Travel Guide: Spiritual Places To Visit In India

Attain a spiritual experience like no other by visiting these places and find yourself awestruck by the serene beauty of these spiritual marvels.

Police personnel are seen on the chariot road as traditional temple servitors pull newly built wooden chariots to set in front of the Shree Jagannath temple on the eve of Lord Jagannath, God Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra's annual chariot riding festival ( Image Source :Getty )

Tourists flock to India from all over the world for the beautiful mountain ranges up North and South, calming beaches white sand or otherwise, and also known for the spiritual places. Although there are many spiritual places in India, some of them are extremely popular and you may see many tourists and devotees thronging these places.

Attain a spiritual experience like no other by visiting these places and find yourself awestruck by the serene beauty of these spiritual marvels. 

List Of Spiritual Places One Can Visit In India 

• Jagannath Temple, Puri: Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha is one of the most visited spiritual places in India. People from all over the world visit the temple for its marvellous architecture. Jagannath Temple is one of the pilgrimages sites for Hindus and is part of the Char Dham Yatra. If you're planning to visit Puri then make sure to visit the place in or around the month of June because you wouldn't want to miss the Rath Yatra festival which happens in June every year.

• Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, Ujjain: Most popular spiritual fair or Kumbh Mela happens every year in Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain on a rotational basis. In India, almost every month, some of the other fairs take place in one or more cities of the nation. Be it Pushkar Fair, Chaitre Chaudash mela, Baneshwar Fair, Tarsnetar Mela, Gangasagar mela, Kumbh Mela or Nagaur Fair etc. Out of all of them, Kumbh Mela receives the highest number of gathering each year. People from all around the world visit it. Kumbh Mela which happened in Prayagraj in 2013 recorded the highest number of visitors so far. Around 30 million people visited it in one single day. The Kumbh alias Samantha in Ujjain is associated with Leo, thus it is famous for the Simastha Parva. The Kumbh Mela which happens in Nashik is known as Trimbak Kumbh Mela. It involves the ritual bathing in the Godavari River and at the Ram Kund in Nashik.

• Kashi or Varanasi: The "City of Gods" which is said to have been founded by Lord Shiva, Kashi or Varanasi is a renowned holy place. The city is visited by tourists and devotees alike. If you're planning to visit Varanasi then don't miss the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. As per Hindu rituals, the ashes of the dead are scattered in Ganga in Varanasi hoping that the soul would find peace at the feet of the creator. According to the Hindu belief system, the purpose of human life is to overcome the cycle of life and death thereby attaining Moksha (salvation). A visit to Kashi can make this possible. 
  

• Golden Temple, Amritsar: One of the most popular spiritual places in India, the Golden Temple at Amritsar is a holy place for Sikhs but it welcomes people of all faith and religions. The temple holds a world record in the category of ‘most visited places in the world’ by the World Book of Records, an organization based in London. The temple is made of actual gold. The soothing sound of continuous chanting and table beats radiate such positive vibes. The white marble oasis paired up with the golden glow majestic temple floating in a mirror of still water is a treat for the eyes. An all-volunteer-run langar hall serving close to one lakh people daily. 

• Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh: The spirit of Buddhism can be found in each and every part of Tawang Monastery. It is the largest monastery in the country and the second-largest in the world. The monastery is referred to as “the divine paradise of complete victory” in the Tibetan language. The monastery is situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet thereby offering a breath-taking view of the Tawang Chu Valley, which comprises snow-covered mountains and coniferous forests. According to the Travelogues, if you manage to wake up early enough in the morning, then you can attend the morning prayers that happen at 5:30 in the morning. One can see the monks wearing red robes sitting in lines beneath the Golden Buddha. It is an hour-long recital of prayers followed by the sounds of gongs and Tibetan Horns. One can see these monks doing their daily chores. The slow yet steady life at Tawang Monastery can make you find tranquillity and relax your mind, body and soul. 
  

• Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni: One of the renowned spiritual places in India, the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni is visited by tourists and devotees from all over the world. The founding of the church is based on three miracles: The apparition of Mother Mary and Jesus to a young Slumbering shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor and the survival of Portuguese sailors assaulted by a violent sea storm based upon these tales, locals believe that Mother Mary cures her devotees of any illness they might be having. The church is even visited by international pilgrims every year on the annual feast of our lady of good health.
• Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur: The architectural marvel and one of the largest temples in South India. Brihadeeswar Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is built in such a way that it does not cast any shadow on the ground and this fascinating fact attracts tourists from all over the world. This temple is a must-visit for all Lord Shiva devotees and for those who are fascinated by different types of architecture.