May 20, 2008 - 12:01am — harsha
INDIA: THE COUNTRY OF VIRTUES
India: The Country of Virtues
India, ‘Bharat’, ‘Hindustan’ all are the various names of the same nation, the nation in which we live, the nation which is our home. India is the only country in the world which is a home for so many castes, religions and races. India is famous as the largest secular country, almost all the nations of the world have their footprints in India as well, eg., Muslims, Christians, all have a small portion of their population in India also. As it consists of people of so many religions, India is rich in religious destinations also. People from around the world come to visit these places not only for their devout presence but also to look at the natural beauty that these places possess. Though India has a number of such tourist destinations but are known in the world for their spiritual past.
TIRUPATI BALAJI: the temple stands first in the most visited temples category in India. The sacred temple is situated in the seventh peak of Tirupati hill. Hence, lord Venkateshwara is also called “the lord of seven hills”. The devotees feel that one can attain ultimate freedom only after worshipping lord Balaji. It is also the richest shrine of India. Attraction of tourists is also enhanced by other temples of the area, ex., Padi Kavali Maha Dwara, Sampangi Pradakshinam, Ranga Mandapam etc.
VAISHNO DEVI: Vaishno devi is the first choice of Indian devoutees. Several pilgrims come to visit the renowned “Matarani” or ‘Vaishnavi’ year long till the roads are blocked due to heavy snow fall. Situated near the town of Katra, in the Uddhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, it is the favorite place of worship not only in northern India but in other parts also. Shri Bhairav Kal Mandir, situated in a bit higher altitude than Vaishno devi is also visited frequently by tourists. Vaishno devi is the second most visited place
after Tirupati Balaji. The shrine is maintained by “Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board”.
PURI: Puri is known around the world because of the famous Jagannath Puri Temple, one of the biggest pilgrimage centres of India. It is also visited due to the beaches which cover its coast as it is situated on the shoreline of Bay of Bengal. Hence, it becomes one of the religious destinations visitedby people from far and near.
RISHIKESH: Rishikesh’s beauty is enhanced through various temples and religious places situated in this city. The place is a welcome destination for tourists especially during summers with pleasant atmosphere but many come to see the beauty of snowfall in winters as well. The presence of Bharat Mandir, situated in the heart of the old town on the banks of ganges, Rishikund, the most ancient place, Triveni Ghat, where every evening hundreds of pilgrims attend the beautiful Ganga aarti increases the scent of spiritual feelings in this place. Not only this, but geeta bhawan and Parmarth Niketan, the temple complexes are good in increasing tourists attention. The Terah Manzil Temple is the centre of attraction as along with being a beautiful sunset view in winters. Rishikesh is a great religious destination not only because of the beauty within the city but also around it.
VARANASI: This holy city of India is also known as Benaras and Kashi. It is situated beside the river Ganga (ganges) and is famous as ‘the city of temples’, ‘the oldest city of the world’, ‘the city of light’, the religious capital of India’, ‘the cultural capital of India’ etc. It is as a second home for various devoted Indians and foreigners. Its importance increases due to the presence of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Vindhwasini Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple etc. Kashi is also the hometown of various poets, writers and musicians.
American writer Mark Twain wrote, "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."
CHARDHAM (UTTARAKHAND): Along with the natural beauty of Uttarakhand, tourists can find inner peace in the four holy shrines – Badrinath, Kedarnath,Yamunotri and Gangotri. The region is referred as “the land of gods” in puranas. All the four places are near each other and can be visited while trekking. The places are rich in glorious history and natural beauty. So, it can be said that it is a preferred destination of tourists, especially during summers, when they can enjoy both, the beauty as well as the pious environment.
HARIDWAR: Also situated in Uttarakhand, Haridwar is one of the most religious city of India. River Ganga touches its banks with clean and pure water. It is the place where the river leaves the mountains and enters the plains. People from around the world come to take a bath in the sacred river as according to them taking bath here washes all the sins and the man can lead to ultimate freedom.
SHIRDI: Shirdi is famous all over the world due to the presence of Shri Sai Baba’s Samadhi. The small village has now turned into a great spiritual centre attracting tourists not only from India but from various other nations as well as from various other castes and religions. People possess great faith in this saint who never publicized himself but still he is drawing innumerable devotees from far and near.
AMRITSAR: Also known as Amrit Sagar or “The Ocean of the Nector of Immortality”, Amritsar is the no. 1 destination for NRIs in the whole of India. It is famous for the Golden temple which is visited by thousands of people every month. It is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh region.
BODHGAYA: Famous as not only a spiritual centre but also its natural beauty, Bodhgaya is a small town situated near Gaya. The place is full of ancient caves and monuments and is a tourism hub for Buddhist pilgrims.
Hence the top ten religious destinations of India, makes it quiet a favorite place for tourists. Apart from these various other places like Sarnath, Vrindavan, Ayodhya etc. are not behind in attracting tourists. The increasing number of foreigners visiting these places shows the interests these places are creating. Temples like Hera Khan Baba near Ranikhet are a type of hub for foreigners. India, thus become the country of virtues, which gains lots of importance for its natural beauty, religious people, pure culture and pious environment.
THANK YOU
By: Harsha Mishra
Resources: Wikipedia