A Snap Shot of Religious Tourism in India
About 60% of the world population is religious, as per the statics of UNESCO. They are attached to some religious group by one form or other. And such a huge group of followers is indeed a driving force for the growth and development of spiritual tourism on international platform. Spiritual tourism in India, despite of fast-paced modernization, is grabbing huge popularity. The sites popularized for their religious significance are thronged by thousands of travelers, both by those who want to get blessings of the deity and the one who travel for sightseeing, cultivation and recreations. The history of pilgrimage in India has a long lineage. Innumerable saints, scholars, great kings and travelers have visited the country and have penned down their thoughts about the rich religious legacy of India. Even today, the number of people attending religious related events and activities seems to be increasing.
India puts great emphasis on the exploitation of its religious resources. Traditions cultures and customs are well promoted through travel guide books. Additionally, well enhanced infrastructure and all modern facilities have been established at the famous religious sites to allure more and more pilgrims. Initially, reaching to the many sacred sites in India including the Veshno Devi shrine, Amarnath Cave and the religious destinations forming Chardham Yatra was extremely difficult due to the arduous paths and uncertain climate. But today, all these destinations are easy to approach, and hence are visited by an increasing number of pilgrims.
Talking about religious destinations in India, there are plenty of names that have iconic status. The Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh is the most visited shrine in India followed by Shri Veshno Devi shrine. Both these places are highly scared for Hindus and are situated atop hill. The beautiful town on the bank of River Ganga, Haridwar is another popular place for Hindu pilgrimage. Thousands of devotees flock to this place year-round to take bath in holy waters of Ganga with aim to wash out their sins. On special occasions like annually Kanwar Mela and Maha Kumbh Mela, Haridwar witnesses a huge footfall of pilgrims. Similarly, Rishikesh, Varansi, Rameshwaram and the four holy temples of Chardham Yatra are quite popular among Hindu devotees.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar is a sacred site for Shikhs. However, intriguing architecture and peerless serenity & solace at this place attract thousands of travelers from other religions as well. Among the popular pilgrimage sites in India for Muslims are the Dargah of Ajmer Sharif, Jama Masjid Delhi, Haji Ali Mumbai and Fatehpur Shikri near Agra. In case you visit any of these destinations, planning your trip in advance is recommended. Needed travel assistance is provided by travel companies throughout the country. Whether you need accommodation, flights or complete packages for your trip, it can easily be found on net. Writer of this article is associated with Hungry Bags, a leading tour operator in India offering a range of packages for religious tours in India. Customized deals for chardham yatra packages and amarnath yatra are provided by the company at reasonable rate.
