Pilgrimage Destinations

India is a land of diversity not just in terms of topography but also culture and faith. Having a strong reputation as a secular nation, it welcomes and nestles every religion that comes here. As a result, every region is blessed with a string of interesting pilgrim spots that receive a lot of attention from the tourists.

A divine habitat rich in culture and heritage, North India is associated with abundance of mythological stories and so is in the wish list of every pilgrim visiting here. The North India pilgrimage places are the centre of attraction for their amazing architecture.

While there are several temples and shrines to keep the tourists hooked, the holy River Ganges flows abundantly in North India making it a popular destination for devotees.

Here is a detailed look at some of the most revered and popular pilgrim sites in North India:

Harmandir Sahib
Popularly known as Golden Temple, it literally means Temple of God. It is a beautiful golden structure at the centre of large water body which is known as the Amrit Sarovar. The temple is reached by following a parikrama. Another major highlight is the Guru ka Langar. Visitors are supposed to leave their shoes at the entrance, cover their heads and wash their feet before entering.

Ajmer Sharif
The dargah of Khwaja Moin- ud- Din Chisti is renowned for fulfilling the wishes of the followers. The shrine is a monument to Sufi Saint Moinuddin Chisti and is followed by Buland Darwaza, another popular tourist spot. The devotees offer flowers, velvet chaddar, perfume and sandalwood at the shrine and make wishes. When the wishes are fulfilled then they come again to offer the promised Ghilaf, Ittar among other things.

Amarnath
The Amarnath yatra is dedicated to the greatest god in Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva. The major attraction here is the Shiva Lingam which is formed naturally of ice. Legend has that Lord Shiva recounted to Goddess Parvati the secret of creation in the Amarnath cave.

Char Dham
It is easily the most important pilgrimage circuit in Uttarakhand. It consists of four sites: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The average pilgrimage season is from 15th April to late November.

Varanasi (Banaras)
Not only is this one of the oldest cities in all the civilisations, it is a city known to attain ‘moksha’ located on the banks of River Ganga. It is one of the seven most sacred spots for Hindus. The major pilgrimage spot however are the ghats here where you could spot several rites been going on.

Haridwar & Rishikesh
One of the seven holiest places in India, Haridwar is very popular among the Hindus since it is believed that bathing in the holy waters of River Ganges cleanses you of all the sins. The pilgrimage attractions here are Mansa Devi temple, Har ki Pauri, Ram mandir, Shantikunj and so on. Rishikesh is known fondly as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’ and is the official gateway to Char Dham.

Mathura
This is known as the Braj Bhumi- the land where Lord Krishna was born. It is also a prominent Buddhist centre. There are various shrines and temples in the city. The pilgrimage tourism includes Dwarkadheesh Temple, Gita mandir, Vishram Ghat, Radha Kund, Govardhan Hill and so on. The city comes alive during the festival of Holi. Also you should not miss the Raslila celebrations. Do buy the famous Mathura Pedas and various milk sweets!

In all, the pleasurable experience of exploring the religious heritage of India via its pilgrimage sites in North India is a one-time experience. Perfect for people looking to find salvation, moksha or God beyond faiths!