Popular Pilgrimage Destinations In India

Acknowledged as the Land of Gods and Deities, you are sure to find an unfathomable number of Pilgrimage Places in India. Eminent as the most ancient civilization, India is not only bloated with heritage opulence but also has a glorious mythological past. Every year, people in umteen numbers en route towards the holy shrines, either to find solace or to seek blessings. The enduring journey to many popular pilgrimage destinations attracts tourists from all over the world. Religion and beliefs are deep-rooted and there are many Religion Tours in India that you might wish to explore. Listed below are some of the most popular pilgrimage destinations that you may wish to visit in 2023.

Top 11 Popular Pilgrimage Destinations In India

• Vaishno Devi
• Shirdi
• Char Dham
• Golden Temple
• Ajmer Sharif
• Haridwar
• Jyotirlinga Yatra
• Amarnath Yatra
• Mathura And Vrindavan
• Madurai
• Bodhgaya

1. Vaishno Devi

One of the holiest shrines in India, Vaishno Devi is situated at an altitude of 5200 ft and the trek is almost 12 km from the base that lies in Katra, Jammu. The famous shrine in the north of India observes a footfall of more than a million devotees from all over the world, annually. With no statue or idol, it’s three natural rock formations called the Pindies in the cave situated on the mountain peak, are believed to be Goddess Shakti, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Laxmi. The unflinching faith, that all the wishes of her devotees are taken care of by Mata Vaishno Devi makes the enduring trek most rewarding.

2. Shirdi

Also known as Sai Ka Dham, it is the major pilgrimage destination for the devotees of Sai Baba. Situated in the western part of India in the state of Maharashtra, Shirdi is believed to be the home of spiritual leader Sai Baba. The main condominium includes the magnificent marble statue of Baba alongside his tomb, Dwarkamai and a mosque where Baba used to live. People of different religions have faith in him and throng to the land of spiritual significance all through the year.

3. Char Dham

Char means four and Dham means abode of God, hence the set of four pilgrimage sites in India, which includes Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri and Rameshwaram together are considered as Char Dham. It is believed that every Hindu must cover these four pilgrimage sites once in their lifetime to attain salvation from the cycle of birth and death. Due to the great significance of these four holy shrines, every year more than 2 lakh tourists visit here even if the climatic conditions are tough.

4. Golden Temple

One of the biggest Sikhism shrines in India, Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib is the holiest Gurudwara in the world. It is located in the heart of the city of Amritsar, Punjab, close to the Pakistan border. The Golden Temple derives its name from the dome of the Gurudwara which is made with 750kg of gold. Its architectural marvel flaunts the blend of Hindu and Islamic style. The temple holds great respect in the heart of every religion as the place is an amalgamation of diverse beliefs under one roof. With utmost respect, The Golden Temple is amongst the most sacred places in India.

5. Ajmer Sharif

Sufi shrine of the famous Sufi saint, Moinuddin Chishti, located in Ajmer, Rajasthan is the main pilgrimage center in India that is majorly followed by Islam however, people from all the religions pay a visit to the pilgrimage with great respect and unshaken faith. Every day after namaz is offered in praise of Allah, hymns are sung by Sufi qawwals inside the hall. The famous Urs Fair is organized every year in the month of March, which makes it an ideal time to visit, however, it's crowded all throughout the year.

6. Haridwar

The land where the holy river Ganga flows is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand towards the north of India. The famous ghat, Har ki Pauri is venerated by thousands of people who visit here every day to take a holy dip and to attend the most auspicious evening Aarti. During that time the entire expanse gets lit up with a trail of small diyas floating over the Ganges. Haridwar is the most revered pilgrimage site that mesmerizes you and brings solace to your heart.

7. Jyotirlinga Yatra

India is vast when it comes to pilgrimage to cover Jyotirlinga Yatra is not so easy. It has the greatest significance amongst the disciples of Lord Shiva. Originally there are 64 Jyotirlingas out of which 12 are considered to be the most auspicious. Together these 12 Jyotirlingas are called Dwadash Jyotirlingas and it is believed that people who pay a visit to these 12 holy shrines are sure to find salvation. Also, there is a belief that people who attain a higher spiritual level are only the fortunate ones who get the opportunity to visit this Shivalinga. Spread across the country, one cannot complete the 12 sites in one go.

8. Amarnath Yatra

Situated at the height of 3,888m, 141 km away from Srinagar, Amarnath Yatra is the toughest. Amidst snow-clad mountains is this beautiful cave where Shiva Linga is formed due to the melting of ice from the roof onto the floor. It is believed that Lord Shiva entered the Amarnath Cave with his wife Parvati to enlighten her with the secret of life and eternity. It is the most famous Hindu pilgrimage site in India where devotees of Shiva throng in huge numbers every year during the 45 day season of July and August enduring hardships upon them to reach the cave.

9. Mathura and Vrindavan

The most revered deity, Lord Krishna was born in the land of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is believed that Lord Krishna spent his childhood here due to which every particle of the dust is treated as auspicious. Devotees smear the dust on their forehead in a firm belief that they will seek his blessings by doing so. The most significant pilgrimage site attracts 5lakh pilgrims every year from around the world. Many people from foreign lands have devoted their life to Lord Krishna hence, making their abode in the Braj region which includes Mathura and Vrindavan primarily.

10. Madurai

An ancient city in the south of Indian state Tamil Nadu, Madurai was the site of Pandya's capital. Famous for the Chithrai Festival which is held every year in the months of April and May, the city is filled with millions of followers who pour in to attend the carnival. India's most outstanding pilgrimage destination, Madurai is also named as the city of temples.

11. Bodhgaya

The place famous as the Buddhist pilgrimage destination, Bodhgaya is where Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. The holy place where Buddha and his disciples meditated and resided is the root to which the Buddhists are connected. It is situated in the state of Bihar, India. Many spiritual seekers and practitioners visit this place to find the meaning and purpose of their existence.

We hope the Pilgrimage Destinations we have shortlisted for you will guide you through your religious and spiritual odyssey. To find answers to your travel quest, stay tuned to Adotrip as Nothing is Far.