Top 10 Religious Places In India - theleading10

India, a land of diversity and heritage, is home to many sacred religious sites. There are a number of holy places, temples, and shrines that are worshiped by believers. If you are thinking about going to a religious places in India to please your spirituality, then look no further. After doing some extensive research, I weeded out some of the best religious places in India. Going to these religious shrines will help you purify your mind and soul. In the list, you will find ten such famous places to visit in India

1. Vaishno Devi (Jammu & Kashmir)

Mata Vaishno Devi, a sacred temple, is situated in the town of Katra in Jammu. Located at the height of 5300 feet, this Indian temple is one of the most famous pilgrims for Hindus in India. The temple is dedicated to Mata Vaishno Devi and it is situated inside a cave in the hills of Trikuta mountain range. The three pindies or stones, each representing Goddess Saraswati, Kali, and Lakshmi, are placed in the cave. Approximately eight million people come to this holy abode of God every year to quench their spiritual thirst.

2. Tirumala Venkateswara (Andhra Pradesh)

Venkateswara Temple, situated in the town Tirumala, Tirupati, is considered to be a landmark Vaishnavite temple. Tirumala Venkateshwara is the most affluent God. This holy temple is dedicated to God Sri Venkateswara who is an incarnation of Vishnu. Since it is believed that God Vishnu saved the mankind from the troubles of Kaliyuga, this temple is also known by the name of Kaliyuga Vaikuntham. Lord Vishnu is called Kaliyuga Pratyaksha Daivam meaning Lord Savior From Kaliyuga. The Tirumala hills constitute seven peaks which are said to represent the seven heads of Adishesha. Every year around 3 crore devotees come to this religious shrine to pray.

3. Harmander Sahib, Amritsar (Punjab)

Harmandir Sahab literally translated to “The abode of God” in English. Also known by the name of the Golden Temple, this is one of the famous religious places in India. Ramdas Sahib, the fourth Sikh guru, founded this spectacular gurudwara in 1577. This shrine has a community kitchen which feeds around 100,000 people every day. The Swarn temple is particularly crowded during Baisakhi. The sanctum center of the temple is coated with a layer of gold foil. The beauty and serenity of this place make it one of the most visited religious places in India.

4. Moinuddin Chishti, Ajmer (Rajasthan)

Ajmer is a small city located at the base of Taragarh hill in Rajasthan. It is only 100 kilometers away from Jaipur. Mughal Emperor Akbar was particularly fond of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. When he wanted a male heir, he and his wife would come to the dargah on foot from Agra every year. Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti was a Sufi saint who was quite popular and famous for his compassion and kindness towards the poor.

5. Amarnath Cave (Jammu and Kashmir)

Amarnath is one of the best religious places in India. Located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, every year hoards of pilgrims visit this holy place. The Amarnath cave is a part of Hindu folklore. As per the ancient Hindu folklore, it was in the Amarnath Caves where Lord Shiva narrated all the intricate mysteries of life and immortality to his wife Goddess Parvati. Despite the hard and arduous trek to an altitude of 12780 feet, a large number of devotees visit this place to worship the Shiva Linga.

6. Sree Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai (Maharashtra)

Siddhivinayak Temple was built by Lakshman Vithu and Deubai Patil in 1801. This magnificent temple is adorned with flowers and lights. Hence during nighttime, the Siddhivinayak Temple looks breathtakingly beautiful. Every day, a large number of people visit this Ganpati temple. The number of visitors increases greatly during Ganesh Chaturthi. Celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar, Bal Thackeray, and Amitabh Bachchan have been known to visit this temple. Since Tuesdays are considered auspicious for Ganpati Pujan, a number of devotees throng the temple on Tuesday.

7. Sree Ayyappa Temple, Sabarimala (Kerala)

Sabarimala, a town in the state of Kerala, is visited by nearly fifty million of pilgrims each year. This pilgrim place is located in Pathanamthitta district and is situated in the Western Ghats. The Ayappa temple is located at the peak of the Sabari hill. It is said that after Lord Ayappa killed Mahishi to save the Devas, he meditated in Sabarimala. Eighteen holy steps, each one representing a desire, have to be climbed before entering the shrine.

8. Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa

Goa, a state famous for beaches, flea markets, food, and churches, is home to the Basilica of Bom Jesus. The Bom Jesus Basilica is the most renowned church in Goa and also among the most worshipped by Christians all over the world. Although this fine case of Jesuit architecture is somewhat in ruins, it is still elegant and sophisticated. Situated 10 kilometers away from Panaji, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first stone of this expansive church which is one of the famous places in India was laid in 1594 and the work was finished in 1605.

9. Mahabodhi Mahavihara Bodhgaya Temple (Bihar)

Mahabodhi temple, a Buddhist stupa, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This holy site is visited by Hindus and Buddhists alike. It is said that Lord Buddha attained enlightenment while sitting under the shade of Bodhi tree which is right next to this Indian temple. the Mahabodhi temple is considered to be one of the oldest brick structures in India that still stands. When Emperor Ashoka took a pilgrimage to Bodhgaya, he had this temple built. It is one of the famous religious places to visit in India.

10. Lord Jagannath temple, Puri (Odisha)

Puri, a town located on the coast of Orissa, is in the category of famous religious places in India. Not only is it one of the oldest pilgrimages, but it is also home to the Jagannath Temple. Puri is one of the “char dhams” meaning four pilgrimages sites for Hindus. The Jagannath Temple is thronged by thousands of devotees every day. The Rath Yatra, an annual event, is quite famous and celebrated.