This was one of the thoughts related to spirituality. Like this, there are various other notions, and if you really wish to know most of them, make a visit to the ‘Incredible India’.
Standing on the poles of ‘unity in diversity’, India is a home to various religions and beliefs. Here, everyone has a different idea of spirituality and various sites are regarded as the pilgrimage destinations. Mentioned below are the top five spiritual places in India that provide a wonderful glimpse of beautiful diverse religions.
India's Most Visited Religious Destinations
‘Haridwar’, meaning ‘the gateway to the God’; the name itself is sufficient to justify Haridwar’s name in the list of prominent seven holiest places in the Hindu religion. Another justification is provided by the pious water of the sacred River Ganga (the most sanctified water body in India). After covering a long stretch of 253 kilometers from its source at the Gaumukh, the river enters the respective city. The devotees come here to take a holy dip in the water of River Ganga, as it is said that the blessings of Goddess Ganga washes off all the sins and provides salvation from the cycle of life and death. The morning and evening Aarti at the ‘Har Ki Pauri’ is the most auspicious ritual practiced in the place. Further, being the ‘Gateway to the God’, Haridwar cossets various shrines, wherein the pilgrims can bow their head before the deities.
Devoted to Buddhism, the Bodh Gaya is among the most serene places located within the boundaries of the state Bihar. This spiritual site is associated with the Mahabodhi Temple complex (the main monastery). It is believed that this is a very place where the Lord Buddha or Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. Earlier, this site was famous with various names like Sambodhi, Mahabodhi, Uruvela or Vajrasana, but in the 18th century people started recognizing it with the name of Bodh Gaya. In addition to the mythology behind this pilgrimage site, Bodh Gaya is also known for rendering unmatched peace to the visitors.
Beautifully located in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand, the Chardham circuit is one of the most famous and pious pilgrimage destinations of India. This circuit is named as Chardham because it cuddles the four holy sites - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, Goddess Ganga, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu respectively, a visit to these four dhams is regarded as a must for attaining redemption from all sins and lifecycle. Further, the Chardham yatra in Uttarakhand enlightens the devotees with different fascinating folklores; each of the destinations has a different legend that enchants the visitors.
Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Ajmer Sharif or better known as the Dargah Sharif is a shrine devoted to a Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti. This mosque is located in Ajmer, Rajasthan and the most amazing fact about this place is that it is not just visited by Indians, but also by the people from different nooks and corners of the world. There is certainly something very majestic and spiritual about this holy place that people love to pay homage here. Further, there is a belief that all your wishes will come true if you wholeheartedly pray to the saint. Thus, blame it on this belief or on the ambience inside the shrine, it entices a lot of devotees every year.
Situated in Amritsar, Punjab, Golden Temple is the most famous Sikh Gurudwara. Golden Temple is basically the informal name given to the shrine, it is authentically known as the Harmandir Saheb or Darbar Sahib. This beautiful and pious temple was originally built by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan in the 16th Century, and the present day shrine was constructed by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia with the help of other Sikh Misls, in 1764. Further, it is the Adi Granth (the main holy scripture of Sikhism) inside the Gurudwara, for which the devotees visit the place. As per the legends, this scripture was compiled by Guru Arjan.
In the starting of the content you read about the ‘Unity in Diversity’, but after reading the whole post, you must have got a justification for the respective term. These are the top five spiritual sites of India, and if you wish to know more about them, you have to visit them in real.