Top 10 religious places in India
Of all the seeds sown here, religion yielded the richest harvest. You cannot think of an India without its spiritual side. In this part of the world, the days begin and end with prayers.
India is home to people belonging to almost all religions. Of course, the vast majority of them are Hindus, but India also has a significant population of Muslims and Christians. Needless to say, the country has numerous temples, mosques, dargahs and churches.
If you are on a spiritual trail in India, here are the must-see temples and other places of worship.
Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu Kashmir
Here the Goddess is worshipped as Shakti (The female form of cosmic energy / Shiva is the male form and Shakti is the consort of Shiva). For devotees, the Vaishno Devi Temple is the earthly abode of Shakti. The temple is high up in the Himalayas. It is built on the Trikuta Hills in Jammu. The trek to the temple is arduous, but when you reach the caves where the Goddess presides, you experience pure bliss and find yourself immersed in the all-pervasive divinity. The landscape looks incredibly beautiful. You also experience the thrilling joy of adventure.
Jagannath Temple (Jagannath Mandir) in Puri
The Jagannath Temple at Puri is dedicated to Lord Krishna, his brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra. The annual Rath Yatra is the most important festival during which lakhs of people throng to the temple.
Golden Temple/Swarn Mandir/Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar
The most important place of worship for Sikhs, the Golden Temple at Amritsar attracts millions of people from all over the world.
If you set your eyes on the vast horizon all that you see is divinity.
Amritsar means the Lake of Holy Nectar. For Sikhs, the Golden Temple is the most important place of worship. You can see the reflection of the golden edifice of the temple in the waters of the lake. This is one of the many images that every visitor and every devotee takes home after a visit to Amritsar. Golden Temple was built by the fourth Sikh Guru, Ramdass Sahib Ji. It is also called Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib. The Golden Temple is associated with a number of historical events and remains one of the most recognized monuments in India.
Somnath Jyotirlinga, Gujarat
The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is the first among the Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva.
The temple at Somnath is believed to be the first Dwaadash Jyotirlinga (Pillar of Light) temple of Lord Shiva. Over the course of centuries, Somnath Temple has withstood many attacks. This sacred shrine attracts devotees from far and wide.
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati
The Tirumala-Venkateswara-temple is believed to be the earthly abode of Lord Venkateswara (Vishnu). The temple stands on the last hill of the Seshachalam range in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. One of the most visited temples in India, the Tirumala Venkateswara temple attracts over 60,000 visitors a day. It is also famous for its impressive architecture.
Ajmer Sharif in Ajmer
Although Ajmer Sharif is a Muslim place of worship, it attracts an equal number of Hindus.
The tomb of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer is an important place of pilgrimage for both Muslims and Hindus. Moinuddin Chishti was a Sufi Saint. Devotees believe that he listens to the prayers and wishes of the people flocking to his grave and fulfills them. Once you enter the Dargah, you will be taken over by a sense of peace. There is something magical about this place; otherwise it wouldn’t attract so many people belonging to different faiths and nationalities. The best time to visit is during the Urs festival.
Sun Temple (Surya Mandir) in Konark
Hindus have been worshipping the Sun God since times immemorial. The Sun Temple at Konark is the masterpiece of Indian architecture. It is the finest example of the excellent craftsmanship of architects and sculptors who graced India centuries ago. Believed to have been built in the 13th century, the Sun Temple is massive in size. The temple is in the shape of an elaborately carved giant chariot complete with wheels, walls and pillars. The chariot has 12 richly carved wheels. The pyramidal roof is an imposing structure. The Konark Temple is also famous for its erotic sculptures.
Velankanni Church
Situated in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, Velankanni Church is one of the most important places of worship for Christians. The Church is a gothic style building. It is believed to have been built by a Portuguese sailor who survived a violent sea storm.
Amarnath Cave
Amarnath Cave is a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The cave situated at an altitude of about 3,888 m remains surrounded by snowy mountains for most of the year. It is open for pilgrims for a short period of time during summer. Every summer thousands of devotees trek to the cave through the challenging mountainous terrain to see the ice lingam that forms inside the cave. It is one of the most important places of worship in India. Legend has it that Shiva revealed the secret of life and eternity to Parvathi (his consort) here.
Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple
The air of divinity I have experienced here, I haven’t experienced anywhere else. Guruvayoor is a small town in the Thrissur district of Kerala. The Sri Krishna Temple here is one of the most visited temples in India. Guruvayoor is known as Bhooloka Vaikundam (the seat of Lord Vishnu on earth). A must visit during a trip to South India. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple.