Top 22 religious destinations of India
Indian is a den of gorgeous locations, majestic sightseeing spots, amazing architecture and rich heritage monuments. Amongst all these, religion has its own sacred space and the subcontinent’s rich history has a balanced mélange of religious influence that temples and shrines throughout the twenty nine Indian states reflect. Here we countdown the top religious destinations of India that every believer must absolutely visit:
Badrinath- one of the four dhams
For a devout Hindu, the sojourn to Badrinath, the popular Indian religious destination, is like achieving the life’s goal. Rameshwaram in the South, Dwarka in the West, Jaganathpuri in the East and Badrinath in the North are the four Pilgrimage or Char-dham earmarked for all Hindus to visit in their lifetime, to gain eternal Moksha. The high risk quotient being the reason Badrinath has always been considered foremost Hindu Pilgrimage or Dham. More Details…
Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram is a very sacred religious destination for Hindus at the edge of the gulf of Mannar in South. It’s a small island located at the tip of peninsula, connected by Pamban bridge to main land. Besides, Badrinath, Jaganath Puri and Dwarka it’s one of the four major pilgrimage or Char Dham, that Hindus consider to be most sacred and mandatory for visit once in their life time. Rameshwaram is located 570 km from Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai. More Details…
Lord Jagannath, Puri, Odisha
Situated in Puri, Jagannath temple receives enormous religious tourism every year. Dedicated to the great universal Lord Jagannath, Shree Jagannath is among the top Hindu temples and is the revered fourth pilgrimage (Char Dham) for Hindus. The best time to visit is when the Rath Yatra takes place in June. More Details…
Dwarka, Gujarat
Located in west, Dwarka is a mesmerizing land of unparalleled spirituality and splendor. Legend claims that it was Lord Krishna’s capital once and is now among the revered Char Dham Yatra sites. Local men wear wholly white attire which denotes the purity of the place. A beautiful and sacred site, Dwarka is a must visit for its natural beauty and holiness. More Details…
Haridwar, Uttarakhand
Haridwar is a religious center and is among the most visited pilgrimage destinations in India. Home to the holy River Ganga, the city is also called Gangadwara. Touted to be among the seven holiest places for Hindus, legend claims that Haridwar is among the places where drops of Amrit spilled. Most pilgrims visit the city during the Kumbh Mela when it receives hundreds of visitors who come to perform the ritualistic bathing in the sacred waters of Ganga. More Details…
Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu Kashmir
Located amidst the Trikuta Hills of Jammu, the Vaishno Devi Temple is said to be the holy abode of the great goddess Mata Vaishno. Among the top sacred destinations of Indian, Mata Vaishno Devi of Jammu is visited by devotees all year long. Devotees undergo an arduous trek which leads them to the holy caves where the goddess lives. The pilgrimage is not only adventurous but also a one-time experience that most people re-live through the years with annual visits. More Details…
Amarnath Dham, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
The Amarnath Cave is among the top pilgrimage sites of India and is a shrine of the Lord Shiva. Located at a height of 3,888 m (12,756 ft) near the beautiful city of Srinagar, the shrine is shrouded by snowy mountains. People visit to see the Ice stalagmite Lingam that gets formed on its inside the caves during Shravan month. More Details…
Venkateswara Temple (Tirupati Balaji) Andhra Pradesh
Renowned Tirumala Venkateswara Temple of Chittoor district is also referred to as Tirupati Balaji. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple is touted to be the richest Indian pilgrimage center and absolutely worth a visit during the Brahmotsavam festival. More Details…
Harmandir Sahib, Golden Temple, Amritsar
Famously called the golden temple, the Harmandir Sahib of Amritsar is visited by thousands every year. Not only a religious place but also a historical heritage monument, Sri Harmandir Sahib is a visual delight with mesmerizing interiors. The temple’s construction was overseen by Sikh Guru, Ramdass Sahib Ji and this famed Gurudwara remains to be among the most integral Sikh pilgrimage sites in India. More Details…
Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in old Goa, the Basilica of Bom Jesus is India’s top sightseeing spot and most popular churches. A landmark in Indian Christian History, the Basilica of Bom Jesus Church is also home to some grand baroque architecture. More Details…
Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer
Ajmer Sharif is famous worldwide and is the sacred shrine of the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Also referred to as the Dargah Sharif, several devotees visit the place throughout the year but the best time to pay a visit to the Dargah is during the Urs festival. More Details…
Sai Baba, Shirdi, Maharashtra
Sai Baba of Shirdi is revered among devotees of all faiths. A beautiful shrine of the Shri Sai Baba, the place is among top religious places on India owing to Baba’s samadhi and sufi reputation. More Details…
Velankanni Church- the place of deep faith and reverence
A Catholic faith Vellankanni Church is located in Vellanganni town of Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. This is devotedly called ‘Lourdes of the east’ because in South-west France Lourdes church is frequently visited by millions. This is dedicated to the almighty in the name of ‘Our lady of good health Basilica’. Velankanni, has been chosen by Indian government for development, as one of the heritage city called HRIDAY- Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojna. More Details…
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh
Vrindavan of Uttar Pradesh is another city visited largely by Hindu devotees for its association with the Lord Krishna as it is where Lord Krishna grew up. With majestic alleys that bear traces of legends sang in the Mahabharata, Mathura is a splendid town. Don’t forget to binge on the Pedas of Vrindavan if you are going there. More Details…
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Mathura is where the great god Lord Krishna was born. A beautiful town, Mathura is a blessed land. With numerous temples and beautiful architecture that portrays the religious legends well; the Krishna Janbhoomi is surely worth a visit. It is also home to the Krishna Janbhoomi Temple which is always full of countless devotees throughout the year. More Details...
Sun Temple (Surya Mandir), Konark, Odisha
Sun Temple’s architecture is splendid and its unmatched spirituality makes it a top choice among religious travelers and pilgrims. Located in Konark, the Surya Mandir, has beautiful metaphorical architecture with the Sun God riding the majestic chariot on the top. The chariot has 12 pairs of wheels with exquisite carving and the lofty pyramidal roof make it worth visiting. More Details…
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Rishikesh, a quintessential tourism destination, is home to several religiously significant sites like Lakshman Jhula, Bharat Mandir, Ram Jhula, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, etc. Easily connected with surrounding cities, Rishikesh is also famous for its adventure sports. More Details…
Somnath Jyotirlinga, Gujarat
Believed to be the first Dwaadash Jyotirlinga of the great universal Lord Shiva, Somnath Jyotirlinga of Gujarat has an exquisite importance in Indian religious history. Located close to the Arabian Sea, Somnath Jyotirlinga is a sacred shrine visited by devotees all year long. One legend claims that the Saint Agastya even drank the entire ocean near Prabhasapattan. The best time visit the place is on Shivaratri when vibrant festivities take place. More Details…
Meenakshi Temple, Tamil Nadu
An amazing architectural wonder located in just as mesmerizing town of Madurai, Meenakshi Temple was built for the revered Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Thus the temple has been named Meenakshi (one of several names of Goddess Parvati). If you are taking a pilgrim to the Meenakshi Temple, don’t miss a dip at Golden Lotus tank. Thought to be auspicious, the dip should be taken before you visit the main shrine. The temple is famous for its hall that has 985 pillars with each pillar bearing beautiful and intricate carving. More Details…
Leh, Jammu and Kashmir
A haven for adventure lovers, Leh is the place to be but what many forget about the place is that it is home to numerous Buddhist monasteries. With beautiful and calm Tibetan monasteries, Leh is everything that a spiritual seeker needs. More Details….
Hampi, Karnataka
The ruins of Hampi (Karnataka) are hauntingly beautiful! So many temples bear traces of the centuries gone by and the real splendor lies in the beauty of its architecture. The architectural design is still magnificent and if spiritual tourism is something what draws you then Hampi is a must visit with its Virupaksha Temple. More Details…
Ranakpur, Pali, Rajasthan
Located amidst the two mesmerizing cities of Rajasthan, Jodhpur and Udaipur, Ranakpur Jain Temple of Pali is among India’s spectacular religious delights. Built in honor of Adinatha, and best known for its marbles in faded hues, this Jain temple is a grand religious place, surely worth a visit. More Details…