India is the land where you will be greeted with a mystical charm every step of the way. The culture, traditions, and beliefs of the people here are well preserved and blended with the natural beauty a yatra here will allow you to have a peaceful and spiritual time. spread out all over the landscape these pilgrimages are a true testimony to the fact that India is a cradle of different religions and communities coexisting since there are pilgrimages dedicated to various faiths major or minor. If you are looking to experience the vibe that makes India the spiritual capital of the world then you must make a pilgrimage journey to these holiest sites:
Pilgrimages in North India
Chardham Yatra
The holy Char Dham Yatra is probably one of the most highly revered Hindu pilgrimages of India that takes you throughout the lush green and scenic hills of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand towards Moksha. The Char Dham of Uttarakhand comprises Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Completing the Chardham Yatra is believed to provide the pilgrim devotee with moksha or the ultimate freedom from the karmic cycle of birth and rebirth. Although the trip will be physically and mentally exhausting it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience especially if you are even a little bit inclined to know more about spirituality.
Amarnath Yatra
The months of July and August are the peak seasons for a pilgrimage to worship the ice stalagmite formation of the Shiv linga in the Amarnath cave which is located in Jammu and Kashmir. Although the yatra has been listed among one of the remotest pilgrimage destinations in the world, it is undertaken by record breaking number of pilgrims almost every year who brave the harsh weather the tiring high altitude, and the exhausting steepness of the track to offer their prayer to the lord. Amarnath’s journey starts via 2 routes i.e. Baltal and Pahalgam. The devotees visiting the cave believe that it is lord Shiva himself who has come to grace them with his presence in the form of ice lingam.
See Also:- Top Spiritual Destinations In South India For A Real Holy Experience
Hemkund Sahib
This gurudwara is probably located on one of the most scenic sites in India. This place is one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations for the people belonging to the Sikh community. Adorned with a high-altitude crystal-clear glacial lake in front of the gurudwara and surrounded all around by lush green mountain peaks people make it a point to visit this place where Guru Gobind Singh is said to have performed severe meditation. Approached from Govind ghat people also make it a point to visit Badrinath and the valley of flowers from here as well.
Panch Prayag Yatra
The Panchprayag Yatra takes place in Uttarakhand where the pilgrims take holy dips in the five of the holiest confluences of India that meet together to form the holy Ganga river. These prayags are Devprayag (Bhagirathi and Alaknanda); Rudraprayag (Alaknanda and Mandakini); karnaprayag (Alaknanda and Pindar); Nandprayag (Nandakini and Alaknanda) and Vishnuprayag (Alaknanda and dhauli Ganga). Visiting these places should at least be done once in a lifetime to experience spirituality in a unique manner. These confluence points are very sacred and consist of ancient temples which increases the sanctity level of these locations. The entire route of the river systems creates a deeply spiritual aura in its vicinity.
Pilgrimages in South India
Tirupati
Located within the spiritual southern state of Andhra Pradesh Tirupati is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites and is referred to as the spiritual and religious capital of Andhra. This iconic heritage city also houses the famous Tirumala Venkateshwara temple and is considered to be one of the most significant landmarks here. as per Indian belief lord ram along with Sita and Laxman are said to have resided here upon his return from Lankapuri making it a very important pilgrimage destination. Exploring this temple and the surrounding beauty is worth every effort.
Sivagiri Pilgrimage
This Sivagiri pilgrimage is tailor-made for Sree Narayana guru followers which was itself approved by the guru himself. The pilgrims on this holy pilgrimage observe 10 days of purification procedure which is based on lord buddha’s principles of 5 purities. As per the beliefs of the guru, the main focal point for the pilgrimage is the creation of wholesome knowledge among the people. The pilgrims are also expected to wear yellow-colored clothes. The Centre of this pilgrimage is Varkala in Kerala and goes on to the Sivagiri mutton top of the Sivagiri hills in Trivandrum.
Navgraha Pilgrimage
The word Navgraha literally means 9 planets and taking a trip to these holy temples in Tamilnadu dedicated to the 9 planets of the solar system, is considered to be a boon and bring in good luck. All the 9 temples are located within a radius of 60 km all around Kumbakonam in the district of Thanjavur. It will take an overall 2 to 3 days to complete all the temple darshans here. these temples are very peaceful locations and are made beautifully out of stone structures representing the celestial bodies of sun, moon, mars, mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, north lunar node, and south lunar node. Apart from Tamilnadu, these Navgraha temples are also located in Assam, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, etc.
See Also:- Religious Places to Visit in North India
Kanyakumari Pilgrimage
Located on the southern edge of the Indian subcontinent and is probably one of the holiest locations for pilgrimage for devout Hindus. just 100 km from Trivandrum this place is home to Kumari Amman temple and is dedicated to Kanya Devi (a manifestation of Goddess Parvati). The temple in its adjacent area is dedicated to Brahma Vishnu and Shiva making the place even more pure and tranquil. Surrounded by amazing greenery and untouched nature Kanyakumari will definitely deliver you with a deep spiritual pilgrimage experience. Typically you will be able to complete this circuit in 2 to 3 days.
