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For thousands of years sacred places have held a mysterious and powerful attraction on people.
India, which has such a large number of such sacred sites and a tradition of going on pilgrimage
dating back millennia, could be regarded as one large sacred site. We have listed below a few of
the more famous pilgrimage sites in India. If you would like us to organize a personalized
pilgrimage for you then complete our online reservation form and someone will reply within 48
hours with a proposed itinerary and a price quote.
India, which has such a large number of such sacred sites and a tradition of going on pilgrimage
dating back millennia, could be regarded as one large sacred site. We have listed below a few of
the more famous pilgrimage sites in India. If you would like us to organize a personalized
pilgrimage for you then complete our online reservation form and someone will reply within 48
hours with a proposed itinerary and a price quote.
Ajmer, located 135 kms (80 miles) southwest of Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan, is one of the most
sacred of all Sufi pilgrimage sites in India. Its Muslim history began in 1193 when the fierce ruler
of Ajmer, Raja Pritvi Raj, lost the town to Sultan Muhammad of Ghori. Accompanying Ghori during
his campaign was the Persian saint Khwaja Mu’inuddin Chisti, also known as Khwaja Ghareeb
Nawaaz (The Benefactor of the Poor), who was believed to be a descendant of the Prophet
Muhammad.
From an early age, Chisti preferred the company of sages, dervishes, and mystics. At the age of
9, he was able to recite the entire Quran from memory. At the age of 14, divinely inspired and
fired by passion, he renounced all worldly possessions and cares. After brilliantly completing his
studies at Nizamia Universities, he began traveling far and wide to quench his spiritual thirst. After
20 years of intense spiritual study and guidance, and after completing the Hajj in Mecca, a voice
told him to “proceed to Ajmer and spread the gospel of truth.
After journeying with Sultan Muhammad of Ghori to Ajmer, he began to deliver sermons and
discourses of love in a soft language dipped in honey. His self-abnegation, his noble bearing, his
selfless service, and his dedication to the Prophet, earned him a large dedicated following of both
Hindus and Muslims. Despite not knowing the native language, he converted thousands of people
to Islam.
When he died in 1236, he was buried at the foot of Taragarh Hill. Many years later, when Akbar
captured Ajmer in 1568 and made Ajmer his military headquarters he visited Chisti’s tomb to pray
for a son. When his wish was granted, Ajmer’s reputation as a place of miracles was solidified.
To this day thousands of people visit Chisti’s tomb to pray and to pay their respects to one of the
greatest figures in Islamic mysticism.
sacred of all Sufi pilgrimage sites in India. Its Muslim history began in 1193 when the fierce ruler
of Ajmer, Raja Pritvi Raj, lost the town to Sultan Muhammad of Ghori. Accompanying Ghori during
his campaign was the Persian saint Khwaja Mu’inuddin Chisti, also known as Khwaja Ghareeb
Nawaaz (The Benefactor of the Poor), who was believed to be a descendant of the Prophet
Muhammad.
From an early age, Chisti preferred the company of sages, dervishes, and mystics. At the age of
9, he was able to recite the entire Quran from memory. At the age of 14, divinely inspired and
fired by passion, he renounced all worldly possessions and cares. After brilliantly completing his
studies at Nizamia Universities, he began traveling far and wide to quench his spiritual thirst. After
20 years of intense spiritual study and guidance, and after completing the Hajj in Mecca, a voice
told him to “proceed to Ajmer and spread the gospel of truth.
After journeying with Sultan Muhammad of Ghori to Ajmer, he began to deliver sermons and
discourses of love in a soft language dipped in honey. His self-abnegation, his noble bearing, his
selfless service, and his dedication to the Prophet, earned him a large dedicated following of both
Hindus and Muslims. Despite not knowing the native language, he converted thousands of people
to Islam.
When he died in 1236, he was buried at the foot of Taragarh Hill. Many years later, when Akbar
captured Ajmer in 1568 and made Ajmer his military headquarters he visited Chisti’s tomb to pray
for a son. When his wish was granted, Ajmer’s reputation as a place of miracles was solidified.
