PILGRIMAGE TOURISM IN INDIA

       Pilgrimage tourism is growing segment of India is known for roots of several religions like Hinduism , Sikhism , Buddhism and Jainism . There is no religion in the world which is not professed in India. 

Hindu Pilgrimage Sites :-

       In Hinduism , the most pilgrimage centres are as under :-

• Chardham Hindu Pilgrimage :
       The famous Chardham are linked to Vaishnav cult of Hinduism . Famous Chardhams designated by Adi Shankaracharya by establishing four mutths at four different directions of the country . Such places are Badrinath in the North (in the state of Uttarakhand) , Dwarka in the West (in the state of Gujarat) , Puri in the East (in the state of Odisha) and Rameswaram in the South (in the state of Tamil Nadu) .

• Kumbh Mela Circuit :

         The Kumbh Mela (the "pitcher festival") is one of the holiest of Hindu pilgrimages that is held once in every four years ; the location is rotated among four places namely Allahabad , Haridwar , Nashik and Ujjain . The celebrations are held on the river banks such as at Allahabad (UP) on the bank of sangam (confluence of Ganga , Yamuna and mystical river Saraswati), at Haridwar (Uttarakhand) on the bank of the river Ganga , at Nashik (Maharashtra) on the bank of the river Godavari , and at Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) on the bank of the river Shipra . Apart from Kumbh mela , Ardha Kumbh mela is organised at only two places namely , Allahabad and Haridwar every sixth year . 

• Old Temple - Seven Cities :

       Old Holy cities as per Puranic Text : Varanasi (Kashi) , Allahabad (Prayagraj) , Haridwar , Rishikesh , Mathura-Vrindavan and Ayodhya . Manoj in addition three comparatively recent temples of fame and huge pilgrimage are Shirdi , home of to Sai Baba of Shirdi , Tirumala - Tirupati , home of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple ; and Sabarimala , where Swami Ayyappan is worshipped . 

• Shaktipeethas :

       Shakti Peethas are the where the Mother Goddess is worshipped . Fifty one Shaktipeethas of Goddess Sati are among most significant pilgrimages places in India throughout India such as Vaishno Devi , Naina Devi and many more .

BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE SITES :-

       The important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India are given below :-

• Bodh Gaya :

       Bodh Gaya is the most important Buddhist Pilgrimage Centre located in  the state of Bihar . It is the place where Lord Buddha got Enlightenment under the giant bodhi (Pipal) tree . The magnificent mahabodhi temple in bodh Gaya is an architectural amalgamation of many centuries , cultures and many heritages . 

• Saravasti :

       Saravasti known to be the capital of ancient kingdom of Kosala is located in the modern state of Uttar Pradesh . Saravasti has the honour of sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Vihara . Buddha is said to have performed some miracles here , which we find depicted in sculptures and paintings .

• Sarnath :

       Sarnath is the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attending nirvana at Bodh-gayan , thus the laying the foundation of Buddhism . The great kind Ashoka made a smooth glistening stone pillar , called the Ashoka Pillar commemorating his visit and laid the foundation of the Buddhist Sangha here. The Lion capital , once sitting on the top of this pillar , is now the National Emblem of India .

• Kushinagar :

       Kushinagar is associated with Lord Boddha for his Maha Pari Nirava . A temple dedicated to the event - The Mahaparinirvana Temple , with a huge Buddha image in lying posture is the main attraction of this place . Kushinagar is located in modern district of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh .

• Vaisali :

       Vaisali in modern state of Bihar is believed to be the place where Buddha gave his last sermon . This place is also known to be the first republic of the world . Emperor Ashoka erected a huge polished stone pillar with the image of a sitting lion to commemorate the spot of the last sermon .

• Lahaul - Spiti :

       Lahaul-Spiti is also located in the state of Himachal Pradesh . The main attraction of the place is a multi storied structure , with white washed wall and fluttering flags , it houses a series of  enormous prayer wheels representing Buddha's Dharma-Chakra , which revolve on the slightest touch .

•  Ladakh :

       Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir is popularly known as 'hermit kingdom' . Ladakh is a land of snow carved peaks , translucent lake , barren terrain and mystic culture . It has about 13 major Gompas (Monasteries) of which Hemis is considered the Gompa of Gompas . 

JAIN PILGRIMAGE SITES :-

       Jainism is one of the oldest religions of the world finding its roots in ancient India . Famous Jain pilgrimage sites situated in India are as under :

• Mount Abu :

       Mount Abu is located in the South - Western corner of Rajasthan . Mount Abu is a popular Jain pilgrimage centre because of one of the most beautiful Dilwara Jain Temple , located around a lake called Nakki in the mountains .

• Palitana :

       Situated in the state of Gujarat in the foot of the Satrunjaya Hill , Palitana is group of 863 magnificent Jain temples built on white marble . The temples follow the contours of the valleys of the mountains with the lush green forest .

