Vaishno Mata calls out to her devotees every year and they loyally show up at her abode. Legends have it that Mata Rani Vaishno Devi turned herself into a rock that is worshipped here. Going by belief, she offers mental peace and strength to her devotees. It is not just the shrine that is worth visiting; this worship place in India gives the yatris an unparalleled experience of trekking up the hill. After visiting the shrine, you can also visit the Patni Top and the Natha Top to have an amazing time with your family or friends.

It is believed that Mata Vaishno Devi viewed the fight of Lord Rama and Ravana and prayed for the victory of Lord Rama, from this hill.

Amarnath Cave is accessible only during the Sharavan months of July-August. There are two routes available for undertaking the Amarnath Yatra - via Baltal or Pahalgam. The Baltal route, though shorter, has a steeper trekking route. The Pahalgam route is longer but is generally preferred by most of the devotees. It usually takes 3-5 days to reach Amarnath from the base point. Helicopter services are now available by private operators on both these routes. The devotees need to make advance bookings and get registered to undertake the holy pilgrimage to Amarnath.

They say that the connection between God and a devotee is a special one; the almighty listens to your prayers. He is the creator of the universe, guiding everyone to the right path. With these holy places in India, devotees are sure to strengthen their bond with God!

It is known that it was built by Pandavas and then again revived by the saint Adi Shankaracharya

The Tungnath Temple is believed to be 5000 years old and has a connection to the Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata. You will find five temples located in the mountain range of Tungnath, which together are called Panch Kedars. Legend has it that these temples were built by the royal Pandavas who wanted to be pardoned by Lord Shiva for the Kurukshetra war where they killed their cousins, the Kauravas. So, the Pandavas went in search of Shiva who was avoiding them since he was convinced of their guilt. To avoid them, he took the form of a bull and hid at Guptakashi, an underground haven. When he went back to his original form, the body parts from Lord Shiva’s bull-body rematerialized in five different spots, which are now called Panch Kedar and the Pandavas built five temples to honour their Lord. Each temple is identified with the part of the bull or Shiva’s body that was found there. Tungnath is identified as the place where the hands also known as ‘bahu’ were seen.

The Panch Kedar temples are mostly accessible by foot, and you’d be surprised to know that the trek to the world’s highest Shiva temple is actually pretty easy. The Trek to Tungnath commences at Chopta and can be reached by a moderately easy trek of 3.5-5 km. Seeing the Himalayan peaks spread over 180 degrees up from there is nothing less than a visual treat! With the peaks of Panchchuli, Nanda Devi, Nilkanth and Kedarnath keeping you company, Chopta to Tungnath is a simple trek which is both adventurous and enthralling.

The nearest airport to Tungnath is The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is about 260 km away from Chopta. Once you reach Dehradun, you can take a taxi or bus to Chopta. From there begins the trek of nearly 3.5-5 km to Tungnath. You can also take a train with the nearest railway station being Haridwar which lies at a distance of 225 km from Chopta. It is a majestic place and Lord Shiva is known to have lived at the point.

The importance and beauty of this holy place in India can only be felt when you visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar. That being said, the city has a charm of its own – there are various sightseeing places within its periphery and nearby like the Wagah Border.

Amritsar is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh Religion. Baisakhi festival brings out Amritsar's resplendent face with its finest food, clothes and merry-making. This place is also famous for its Jallianwala Bagh massacre and its proximity to Wagah Border. The satiating food and generous dollops of legendary Punjabi hospitality further connive to cast a spell upon the visitor. From the Operation Blue Star in the Golden Temple to the tragedy of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Amritsar has seen the worst of situations and yet emerged like a phoenix through testing times.

Rishikesh became known worldwide in the 1960s after The Beatles visited the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi here. Today, the place is popular as The Beatles Ashram which beckons tourists globally. The tranquil town has long been a spiritual centre but is equally popular for the whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, mountain biking and camping along the fast-flowing Holy Ganges. It also serves as the gateway to many Himalayan treks.

As it lies on the holy banks of river Ganga, Rishikesh has been a hub of Sadhus (saints) with numerous ashrams teaching spirituality, yoga, meditation and Ayurveda springing up. Since it is a religious town, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited here. Rishikesh sees the most beautiful evening aarti on the banks of the river Ganga, which is not too crowded unlike its contemporaries in Varanasi, and Haridwar. The International Yoga Festival is organised here in the first week of March which sees yoga enthusiasts from all over the globe.

Rishikesh is divided into two main areas - the downtown area known as Rishikesh town which is where the popular Triveni Ghat is situated. 2 km upstream from the popular Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula is the other side of Rishikesh where most of the popular ashrams, cafes, accommodation and tourists can be found. Haridwar and Rishikesh are the first Indian cities to be given the title of "twin national heritage cities".

Prayag or Prayagraj had been the ancient name of the city of Allahabad. Pra means “first” and Yag means “devotion”. Prayag also signifies the coming together of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. After the Mughal invasion, Emperor Akbar, impressed by the location named the city Ilahabas which meant “Abode of God”. Emperor Shah Jahan, his grandson, renamed the city to Allahabad.

One of the top places to visit in Allahabad, if you’re spiritually inclined (and even if you’re not because this place deserves a visit), Triveni Sangam is a place bustling with tourists and locals all year round. The Maha Kumbh Mela is a religious occasion that is held here every twelve years and is attended by millions of pilgrims from all across the globe. The Allahabad Fort is another monument of historical significance and is a heritage site recognized by the UNESCO. Built during the reign of Akbar, this fort is also a fine example of the curation and craftsmanship of the Mughal era. Other popular places to visit in Allahabad include the Anand Bhavan, All Saints Cathedral, Chandra Shekhar Azad Park, and Allahabad Museum.

Allahabad finds its mention in Hindu Scripture Mahabharata as Kaushambi, the place which Kuru rulers of Hastinapur made their capital. It was also a provincial capital of Mughals under the rule of Jahangir. The places ooze heritage, history, and stories galore, and once you visit, you will definitely have seen Allahabad differently for having travelled to and through it.

Badrinath Temple remains closed for six months from November to April each year. The temple is closed for worship on the auspicious day of bhatridwityia in October. On the day of the closure, an Akhanda Jyoti lamp is lit to last for six months and the image of Badrinath is transferred to Narasimha temple at Jyotirmath. Badrinath reopens on Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious day in April every year.

Badrinath Temple has a Tapt Kund, a hot sulphur spring which is considered to have medicinal values. River Alaknanda is known to originate from here. The vibrant festivals of Mata Murti Ka Mela and the Badri Kedar Festival give you another reason to visit the temple. Badrinath is accessible by road and therefore driving up to this pilgrim spot is not difficult.

Every evening, Haridwar is witness to a set of rituals for the famous Ganga Aarti at the Ghats (River Banks) where thousands of devotees come together to pray to the river. Once in every twelve years, Haridwar is host to the mega-gathering during the world famous Kumbh Mela which sees millions of visitors from all over the country. Along with Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain, Haridwar is one of the only four cities in India which can host the Kumbh Mela.

Haridwar also acts as the base destination for some of the other tourist towns of Rishikesh and Devprayag as Hardwar is well connected by trains and roads. Apart from the religious angle, Haridwar is also now developing as a multifaceted cultural and spiritual centre. It's also known for its food and some of the must-try dishes include kachoris at Kashyap Kachoriwala and the aloo puri at Mohanji Puriwale.

The non-stop chanting of ‘Om Namo Venkatesaya’, the mad pilgrim rush and the 8-feet tall idol of Lord Venkateshwara – everything about the Sri Venkateshwara Temple is majestic. Spread over an area of 26 kilometres and visited by nearly 50,000 pilgrims every day, the temple is also commonly referred to as the Temple of Seven Hills.

There are other temples in Tirupati too that you can visit, including the Sri Kalahasti temple, Sri Govindarajaswami Temple, the Kondandarama Temple, the Parashurameshwara Temple, and the ISKCON temple. Tirupati is home to a unique geological wonder that you shouldn’t miss out on! The Silathoranam is a natural arch formed out of rocks and is located at the Tirumala Hills.

One can notice that the traditions of Sabarimala are a blend of Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and other Sramana traditions. Women of age 12-50 years, during an active menstrual cycle, weren't allowed inside the temple until the supreme court overturned the restriction on 28th September 2018.

The temple is situated amidst eighteen hills and dense forest surrounding the temple, which is known as Poongavanam. People trek up the mountains from Plapalli, proceeding to Aangaamuzhi, and then to Muzhiyaar and finally to Sabarigiri road. The temple is open on the first five days of each Malayalam month with it being most crowded during Mandalapooja, Makaravilakku or Makar Sankranti.

Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti was a great Sufi Saint and dedicated his entire life for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. The shrine is visited by millions of people every year, as it is considered very sacred by people of all the religions. Ajmer Sharif was built by the Mughal Emperor Humayun, hence justifying the rich Mughal Architecture. The Dargah has various constituents like tombs, courtyards and Daalaans. The major among these structures are- Nizam Gate, Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Aulia Masjid, Dargah Shrine, Mehfilkhana and about a dozen of other prominent establishments.

One can spot two huge cauldrons in the inner courtyard of the shrine. These containers have a capacity of 2240 kg and 4480 kg and are used during special occasions to cook sweet delicacies like Kheer.

It is now one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a lot of foreign countries, including Japan and China, have helped the Indian government in building facilities for the Buddhist pilgrims. The place is bustling with pilgrims all through the year from India and abroad who come to pay their homage in monasteries, temples and remnants of Bodhi Tree.

Located near the river Neranjana, Bodh Gaya was earlier known as Uruwela. It was also known as Sambodhi, Vajrasana or Mahabodhi until the 18th century CE. It is one of the four important Buddhist sites that include: Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sarnath.

Spend some evenings sitting at the ghats while sipping chai or taking a stroll through narrow alleys while listening to the chants from temples surrounding the ghats. A delight for street-shopping lovers, Pushkar has shops in the main street selling everything from silver oxidised jewellery to merchandise swaddled in various colours.

The Pushkar Mela attracts millions of visitors from around the world. With folk performances, rides, stalls and even magic shows, the entire town is lit up, music blares from every house, and everyone is in a festive mood. Pushkar has slowly evolved from a religious destination to a multi-cultural hotspot with travellers from all over the world.