To this day thousands of people visit Chisti’s tomb to pray and to pay their respects to one of the
greatest figures in Islamic mysticism.
| Ajmer |
During the months of June and July, pilgrims make an arduous 4 day trek through the Himalayas to
Amarnath Cave to worship the Hindu god Shiva. The trek begins northeast of Srinagar in Kashmir
and terminates in a cave where pilgrims can see a natural Shiva lingam of ice which waxes and
wanes with the phase of the moon. On either side of this central lingam are two other ice lingams
which are said to represent Parvathi and Ganesh. Swami Vivekananda remembered his
experience here by saying, “I have never been to anything so beautiful, so inspiring.
Amarnath Cave to worship the Hindu god Shiva. The trek begins northeast of Srinagar in Kashmir
and terminates in a cave where pilgrims can see a natural Shiva lingam of ice which waxes and
wanes with the phase of the moon. On either side of this central lingam are two other ice lingams
which are said to represent Parvathi and Ganesh. Swami Vivekananda remembered his
experience here by saying, “I have never been to anything so beautiful, so inspiring.
| Amarnath Cave |
Bodh Gaya is recognized as the place where Gautama Siddhartha, The Buddha, attained
supreme enlightenment while sitting in meditation under a bodhi tree. It is the most important of
the four pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath.
This area became the heart of Buddhist civilization for centuries until it was conquered by the
Turks in the 13th Century at which time Buddhist monasteries were left to disintegrate. It wasn’t
until the 19th century that Bodh Gaya was reborn as an important religious center. Here you can
see the Mahabodhi Temple which was erected near the bodhi tree by Emperor Ashoka 250 years
after The Buddha attained enlightenment. On the north side of the Mahabodhi Temple, the Chanka
Ramana, a platform built in the 1st century, marks the place where the Buddha walked in
meditation. Since 1953, Bodh Gaya has been developed into an international place of pilgrimage
where Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike from around the world come to circumambulate the
temple, offer prayers in a multitude of languages, and awaken to the possibility of their own
enlightenment. In 2002, the Mahabodhi Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage site.
supreme enlightenment while sitting in meditation under a bodhi tree. It is the most important of
the four pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath.
This area became the heart of Buddhist civilization for centuries until it was conquered by the
Turks in the 13th Century at which time Buddhist monasteries were left to disintegrate. It wasn’t
until the 19th century that Bodh Gaya was reborn as an important religious center. Here you can
see the Mahabodhi Temple which was erected near the bodhi tree by Emperor Ashoka 250 years
after The Buddha attained enlightenment. On the north side of the Mahabodhi Temple, the Chanka
Ramana, a platform built in the 1st century, marks the place where the Buddha walked in
meditation. Since 1953, Bodh Gaya has been developed into an international place of pilgrimage
where Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike from around the world come to circumambulate the
temple, offer prayers in a multitude of languages, and awaken to the possibility of their own
enlightenment. In 2002, the Mahabodhi Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage site.
| Bodh Gaya |
Home of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile,
Dharamsala pulsates with the sights and sounds of old Tibet. Sometimes known as “Little Lhasa”
after the Tibetan capital city, several thousands of Tibetan exiles have made Dharsamala their
home. Since Buddhism is the center of the cultural life here, there are ample opportunities for
visitors to immerse themselves in the teachings of the Buddha, study Tibetan astrology or
medicine, or meditate at the Tushita Retreat Center.
Dharamsala pulsates with the sights and sounds of old Tibet. Sometimes known as “Little Lhasa”
after the Tibetan capital city, several thousands of Tibetan exiles have made Dharsamala their
home. Since Buddhism is the center of the cultural life here, there are ample opportunities for
visitors to immerse themselves in the teachings of the Buddha, study Tibetan astrology or
medicine, or meditate at the Tushita Retreat Center.
| Dharamsala |
The Golden Temple of Amritsar or Harimandir Sahib is located in the Punjab in northwest India.
