The birth place of many religions, no one can deny India’s richness in culture and history. Religious attractions in India are plenty and absolutely glorious. These popular and sacred destinations of various faiths is not only the spiritual sites for local and international believers but also impressive tourist attractions. These attractions are usually located on beautiful locations, with perfect frames for photography and intriguing origins. In this article, we’ll show you some of the most incredible religious landmarks of India to add on your travel list.
Swaminarayan Akshardham – New Delhi
Swaminarayan Akshardham is a top-list Religious Landmarks of India. In Indian language, ‘Akshardham’ means the divine abode of God. Therefore, it is a Hindu house of worship, and a spiritual and cultural campus dedicated to devotion, learning, purity and harmony. The enormous building is 42 meters high, 94 meters wide, and 106 meters long. And all the facing was done by hand in five years totally with voluntary support. The outer surface of the temple is made with pink sandstone, while the inner surface is made from white marble. In fact, pink color symbolizes love for God while white color symbolizes absolute purity and peace in Indian cultural.
The whole temple complex covers up 12 hectares of land. The attraction also includes tseveral parks, a museum, a large cultural center, water canals, where you can take a little boat trip, and lots of cafes and souvenir shops. There is also a laser show with dancing fountains on Swaminarayan Akshardham grounds in the evening. Thanks to its enormous scale, the temple is included in the Guinness Book of World Records. Unimaginable architechture, stunning details, great theme show, Swaminarayan Akshardham is absolutely a fantastic site to visit.
Golden Temple – Amritsar
Also known as Harmandir or Darbar Sahib, the temple is a white and gold majestic building. It is dedicated to the Muslim saint, Mian Mir, an admirer and friend of Guru Arjun. The legendary Golden Temple is actually just a small part of a huge gurdwara complex. The top structure of the temple is covered with pure gold leaf, creating its sparkling shine standout in the middle of a holy lake. Spiritually, the focus of attention is actually the water surrounding the gleaming central shrine. It is said to have healing powers, you can find pilgrims from across the world come to bathe in this sacred waters.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib – Delhi
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most prominent Sikh gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship in India. The gurdwara is known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, as well as the holly river inside its complex, known as the “Sarovar”.
The grounds include the Gurudwara, a kitchen, a large (holy) pond, a school, and an art gallery. As with all Sikh Gurdwaras, the concept of langar is practised, and all people, regardless of race or religion may eat in the Gurdwara kitchen. The food here is prepared by gursikhs who work there and also by volunteers who like to help out. At the Gurdwara, visitors are requested to cover their hair and not to wear shoes. Assistance to foreigners and visitors with Guides, head scarves, and shoe-minding service can be found inside the compound and are available free of charge.
The complex also houses a higher secondary school, Baba Baghel Singh Museum, a library, and a hospital. The Gurudwara and the langar hall are now air-conditioned. A new “Yatri Niwas” – travellers hostel, and multi-level parking space have been constructed. The space around the back entrance to the Gurudwara is also being spruced up, so as to give a better view from the roadside. If your trip includes Delhi, don’t mis out this stunning Indian religious landmarks.
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple – Pune
One of the most revered temples of India, the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple invites devotees from across the globe. The temple is a beautiful construction and boasts a rich history of over 100 years. The construction is so simple that all the proceedings in the temple along with the beautiful Ganesh idol can be seen even from outside. The Ganesh idol is 2.2 metres tall and 1 metrewide. It is adorned with nearly 40 kilos of gold. The devotees of Lord Ganesh offer Him gold and money and with every offering the Lord gets richer and richer. Moreover, heaps of coconuts offered to the deity are yet another feature of the temple. Daily pooja, abhisheka and the arti of Lord Ganesh are worth attending. The lighting of the temple during the Ganesh festival is marvelous. The temple is situated in the centre of city, local shopping market is also the nearby temple.
The Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati temple is open from 6am to 1daily. For Ganesh Utsav, though, the temple is open 24X7. Things get busy from 5am-7.30am, when the Atharvashirsha recitals take place. The best time to visit is early morning (8-10am) and early evening (3-6pm). Tuesdays and weekends tend to get more crowded. Closer to visarjan, the decorations may be taken off from the temple so it’s better to visit soon.
Go to India to explore these stunning top religious landmarks of India. Click here to find out more about traveling in India, favourite attractions, when to go and best Indian tours.
