Religious tourism in India. Has always been hailed as a land of spirituality. Two of the major world religions, namely Hinduism and Buddhism originated here

1. India has always been hailed as a land of spirituality. Two of the major world religions, namely Hinduism and
Buddhism originated here. India also has several places related to the Sufi sect of Islam, making it a unique land
that is home to the philosophy of love and harmony.
Religious tourism in India
Here are some of the Religious tourist places in india which are rich in cultural, historical and religious
significance.
1. Haridwar: the city of Haridwar is one of the holiest places of Hinduism. The city’s name reflects the
multifarious nature of Hindu philosophy. Hari means Vishnu, the preserver of life where as Hara means Shiva, the
destroyer of life. Dwar is tanslated as ‘gatway.’ The city is called as Haridwar (gateway to Hari) or Hardwar
(Gateway to Hara). Haridwar is the place where the pilgrimage to mount Kailash traditionally begins; hence it is
the gateway to Shiva. Similerly, Haridwar being a point in the Char Dham pilgrimage related to lord Vishnu, it is
also a gateway to Vishnu.
Haridwar is the point where the Ganges enters the Indo-Genetic planes. Once in every 12 years, the city plays
host to the Kumbh Mela. Millions of Hindus flock to the Ganges to take a ritual bath which is believed to cleanse
one’s sins. The Kumbh Mela is the largest peaceful gathering in the world. The Har Ki Pauri sacred Ghat on the
banks of the river is said to be built by Gupta king Vikramaditya in 1st century BC. The area encompasses Bramha
Kund. This is the area where all the priests gather at sunset for a spectacular Aarti of the Ganga River. Lamps are
left to flow with the water and the evening is illuminated with light as well as spirituality.
2. Varanasi: One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi is the holiest city among the
seven holy cities of Hinduism. Besides being the spiritual capital of India, the city is home to the largest
residential university of Asia, the Banaras Hindu University. Varanasi has a rich cultural history with one of the
genres of Indian classical music ‘Banaras Gharana’ being developed here.

2. Apart from the sacred Ghats, the city has many more fascinating tourist sites like Jantar Mantar and the
Ramnagar fort. The fort was built by the king of Banaras in 18th century. The current resident of the palace is the
current king of Banaras who acts as the patron of Varanasi and still plays a major part in religious ceremonies.
3. Bodh Gaya: The place where Buddha attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya has a Maha Bodhi temple which is
said to have been founded by Emperor Asoka himself. The temple underwent restoration in 11th and 19th
centuries and was again excavated and renovated by the British in 1800s. It is one of the oldest ancient brick-
built temple still standing in India. A descendent of the Maha Bodhi tree under which Buddha meditated, still
exists near the temple.
The place also has many Buddhist temples built in Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese architectural styles. These
temples have been built by the Buddhist countries of East Asia for their monks who visit Bodh Gaya.
4. Ajmer: the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan is home to the Dargah Sharif. This is the shrine housing the tomb of Sufi
Saint Moinuddin Chisthi. Moinuddin Chisthi was a Sufi saint noted for establishing the Chisthi order of Sufism in
Lahore and Ajmer. This order stresses on reaching close to God through music.
The dargah of Moinuddin Chisthi and the mosk built by Mughal emperor Akbar in 1571 is a major center for Sufi
Islam in India. The dargah has been a site of pilgrimage since as early as 1499. The Dargah evolved to be a
fantastic work in indo-islamic architecture as Mughal Emperors Akbar and Shah Jahan richly contributed to its
beautification.
5. Old Goa: is a town located in one of the world’s leading tourist destinations Goa. The city was originally built by
Vijapur Sultanate in 15th century. It served as the capital city of Portuguese India from 1510 until 1843. The city
was later abandoned due to outbreak of plague in 1800s.
Old Goa has been a center for Christianity in India since the Portuguese era. The town is especially noted for the
church of Bon Jesus which was built from 1594 to 1605. The church holds the body of Saint Francis Xavier.
Francis Xavier is played a major part in founding the society of Jesuits. It is said that the body of the saint still
remains fresh and is exhibited every ten years on the his death anniversary. The 400 year old church is a UNESCO
world heritage site and attracts pilgrims from around the world.