Shining in the morning light, the gilded splendor of the paneling, dome and small minarets stands
as a symbol of the spiritual and historical traditions of the Sikhs. Originally a small lake in the
middle of a forest, it has been a place of meditation for wandering sages and mendicants. The
Buddha is known to have spent some time in contemplation here. Two thousand years after The
Buddha’s time here another sage and the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak, came to settle
and meditate here. After his death his followers continued to come to Amritsar and eventually this
became the central shrine for the Sikhs. Miraculous cures have also been attributed to touching
the water in the “pool of nectar” or sarovar in which the temple sits. Come to visit what many
consider one of the most beautiful temples and peaceful places in the world.
Shining in the morning light, the gilded splendor of the paneling, dome and small minarets stands
as a symbol of the spiritual and historical traditions of the Sikhs. Originally a small lake in the
middle of a forest, it has been a place of meditation for wandering sages and mendicants. The
Buddha is known to have spent some time in contemplation here. Two thousand years after The
Buddha’s time here another sage and the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak, came to settle
and meditate here. After his death his followers continued to come to Amritsar and eventually this
became the central shrine for the Sikhs. Miraculous cures have also been attributed to touching
the water in the “pool of nectar” or sarovar in which the temple sits. Come to visit what many
consider one of the most beautiful temples and peaceful places in the world.
| Amritsar |
In Mumbai the mosque and tomb known as Haji Ali Dargah was built 500 yards into the sea with
only a narrow causeway leading to it. It was constructed in 1431 by a wealthy Mohammedan
merchant and Muslim saint Haji Ali, who renounced all worldly possessions before starting on a
pilgrimage to Mecca. Legend has it that he died while on this pilgrimage and miraculously his
body in a casket floated back to the spot where the mosque now stands. As many as 40,000
devotees visit the shrine on Thursdays and Fridays and stoop down to press their foreheads
against the richly brocaded red and and green chaddar covering his tomb.
only a narrow causeway leading to it. It was constructed in 1431 by a wealthy Mohammedan
merchant and Muslim saint Haji Ali, who renounced all worldly possessions before starting on a
pilgrimage to Mecca. Legend has it that he died while on this pilgrimage and miraculously his
body in a casket floated back to the spot where the mosque now stands. As many as 40,000
devotees visit the shrine on Thursdays and Fridays and stoop down to press their foreheads
against the richly brocaded red and and green chaddar covering his tomb.
| Haji Ali Dargah |
Haridwar is one of the seven most sacred Hindu cities in India. Located where the Ganges River
flows out from the mountains to the plains below, it is believed that this place, called
Hari-Ki-Pauri, is where the river is at its purest form and where a footprint of Lord Vishnu is
worshipped. Today it is home to many ashrams that have been created by different swamis,
yogis, and religious institutions. Every evening at sundown the spectacular aarti ceremony takes
place where devotees pay tribute to the Hindu gods by floating cupped leaves filled with flowers
and candles down the river.
flows out from the mountains to the plains below, it is believed that this place, called
Hari-Ki-Pauri, is where the river is at its purest form and where a footprint of Lord Vishnu is
worshipped. Today it is home to many ashrams that have been created by different swamis,
yogis, and religious institutions. Every evening at sundown the spectacular aarti ceremony takes
place where devotees pay tribute to the Hindu gods by floating cupped leaves filled with flowers
and candles down the river.
| Haridwar |
On the western bank of the Yamuna River and just 30 km north of Agra is Mathura, the birth place
of the Hindu God Krishna. In the Bhagavad Gita, one of the greatest Hindu sacred texts, Krishna
explains the world to Arjuna and how to live in it. According to legend Mathura is where the young
Krishna was raised by a family of cowherds and performed miracles for the good of the villagers,
played tricks on them, and where the young gopis or milkmaids became enamored of him. He
was, the Hindus believe, an incarnation of the god Vishnu. To this day pilgrims still gather to
bathe at the ghats and to visit his temples such as the Dvarkadhish shrine in the crowded
marketplace.
