Religious Places in India

Ayodhya - "The Birthplace of Lord Rama"

Ayodhya, located on the banks of river Sarayu in Uttar Pradesh, is one of the seven sacred cities for Hindus. Ayodhya plays a critical role in the Hindu epic of Ramayana as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. This religious town is also the birthplace of four of Jainism's 24 Tirthankaras (religious teachers), beckoning tourists with its serene ghats.

( Ayodhya )

 

Amritsar- "the Golden Temple" 

Amritsar, the spiritual capital of the Sikh religion, is best known for its landmark Golden Temple (officially called Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib). The city's name comes from the water body surrounding the temple and means "Holy Tank of Nectar of Immortality".

(Amritshar)

 

Vaishno Devi - "The Holy Caves"

Vaishno Devi is a temple town that's home to the famous Vaishno Devi Mandir. Popularly known as Mata Rani, Vaishnavi and Trikuta, Vaishno Devi is a manifestation of the Hindu Goddess Durga. Located in Trikuta hills, 13 kms from Katra (in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir); this renowned shrine allures millions of devotees from all over the world. 

(Vaishno Devi)

 

Shree Kashi Vishvanath Temple

Kashi Vishvanath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganga, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shivatemples. The main deity is known by the name Vishvanatha or Vishveshvara meaning Ruler of The Universe. Varanasi city is also called Kashi, and hence the temple is popularly called Kashi Vishvanath Temple.

(Kashi) 

Varanasi - "Ganga aarti"

The Ganga aarti of Varanasi is a shining beacon of devotion and bliss that makes us experience the divinity in and around us. Since ages, no day has gone by when the holy Ganga River has not been adored. It is one of the must-see activities included in every traveller’s itinerary, and people from all walks of life visit the city with the desire of beholding the Ganga aarti. 

 (Varanasi)

Badrinath - "Dev Bhoomi"

The Badrinath Temple also known as the Badrinarayan Temple, located in Uttarakhand's Badrinath town, is one of the four Char Dhams (four important pilgrimages) in the state. There are four pilgrim-destinations namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, collectively known as Char Dham. These pilgrimage centres draw large number of pilgrims each year, thus becoming the most important hubs of religious travel in the whole of Northern India.

 

(Uttrakhand) 

 

Shri Kedarnath Dham 

Kedarnath temple is one of the sacred pilgrimage centre in Northern India, located on the bank of Mandakini river at an altitude of 3584 meters above sea level. The historical name of this region is "Kedar Khand". Kedarnath temple is a part of Char Dhams and Panch Kedar in Uttarakhand and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India.

(Uttrakhand)

Shree Somnath Temple 

The Somnath temple, also called Somanātha temple or Deo Patan, is located in Prabhas Patan, Veraval in Gujarat, India. One of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for the Hindus, they believe it to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.Reconstructed several times in the past after repeated destruction by several Muslim invaders and rulers, it is unclear when the first version of the Somnath temple was built. Estimates for the first Somnath temple vary between the early centuries of the 1st-millennium to about the 9th-century CE.The temple's history is a subject of disputes and remains controversial.

(Gujrat)

Ramanathaswamy Temple

Ramanathaswamy Temple (Rāmanātasvāmi Kōyil) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva located on Rameswaram island in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where the three of the most revered Nayanars (Saivite saints), Appar, Sundarar and Tirugnana Sambandar, have glorified the temple with their songs. The temple was expanded during the 12th century by Pandya Dynasty, and its principal shrines sanctum were renovated by Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan and his successor Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan of the Jaffna kingdom. The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India

(Tamilnadu)

 Why do people visit holy places?

People visiting religious places can have various motive depending on their mindset.

• Some people visit there in search of mental peace so that they can chant prayers and feel at peace.
• Some people visit there to connect with the god they worship.
• Some people visit there to make their god happy and in return god will bless them and make their wishes come true.
• Some people visit to feed and provide necessary clothing to all the needy who sit outside the religious place and consider this a their prayer to god.
• Some curious people visit religious people to explore about the different religious practice.

These are the possible reasons behind people visiting religious places.