Tourism in India dates back to ancient times. Travel for the purposes of learning, pilgrimage and trade have always been an integral part of the social fabric of this vast subcontinent. Carrying on with this long tradition, pilgrim tourism in the country today has attained unprecedented levels.
Today, pilgrim tourism forms an important segment of domestic tourism. India as a confluence of different religions has always attracted pilgrims from all over the world. Though Hinduism continues to be the oldest religion in the country, India has been the birthplace of various religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Sufism, and has always embraced new religions that other cultures brought into the country.
A char dham yatra - a visit to the holy sites at cardinal located a cardinal points in the country - is considered a necessity in a Hindu's life for the regeneration of the spirit. These points lie across the subcontinent. In the north they are the snowcapped mountains of Badrinath, Kedarnath and Amarnath. In Central India, some of the holiest places to visit are Varanasi, Prayag (Allahabad), where the Kumbh Mela is held, and Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. In the East lies Puri in Orissa famous for the Jagannath Temple and its Rath Yatra. In the South are Rameswaram and Kanyakumari and in the west is Dwaraka, the kingdom of Lord Krishna. But these aren't all the places that the Hindus take a pilgrimage to. Places like Tirupati, Vaishnodevi, Shirdi, Shabrimala, Tanjore and Madurai towns are famous for their temples and shrines and very much on a must-visit list.
Sikh pilgrimage sites in India combine the best of both the spiritual and the human world-prayers with a sense of brotherhood and fellowship. A pilgrimage to the Golden Temple is a must for any Sikh. This is the most sacred shrine of the Sikhs and is in the town of Amritsar. Founded by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru. Another important pilgrimage site is Anandpur Sahib, where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, created the 'Khalsa' or the pure ones by baptising them.
Visit to any Jain temple in India is both a journey in spirituality and beauty. This purification of the soul is the goal Jains aspire for and austerity and not just knowledge is the means to attain salvation. One of the most important Jain pilgrimage sites is the monolithic statue of Bahubali at Sravanabelagola in the southern state of Karnataka. Jains from all over the world congregate at Mount Abu in Rajasthan, specifically at the Dilwara Temple, which is one of the finest examples of Jain art and architecture.
Christianity has had long and glorious relations with India. According to the legends, St. Thomas sailed to India from Eastern Asia in AD 52. He spent 12 years in India, the last eight of his life in Mylapore in Madras (now Chennai). Several shrines have been created in the places associated with him. Apart from this, the advent of Europeans in India from the 15th century onwards led to the mass influx of Christians and subsequent development of Christian worship places. Some of the churches of colonial India are comparable to the best in the world and are as much a part of the heritage of India as its ancient temples. You must visit these churches and explore the fascinating world of Christianity in India.
Buddhist
pilgrimage sites in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
Ladakh, and other parts of India are the most important
destinations for millions of people in South East Asia and
other parts of the world. In India Bodh gaya is reckoned as the
most important Buddhist pilgrimage centre. The magnificent
Mahabodhi temple in Bodh gaya is an architectural amalgamation
of many centuries, cultures and heritages of the devotees who
pay their homage here. Vaishali has a special significance for
the Buddhists. It is here that Buddha delivered his last
sermon and announced his impending Nirvana
.
Whether
it is a spiritual experience you seek or want to understand the depth and diversity of religion, India is the land with all the answers.
Tourist Information for India
More Information on Tourism in India
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