India is a country of spirituality and diversity, and calling it a “Land of Faith” will be justifiable. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, one can feel the presence of divinity and spirituality. With tons of pilgrimage in India, renowned across the globe for its divinity and spirituality, one must take pilgrimage India tours. Whether it is Chardham Yatra or Amarnath Yatra, devotees travel from one end to another to seek the blessing of deities. One of the important pilgrimage India tours, Chota Chardham Yatra is a must since it covers four major places of pilgrimage in India. For convenience, one can choose the Chardham Yatra by helicopter by LIH travels since the temples in Uttarakhand are at high elevations.
Here is a list of 9 holy pilgrimages India tours everyone must do once in their life.
9 Pilgrimages In India
1. Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu, and Kashmir
Dedicated to Goddess Durga, this temple is the most famous pilgrimage in India. The Temple is in the Trikuta Hills near Katra, Jammu, at an elevation of 5300 feet and among the 51 shakti peethas in India. Every year, thousands of devotees across India climb the distance of 14 km to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga. So it is an important place for pilgrimage in India.
Further, the best time to visit the cave shrines of Mata Vaishno Devi is during Navratri. People believe seeking the blessings of Vaishno Devi during the Navratri brings them closer to heaven.
2. Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand
The next place for pilgrimage in India is Kedarnath, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and one of the pilgrimage sites in India, and Chota Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand. It is located in the Rudraprayag district in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, at an elevation of 3584 meters near river Mandakini. The journey starts from Gauri Kund. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, meadows, and the Himalayas range, the Kedarnath temple is popular amongst Lord Shiva devotees. According to the legends, Kedarnath was built by the Pandavas brothers.
3. Amarnath Cave, Jammu, and Kashmir
Amarnath Cave is 29 km from Pahalgam, at an altitude of 3880 meters, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Further, Amarnath cave is famous for the Linga, naturally made of ice yearly. So this pilgrimage site in India is among the 18 Maha Shakti Peeth. Baba Amarnath is also known as Baba Barfani. Additionally, the devotees take an enthralling and rigorous trek from Chandanwari to the cave to seek his blessings.
4. Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand
Snuggled in the pristine magnificence of the Himalayas, in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Badrinath Dham is among Chardham Yatra in India and Chota Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand. Furthermore, Badrinath Dham is between Nar and Narayana peaks and Neelkanth Peak of the Himalayan range at an elevation of 3099 meters. Moreover, the Temple has spirituality and divinity and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who came here to meditate. Further, each year, thousands of worshippers visit the Temple as a part of the pilgrimage in India to worship Lord Vishnu.
5. Jagannath Temple, Odisha
Jagannath temple is located in Puri, in the eastern state of India, Odisha, and is among Chardham yatra. It is dedicated to the form of Lord Vishnu, Jagannath. The Temple is more than a holy place; it also holds an architectural place in Indian architecture history. Also known as Jagannath Puri, it is famous for its annual ritual, Rath Yatra. Adi Shankaracharya recognized Lord Jagannath as one of India’s four holy dhams. Now, the Temple is the most visited and among the most revered pilgrimage sites in India. Additionally, the Temple has some mysterious activities beyond science, and people worldwide come here to witness them.
6. Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Rameswaram is in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and the Gulf of Mannar. Rameswaram is among Chardham Yatra in India and an important pilgrimage in India. Further, it is where Lord Ram, Lord Laxman, and Lord Hanuman built a bridge to Sri Lanka to rescue Goddess Sita. Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga. Lord Ram established and worshiped the Lingam at the Temple before crossing the bridge to Lanka.
7. Yamunotri Temple, Uttarakhand
Yamunotri temple is in the Garhwal region in the small town of Yamunotri. Located near the gushing river Yamuna, the Temple is at an elevation of 3293 meters, near the base of Kalindi Parbat, surrounded by peaks and glaciers. It is one of the pilgrimage sites in Chardham yatra in Uttarakhand, dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. People believe that a dip in the holy water of the river Yamuna washes away the sins.
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8. Gangotri Temple, Uttarakhand
Located at an elevation of 3100 meters, along the river Bhagirathi, in Uttarkashi district, Gangotri temple is among Chota Chardham yatra in Uttarakhand. The Temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, who descended on earth to clean it from its sins, and holds a special place in devotees due to its glorious history. Gangotri temple stands still between a beautiful Himalayan mountain range and is near Bhagirathi Shila, where Bhagirathi meditated for years to bring Goddess Gangs to earth.
9. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttar Pradesh
Situated in the oldest city in the world, Banaras or Varanasi, it is amongst the most visited temples in India. Further, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is an important pilgrimage in India. Moreover, it is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga and the most admired. Lord Shiva, also referred to as Vishwanatha or Vishweshwarar and meaning “the king of the cosmos,” is the Temple’s principal deity. The Temple’s tower has 800 kilograms of gold plating.
Final Say
So this is about pilgrimage tourism in India. However, this is not the end of the list of pilgrimage in India, and there are many other pilgrimage sites in India. Spiritual devotees must visit these pilgrimage places.
