The sacred River Ganges flows through Hinduism's holy cities Varanasi and Haridwar. Bodhgaya is an important pilgrimage destination for Buddhists, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar is the holiest place for Sikhs.
India's Holy Cities Haridwar and Varanasi
The city of Haridwar in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the state of Uttaranchal, is where the river Ganges emerges from the mountains and flows to the North Indian plains. Haridwar attracts crowds of Hindu pilgrims, and is the venue for the famous Kumbh Mela festival in 2010.
Further down the Ganges, in the sacred city of Varanasi (Benares), crowds of pilgrims bathe on the ghats by the river every day while crowds of tourists take photos of them from a river boat. Even though it is a major tourist attraction, Varanasi remains one of Hinduism’s holiest cities. There are several fascinating temples here as well as places to learn about Hinduism, yoga and meditation. Varanasi is also an auspicious place to die, and cremations are performed daily at the burning ghats.
Bodhgaya: A Buddhist Pilgrimage Site
Bodhgaya in Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, is where Gautama Buddha reached enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi tree. For Buddhists, Bodhgaya is one of the most important pilgrimage sites. The Mahabodhi Temple now stands at the site where the Buddha was sitting in meditation when becoming enlightened. The tree that grows inside the temple complex is said to originate from the Bodhi tree the Buddha was sitting under at the time.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar
The Golden Temple in Amritsar, in the state of Punjab, is the holiest place for Sikhs, who form the world's fifth largest religion. Most Sikhs visit the temple, called Harimandir Sahib, at least once in their lives. Here is also kept Sikhism's holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. Verses are continuously sung from the book in the gurudwara (temple). Unlike some religious sites in India, the Golden Temple is open to visitors of all religions, men and women alike. The atmosphere inside the temple is incredibly peaceful, especially when compared to the city of Amritsar outside.
India's Temples, Ashrams and Gurus
South India is filled with important Hindu temples, from the enormous Shri Meenakshi temple in the city of Madurai to the Shiva and Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram and Hindu pilgrim destinations such as Rameshwaram. Read more about South India’s famous temples here. Travellers wanting to meet gurus and spend time in India's many ashrams should read this first, and here is some practical advice for visiting India’s holy places.
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