7 Spiritual Places in North India for Blissful & Sacred Pilgrimage
Summary: India is a religiously-rich country that offers many spiritual destinations to the devotees of all age, culture, traditions, and religions. The post enlists 7 most visited spiritual places in North India for a sacred and holy visit. These places are widely explored by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year.
India is a spiritual heritage and one can experience the peace and serenity in all the corners of the country, no matter what religion you belong to. Apart from spiritually significant temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras, you can feel a lot of religiously-rich spots from north to south and east to west horizons of the country.
In this post, we will explore the following spiritual destination:
- A Glimpse of Spiritual Places in North India
- Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra
- Amarnath, Jammu & Kashmir
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
- Badrinath Temple, Badrinath
- Haridwar, Uttarakhand
- Bodh Gaya, Bihar
- Golden Temple, Amritsar
Let’s explore some of the most visited spiritual destinations in north India for people of all age group and beliefs. However, if you are above the age of 50, you can enjoy the religious vibes of these religiously significant spots to the fullest if you visit here in senior citizen group trips, as you will get the opportunity to visit with like-minded people.
A Glimpse of Spiritual Places in North India
Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra
Many of us have heard about Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in the hovering Himalayas, but many of us have never visited this sacred place on Earth. Your journey to Maa Vaishno Devi Temple begins at Katra and you will experience serene valleys, mesmerizing mountains, chirping birds, and fresh air that boost the enthusiasm of the pilgrims visiting here.
You will have to reach the temple through a 14km trek which is well paved and maintained. It takes around 5 to 6 hours to reach the Bhavan for Maa Vaishno Devi’s Darshan. As per beliefs, the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is considered completed only when the pilgrims visit Baba Bhairavnath Temple after having the darshan of the Goddess.
Amarnath, Jammu & Kashmir
Visited by millions of pilgrims each year, Amarnath shrine, located in Jammu and Kashmir is a sacred place worshipped for enshrined Shivaling. The sacred Shivaling resembles Lord Shiva and is formed naturally with ice in the holy cave where Lord Shiva revealed the secrets of life and eternity to his wife Goddess Parvati, as per Hindu mythology.
Amarnath Yatra mark the journey to the holy Cave which is accessible in the months of July and August via two different routes- Baltal and Pahalgam. Though Baltal route is shorter, its steeper. On the other side, Pahalgam route is longer, but it’s considered relatively comfortable by devotees.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
Located on the banks of River Ganges, Varanasi is known for its temples, ghats, and spiritual vibes. It is among the most sacred and holiest cities, also considered as the spiritual heartbeat of India. You can visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple which is considered among the holiest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Supreme Deity.
While in Varanasi, you can also visit Sarnath Temple, Durga Temple, Kaal Bhairav Mandir, Birla Mandir, Mrityunjay Mahadev Temple, Nepali Mandir, Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir, Sankat Mochan Temple, Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple, Sankata Devi Mandir, and Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple to take the blessings of Lord Shiva and other deities.
Badrinath Temple, Badrinath
Badrinath Temple, also referred to as Badrinarayan Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu — the Preserver. It’s located on the Garhwal hill track in the town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand and is considered one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites. On the banks of Alaknanda River, the temple houses 1m tall, self-manifested idol of Lord Vishnu.
The temple remains closed from November to April each year due to extreme weather conditions. It reopens on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya in April for locals and tourists. The Tapt Kund inside the temple is a Sulphur spring known for the unique medicinal values. If you visit here by joining senior citizen group trips, you can explore it to the best.
Haridwar, Uttarakhand
Your spiritual and religious journey cannot be considered complete without having a visit to the Ganges in Haridwar- the abode of Lord Vishnu. Haridwar is considered as one of the seven holiest cities in India, and people from around the world flock in this spiritually significant spot to pay their respect and to wash away their sins.
You can feel the religious vibes in the air and all the corners of the city wherever you go. Haridwar pilgrimage is more about visiting temples and taking a holy dip in the sacred Har ki Pauri. Even if you are looking for an adventurous holiday, you can visit Haridwar to explore the divine beauty of the nature.
Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Bodh Gaya, a spiritually rich site is famous for Mahabodhi temple, situated in the Gaya district of Bihar. Tourists from around the world flocks this pilgrimage spot throughout the year to worship temples, monasteries, and the holy Bodhi tree. Bodh Gaya is one among the four significant Buddhist sites including Lumbini, Kushinagar, and Sarnath.
If you visit Bodh Gaya in senior citizen group tour from Delhi, you must experience the divinity of the Great Buddha Statue, Thai Monastery, Royal Bhutan Monastery, Bodhi Tree, Muchalinda Lake, etc. Do not forget to shop at the great Tibetan Refugee market which is considered a paradise for shopping-freak.
Golden Temple, Amritsar
Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib, also known as Golden Temple is one among the most sacred and oldest gurudwaras, located in the holy city of Amritsar. The top of the gurudwara is made up of pure gold. The temple is opened from four sides that displays acceptance and openness. It is surrounded by a pond known as ‘Sarovar’ or ‘Amrit Sarovar’.
Surrounded by a large complex and white marble, the gurudwara welcomes thousands of pilgrims from all the religions and beliefs. The gurudwara serves langar to more than 50,000 devotees every day and the gathering amounts to 1 lakh on religious and festival days. If you visit Golden Temple, you can also visit historical Jallianwala Bagh which is hardly 10 minutes-walk from the temple premises.