of the Hindu God Krishna. In the Bhagavad Gita, one of the greatest Hindu sacred texts, Krishna
explains the world to Arjuna and how to live in it. According to legend Mathura is where the young
Krishna was raised by a family of cowherds and performed miracles for the good of the villagers,
played tricks on them, and where the young gopis or milkmaids became enamored of him. He
was, the Hindus believe, an incarnation of the god Vishnu. To this day pilgrims still gather to
bathe at the ghats and to visit his temples such as the Dvarkadhish shrine in the crowded
marketplace.
| Mathura |
Rishikesh is a town of temples and ashrams surrounded by forest. While smaller than Haridwar
many still come to Rishikesh to find peace, a cure to an ailment, or themselves. The most sacred
spot is where the Yamuna, Ganges, and Saraswati Rivers meet.
many still come to Rishikesh to find peace, a cure to an ailment, or themselves. The most sacred
spot is where the Yamuna, Ganges, and Saraswati Rivers meet.
| Rishikesh |
Varanasi, one of the Seven Holy Cities of India, is the pilgrimage site most visited by pilgrims
with more than 1 million visitors every year. Regarded as one of the world’s oldest continuously
inhabited cities, Varanasi is Shiva's home and thus one of the most sacred to Hindus . The
faithful believe that merely by visiting Varanasi one automatically gains the benefits and merit of
visiting all of the other sacred sites. Varanasi also figures prominently in literature and scripture
where the city is often referred to poetically as Kashi, “the luminous,” perhaps because of its
historical status as a center of learning, literature, and culture. Here all life is deeply and
inextricably connected to the river whose waters, it is said in myth, is the fluid medium of Shiva's
divine essence. The faithful by the thousands come to the ghats along the river’s shores to bathe
in this divine essence, thereby cleansing their souls of sin, and to give their offerings. Here, too,
life and death and inextricably entwined. To die in Varanasi is to achieve moksha or liberation
from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
with more than 1 million visitors every year. Regarded as one of the world’s oldest continuously
inhabited cities, Varanasi is Shiva's home and thus one of the most sacred to Hindus . The
faithful believe that merely by visiting Varanasi one automatically gains the benefits and merit of
visiting all of the other sacred sites. Varanasi also figures prominently in literature and scripture
where the city is often referred to poetically as Kashi, “the luminous,” perhaps because of its
historical status as a center of learning, literature, and culture. Here all life is deeply and
inextricably connected to the river whose waters, it is said in myth, is the fluid medium of Shiva's
divine essence. The faithful by the thousands come to the ghats along the river’s shores to bathe
in this divine essence, thereby cleansing their souls of sin, and to give their offerings. Here, too,
life and death and inextricably entwined. To die in Varanasi is to achieve moksha or liberation
from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
| Varanasi |
Vrindavan is another sacred site noted for its temples numbering in the hundreds, many ancient
and many modern, dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. In the ancient woods
surrounding the town, Sri Krishna tenderly courted Radha, frolicked with the young milkmaids,
and played tricks on the townspeople. In recent decades the name Vrindavan has come to
symbolize an idyllic place or Eden probably due, in part, to the peacocks, cows, monkeys, and
the many species of birds that still populate the town. The oldest temple is the Madan Mohan
Temple and is closely associated with the saint and social reformer Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who
worshipped Krishna and Radha, and popularized the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra.
Devotees believe that Vrindavan is not a material city for they conceive of it as being eternally
connected to Lord Krishna and anyone who comes here is transcendentally purified.
and many modern, dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. In the ancient woods
surrounding the town, Sri Krishna tenderly courted Radha, frolicked with the young milkmaids,
and played tricks on the townspeople. In recent decades the name Vrindavan has come to
symbolize an idyllic place or Eden probably due, in part, to the peacocks, cows, monkeys, and
the many species of birds that still populate the town. The oldest temple is the Madan Mohan
Temple and is closely associated with the saint and social reformer Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who
worshipped Krishna and Radha, and popularized the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra.
Devotees believe that Vrindavan is not a material city for they conceive of it as being eternally
connected to Lord Krishna and anyone who comes here is transcendentally purified.
| Vrindivan |
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Travel Information India
Popular Pilgrimage Sites
Popular Pilgrimage Sites