Pilgrimage tours to India are in high demand, and all due to the fact that this country is rich in holy places. Pilgrims, including those from Russia, flock here in an endless stream.
Sacred places are called tirthas by the locals, and pilgrimage is called tirtha-yarta (tirtha is bypassed clockwise).
Haridwar
The city of shrines and temples stretches on the banks of the Ganges, in the holy waters of which every pilgrim seeks to bathe in order to spiritually purify. The main shrine of Haridwar is the Kharkipauri temple: here are the footprints of the god Vishnu. Many pilgrims flock here every day to attend the Ganga Arti ritual (beginning at 19:00). In addition, Haridwar gathers pilgrims from all over the world to celebrate the Kumbha Mela festival.
Vaishali
The city is interesting because Buddha visited it three times and delivered his last sermon here. In this regard, here, by order of King Ashoka, a column was erected (for its manufacture, red sandstone was used), the top of which is crowned with a figure in the form of a lion. Not far from the column is the Ramkund reservoir. Here you can also see the Buddha Stupa - here, in the casket, a part of the Buddha's ashes is kept (this place is honored by those arriving in India for pilgrimage purposes).
Kanchipuram
This city is the religious center of South India - there are more than 100 Shaiva and almost 20 Vaishnava temples, among which the following stand out:
- Kamakshi Amman Temple: famous for its white towers, which are decorated with unique sculptures (tourists cannot enter here).
- Ekambareshvara Temple: Tourists visit this square-shaped temple with internal galleries, vaulted colonnades and porticoes decorated with figures of stone beasts for free. The temple of Ekambareshvara is interesting for the mango tree growing nearby, under which Parvati sought the heart of Shiva.
- Temple of Varadarajaperumal: famous for the pillared hall (the columns are made in the Vijayanagar style - each of them is decorated with a rider on horseback or a fabulous bird). There is a 1 rupee fee to visit the temple.
Kapilavastu
The city is interesting because it was here that Buddha lived the first 29 years of his life. It has not been established exactly where Kapilavastu is located, but the Archaeological Office of India identifies this place with the village of Piprahava. A stupa, the remains of wells and monastery buildings were found near it.
Bodhgaya
This city is famous for its temple complex - a place of concentration of numerous pilgrims. The most significant is the Mahabodhi temple (it is worth paying attention to the diamond throne) - it is adjoined by the holy Bodhi tree (under which the Buddha was able to achieve enlightenment). Not far from the tree, you can find a path paved with precious stones (Buddha walked along it, immersed in meditation).
Around the Mahabodhi temple there are monasteries and temples built by different countries (all of them are decorated with statues of Buddha) - Buddhist teachers perform there, as well as conferences and seminars.
