PILGRIMAGE IN INDIA 
Since time immemorial, India has been a land of intense spirituality. The religious faith of the country's people reflect in the profusion of pilgrimage spots present here. The pilgrimage centres in India are thronged by a large number of tourists, who come here for the purification of body, soul and mind. As Hinduism is the oldest religion in the country, but India has been the birthplace of other religions like Bhuddism, Jainism, Sikhism and Sufism as well. India is famous for its secularism and the different religion followed by its people. Chanting the ‘ Om ', ‘Budham Sharnam Gachami' and ‘Wahe Guru' reminds the Almighty, and focus on peace and love for the humanity. The keyword ‘Unity in diversity' is often used for this big country. The Hindus flock to take a holy dip in the sacred rivers like Ganga and Yamuna. The Sikhs walk up to an altitude of 4329 metres through the difficult terrain, to reach the Hemkund Sahib. The Buddhist, pilgrims visit the holy city of Sarnath.
Haridwar: Haridwar one among the seven sacred cities of India , is located in Uttaranchal. Associated with Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, it is also one of the four venues of the famous Kumbh Mela.
Rishikesh: Rishikesh is situated 1160 feet above sea level, at a distance of 25 Kms from Haridwar. This holy town is the common gateway for four famous pligrim centers of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri.
Badrinath: Badrinath is situated between the two mountains ranges of Nara and Narayam. It is considered the holiest of the four important shrines in Garhwal. The sacred town is the abode of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe.
Kedarnath: Kedarnath situated in the Uttar Kashi district of Uttaranchal, is a picturesque sight. The Kedarnath range, is home to one of the twelve ‘Jyotirlings' of Kedar of Lord Shiva, which is one of the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus.
Tirupati: Located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is amongst the sacred town of Hindus . Tirupati is known as the abode of the Lord Venkateshwara. The famous temple of Lord Venkateshwara , stands on the Tirumala Hills.
Bodhgaya: Bodhgaya situated in Bihar , is the major pilgrimage centre of Buddhist. It is the place where Buddha attained enlightenment. The place is famous for Mahabodhi temple, which is a UNSECO World Heritage Site.
Varanasi: Varanasi also called Benaras, is one of the holy cities of Hindus. Situated on the banks of holy Ganges , the city houses several temples, shrines, ashrams and pavilions.
Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar , the capital city of Orissa is also referred to as the ‘Temple City of India.' One of the important Hindu pilgrimage centres in India , Bhubaneswar is home to around 500 temples.
Puri: Puri is a city of Orissa , which is famous for its Jagannath Temple . The temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath was built in 12 th century by Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga Dev.
Amarnath: Amarnath is one of major dhams of Hindus. Situated 145 kms east of Srinagar , Amarnath is known for ice Shiva-linga, which changes its size in different seasons.
Golden Temple: The Golden Temple situated in Amritsar is the holiest shrine of Sikhs. Also known as Harmindar Sahib, the temple is visited by Sikh pilgrims from all through the year.
Chardham Travel: The Chardham Travel includes the sacred Hindu shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. A large number of pilgrims visit the shrines for a close union with divine.
Char Dham:
Char Dham travel would enable you to explore four revered destinations of Uttaranchal - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri. Char Dham beholds religious significance.Each of the Four Dhams is blessed with spellbinding scenic beauty and countless ancient temples which definitely makes it a best pilgrimage destination. Char Dham renders a spiritual experience and one must visit the pilgrims spots for a spiritualistic journey! We would provide you our representative who would keep you entertained and would provide you genuine information on the four revered destination of Char Dham . He would make it a point that you fully enjoy and imbibe good memories from your Char Dham Yatra.
Badrinath:
Badrinath is situated at a height a height of 3,133 m. Badrinath shrine is located in the Narnarayan range against the magnificent Neelkanth peak. The residing deity at the Badrinath temple is Shri Badrinathji (Shiva). The Badrinath temple stands in a beautiful valley on the bank of River Alaknanda. The Badrinath temple traces its origins to Adi Shankaracharya (8th century) while the present temple was built by the Garhwal rulers.
Kedarnath:
Kedarnath is situated at a height of 3,581 m. The Kedarnath shrine stone stands against the backdrop of the Kedarnath range. According to legends, the Pandavas came here to pray to Lord Shiva after great battle of Kurukshetra to atone for killing their own near and dear ones in the war. It is said that Lord Shiva kept eluding the Pandavas and sought refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being pursued, he plunged into the ground, with his hump exposed on the earth. Legends has it that his arms surfaced at Tungnath, his face at Rudranath, belly at Madmaheshwar, his locks and head at Kalpeshwar. These spots where he reappeared form the Panch Kedar. The present Kedarnath temple is said to have been resurrected by Adi Guru Shankaracharya.
Gangotri:
Gangotri is an important pilgrim and tourist place. Gangotri is located at 3,048 m above sea level. The Gangotri glacier is the original source of river Ganga . There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga and the sacred stone where King Bhagirath is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva. There is a natural Shivlinga submerged in the river (It is believed that Lord Shiva received the Ganges here).
Yamunotri:
Yamunotri is also an important pilgrim as well as tourist place. The shrine of Yamunotri is located at a height of about 3,235 m and is dedicated to the river Goddess, Yamuna. The main pilgrim place at Yamunotri is the temple of Goddess Yamuna . There are many hot water springs in the vicinity of the temple.
Kailash Mansarovar:
Mount Kailash is a sacred pilgrimage place of Asia and lies in the South-West of Tibetan autonomous region of China-Nagri, towering 6714 meters (22022 ft) above the Tibetan Plateau. Mt Kailash is a sacred and venerated pilgrimage site for Buddhists, Hindus and Jains. According to Hindu mythology Mt. Kailash is the adobe of Lord Shiva. Legends have it that immortal Shiva lives on the top of Kailash Parbat, practicing yogic austerities. Making joyous and love with his divine companion Parvati.
In Hindu religion it is believed that to make the arduous pilgrimage of Kailash and have Darshan of Shiva's adobe is to attain release from the clutches of ignorance and disillusions. The Jains call the Kailash Mountain as Astapada. They believe that 'Risabha Dev', the first of the twenty-four Tirthankars attained liberation at the Kailash Mountain .
The followers of Bon religion ( Tibet 's pre-Buddhist Shamanistic religion) call the Kailash Mountain as Sipai Man (Sky Goddess). In addition to this Bon myths regard Tise as the site of the 12th century battle of sorcery between the Buddhist Saga Milarepa and the Bon-Shaman Naro-Bon-Chug. Though Buddha is believed to have visited Mount Kailash in the 5th century BC, the religion of Buddhism only entered Tibet via Nepal and India in the 7th century AD.
Tibetan Buddhists call the Kailash Mountain as Kang Rimpoche ("the precious one of Glacial Snow") and look upon it as the abode of Demchog (also known as Chakra Samvara) and his companion, Dorsephagmo. Three hills rising near Kang Rimpoche are believed to be the homes of the Bodhisattvas Manjushree, Vajrapani and Avalokiteshvara.
The pilgrimage (journey) to the Mt. Kailash is tough and circumnutating the sacred peak is even more arduous. The Kora or Parikrama around Mount Kailash usually takes three days. The Buddhists and the Hindus make round of the peak clockwise while the Bons route it anticlockwise.
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