India is said to be a holy spiritual land with so many pilgrimage places, and that too, in every state. You will find at least 2-3 major pilgrimage places in each state of India.
This is also not surprising, as India is already a spiritual country. Some states have become so famous due to these that they feature in almost every religious tour plan. Some temples are not only famous in that particular state, but in the whole of India.
ShrineYatra covers all these spiritual destinations for your spiritual journey. Our Religious Tour Packages are ideally suited for devotees. Some of the major places where you can go for pilgrimages and darshan in temples are mentioned below.
List of Top 10 Must Visit Spiritual Destinations in India:
Discover top 10 spiritual destinations in India, from Varanasi’s sacred ghats to Rishikesh’s serene ashrams.
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
The spiritual destination of Rishikesh is located near Haridwar. Rishikesh is one of the places that is immensely religious. Ganga flows here and lends its pure waters for the benefit of the devotees. The Haridwar Kumbh Mela also takes place in Rishikesh along with Haridwar. Rishikesh is full of temples, shrines, Ayurvedic clinics, meditation centers, and Yoga schools.
Spirituality is the next level here, and students come from all over the world to learn Yoga and meditation. Staying in ashrams is very economical, and it is here that aspirants can take part in spiritual activities and devotion. One of the things that is famous in Rishikesh is the Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat.
Important link: Uttarakhand tour package
Gangtok, Sikkim
Gangtok is one of the places in India where you will experience the Buddhist culture. It is spiritual, no doubt, but very mystic in its way. The main places to visit in Sikkim are the monasteries. These monasteries are places where Tibetan monks live and meditate. These are the learning centers of Tibetan Buddhism. You can view magnificent Tibetan architecture in these monasteries.
There are paintings and murals of Tibetan gods on the walls. The vibrant colors of these paintings will catch your eye. The culture in Sikkim is very different from that you will find in the Hindu temples.
Important link: Sikkim tour package
Badrinath, Uttarakhand
High in the Himalaya mountains of Uttarakhand lies Badrinath. This is a temple town where the Badrinath Temple is very famous. This temple is one of the main temples of the Char Dham Yatra route in Uttarakhand. Lord Vishnu, one of the main gods of the Hindu religion, is worshipped here as Badrinarayan.
A visit to this temple gives utmost peace of mind to the devotee. They also get freed from all their sins. Pilgrimage to this temple brings you closer to god in many ways. The high Himalayan mountain ranges make the scenery of the temple even more beautiful.
Important link: Badrinath Tour Package
Amarnath, Jammu & Kashmir
The pilgrimage to Amarnath is very similar to a trek. Devotees have to walk for almost 3-4 days to reach the cave at Amarnath. The cave is not just an ordinary cave, but the very site at which Shiva revealed the truth about his immortality to Parvati. This is the reason why the Amarnath Cave is the most sacred in India.
Amarnath is located in the high-altitude mountains of the Himalayas, in Jammu and Kashmir. During June to August, the Amarnath Yatra season opens for tourists. Sometimes there are days when the weather becomes very windy, and it snows on the route. But that does not discourage the devotion of tourists, and they complete the yatra despite the long trekking routes.
Important link: Amarnath Tour Package
Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Just one look at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar will overwhelm you. It has a tall spire, which is sculpted and carved with spectacular idols and sculptures. The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the main attractions in Bodh Gaya. The place where Gautam Buddha got worldly enlightenment is still very sacred.
The Bodhi Tree (fig tree) is still growing in Bodh Gaya. Buddha meditated under this tree and got enlightened. People of the Buddhist religion visit Bodh Gaya every year for their pilgrimage. There are many monasteries in Bodh Gaya. The Great Buddha Statue is also a much-visited site.
Important link: Bihar Tour Package
Haridwar, Uttarakhand
If a place can be said to be the “Door to reach God,” then it is none other than Haridwar. This pilgrimage destination is the peak of spiritual places in India. There is so much spirituality in Haridwar that taking a dip here purifies all the sins. The flow of the Ganga is gentle here, and so taking a dip is easy.
Ghats like Har ki Pauri are the main attraction in Haridwar. This is the main ghat in Haridwar. It was at Har Ki Pauri that drops of nectar fell from the heavens. Haridwar Kumbh Mela is a celebration of this celestial event in Hindu mythology. Temples, spiritual centers, Yoga classes, ashrams, and dharamshalas are places to seek spiritual guidance.
Important link: Haridwar Rishikesh Tour Package
Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
We know Tirupati to be a very spiritual place. You will not believe, but the most famous places in Tirupati are the temples and tirth places. Among these temples, the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is a very sacred temple. It is counted among the richest temples of Lord Vishnu in India. Even the waterfalls are sacred here, and the one near Venkateswara Temple, called Akasaganga Teertham, is a very auspicious one.
You will be amazed to know that the prasad at Tirupati Venkateswara Temple has a GI tag to its credit. Other temples like Kalahasti Temple, ISKCON Temple, and Kondandarama Temple are also worth visiting in Tirupati.
Important link: Tirupati Balaji Tour Package
Amritsar, Punjab
Perhaps no other place of the Sikhs is as famous as Amritsar. This city has a cultural magnet to it that draws tourists from all over the world. Sri Harmandir Sahib is a gurudwara in Amritsar, also known by another name, “Golden Temple”. The gurudwara is the major pilgrimage center of Sikhs.
The gurudwara has a dome which has gold plating, and that is why it is called the Golden Temple. Devotees first have a dip in the sarovar and then visit the temple. Amritsar has many other gurudwaras which are just as holy as the Golden Temple. There are Hindu temples also in Amritsar, like Shri Durgiana Temple, Sri Akal Takht Sahib, among others.
Important link: Golden Triangle Tour Package
Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
Kedarnath is distinguished as the highest Jyotirlinga temple in the world. The path to Kedarnath Temple is 6 km long and is a rocky mountain road. Devotees brave all this and reach the temple to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath Temple is situated in the high mountainous region of the Himalayas. There are glaciers and towering peaks all around the temple.
This is also the Panch Kedar temple among the group of five famous Shiva temples in Uttarakhand. But the real fame of this temple is that it was established by the Pandava brothers in mythological times. Adi Shankaracharya made the temple a hugely spiritual place.
Important link: Kedarnath Tour Package
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
It is a very special feeling when you visit the oldest Indian city. It is none other than Varanasi. It is also known as the ancient city of Kashi. Devotees dream of going on a pilgrimage to this ancient city one day. After all, Lord Shiva has mentioned Kashi as one of his favourite places on earth. You can describe Varanasi as a city of temples, and the major temple here is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple has a huge spiritual significance.
It is one of the Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva, which are present in India. Varanasi is the moksha capital of India. It is the ultimate place to attain moksha. People in the old ages wished that they could die in Varanasi so that they could be free from the life and death cycle.
Important link: Uttar Pradesh tour package
