India has enjoyed paramount significance when it comes to celebrating unique and ancient cultures and traditions. Infact, it is one country which is so often traveled to because of its religious rituals and practices. India being a secular state has been able to shelter numerous cultures and religions because of which the sub-continent has a rich linguist background offered by different communities such as the Parsi’s, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and many more.

Popular Religious Sites in India
Some of the most popular religious sites in India are listed below:

Mathura and Vrindavan: Mathura in Uttar Pradesh is of great importance to the Hindu community as it is regarded to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Mathura city also quiet popular for being one of the two centers for producing the Buddha images; the one at Mathura being carved out of sandstone and placed on a lion throne with a huge halo. Vrindavan, nearly 20 miles from Mathura city is a town built around an ancient forest which is said to be treaded by the by Krishna according to the Hindu scriptures.

Varanasi: Also known as Kashi, Benares and Banaras, this holy town has a lot of religious significance due to it being located on the left western bank of the River Ganga. Infact, Varanasi has also been reported to be one of the places which has been continuously been inhabited by people and tourists for ages. An important seat of learning, education, poets, writers, philosophers and music, Varanasi is famous for the Benares Gharana (Indian classical music) that was started in Varanasi and for eminent poets such as Kabir, Munshi Premchand and many more. Varanasi is known by different names in India such as “the holy city of India”, “the city of lights”, etc. As Mark Twain had rightly said, “Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together”, Varanasi is one religious site that can’t be missed.

Bodh Gaya: Bodh Gaya is located in the Gaya district of Bihar. Apart from Sarnath, Lumbini and Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya happens to be an important pilgrimage site for the Buddhists as it is the place where Gautam Buddha is said to have attained the nirvana or eternal salvation or enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The main monastery at Bodh Gaya was called Bodhimanda-vihāra but now it is called the Mahabodhi Temple.

Vaishali: Vaishali is located in the state of Bihar. An important spiritual site, Vaishali is known for its Ashokan Pillar. History also suggests that Mahavir or Gautam Buddha was born on the outskirts and grew up here till the age of 22 years. During the time of Gautam Buddha, Vaishali was rich and prosperous. A lot of Jainism and Buddhism texts talk lengths about Vaishali which became a republic much before Mahavira was born. Vaishali is also referred to as the “land of Ambapali” or Amrapali, a courtesan that has appeared in Buddhist literature and many folk tales.

Golden Temple: The Golden Temple at Amritsar is the most revered shrines of the Sikhs in Punjab. The temple is also referred to as Harimandri or Harimandir Sahib and was established as early as in the 16th century by the 4th Sikh guru, Guru Ram Das. The Sikh Holy Book or Guru Granth Sahib is preserved within with the Temple becoming the Akal Takht for the Sikhs – the seat of Sikh religious authority.

For millions of tourists who visit India for health, leisure or fun, these pilgrimage sites can be an ultimate experience of the holy cities of India. Ajmer Sharif, Hemkund Sahib and the Sarnath are other places highly recommended for tourists coming to India on a religious journey.