New Delhi: Spirituality generally leads people to complete happiness and satisfaction in life. If a person is able to become fully spiritual or even manages to understand the meaning of spirituality and walks on the right path, the individual won’t have to depend on materialistic objects or other to live a content life and stay happy. In search of spirituality, people from different parts of the country and even from foreign nations are coming to India, the centre of spirituality, the best place to attain moksha and the birthplace of Yoga and Ayurveda.
Spiritual tourism has two main subtypes: Pilgrimage, in which people travel for religious or spiritual purposes, and the viewing of religious monuments and artefacts. Pilgrimage has been practiced since antiquity and in several of the world’s religions. Also, one can go religious sightseeing due to several interests, including religion, art, architecture, history, and personal ancestry. In India, spiritual tourism has ancient roots shaped by the travels of revered figures like Adi Shankara. Today, India is one of the most popular destinations for spiritual tourism.
Popular places in India for spiritual tourism
Varanasi
Varanasi, also known as Kashi, is a city in Uttar Pradesh and is one of the oldest cities in the world. This ancient city is known as the spiritual capital of India and lakhs of pilgrims go there every year. They bathe in the sacred waters of river Ganges and perform funeral rites. There are more than a thousand temples in the city with the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, being the most famous.
Haridwar
Haridwar, known as the ‘Gateway of the Gods’, is an ancient city and important pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand. Known for the sacred Ganges river, the city has several holy ghats out of which the Har Ki Pauri is the most famous. Haridwar is regarded as a holy place for Hindus, hosting important religious events and serving as a gateway to several prominent places of worship. Most significant of the events is the Kumbha Mela, which draws millions of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists.
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a city in Uttarakhand. Situated on the right bank of the Ganges river, it is a pilgrimage town for Hindus, with ancient sages and saints meditating there in search of higher knowledge. There are numerous temples and ashrams built along the banks of the river. It is renowned as a center for studying yoga and meditation.
Mathura
Mathura is a city in Uttar Pradesh and one of the most sacred places in India. It is believed that Lord Krishna was born in Mathura at the place where the Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex is located. It is one of the Sapta Puri, the seven cities considered holy by Hindus, also is called Mokshyadayni Tirth.
Kedarnath
Kedarnath, a town in Uttarakhand, is known primarily for the Kedarnath Temple. Kedarnath is a pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the four pilgrimage spots that form a part of the Uttarkhand Char Dham yatra or Chota Char Dham yatra.
Badrinath
Badrinath, a town in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district is a holy place to the Hindus. It is one of the four sites in India’s Char Dham pilgrimage. It is also part of India’s Chota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit and gets its name from the Badrinath Temple.
Puri
Puri is a coastal city in Odisha and is home to the 12th-century Jagannath Temple. Also, it is one of the original Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Since ancient times, Puri has been known by several names. Puri and the Jagannath Temple were invaded 18 times by Muslim rulers.
Rameswaram
Rameswaram is a municipality in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district which is famous for the Ramanathaswamy Temple. The Ramayana states that Lord Ram built a bridge from the vicinity of this town across the sea to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from her abductor Ravana. The temple, dedicated to the Lord Shiva, is at the centre of the town and is closely associated with Ram and Shiva.
Tirupati
Tirupati, a city in Andhra Pradesh, is known for its significant religious and cultural heritage, being home to the renowned Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, a major Hindu pilgrimage site, as well as other historic temples. Due to the temple, Tirupati is visited by millions of pilgrims.
India, a land steeped in spirituality, draws millions seeking inner peace and enlightenment. This article explores key spiritual tourism destinations like Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and others, highlighting their significance in Hindu pilgrimage and the broader spiritual landscape. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
