India can be considered the spiritual capital of the world. People come to the country on pilgrimage holidays to visit the various pilgrim centers located here in India. The land of spiritual salvation is the place which gave birth to multitude faiths like Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism to name only a few. The important pilgrim centers include a visit to the char dham of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath,or a visit to Rishikesh, Alaknanda or Dwarka.

Char Dham

Located in the folds of the mighty Garhwal Himalayas in Uttrakhand, are the holy shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

Each of the four shrines is located at a height of about 3000 meters above sea level and has a common starting point of the journey at Rishikesh.

Badrinath

Situated at a height of about 3,133 kms, Badrinath is unequalled in sanctity and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located on the Narayanan range against the imposing Neelkanth peak, the Badrinath overlooks the Alaknanda River. East of Badrinath is the beautiful Valley of Flowers and the holy lake of Hemkund.

Kedarnath

Situated at a height of 3,581 meters, the temple built of solid gray stone, stands against the backdrop of the Kedarnath range. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Gangotri

Gangotri is situated at a height of about 3, 581 meters above sea level. The main highlight of the place is the natural rock Shivling where Lord Shiva is believed to have received the Ganges in His matted locks. The shrine located here is dedicated to the goddess Ganga.

Yamunotri

The shrine of Yamunotri located at a height of 3,235 meters is dedicated to the river goddess Yamuna and many thermal springs located in its vicinity add to the ethereal surroundings. This is th eplace where the river Yamuna originates.

Buddhist Shrines In India

Buddhism, a dynamic faith that originated in India in the 5th century, has left indelible footprints in the sands of time and the various Buddhist shrines located all over the country, testify to the strong hold of the religion on the minds of the people seeking spiritual upliftment. The shrines located in Sarnath, Sravasti, Sankisa and Kushinagar open up new vistas in the realms of religion, art and philosophy.

Dilwara Temples

Located in the pristine hill station of Mt. Abu, the five legendary Dilwara temples apart for being sacred to the Jain community, speak volumes about the originality, the simplicity and the honesty of the religion personified through the architectural splendor of the buildings. A high wall shimmering in the sunlight shrouds the temple complex.

Tirupati

Situated in the Chittoor district of southern Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is one of the most famous shrines in the country where uninterrupted worship of Lord Tirupati has been carried out for over thirteen centuries. The belief that people have in the Lord can be gorged by the number of people who throng to the temple everyday to seek divine blessings.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

One of the loveliest, highest, and the most desolate place on earth, Kailash Mansarovar situated in the Himalayas is considered the mythical dwelling of the gods from ancient times. The sublime Mt. Kailash, situated at a height of 6,714, is revered as a site of immense natural power and the silence of the surroundings speaks volumes about the purity of the place. The Mansarovar Lake is the source of four great rivers-the Indus,the Sutlej, the Brahmaputra and the Karnali.

Dwarka

Dwarka is located on the Saurashtran coast where the Gomti River merges with the Arabian Sea. The place is associated with Lord Krishna and it is here the archetypal Dwarkadheesh Temple is located. The sanctum of the Dwarkadheesh Temple is called Jag Mandir, which is believed to be 2,500 years old. Its richly carved hall is supported by as many as 60 columns and the temple rises five stories high, the tip of its exquisitely carved conical spire running into the sky at 157 ft.