| Serial no : |
1 |
| Name of the place : |
Kanyakumari |
| State : |
Tamilnadu |
| District : |
Kanyakumari |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is a meeting point
of Indian Ocean, The Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian
Ocean meet at Kanyakumari, where a temple to the goddess of India,
Kanya Kumari is located. |
| Special features (if any) : |
- |
| Serial no : |
2 |
| Name of the place : |
Allahabad |
| State : |
Uttar Pradesh |
| District : |
Allahabad |
| Reason for sanctity : |
The three most
holy rivers of India the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet here.
It is also called as Triveni Sangam or Prayag. |
| Special features (if any) : |
The river Saraswati
is supposed to join the other two by an underground passage. Once
in 12 years the Kumbh Mela is performed here, when millions tale
a holy dip in the confluence of the three rivers.. |
| Serial no : |
3 |
| Name of the place : |
Amarnath |
| State : |
Kashmir |
| District : |
Srinagar |
| Reason for sanctity : |
A Shiva Linga formed
naturally, of ice is seen here inside a cave and it increases
and decreases with the moon. Natural phenomena makes Amarnath
sacred. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Many pilgrims visit
the sacred cave in the month of July to August, the only time
of the year when it is accessible. |
| Serial no : |
4 |
| Name of the place : |
Rameswaram |
| State : |
Tamilnadu |
| District : |
Ramanathapuram |
| Reason for sanctity : |
The place derives
its sanctity from its traditional association with Lord Rama.
He rested here while his army of monkeys built a bridge across
the sea to reach the island of Lanka. |
| Special features (if any) : |
The temple here
is dedicated to Shiva and the Shiva lingam is believed to be made
of sand by Sita and installed by Sri Rama himself.. Another stone
linga brought from the Himalayas was installed north of the above
mentioned lingam. |
| Serial no : |
5 |
| Name of the place : |
Haridwar |
| State : |
Uttar Pradesh |
| District : |
Uttarkand region |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is one of the
seven sacred cities of India,and is located where the Ganges enters
the north Indian plains. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Once in 12 years
a religious fair called the Kumbh Mela attracts millions of pilgrims
for a ritual bath in the waters of the Ganges. |
| Serial no : |
6 |
| Name of the place : |
Ramkund |
| State : |
Maharashtra |
| District : |
Nashik |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is sacred because
Shri Rama, Lakshman and Seetha completed their stay in the forest
for twelve years. It is also known as Shri Kshtra Panchavati,
which is a part of the ancient forest area called Dandakaranya. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Once in 12 years
a religious fair called the Sinhastha attracts thousands of people
from all parts of the country who come here to bath in the sacred
waters of river Godavari. |
| Serial no : |
7 |
| Name of the place : |
Badrinath |
| State : |
Uttar Pradesh |
| District : |
Garhwal |
| Reason for sanctity : |
Badrinath is known
as Nara and Narayana Parvatha. It is one of the four abodes of
Vishnu. The valley is very sacred because, it is the main gate
to Kailash, the abode of Shiva. According to legend, Vyasa and
other rishis visited Parasara at Badhrikashram to learn the great
truths of Dharma. All these made this place as one of the immemorial
sanctity. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Jotismath, one
of the four maths founded by Sri Sankaracharya is here. Mahabharata
mention the ashram, where Krishna and Arjuna lived for a long
time. |
| Serial no : |
8 |
| Name of the place : |
Kedaranath |
| State : |
Uttar Pradesh |
| District : |
Garhwal. |
| Reason for sanctity : |
According to legend,
the Pandavas built a temple. The present Kedaranath temple was
built by Adi Sankaracharya, behind which lies his Samadhi. It
is one of the 12 Jyothirlingas. |
| Special features (if any) : |
A rock is worshipped
as a form of Shiva and the remaining portions of his body are
reverenced at Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar. |
| Serial no : |
9 |
| Name of the place : |
Mathura |
| State : |
Uttar Pradesh |
| District : |
Mathura |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is the birthplace
of Shri Krishna and is considered as one of the seven sacred cities
in India. It is otherwise called Brajbhoomi, celebrated and famous
for the exploits of Shri Krishna. |
| Special features (if any) : |
A stone slab marks
the original spot where Shri Krishna was born. |
| Serial no : |
10 |
| Name of the place : |
Dwaraka |
| State : |
Gujarat |
| District : |
Jamnagar |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is associated
with Sri Krishna. After killed the mighty Kamsa, Sri Krishna built
a mighty kingdom on this site selected by Garuda. According to
legend, the gods assisted Krishna in the construction of this
kingdom. A temple named Dwarakadhish dedicated to Sri Krishna
in this place. |
| Special features (if any) : |
There are about
33 temples and 9 sacred tanks associated with Sri Krishna and
the Vaishnav tradition. Adi Sankaracharya established a matt,
known as Sharada Peeth - a seat of learning and Vedantic work. |
| Serial no : |
11 |
| Name of the place : |
Rishikesh |
| State : |
Uttaranchal |
| District : |
Dehradun |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is the place
where Raibhya Rishi did penance to please God, who appeared before
him as Hrishikesh. The place was henceforth called as Rishikesh.
