Pilgrimages In India

India has been the place of origin for many major religions of the world and has important pilgrimage spots of others. For centuries, mythology and mystique has swept the land and there are a number of temples, mosques, monasteries, churches and gurudwaras that have gained a prominence amongst the most visited places in India. The legends attached to these abode of gods are not less interesting. Devotion to Gods and religion is a significant aspect of the lifestyle of traditional Indians. Hindu pilgrimage tours or 'Tirtha Yatras' are considered an important way of attaining the salvation. However, people of all faiths and religions have dreams of visiting the revered spots as a pilgrim to invoke the blessings of their Gods and obtain forgiveness for all their sins and escape the divine wrath. The frequent invasions made India a potpourri of different religions and thus there are pilgrimage sites for all of them somewhere in India.

Hinduism is said to be the oldest religion in the world and is related to compassion for all beings, nature worship, harmony of inner-self and the world outside, self-enlightenment and adaptability to circumstances. Hindus have sacred shrines all over India where one can get enlightened by rich moral teachings and legends and relish the architectural beauty of the past. Tathagat or Gautam Buddha) founded Buddhism. Born in Lumbini in Nepal, he got enlightenment in Bodhgaya and delivered his first sermon in Sarnath. Simplicity, renunciation, moderation and empathy are the core of all Buddhist teachings. Buddhist monasteries or Gompas in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh are worth a visit. Sikhism with its philosophy of simple living and no rituals or superstitions, promotes values of duty, hard work and unity among its followers. The important Gurudwaras (Sikh shrimes) include Anandpur Sahib, Golden Temple and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. It is said that Christianity was introduced in India by St. Thomas or Doubting Thomas in 52 AD. Indian Churches have distinct archaeological British, Portuguese, French and Indian designs. Similarly there are sacred shrines related to Jainism and Islam too.