Top 12 Popular Religious Places in India

The religious places of India reflects the diversity of region,rituals,people and religions. India is home to many religions of different faiths and considered as the most religiously diverse nations in the world. The religious sites of India includes Haridwar- one of the Most visited place of worship,Kumbh mela the largest gathering in the world, 12 Jyotirlingas, Meenakshi Temple and Char Dham yatra.

Vaishno Devi -Jammu

The holiest Hindu temples dedicated to adi Shakti, situated in the hills of Katra in Jammu and Kashmir. Vaishno Devi temple is second most visited religious place in India after the world famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. Maa Vaishno Devi shrine also known as Mata Rani is located at an altitude of 5300 feet is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess Durga.

Vaishnodevi-Temple-Jammu

Tirumala Venkateswara -Tirupati

The world famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple or Tirupati Balaji is a Hindu temple dedicated to god Vishnu. Tirupati Balaji temple is the richest pilgrimage center in India followed by Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple,Vaishno Devi and Shirdi Sai Baba. Brahmotsavam festival is best time to visit Lord Venkateswara Temple, the celebration attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

Tirumala-Venkateswara-Temple-Tirupati

Siddhivinayak -Mumbai

The Siddhivinayak temple is dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh or the elephant god,located in the capital of Maharashtra, Mumbai. Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is the richest temples in Mumbai and one of the in Maharashtra, other are famous Dagdusheth Ganpati Pune,Mahalakshmi Temple of Kolhapur and Shirdi wale Sai Baba.

Siddhivinayak-Temple-Dadar-Mumbai

Sree Ayyappa -Sabarimala

Sri Lord Ayyappa swami Temple of Sabarimala is located in Sahyadri mountain ranges or Western Ghats in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala. The Sabarimala temple is dedicated to Hindu God Ayyappan and the largest annual pilgrimage in world. Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is situated on a hilltop of Sahyadris ranges at an altitude of 468 m (1535 ft) and surrounded by dense forests and mountains hills.

Lord-Ayyappa-swamy-Sabarimala-Kerala

Moinuddin Chishti -Ajmer

Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was the most famous Sufi saint in Indian Subcontinent. The dargah of Moinuddin Chishti is situated in Ajmer and visited by Muslim pilgrims as well as Hindus and Sikhs. Dargah of Moinuddin Chishti is one of the major religious site in India.

Moinuddin-Chishti-Dargah-Ajmer-Rajasthan

Harmandir Sahib - Amritsar

The golden temple or Harmandir Sahib is a prominent Gurdwara and one of the historical heritage monuments of India, located in Amritsar city of, Punjab. Sri Harmandir Sahib is holiest place for Sikhs, surrounded by a beautiful lake and four doors. Vaisakhi,the most important festivals of Punajb is best time to explore the culture and tradition of great Punjab.

The-Golden-Temple-Amritsar

Basilica of Bom Jesus -Goa

The Basilica of Bom Jesus church is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site located in old Goa. Basilica of Bom Jesus is India’s first minor basilica and the most popular church in India and a landmark in the history of Christianity. This world heritage monument is one of the oldest churches in India as well as in Goa.

Basilica-of-Bom-Jesus-Goa

Sai Baba -Shirdi

The most popular Sai Baba of Shirdi located at Shirdi town in Maharashtra. Shirdi Sai temple is a most beautiful shrine built over the Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba. Sai Baba is a very popular saint worshiped by people of Hindu,Zoroastrian and Muslim all around the world.

Sai-baba-Shirdi

Mahabodhi -Bodhgaya

The Mahabodhi Mahavihara Bodhgaya Temple is located in Gaya district of Bihar state. Mahabodhi Temple is world famous Buddhist temple where the Buddha have attained enlightenment. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex also has a holy Bodhi tree and the Bodhimanda Vihara monastery.

Mahabodhi-Temple-Bodhgaya-Bihar

Ranakpur -Pali

The Ranakpur Jain Temple is located in Pali district of Rajasthan,between two beautiful cities Jodhpur and Udaipur. The spectacular Jain temple of Ranakpur is dedicated to Adinatha and known for its Light colored marbles. Jain temple of ranakpur is one of the grand jain temple and most visited place in jainism.

Ranakpur-Jain-Temple-Pali-Rajasthan

Amarnath Dham -Srinagar

The cave of Amarnath is considered to be most famous and holiest shrines of great God, Lord Shiva in Hinduism. Amarnath Temple cave situated at an altitude 3,888 m (12,756 ft) near Srinagar and surrounded by snowy mountains. An ice stalagmite Lingam formed annually in the caves due to freezing of water during the month of sharavan.

Amarnath-cave-temple

Lord Jagannath - Puri

The Lord Jagannath temple is located in coastal town of Puri in Orissa, dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Shree Jagannath is a Hindu temple and one of the fourth pilgrimage destination for Hindu, Char Dham. The Rath Yatra of Jagannath Puri temple is well famous annual festival celebrated in the month of June.

Jagannath-Temple-Puri-Orrisa

64th Republic Day of India - 2013

On the 64th Republic Day of India January 26, 2013 in Delhi enjoy the Flat hosting, Parade, Speech and Jhanki.

Republic-Day-Flag-2013

The King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck is the chief guest at Republic Day parade New Delhi.The 64th Republic Day Celebrations Bhutan’s King becoming the third emperor from the tiny kingdom to grace the event.

Bhutan-King-Republic-Day-chief-guest-2013

Soldiers march during the Republic Day Parade 2013 in New Delhi.

