SPIRITUAL PLACES TO VISIT IN INDIA VARANASI:- Varanasi is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh dating to the 11th century b.c. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges river’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “golden temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. varanasi, or Benaras, also known as kasha. Is one of the oldest living cities in the world. varanasi`s prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrevealed. mark twain, the English author and literature, who was enthralled by the legend and sanctity of Benaras, once wrote that Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them. the land of Varanasi Kashi has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. abode of lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals. Ganges is said to have its origins in the tresses of lord Shiva and Varanasi, it expands to the mighty river that we know of. the city is a center of learning and civilization for over 3000 years. with Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment, just 10 km away, Varanasi has been a symbol of the Hindu renaissance. knowledge, philosophy, culture, devotion to gods, and Indian arts and crafts have all flourished here for centuries. also, a pilgrimage place for Jains, Varanasi is believed to be the birthplace of Parsvanath, the twenty-third Tirthankar. BODHGAYA:- Bodh Gaya is a village in the northeast Indian state of Bihar. considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it's dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi temple complex, built to mark the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred bodhi tree. A direct descendant of the tree sits within the complex today, along with six other sacred sites, including a lotus pond. religious attractions to visit in Bodhgaya - the place where gautama buddha became the enlightened one, Bodhgaya is one of the four most sacred Buddhist centers. Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage place in the world. located in the state of Bihar. TIRUPATI:- Tirupati is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. its Sri Venkateswara temple sits atop one of the 7 peaks of Tirumala hills, attracting scores of Hindu pilgrims. sri venkateswara national park, home to the temple, also contains the Sri Venkateswara zoological park with lions and primates. nearby, next to a waterfall and cave believed to be sacred, Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple is dedicated to lord shiva. Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. situated in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is one of the most popular pilgrimages in India. HARIDWAR:- Haridwar is an ancient city and important Hindu pilgrimage site in north India's Uttarakhand state, where the river Ganges exits the Himalayan foothills. the largest of several sacred ghats (bathing steps), Har ki Pauri hosts a nightly Ganga aarti (river-worshipping ceremony) in which tiny flickering lamps are floated off the steps. worshipers fill the city during major festivals including the annual kanwar mela. lord, Vishnu is said to have his foot print on the stone set in the upper wall of Har-ki-Pauri where the holy Ganga touches it all the time. Devout believers feel that they can go to heaven by getting their salvation after a dip in the sacred Ganga at Haridwar. no one can resist the spicy and tangy papri chaat that this place serves, not to mention the yummy dahi vada, aloo tikki, golgappas, and to-die-for kanji vadas. kanji vadas are arguably the most famous food of Haridwar. people keep on traveling to Haridwar to explore all this beauty. ALSO READ :- EAM Jaishankar, Manalo co-chair India-Philippines bilateral co-operationRaina Reveals Why Dhoni Was the Hardest Bowler He Faced in Nets SHIRDI:- Shirdi is a town in the state of Maharashtra, in western India. it's known as the former home of revered spiritual leader sai baba and as a major pilgrimage site. devotees gather daily at the sai baba temple complex to honor his legacy. here, the Samadhi mandir shrine has an ornate marble statue of sai baba, alongside his tomb. close by are Dwarka Mai, a mosque where Sai baba once lived, and a tree-lined garden. Shirdi is the gateway to pure spirituality in Maharashtra, regardless of religion, caste, creed, or other forms of discrimination. Shirdi is the home of Sainath. Shirdi, A little-known village, mushroomed into an important pilgrimage for many due to the charisma and miracles of sai baba. December to February: winters are the best time to visit Shirdi as the weather is pleasant and is a great time to enjoy your pilgrimage and sightseeing in Shirdi. the average temperature during this time of the year falls between 8 degrees Celsius to 34 degrees Celsius. ALSO READ :- Mehandipur Balaji - A temple for exorcism.Solar boat rides to come up Ayodhya, Varanasi soonThis Day in History: King Krishnaraj Bodiyar Ascends the Throne of Mysore AgainIndia moving towards 60's in the growing fashion market