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Golden Temple

To achieve the purification of the body, mind and the soul pilgrimage holidays have been designed. The secularism of India and the variety of religions followed by the people of the country are amazing. Being a country of the pious, India is dotted with pilgrimages. Great religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism have flourish in the Indian soil. Christianity and Mohammedanism (Islam) are also having large number of followers.The intense spirituality and religious faith of the people of India is reflected in numerous temples, mosques, churches, monasteries and other sacred places associated with their religions.

Char Dham Pilgrimage
Located on the lofty peaks of the majestic Himalayan in the Garhwal region of the state Uttranchal, The Char Dham yatra is the most important pilgrimage circuit for Hindus in India. The four holiest shrines: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are collectively known as the Char Dham. Sacred Hindu scriptures have referred this shrines as the land of the gods and this shows its religious importance. Thousands of pilgrims visit these sites to perform rituals in their search for the divine. Now there are four temples in these four shrines, which attracts pilgrims from all parts of India and overseas brave the severe conditions of landscape and weather to visit the shrines and have a holy darshan of the revered deities and to release from the cycle of birth.

Mata vaishno devi
Mata Vaishno Devi is a form of Hindu goddess Durga, the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is among the most important Hindu pilgrimages. This holy shrine is located inside a cave at Trikuta Mountains in Katra city of Jammu and Kashmir state,at a height of 5, 300 feet above the sea level. People visiting Vaishnodevi undertake a tough 13 km trek on foot from Katra at the base of the Trikuta mountains to reach the holy cave there are rock cut idols of three deities inside the cave, viz. Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. The cave is 30 m long and 1.7 m in height. According to some religious belief Mata Vaishno grants the four important boons of righteousness, material pursuits, contentment and enlightenment to all those who visit this sacred place of worship.

Amarnath Yatra
The pilgrimage destination of Amarnath shrine is located inside a cave in the end of Lidder valley; Amarnath stands at 3888 mtrs and 46 Kms from Pahalgam and 141 Kms from Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The mythological and historical importance of this sacred place according to mythology is the fact that lord Shiva recounted the secret of creation and immortality to the Goddess Parvati in this cave. This secret is of immortality is famous as the amar katha. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir organize tours to the Amarnath shrine in Jammu only after being registered with the authorities. There is an ice lingam of lord Shiva inside the Amarnath cave. This is supposed to represent the deity. There are two different ways of reaching the Amarnath shrine. The traditional route passes via Pahalgam, Sheshnag and Panchtarni. The new route is via Baltal. If pilgrims opt to travel by the old route then it takes approximately four days to reach the holy Amarnath Dham. Those who choose to travel by the new route reach the place in a day's time.

Golden Temple
Situated in Amritsar, The Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib, popularly known as swarna mandir is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all over the world. The Hari Mandir was invaded and destroyed many a times by the Afghan and other invaders. It is built on a 67ft. square platform in the center of the Sarovar (tank); the Moghul Emperor Akbar gifted the land for the pool. Other important sikh worship places are Anandpur Sahib, Damdama Sahib or Talwandi Sabo in Bhatinda district, Gurudwara Patna Sahib in Punjab Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib in Garhwal region, and Gurudwara Sisganj, Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Rakabganj Gurudwara in New Delhi.

Muslim Pilgrimage
The top of the Great Indian Mosques soar high and uphold a tradition of justice and equality, The graceful architectural style, though strikingly far eastern, took on subtle Indian connotations, evolving into a distinct style of its own. Multitudes raise their hands together in a grand ceremonial praise of the Almighty. Remarkable in design and execution, these mosques stand out by the sheer brilliance of their style and simplicity. The biggest mosque of India is Jama Masjid one of finest examples of the Indian craftsmanship.Taj-ul-Masjid One of the largest and most elegant mosques of India, it presents a spectacular sight of Bhopal city, Ajmer is the place where only faith matters is a shrine or Dargah of a Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti . Muslim saint Haji Ali’s mosque was built 500 yards into the middle of the sea in Mumbai city of Maharashtra other important places are Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra, Moti masjid and Jami Masjid of Gujarat.

Buddhist Temples & Monasteries
Ladakh of Jammu & Kashmir’s state is popularly known for its monasteries or Buddhist gompas. Monasteries in Ladakh may be either of the Mahayana or the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Rizong Monastery, Likir Monastery, Lamayuru Monastery, Shey Monastery, Stakana, Thiksey Monastery, Spituk Monastery, Stongdey Monastery etc.
Bodh literally means knowledge. Buddha thus means, the one who has attained all knowledge. The Buddhists have several pilgrimage spots in the country that are associated with the birth and teaching places of lord Buddha. Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha, city of Sarnath is known for His first sermon. Lord Buddha had attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya in Bihar, which too is a pilgrimage for the Buddhists. Vaishali is significant as Buddha delivered His last sermon here and announced His Nirvana.

Tirupati Balaji
Tirupati Balaji located in Andhra Pradesh is known as World's Richest Temple. Sri Venkateswara is also called the lord of seven hills, this temple is located on the seventh peak of Tirupati hill. Sri Venkateswara is described as the great bestowed of boons. There are several legends associated with the manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala in the ancient epics. Brahmotsavam is annual festival held in September every year. Other tourist places around tirupati are Padi Kavali Maha Dwara, Aina Mahal, Tirumala Raya Mandapam, Ranga Mandapam and Sampangi Pradakshinam.