Top 10 Places to Visit for Spiritual Awakening in India

India is known for its bountiful natural beauty. Snow-clad mountains, secluded beaches, cascading waterfalls, magnificent valleys, dense forests, you have it all. Apart from the diverse topography, India is known for its cultural and religious diversity and spirituality. 

From the magnificent monasteries in the north and the earth to the tantalising temples in the south, here are some of the best spiritual places to visit in India.

Top 10 Spiritual Places in India

• Jagannath Temple, Puri, Orissa
  

• Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab

• Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

• Auroville, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu

• Tawang Monastery, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

• Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Ajmer, Rajasthan

• Vaishno Devi, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir

• Shirdi, Maharashtra

• Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

• Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Jagannath Temple, Puri, Orissa

One of the most important religious places for Hindus in India, the Jagannath Temple in Puri is known for its famed Rath Yatra Festival, which happens every year in June. Pilgrims and devotees from all over the country visit here to seek blessings of the almighty and awaken their spiritual senses.

Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab

One of the best spiritual places in India, the Golden Temple is the most important place of worship for the Sikhs in India. Apart from the Sikhs, people of all religions and faith come here to soak in the spiritual aura of the place. 

The main shrine is made of actual gold and you can feel a positive vibe radiating all around the temple vicinity. While you are here, you must visit the langar hall that feeds more than one lakh people every day. And, don’t forget to pay a visit to the temple at night as the golden shrine shines bright with all the lights around and the reflection you see in the pond nearby is a sight to behold!

Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is known for its various temples that are an architectural marvel. But, when you talk about spirituality and spiritual awakening, you must visit the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the temple attracts plenty of tourists from all over India and overseas, and it is particularly popular among unmarried women. 

It is believed that if maidens apply vermilion on their forehead after performing their puja at the temple, their prayers for a spouse would be answered. 

Auroville, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu

 Auroville is one of the most unique and popular spiritual places in India. It is not dedicated to any one particular religion or community, reflecting the cultural diversity and integrity of India. The community was founded by a spiritual Guru named Mirra Alfassa in the 1960s and it attracts people from all over the world. 

The main spiritual centre is a golden dome where you can do meditation or just sit quietly amidst other devotees and soak in the spiritual environment. After spending a few hours at Auroville, you can head back to your stay at the Club Mahindra Puducherry Resort to relax and get ready for your Puducherry adventures.

Tawang Monastery, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

The largest Buddhist Monastery in India, and the second-largest in the world, the Tawang Monastery attracts several visitors from all over India and worldwide who come here to learn about the Buddhist way of living, the Buddhist principles, find peace and awaken their spirituality. 

Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Ajmer, Rajasthan

The Ajmer Shariff Dargah is one of the most important spiritual destinations for the Muslim communities in India. It is also a testament to the religious integrity and communal harmony of India. The shrine here is dedicated to the great Sufi Saint, Khwaja Moin-ud-din-Chisti whose grave is located in the complex. 

 Every day thousands of tourists, not just Muslim pilgrims but people of other religion and faith from all over India come to the shrine to offer their prayers and revel in the spiritual atmosphere. 

Vaishno Devi, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir

If you are on a journey to discover your spirituality, you must definitely visit the holy shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi. It is the second-most visited pilgrimage after Tirumala Tirupati. It is believed that the Goddess Vaishnavi is a manifestation of the spiritual strengths of Goddess Mahalakshmi, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Mahakali. 

Located in Trikuta hill, you must trek for about 14 kilometres to reach the temple. The constant chanting of ‘Jai Mata Di’ by the fellow pilgrims and the holy environment would fill your body and soul with immense energy that would relieve you of all the fatigue and pain during the trek.

Shirdi, Maharashtra

Shirdi is home to one of India's most loved and revered saints, Sai Baba. Like Auroville in Pondicherry, the Shirdi temple is visited by people of all caste, religion and creed and is one of the most spiritual places in India.

Thousands of pilgrims and tourists from all over India visit Shirdi to seek blessings from the holy saint. The overall holy atmosphere at the temple and the loud chants of the people calling the holy saint’s name will surely awaken your spiritual senses. 

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Known as the City of Gods, Varanasi, which is also called Kashi is one of the best spiritual places in India.Legend has it that the city was founded by Lord Shiva, and since then it has been home to numerous saints and sanyasis who pray to Lord Shiva.

Apart from being an important spiritual and religious centre, the city is also a popular tourist destination. Many people from all over the world come here to revel in the spiritual atmosphere, offer their prayers, and study about Hinduism. 

 If you happen to visit Varanasi for spiritual awakening, make sure to attend or see the evening aarti or prayer meet at Dashashwamedh Ghat, which is located by the Holy Ganges; it is a sight that you will never forget. 

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 

The Yoga Capital of India, Rishikesh is located at the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas, and has been one of the important spiritual places in the country for a long time. Today, many yogis, and spiritual gurus from all over India and overseas come here for meditation. 

All the spiritual places in India have a rich history associated with it or a mythological connection. While you are on a journey to discover your spiritual side, make sure that you have fun, after all it is the experiences that really matter.