The main deity of the temple here is `Bharat' an incarnation of
Vishnu. |
| Special features (if any) : |
It is a city frequented
by saints and sages and a centre for learning yoga and meditation.
Thousands of pilgrims come here to wash off their sins in the
holy Ganga. The Bharat temple was renovated by Adi Sankaracharya
300 years back. |
| Serial no : |
12 |
| Name of the place : |
Varanasi |
| State : |
Uttar Pradesh |
| District : |
- |
| Reason for sanctity : |
Varanasi, formerly
known as Kasi, is situated on the bank of the river Ganga. It
is one of the holiest cities in India. The deity, Lord Visvanatha,
is famed throughout the length and breadth of India. It is believed
that the holy city was founded by Lord Shiva. It is the city of
light. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Thousands of pilgrims
daily to bathe in the sacred Ganga. It is believed that anyone
dying on the banks of the river, in Varanasi, attains instant
`moksha' or enlightenment. |
| Serial no : |
13 |
| Name of the place : |
Nasik |
| State : |
Maharashtra |
| District : |
Nasik |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is where Rama,
Lakshmana and Seetha completed their stay in the forest for twelve
years. About 2000 temples are found here. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Once in 12 years
a religious fair called the Sinhastha attracts thousands of people
from all parts of the country who come here to bathe in the sacred
waters of river Godavari. |
| Serial no : |
14 |
| Name of the place : |
Gaya |
| State : |
Bihar |
| District : |
- |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is the birthplace
of Gautama Buddha and also where he received enlightenment. Mahabodhi
Temple is the site of Siddhartha's original Bodhi tree, along
with a golden image of the Buddha. Vishnu Pada temple is the most
important temple in Gaya. |
| Special features (if any) : |
It is an important
centre of pilgrimage for Buddhist. Buddha attained enlightenment
under the Bodhi tree. The first great Buddhist emperor Asoka,
marked it off with a railing and officially revered the tree. |
| Serial no : |
15 |
| Name of the place : |
Kanchipuram |
| State : |
Tamilnadu |
| District : |
Kanchipuram |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is one of the
seven sacred cities of India. There are a number of temples dedicated
to Siva and Vishnu. The most important temple is the Kamakshi
Amman temple where the goddess is worshipped in the form a Yantra,
which is placed in front of the idol. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Adi Sankaracharya
established one of the four Episcopal seats in India here (Acharya
pita) one of the four he established in India and is known as
Kamakshipita. |
| Serial no : |
16 |
| Name of the place : |
Pushkar |
| State : |
Rajasthan |
| District : |
Ajmer |
| Reason for sanctity : |
This city has great
antiquity and is located around Pushkar lake and the only temple
sacred to Brahma in India. |
| Special features (if any) : |
If anyone bathing
in this lake will get the benefit of Brahma's yagna and is entitles
to the bliss of Heaven. Every year a large camel and animal fair
takes place here. |
| Serial no : |
17 |
| Name of the place : |
Ujjain |
| State : |
Madhya Pradesh |
| District : |
Ujjain |
| Reason for sanctity : |
Legends sanctified
Ujjain as the "seed city". It is believed that the germs of all
living beings who survived the Flood are preserved in the central
image of Mahadeo in the great Mahakal temple. Sanctity is attached
to birds and beast and fish and all living creatures. The city
is also sacred because Sri Vallabhacharya, a Vaishnava reformer
took abode under a pipal tree here. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Maha Shivaratri
is a big event here. Thousands of pilgrims flock to the fair grounds
near the Mahakal temple to worship Lord Shiva. The Simhastha Kumbh
Mela is a mammoth fair held once in twelve years. |
| Serial no : |
18 |
| Name of the place : |
Ayodhya |
| State : |
Uttar Pradesh |
| District : |
Faizabad |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is believed
to be the birthplace of Lord Rama and is one of the seven sacred
cities of India. It is a city of temples. Religions such as Hinduism,
Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism are all found here. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Ayodhya was the
seat of five Jaina Tirthankaras, including the first Tirthankara
Adinatha (Rishabhadeva). |
| Serial no : |
19 |
| Name of the place : |
Trikuta Mountain |
| State : |
Jammu & Kashmir |
| District : |
Jammu |
| Reason for sanctity : |
The holy cave shrine
of Vaishno-Devi, the mother goddess is worshiped here in the form
of Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati and Maha Lakshmi. The holy cave is
the petrified torso of Bhairon Nath, who received forgiveness
from the benevolent goddess in his dying movements. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Thousands of pilgrims
from all over the world visit the holy shrine throughout the year,
except in winter. |
| Serial no : |
20 |
| Name of the place : |
Sringeri |
| State : |
Karnataka |
| District : |
Chikmagalur |
| Reason for sanctity : |
It is a holy place
of India since Sri Sankaracharya founded it and installed the
Goddess of learning, Sri Saradha. He also established a Matt for
the propagation of Advaita philosophy. It is a centre of learning
philosophy and sublime spirituality. |
| Special features (if any) : |
Sringeri attracts
many pilgrims. This is the first of the four Matts established
by Sri Sankaracharya. |
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