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What is Pilgrimage?
Pilgrimage are such sites that may be commemorated with shrines or temples, to which devotees are encouraged to visit for their own spiritual and mental benefits. India is a country of rich culture and diverse religions so today let’s have a look at few of the most visited pilgrimage sites of India.
Top 6 Pilgrimage Sites in India
- Kedarnath – It is a Hindu temple and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Dedicated to lord Shiva and Pandavas. The temple is located on the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river, in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Due to extreme weather conditions the temple is only open for Darshan between the months of April (Akshaya Tritiya) and November (Kartik Purnima, the autumn full moon). During the winters, the vigraha (deity) of the temple is carried down to Ukhimath to be worshipped for the rest six months. Know more about how to plan a trip to Kedarnath in my upcoming blogs.
- Shirdi – Shirdi is a town in the state of Maharashtra, in western India. It’s known as the former home of revered spiritual leader Sai Baba, and as a major pilgrimage site. Devotees gather daily at the Sai Baba Temple complex to honour his legacy. Here, the Samadhi Mandir shrine has an ornate marble statue of Sai Baba, alongside his tomb. Believe me or not the marble statue of Sai baba is so realistic that devotees feel the presence of the saint sitting right in front and blessing them.
- Tirupati – One where I have visited more than 15 times and also the second richest temple of India. It is a hindu temple dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara an incarnation of Narayana. Its Sri Venkateswara Temple sits atop one of the the 7 peaks of Tirumala Hills, attracting scores of Hindu pilgrims. This temple is crowded with more than lakhs of visitors every single day of the month and not to forget the tasty prasadams you get from the temple trust. It is a divine temple where you have to wait for hours to catch a 2-second glimpse of the God.
- Badrinath – Badrinath is a town and nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is a Hindu holy place, and is one of the four sites in India’s Char Dham pilgrimage. It is also part of India’s Chota Char Dham pilgrimage. The Badrinath area is referred to as Badari or Badarikaashram (बदरिकाश्रम) in Hindu scriptures. It is a place sacred to Vishnu, particularly in Vishnu’s dual form of Nara-Narayana.This temple is dedicated to Laxminarayana and has many legends attached to it.
- Varanasi – Varanasi is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh dating to the 11th century B.C. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city’s winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It is also known as the abode of Shiva in Kaliyug and home to one of the twelve jyotirlingas.
- Vaishnno Devi Katra – Vaishno Mata is considered to be a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi on Earth. Vaishno Devi is worshipped as an avatar combined of the goddesses Mahakali, Mahalakshmi & MahaSaraswati. The temple is located in Katra, Jammu. The temple bestows the Shakti piths of Sati Mata. The temple is situated on the hilltop and is accessible via Trek, Ponies or Palki.
Conclusion
There are so many such Pilgrimage temples in India that have such Interesting stories behind them, have you been to any of these pilgrimage? If yes, share your story as I’m going to share mine in the further blogs. You can also check out my other blog ‘Best Places to Visit in India’
Love and Light <3
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19 February 2024
