INDIA a spiritual journey www.incredibleindia.org India Tourism Offices in India EAST India Tourism INDORE NORTH India Tourism KOLKATA 3rd Floor, Palika Plaza MTH Compound India Tourism DELHI ‘Embassy’, 4 Shakespeare Sarani Indore 452007 (M.P) India Tourism Kolkata-700 071, West Bengal Tel: 0731 4239940, Fax: 0731 4201893 88 Janpath, New Delhi-110 001 Tel: 033, 2282 1475, Fax: 033-2282 3521 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 011-23320342, 23320005, 23320008 E-mail: [email protected] India Tourism PANAJI Fax: 011-23320109 E-mail: [email protected] India Tourism PATNA Communidade Building Church R-Block, Kranti Marg, Square Panaji- 403001, Goa India Tourism JAIPUR Institute of Engineering Building Tel: 0832-2223412, Fax: 0832-2420529 State Hotel, Khasa Kothi, Patna – 800001 E-mail: [email protected] Jaipur-302 001, Rajasthan Tel: 0612-6570640, Fax: 0612 -2506032 India Tourism AURANGABAD Tel: 0141-2372200, Fax: 0141-2372200 E-mail: [email protected] Tourist Reception Centre (1st Floor), E-mail: [email protected] India Tourism BHUBANESWAR MTDC Holiday Resort, Near Goldie India Tourism AGRA Ministry of Tourism, Cinema, Station Road, 191, The Mall Agra 282 001 Paryatan Bhawan, 2nd Floor, Lewis Road Aurangabad-431 005, Maharashtra Tel: 0562-2226378, Fax: 0562-2226368 Tel: 0674-2432203, 2435487 Tel: 0240-2331217, Fax: 0240-2331217 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 2432203, Exnt 23 E-mail: India [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] India Tourism VARANASI SOUTH 15-B, The Mall Varanasi 221002 India Tourism PORT BLAIR India Tourism CHENNAI Uttar Pradesh VIP Road, 189 2nd Floor, Junglighat, 154, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002, Tel: 0542 2501784, Fax: 0542 2501784 PO Port Blair- 744103 Andaman & Nicobar Islands Tamil Nadu E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 03192-236348, Fax: 03192-233006 Tel: 044-28461459, 28460285 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 044-28460193 NORTH-EAST E-mail: [email protected] WEST India Tourism GUWAHATI India Tourism BANGALORE Assom Paryatan Bhawan, A.K. Azad Rd, India Tourism MUMBAI Paltan Bajar, Guwahati-781 008, Assam 123, M Karve Road, Opp. Churchgate station, KFC Building, 48 Church Street, Bangalore-560 001, Karnataka Tel: 0361-2737554, Fax: 0361-2737553 Mumbai-400 020, Maharashtra E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 022-22033144/5, 22074333/4 Fax: 080-25585417, 080-25583030 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 022-22014496 India Tourism IMPHAL E-mail: [email protected]; India Tourism HYDERABAD Old Lambulane, Jail Road, [email protected] Ground Floor, Balayogi Paryatak Bhavan, Imphal-795 001, Manipur # 6-3-870, Green Lands, Begumpet, Tel: 03852-221131, Fax: 03852-221131 Hyderabad – 500016 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 040- 2340 9199 / 23409399 Fax: 040-23409299 India Tourism SHILLONG E-mail: [email protected] Tirot Singh Sylem Road, Police Bazar Shillong-793001,Meghalaya India Tourism KOCHI Tel: 0364-225632, Fax: 0364-225632 Willingdon Island, Kochi- 682009, Kerala E-mail: [email protected] Jammu & Kashmir Tel: 0484-2669125, Fax: 0484-2668352 E-mail: [email protected] India Tourism NAHARLAGUN C-Sector, Barapani Police Point, Himachal Naharlagun - 791110, Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Tel: 0360-244328 Punjab Uttaranchal Arunachal Haryana Pradesh Delhi Sikkim Assam Nagaland Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Bihar Meghalaya Manipur Tripura Jharkhand West Mizoram Gujarat Bengal Kolkata Madhya Pradesh INDIA Maharashtra Chhattisgarh a spiritual journey Odisha Mumbai INDIA TOURISM SINGAPORE Andhra Pradesh #01-01 United House, 20 Kramat Lane, Singapore 228773 Goa Website: www.incredibleindia.org Email: [email protected] Karnataka Chennai Andaman & Nicobar Kerala Tamil Lakshadweep Nadu * Some of the Spiritual Places in India Note: Map Not to Scale INDIA a spiritual journey India is the birthplace of several major world religions, it's a country that not only respects diversity but also exemplifies secular sensibilities. Unsurprisingly, people of varied backgrounds, caste, culture, race and religion co-exist in harmony. What is remarkable about India is its ability to consistently capture the imagination of spirituality-seekers from all corners of the globe. From the sacred Hindu pilgrimage destinations nestled in the snow-capped Himalayas, where meandering glacial rivers provide a calming sense, to the serenity of Buddhist and quiet of Jain Temples, awe-inspiring Mosques and Muslim shrines and impressive Christian Churches; it stands out as a place like no other in this world. Contents HINDUISM Char Dham - Hinduism's most 02 02 revered pilgrimage circuit Temple Towns of South India 04 SIKHISM 05 Shrines on the Sikh Route 05 BUDDHISM 07 07 Bodhisatva Bhumi - Buddha’s Land ISLAM Inspirational Islam 09 09 CHRISTIANITY Churches of India 11 JAINISM 11 Jewels of Jainism 13 HINDUISM Char Dham Hinduism's most revered pilgrimage circuit should you want to stay over and explore the beautiful valleys