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Spiritual TRavel in India

Spiritual Travel in India

Spirituality and mystical charm have always drawn people from all over the world to India especially, Yoga and Meditation.

Yoga and Meditation are a way of life in India and are in a way synonymous with India and Indian Spirituality. Developed by the ancient sage Patanjali, Yoga and Meditation are a combination of a series of exercises and mind focusing techniques. They are believed to be the means of achieving ‘enlightenment’ and ‘nirvana.’ The tourists who return back with fond memories and feeling enlightened or at least having a spiritual experience by visiting the various ashrams, worship sites and pilgrimage centers have also reinforced this perception.Icons like Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Meg Ryan and other public figures have also helped to make it more streamline.Some of the most popular Yoga and Meditation tourist destinations in India are Kerala, the spiritual land of Buddha- Bihar, the Land of the holy River Ganges -Rishikesh or the quiet and serene town of Dharamshala.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh, the holy city in the foothills of the Himalayas offers a unique combination of spirituality and wellness on the banks of the holy river Ganges.

In a way this town can be easily called the international capital of Yoga and Meditation. It is dotted with numerous temples and ashrams that make it an ideal spiritual destination. The 'ashrams', the 'sadhus or the holy men' and the evening prayers on the banks of the holy river create an atmosphere that transforms you away to a different world. This place is ideal to learn or practice spiritualism and revitalize oneself with the Ayurvedic treatments and massages.

Bihar

Another destination for those seeking a cultural heritage tour along with Yogic instruction is the state of Bihar. Bihar was the home state of the Lord Buddha, and has numerous places associated with different stages of his life, such as Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Gaya, Nalanda, etc. making this state a checkerboard of Buddhist holy sites.

Dharamsala

Known as the little Lhasa of India & situated in Himachal Pradesh in north India Dharamsala is known for being the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile and the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and seat of the Tibetan govt. in exile. Various monasteries and institutions have been established to preserve and continue all aspects of Tibetan culture. There are various meditation centers here especially run by the monks. Practicing meditation in the lap of nature brings great results.

Some other places which hold great Spiritual Meaning for Hindus but are not as common with the International Tourists.

Haridwar

Literally meaning Gateway to God, Haridwar is considered one of the seven holiest places according to Hindus. Haridwar is located where the Ganga River enters into the North India plains. Here pilgrims float diyas or lamps made of clay, on the Ganges, to commemorate their deceased ancestors. The ‘Aarti’ or the holy prayer along the shores of the holy Ganges is a desired experience that evokes a sense of self-realization and emancipation. Many people who come here experience stimulation of their philosophical self. The credit for which can be given to the grand view of the Himalayas, the serene flowing holy river Ganga and the awe-inspiring landscape.

Every 12 years a religious fair called the Khumb Mela attracts millions of pilgrims for a bath in the holy river.

Badrinath

Set in the beautiful mountain valley, high in the Himalayas Badrinath is one of the char dhams or the four abodes of Lord Vishnu. It is an important destination on the sacred itinerary of every devout Hindu. It has been emphasized in the ancient scriptures that there are many sacred spots of pilgrimage in the Earth, Heaven and the Nether world, but there has been none equal to Badrinath nor there shall be. The prime sites in this area are Badrinath Temple, Tapt Kund, Brahma Kapal, Charanpaduka, Sheshnetra, Neelkantha.

Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and is considered one of the seven sacred cities in India. Mathura is located in the sacred region of Braj, celebrated and famous for the exploits of Krishna. In fact, frankly, Krishna and Mathura are inseparable. It is the place where he spent his childhood, adolescent hood and last years of his life. Therefore it is but natural that city seems to remind Krishna wherever you go.

The most important tourist spot in Mathura is the Krishna Janambhoomi temple. The temple lies in the very heart of the city and is supposed to have been built on the site where Lord Krishna was born. The temple houses the stone slab that is said to be the exact site of his birth.. The temple remains brimming with tourists round the year

Varanasi

Varanasi is a city of great antiquity and is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in all of India. The city is situated along the banks of the Ganga River in a location where the river turns north. Along the river bank are a series of "ghats"( steps leading to the water) where pilgrims bathe, pray, and in some cases cremate their dead. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is considered by some, the oldest living city in the world. As Mark Twain put it: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together". Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth.

Puri

Situated on the eastern coastline of the Bay of Bengal, Puri is renowned as the abode of Lord Jagannath and the famous annual chariot festival. For two weeks each summer the images from the temple are brought out onto huge chariots and dragged through the town by a teams of thousands.

Tirupathi

The temple town of Tirupathi in Southern India is one of the ancient and very sacred pilgrimage spots in India. The temple of Venkateshvara located in mountains near the city of Tirupathi is among the more famous temples of India. It reportedly attracts the largest number of pilgrims for any shrine in India. It also has a reputation of being one of the richest shrines in the world

Madurai, Tamil Nadu

One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. The Meenakshi temple is famous for its nine wildly decorated gopurams (temple towers) festooned with colorful depictions of mythological imagery.

Ramesvaram, Tamil Nadu

Located on a peninsula in southern Tamil Nadu, Ramesvaram is a major pilgrimage location. Ramesvaram is the southern axis of the sacred space delineated by the four sacred abodes of Vishnu. The other three are Badrinath, Puri and Dwarka. It is known as the Varanasi of the South.

Dwarka

Dwarka is also an important city for Hindu Pilgrimage. Marine excavations revealed the entire city This was the kingdom of Lord Krishna. Dwarka is associated with several legends associated with Krishna. Seldom visited by foreign tourists because of its remote location in the western state of Gujarat, the beautiful Jagatmandir temple is bordered on one side by the ocean coast and on the other side by the town of Dwarka.

Pushkar, Rajasthan

Pushkar is a city of great antiquity located around Pushkar Lake. It has five principal temples, many smaller temples and 52 ghats where pilgrims descend to the lake to bathe in the sacred waters. One of the primary temples is the 14th century temple dedicated to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. This is of importance, as very few temples to Lord Brahma exist anywhere in the world.

In fall every year a large camel and animal fair takes place here.

Ujjain - Ujjain is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. It is a holy city for Hindus. It is one of the four Indian cities where “The Grand Kumbh” fair takes place. The Fair occurs four times in twelve years at four different places and draws millions of Hindus from across the country. Ujjain is a city of temples; on every corner of street you can easily spot a temple and long queue of devotees holding flowers and offerings for the god (Prasad). Temples of all god and goddess can be found here but prominent ones are of Shiva, Ganesha, and Durga.

About the Author

Sumita is a travel enthusiast and runs her travel agency, www.indianmosaic.com. She specializes in trips to India.

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