
Pilgrimage is an essential part of life for people who faithfully believe in any religion. Every shrine has its own history and mythological stories. A few are the birthplace of a different deity. It gives a peace of mind visiting these sites. There are numerous pilgrimage sites in India for worship. Below are a few famous religious places mentioned.
1. Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu & Kashmir.

The Vaishno Devi Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Vaishno Devi, located in Katra in the Trikuta Mountains within the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers in India. Every year, millions of visitors visit Vaishno Devi. At festivals like Navratri, the number of visitors increases immensely. It is believed that the body of Bhairo Nath, whom the Goddess killed with her Trishul (Trident), is preserved here. Though the temple is open for visitors throughout the year, the best time to visit is from March to October as the climate is cool and pleasant.
2. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Varanasi, also widely known by its earlier name Banaras, is located in the centre of the Ganges valley in North India, in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is said to have one of the most sacred and colourful sites in India because it is believed that Lord Shiva dwelled here. The city is host to innumerable religious festivals. A procession from the Mahamrityunjaya Temple to the Kashi Vishvanath Temple celebrates Mahashivaratri, the great night of Lord Shiva. The Ganga festival is considered sacred by all Hindus as it is dedicated to the goddess of the Ganges River. The best time to visit is from November to February, the winter season.
3. Golden Temple, Amritsar.

Also known as "Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib", is located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. It is an important pilgrimage site in Sikhism. The magnificent Golden Temple is a unique combination of both Hindu and Islamic architecture. Around 500kg of 24-karat pure gold was used to construct the holy temple. This place has humungous annual visitors. Visitors can have a taste of langar after they are done worshiping, which, by the way, tastes delicious. It was built by the fourth Sikh Guru, Ramdas Sahib Ji. The best time to visit this masterpiece is from November to March, when the climate is pleasant.
4. Jagannath Temple, Odisha.

Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is one of the finest temples in India. It is an important temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Krishna. It is one of the Chaar Dham pilgrimage sites. The main temple is built in such a way that no shadow falls on the ground at any time of the day. The Nilachakra, or the ‘Blue Wheel’ perched on top of the temple, is made up of eight metals, or asta dhatu, and it is said that seeing the Nilachakra is as good as seeing the Lord himself. Among the 148 festivals celebrated here, Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, is the most well-known one. Celebrated annually, this festival seeks numerous devotees from across the world throughout the year.
5. Manikaran Sahib, Himachal Pradesh.

Manikaran is a pilgrimage center for Sikhs and Hindus. It is located in Manikaran town in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The temple is mainly known for its hot springs. The beauty of these hot springs is that they are used for cooking purposes as well as for generating electricity. One can witness freezing water in the Parvati River on one side and boiling hot water springs on the other side. According to an ancient idol, Manikaran is also connected with Lord Shiva and his sacred consort Parvati. Devotees can taste the essence of langar prasad after worshipping.
6. Jama Masjid, Delhi.

The Masjid-I Jehan-Numa, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is one of the largest and perhaps the most majestic mosques in India. It is so humongous that it can easily gather thousands of devotees at a time. It was built by Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor who also built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. In this mosque, city Muslims traditionally gather for Friday communal prayer.
7. Ayodha.

It is situated on the banks of the holy river Saryu in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya is the birthplace of Rama and is famous for its alluring temples, historical and mythological stories, and many more. Ramjanma Bhoomi, Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhavan, Kanak Bhavan, Sumantanath temple, and Sita ki Rasoi are a few famous temples.
8. Amarnath.
It is a Hindu shrine located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The name Amarnath was derived from the Hindi words "Amar", meaning immortal, and "Nath", meaning god. The cave temple is famous for the Linga, which is created naturally by ice every year. The Amarnath yatra, which takes place every year, is a trek to the cave temple. This is one of the ancient pilgrimage sites that holds huge importance for Hindus. The trek is nearly 43 kilometres from the Nuwan and Chandanwari base camps.
Every pilgrimage site leaves us wondering. Some things in nature are difficult to understand but still exist. Traveling to these places gives inner peace and a blissful mind, but it gets tiring while exploring. We tend to take a break or look for a place to freshen up, but hardly get it. It is not an issue with HOURLYROOMS. It is an online hotel booking platform that gives you the freedom to book rooms on an hourly basis. Visit Hourlyrooms.co.in for more information. To download the app, Click here.