India-Republic-Day-Parade-2013

Indian army soldier in the annual Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

Republic-Day-Parade-2013

March of Border Security Force,BSF is most famous Indian troop in the world for its camel music band.The camel-mounted band of the Border Security Force is the musical scene-stealer at the Republic Day.

BSF-Republic-Day-Parade-2013

DRDO has shown first time Agni 5 in Republic Day parade of 2013 in Delhi,Agni-5 is a Long Range Ballistic Missile and Airborne Early Warning and Control System is one of the major attractions of the parade.

Agni-5-Display-Delhi-Republic-Day-2013

Jhanki on Republic Day celebration is the major attraction, all the Indian states display its tradition and culture through the Jhankis.

Jammu-Kashmir-Republic-Day-Jhanki-2013

School children perform a folk dance during the annual Republic Day parade 2013 in New Delhi.

Republic-day-dance-2013

Commandoes stand guard during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

2013-Republic-day-Tornadoes-Performance

Air show by the India Air Force is the main attraction of republic day by displaying the all major planes and fighter jets such as Sukhoi Su-30,Jaguar fighter aircraft and Dhruv helicopters.

2013-Republic-day-air-show

Punjab Tourism: Things to do in Hoshiarpur

Hoshiarpur might not be the first place to come to mind when thinking about travel in India, but it is certainly one of the hidden gems of the state of Punjab.

With history dating back to 1809, the ‘city of mangoes’ is situated in the North East part of the state. Hoshiarpur is known to hoard ample Sikh history with notable Gurus and eminent people hailing from here. For Sikhs, some places are of historical relevance, but for most visitors, the luscious mangoes are the prime reason to visit. The summer months may be a little harsh for first time travellers to the North of India, but the warm hospitality and unassuming nature of the people here make this a lot easier. It’s important to note that the destination does not get too many foreign visitors, so it’s possible that they might be looked upon with singular fascination.

Here are some of the things to do in Hoshiarpur:

Meditate

Hoshiarpur is known for housing one of the famous ‘Vipassana’ centres in India. Many people travel here to attend the ten or more days’ courses of meditation and way of living run by the Goenka Foundation. The lodging and boarding is very basic here. The idea is to abstain from any communication from the outside world and submerge in meditation. Come here for a cathartic holiday to Hoshiarpur!

Meditation-in-Hoshiarpur

Mango Mania 

The summers are the most difficult yet the most sumptuous time to visit Hoshiarpur. It is after all called the ‘city of mangoes’. Make a trip to one of the farm houses and enjoy the mango season thoroughly. Go with the locals to pick the fruit and see the process of selling or making some delicious products of the produce. Get your hands dirty to enjoy the reward after sweating out in the farms. The natural way of consuming the King of fruits is going to have you reaching out for water or wipes to clean the juices of your face! Visit the local market to see the bustling crowds busy themselves in the season.

Mango-in-Hoshiarpur

Punjabi Food

The Punjabi food is known to be sinfully heavy but equally delicious. Go on a gastronomic journey trying all the local food – fried breads (parathas), enormous glasses of Lassi (a yogurt based drink) and sweets. Try the Maharaja Restaurant for some good vegetarian and non vegetarian food.

Punjab-da-Food

Visit Local Sights

Sight-seeing options are limited in Hoshiarpur. There is a fort by the name of ‘Kila Baroon’ and is situated at the Bajwara village. The fort was built by the King, Sher Shah Suri and was called Beju Babra Village when legendary king Akbar came to power. The main charm is exploring this small town and it’s friendly people.

Visit the city of Hoshiarpur for a taste of a small Indian town and some heart warming indulgence in food!

Hoshiarpur-station

Indian Festivals: Makar Sankranti

Unlike most of the other Indian Hindu Festivals, the date of Makar Sankranti is fixed. Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti is transition. There is a sankranti every month when the sun passes from one sign of the zodiac to the next. The popular Indian festival “Makar Sankranti” is the first Indian festival falls in New Year. It is one of the major Indian harvest festival celebrated on 14th of January of every year. It’s an important festival of the Hindus and celebrated almost everywhere in the country in myriad cultural forms and different names. Every region celebrate it in innumerable ways, according to the localization, culture and traditions.

Festival of Kites: 

Makar Sankranti is also known as Uttarayan or Festival of Kites in Gujarat and Rajasthan. This is a full kite-flying day, colorful kites in the sky convert Sankranti into the beautiful colors of kites. The International Kite festival is held at Ahmedabad on January 14 of every year. Kite festival is one of the most popular festivals of Jaipur “The Pink City” Rajasthan.

Patang-Uddi-Re-Patang

Fairs and Festivals:

During the Makar Sankranti festival, so many mela or fairs held’s in different region’s of India. A biggest fair held at Ganga Sagar  in west Bengal, where the most scared river “Ganga” enters the sea, thousands of pilgrims and Sadhu the holy men come here for the holy bath on the day of Makar Sankranti. The bullock festival, cattle fair held on Makar Sankranti at different places, where many camels, bullocks and horses are sold and purchased by animal lover people. One of the famous and unique fair is held at Rajgir, Bihar.

Ganga Sagar Festival Mela in West Bengal

The famous Makar Sankranti festival is related to harvesting the food grains. Its called Lohri in Punjab, In south India it’s known as Pongal “The National festival of India”, in Karnataka it’s called Sankranti and in Kerala it’s called Makara Vilakku. In Bengal, Makar Sankranti is celebrated at the last day of the Bengali month of Poush. This festival goes on for ten days, feasting, boat races, songs and dance are the major parts of attraction of this important Indian festival. It is celebrated with the til (sesame seeds) ke laddoo, gajak, Ellu Bella and sarson ka saag-makka ki roti.

White-Til-Laddu