My Favorite Picks for Best of Spiritual India

Mathura

Muthura is one of the holy cities of India where Lord Krishna was born. Yamuna is situated on the north bank of holy river Yamuna. Mathura is a place of celebration, a large no. of fairs and festivals are celebrated here all year long. In ancient days it was called Brajbhumi. Mathura is the Holy City with a great historical past and religious background.

Kashi / Varanasi

Kashi also known as Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities not only in India but in the world. It is believed that the one who dies here is free from the birth circle. Kashi is situated on the west banks of holy river Ganga. The Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the famous temple know worldwide. A dip in the holy Ganges is believed to wash away all the sins. 

Haridwar

Haridwar is one of the oldest ancient living cities. Here you’ll find various colors of life and will also experience various Hindu rituals being performed like mundane, pitra daan, dah sanskar, asthi visarjan etc. Every evening, the Ganges comes alive with a surreal glow as hundreds of small lamps are lit and sent to float down the river after prayer.

Ujjain

In early days Ujjain was known as Ujjaiyni. Ujjain is an ancient city situated in Madhya Pradesh, India. The city is situated on the banks of the holy river Shipra. Legends say that the river Shipra was the result of samudra manthan. The main attractions of the city include various historical places and temples. One of the famous temples is Mahakaleshwar Temple of Lord Shiva. It is also included as one of the 12 jyotirlings of India.

Kanchipuram

Kanchipuran is situated on the north-eastern coast of Tamilnadu. It is said that city has more than thousand temples. Kanchipuram is famous all across the globe for its rich textile as “The Kanchipuram Silk”. The hand woven Kanchipuram silk sarees are famous world over. Kanchipuram is also famous for its rich cultural heritage and religious background that makes it one of the holy cities of India. The Temples of Kanchipuram reflect the great architectural past of India. The temples stand tall above the ground.

Ayodhya

Ayodhya is an ancient city also known as Ram Janam Bhumi because it is also the birth place of Lord Rama. Ayodhya is situated on the banks of river Saryu in Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya is one of the seven holy cities of India. Ayodhya was ruled by Suryavanshi Kings and the famous Suryavanshi Kings were Raja Dashrath and his son Rama. The city has marvelous historical background and religious heritage.

Dwarka

Dwarka as well is amongst the seven sacred cities of India. Dwarka is situated on the west coast of Gujarat on the shore of Arabian Sea. Dwarka was ruled by Lord Krishna and was known as Dwarka Nagri. It is one of the famous pilgrimage centres in India. The most famous temple in Dwarka is Dwarkadheesh Temple. The temple is said to be 2500 years old. There are a total of 60 columns that supports the roof of the main hall. The 5 storey temple stands 157 feet tall above the ground.

Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya is one of the holy cities in India. It is said to be the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage not only in India but in the world. The legends say that it here in Bodhgaya that Gautam sitting under the Bodhi tree (banyan tree) attained the supreme enlightenment and became Gautam Buddha. The main attraction of the city is Maha Bodhi Temple. This is the place where enlightenment took place and since then it became a sacred place for all Buddhists.

Amritsar

Amritsar is one of the holy cities in India. Amritsar means the “Holy pool of Nectar”. It is the most sacred Sikh pilgrimage centre not only in India but across the world. Thousands of devotees come here everyday and pay their homage. People from across the world of any race or religion pray here and feel lucky to have visited the sacred site atleast once in the current lifetime. The Most sacred Sikh pilgrimage is “The Golden temple” which is listed as “The wonder of Peace & Harmony” in India.

Rishikesh

Another holy city of India is Rishikesh situated in the foot hills of Himalayas Tehri Garhwal in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India. It is a place where the holy river Ganga emerges from mountains. The famous Char-Dham Yatra begins from Rishikesh. The blend of natural beauty and the religious atmosphere is truly amazing. The main attractions include the famous Lakshaman Jhhula (suspension bridge), Trianbhakeshwar Temple which is a 13 storey Temple and house of different deities throughout.