• Sauripur :

       Sauripura located at ground 80 km from Agra , is considered to be an important place of Jain pilgrimage . There are seven big temples of the Svetambara Jain Samaj and two temples of the digambara Jain Samaj .

• Bhelupura :

       Bhelupura is situated near Kasi in UP . It is the birth place of twenty - third Tirthankara Lord Sri Parsavanatha . It has a white stature of 60 cm , which is worshiped by the believer of Svetambara sect and a black idol with hight of 75 cm worshiped by the believers of Digambara .

• Pawanagar :

       Pawanagar is situated in Gorakhpur , UP and is famous for being the place where Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana . A magnificent Manastambha has been constructed within the temple premises here . The temple houses four beautiful carved idols .

• Deogarh :

       It is situated on the right bank of the Betwa River at the western and of the Lalitpur range of hills in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Border . The site was a Jain centre from the Eight to the seventeenth century AD . The natural setting of the fort houses a group of 31 Jain Temples .

ISLAM PILGRIMAGE SITES :-

       In India many mosques are built so that one can go there and pay homage to the almighty . Mosques in India are famous for their graceful architecture style and remarkable design execution . The mosques basically stand out due to their sheer brilliance of style simplicity . With famous in India , you can get to know more about the various mosques of India and also about their historical background .

• Haji Ali Mosque :

       The Haji Ali Mosque is located on an island off the coast of Work I in Mumbai . Although it is a mosque and dargah but still it is very popular among Hindus also .

• Jama Masjid :

       The Jama Masjid of Delhi is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India . It was made by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan .

• Fatehpur Sikri : 

       Fatehpur Sikri is located in district Agra , Uttar Pradesh was founded in 1569 by the Mughal emperor Akbar . Fatehpur Sikri is one of the best preserved collections of Mughal architecture in India .

• Dargah Sharif (Ajmer) :

       The Dargah (shrine) of Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti , known as Dargah Sharif or Ajmer Sharif is a popular pilgrimage centre for Muslim , Hindus and Sikhs together as a symbol of communal harmony. Moinuddin Chishti the famous Sufi saint was born in 1141 and died in 1230 CE .

SIKH PILGRIMAGE SITES :-

       Though most Sikhs live in Punjab , there is a significant Sikh diaspora spread across the world . The Sikh religious places are outlined below :

• Golden Temple :

       Also called as the Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib , the Golden temple is located in the city of Amritsar , Punjab . The temple was built by the fifth Sikh guru , Guru Arjan Dev , in the 16th Century where the holy scripture of Sikhism  , Guru Granth. Sahib is being installed . There are four doors to get into the temple , symbolising the openness of the Sikhs .

• Hemkund Sahib :

       Hemkund Sahib is a pilgrimage site in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand . On the bank of a glacial lake amidst seven mountain peaks , Hemkund Sahib it is located in the Himalayas at an elevation of 4632 meters . It is accessible only by foot from Gobindghat on the Rishikesh - Badrinath highway which is 17 kilometres away .

• Anandpur Sahib :

       Anandpur Sahib located in Rupnagar district of Punjab is also known as "the holy City of Bliss" . The location is surrounded by picturesque natural scenery , with the river Sutlej forming a shimmering and shiny blue border on the south west at a distance of four miles .

CHRISTIANITY PILGRIMAGE SITES :-

       Popular and important Christian Pilgrimage Sites in India are explained below:

• Basilica of Bom Jesus :

       The Basicila of Bom Jesus is located in Goa and has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . This basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier . The church is located in Old Goa , which was the capital of Goa during Portuguese rule .

• Se Cathedral :

       Se Cathedral located in Goa , is the largest church in India and is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria . It is one of the oldest and most celebrated religious building in Goa and is one of the largest churches in Asia .

• Velankanni :

       Velankanni is a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu . It is a small town located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal 350 km south of Chennai . The Church here is a significant Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to 'Our Lady of Good Health' . 

• St. Francis Church :

       St. Francis Church is located in Kochi , Kerala , one of the beautiful states of Southern region of India . It is the oldest European church in India .

ZOROASTRIAN PILGRIMAGE SITES :-

       Zoroastrianism is an ancient Iranian religion and a religious philosophy . Popular Zoroastrian Pilgrimage Sites are mostly located in Gujarat and Maharashtra as the followers of the religion mostly are concentrated here , such places are explained below :

• Sanjan :

       It is in Southern Gujarat near the sea - coast . It is the first sacred fire Temple of the Zoroastrians in India .

• Navasari :

       In the early twelfth century , the Sanjan priests installed the sacred fire in Navasari , Gujarat .

• Siganpur :

       The Earliest Consecrated Adaran Fire was founded in Siganpur , near Surat in Gujarat by Loji Wadia .

Thanks for Reading...

       💌💌💌