around it. Kedarnath is very scenically placed and the exquisitely designed temple is an imposing sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by snow covered peaks. Kedarnath is the most remote of the four locations with its stunning views and it still draws more than 100,000 visitors every year. From Rishikesh, the bus journey to Gaurikund, the closest transportation point to Kedarnath takes 12 hours, followed by a 14 km trek that takes about six hours. The stunning views of Mandakini River and the valleys do provide a boost to one’s mental and physical stamina. Luggage, porter service is also available. Alternatively, Kedranath Temple is also accessible by helicopter. Badrinath is the most important of the four destinations and receives the most visitors - as many as 600,000 per season. To get to Joshimath, the closest town to Badrinath, take a bus either from Rishikesh or Haridwar (buses The Char Dham circuit consists of four Mandal Vikas Nigam Tourist Bungalows leave every half an hour from 4am-7am in the pilgrimage places in India that are widely provide accommodations at Yamunotri, Janki mornings). From Joshimath, it takes another revered by most Hindus. They are only open at Chatti, and Hanuman Chatti. If you stay the two-three hours to reach Badrinath by bus or certain times of the year from May-November night at Yamunotri, you'll be able to witness shared jeep. Basic accommodation is available. and May-June is the peak pilgrimage period. the evening "aarti" (a prayer ritual with tealights Although it's not difficult to make your own and hymns). GETTING THERE travel arrangements for a Char Dham yatra, Gangotri is home to the Goddess Ganga there are plenty of packages available as well. and is accessible by car and bus from Rishikesh Air & Road: There are flights connecting Yamunotri’s temple of Goddess Yamuna is – a journey that takes 12 hours. The "aarti" Delhi and Mumbai international airports reached after a five km walk or on ponies from ceremony here is of special note and is as with Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun, the the town of Janki Chatti where pilgrims often impressive as the temple which is on the bank capital of Uttarakhand state. From here, break their journey to take a bath at one of its of the Ganga River. Seventeen km away at it is accessible by car to the holy cities of many hot springs. At Yamunotri, some unique Gaumukh, the actual source of the Ganga, is the Rishikesh (20 min)and Haridwar (45 min). aspects of the prayer rituals include cooking must-see site of the Gaumukh glacier snout – a For more information, online reservations, the raw rice and potatoes in the hot springs big wall of ice 328 feet high and 18 km above travel and hotel bookings, please contact: and made into "prasad" (an offering made to the temple. Guesthouses and GVMN Tourist www.uttarakhandtourism.gov.in a saint or deity). Guesthouses and Garhwal Bungalows provide basic accommodation, Holy Cave of Amarnath Amarnath is a 46m high and 28m long cave located near Baltal, nearly 145 km east of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir in the northernmost part of India. Known for its stunning landscapes, lush and verdant valleys and meandering glacial lakes, the region has earned the moniker "Switzerland of Asia" for its natural beauty. Located at 4,000 m in a Himalayan glacial valley, the cave has four ice formations, which are considered figurines of different Hindu gods. There are also helicopter services to reach the holy cave and you can book online. USEFUL TIPS A health certificate is mandatory and the form can be downloaded from www.shriamarnathjishrine.com/Health%20Certificate%202013.pdf Helicopter service bookings: Baltal to Panjtarni Route www.onlineglobalhelicorp.com; www.himalayanheli.com Pahalgam to Panjtarni Route www.pawanhans.co.in 2 India A Spiritual Journey Haridwar Gateway to God The holy city of Haridwar, which translates to "Gateway of God", is a magnet for Hindu pilgrims from all over the world. The River Ganga, after flowing for 253 km from its source enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India for the first time at Haridwar. Religious festivals are a regular occurrence here and draw huge crowds of spiritual people that include not only Indians, but also foreigners who are curious to learn about the culture. Every 12 years, millions of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists congregate here during the Kumbh Mela to perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the river Ganga. Some of the attractions not to be missed are Har ki Pauri and Chandi Devi Temple. Few cities in India can beat the mystical and exotic aura of Varanasi Vaishno Devi Varanasi (also called Banares), located in Lifetime of Blessings Spiritual & Cultural Capital Uttar Pradesh, that has attracted the religious, intellectuals as well as holy Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, is located at a height of men since centuries to its shores 1,585m in a beautiful recess of the Trikuta mountains, washed by the mighty Ganga River.