness the devotion in this area. This place is mostly crowded on the occasion of Janmashtami.