India is full of culture. It has been invaded by many foreign powers from time to time but we still carry our culture, and traditions with us. We are practicing our culture for an eternity. There are many places in India that astonish visitors with their culture and traditions we follow. India is a land of god and knowledge and we have been considered to be one of the most elite nations for millions of years. You must get spellbound with the positive vides of these cities. Here we are going to share some of the most famous and visited 5 pilgrimages in India. Read this article to know more everything about these places.
Kedarnath:- One of the 12 jyotirlingas in India. Panch Kedar and Chota Char Dham, Kedarnath yatra is considered as one of the most holiest yatra in Hindu culture. It's considered to be a way to attain salvation. Not only the old but the youth of our country are equally interested in visiting the Kedarnath temple. Located at an altitude of 11755 feet above sea level in Rudraprayag district Uttarakhand, Kedarnath temple is known for its beauty and amazing atmosphere all around the temple. As per holy scriptures and folklore, it's a strong belief that lord shiva stays at Kedarnath temple to bless all its devotees and help them attain salvation and prosperity in life. You can visit Kedarnath temple by booking a Kedarnath yatra package with any reputed company or you can plan your own journey. Generally, the Kedarnath yatra package costs around 8000 to 12000 per person from Haridwar. The package cost will vary a lot depending on the quality of service, itinerary, etc. If you are planning to visit Kedarnath yatra on your own, then keep note that you will get direct convenience from your city to Haridwar / Rishikesh / Dehradun which is around 280 Km away from Kedarnath temple. After that you can book your personal car or you can take a shared cab or bus.
Varanasi:- Another famous pilgrimage spot in India known for lord Shiva is Varanasi also known as Banaras. It found its mention in many ancient holy scriptures and is believed to be the favorite city of lord Shiva. With ancient culture and vibrant tradition with chanting of mantras all around, this holy city has great importance in Hindu culture. Even an atheist will start believing in god after visiting Varanasi. There are many stories revolving around this city and you can relate most of them to the places in Varanasi. One of the oldest and most iconic cremation ghats in Varanasi is Manikarnika Ghat. It is believed that the Maa Shakti ornament fell down at this place when lord shiva was carrying her burnt body to Kailash. Manikarna is a Sanskrit word which means earring. Lots of other stories and folklore are associated with this traditional but very beautiful city of India. This city of light (Varanasi ) is situated on the bank of river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and accessible by all means of transport. For visiting Varanasi you need not book any package as you can reach here very easily or if you are planning to visit multiple cities around then definitely you can book a package for visiting Varanasi. The package cost for Varanasi will range something between 8000 to 17000 per person depending upon the quality of services and location they are covering.
Vrindavan:- Located in the Brajbhoomi region of Mathura District in Uttarpradesh is another top pilgrimage site of India. Know of Krishna Lila as it is believed that lord Krishna had spent most of his childhood in Vrindavan. More than 5500 old and new temples are dedicated to lord Krishna and his chief consort Radha Rani. Prem Mandir is one of the most recent and most beautiful temples in Vrindavan gaining huge popularity day by day. It's becoming the identity of Vrindavan. In addition to Vrindavan, you can also visit some other places related to Shree Krishna and feel the positivity in the air. Mathura, Barsana, Gokul, Govardhan Parvat, Anand Van, etc are some of the iconic places in and around Vrindavan where you can visit and relate the life story of lord Krishna. It's not just a pilgrimage place but it's an experience where you can feel love and positivity all around. To reach Vrindavan you have to reach first Mathura which can be reached by rail or road and can cover the rest of the distance by autos or buses. It's highly recommended not to book a package to visit Vrindavan. Just reach this place and spend some quality time meditating or visiting one and other places around. You will feel inner strength and different kinds of energy in your inner self.
Shirdi:- Another most iconic pilgrimage spot in India is Shirdi. Located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, this sacred place is visited by millions of devotees every year. It is a place of devotion and sacrifice for humanity. Sai of Shirdi was known for his selfless service to humanity. Shri Sai Baba Shanshthan Trust located in Shirdi is one of the reachest trusts in India. Some of the places that are related to lord Sai are Dwarkamai mandir, Chavadi, and Gurusthan. In Dwarkamai mandir you may get the akand Dhuni which has been burning since it was first lit up by Sai Baba. The ashes coming out of Dhuni are called Udi and are believed to have healing power. Most people prefer to book a package to visit Shirdi as no direct train or flight you will get to reach Shirdi. Package cost for Shirdi is between 8000 to 13000 depending upon the quality of services. Another prominent pilgrimage spot near Shirdi is Sani Shingna Pur.
Jagannath Puri:- An important pilgrimage site located in the Puri district of Odisha, Jagannath Puri temple is dedicated to lord Jagannath, the incarnation of lord Vishnu. This is among the most ancient temples in the world and is most famous for its beautiful architecture and advanced design. This temple is also known for miracles and folklore linked to this temple. One of them is that the flag of Jagannath Puri temple flows in an opposite direction to the direction of the wind. It's something that is defying the law of nature. The second one is that you will not find any shadow of this magnificent temple. What to say this, is it an architectural marvel or miracle of lord Jagannath? Whatever it may be visiting this temple is something like keeping oneself closer to god. Jagannath Puri is easily accessible by all modes of transport. Bhubaneshwar Airport is the nearest airport to Puri and is about 60 km away from the temple. You will get a direct train from all the major cities to Puri. You can also book the Jagannath Puri tour package which will cost you something around 12000 to 32000 depending on services. In most of the packages, companies cover Bhubaneshwar, Puri, Chilka, etc.
