Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati

Located in a small district called Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, the temple of Tirupati Balaji is situated in the city of Tirupati. This temple is one of the richest temple in India. After the Vatican, Tirupati pilgrimage is one of the most visited shrine in the world. This temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara and thus is also known as Sri Venkateswara Temple. 

Tirupati Balaji Temple

Attractions In Tirupati

Sri Varahaswami Temple:- It is located on the banks of Swami Pushakarni towards the northern side of Tirupati Balaji. It is said that Tirumala was originally the abode of Lord Varahaswami and it was with his permission that allowed Lord Balaji to reside here. The Brahma Purana states that darshan at the Varahaswami temple should be done first before proceeding to the Balaji temple. 

Sri Bedi Anjaneyaswami Temple:- It is located opposite the Tirupati Balaji temple due to the importance of having  Anjaneya according to Vaishnavite tradition. Anjaneya is a form of Hanuman. The inner sanctum has a statue of Anjaneya with hands folded where abhishekam is performed every Sunday and special offerings are made on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.

Silathoranam

Silathoranam:- A lesser known place of the city is Silathoranam, a natural rock formation in the form of an arch situated near the Chakra Tirtham. It is believed to be several million years old. It is the place where the deity Lord Venkateshwara came down to earth. Rock impressions of foot and wheel are seen behind the arch.

Festivals:- Srivari Brahmotsavam is a nine-day event which is celebrated in grandeur every year during the month of October. It is the major event of the temple attracting lakhs of devotees all over the country. The processional deity (Malayappa) along with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi is taken in a procession in four mada streets around the temple on different vahanams.

Celebration of Brahmotsavam festival

Rathasapthami is another festival, celebrated during February, when Lord Venkateswara's processional deity(Malayappa) is taken in a procession around the temple on seven different vahanams starting from early morning to late night.

The other annual festivals celebrated with great splendor are Rama Navami, Janmashtami, Ugadi and Teppotsavam(Float Festival).

Some of the rituals performed in the temple are stated below-

1) Pushpa Yagam:- It is the worship of the Lord with a variety of sweets and fragrant flowers. It is conducted on sravana nakshatram day after Brahmotsavam.

Pushpa Yagam 

2) Thulabharam:- In this ritual, a devotee sits on a pan of a weighing balance and the other pan is filled with materials greater than the weight of the devotee. Devotees usually offer sugar, jaggery, banana and gold. This is mostly performed with newborn babies or children.

3) Pavitrotsavam:- It is a purificatory ceremony to expiate the mistakes and offenses arising in the daily worship of the deity. This function is elaborately performed in the month of August every year.

4) Sahasranama Archana:- The ritual is performed by worshipping the Lord by reciting the Sahasranamam (1008 names of the Lord). It lasts for about 30 minutes.  After its completion, devotees are allowed to have a darshan of the Lord.

How to reach Tirupati Balaji Temple?

By Air : A domestic airport is located at Renigunta, just 15 km from Tirupati. Regular flights connect Tirupati with Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Vijaywada.

By Rail : Tirupati railway station is located in the heart of the city with convenient rail links to Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and other major Indian cities. Trains are also available via Renigunta from where a local bus or a taxi will help you reach Tirupati.

By Road : Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates regular buses from Tirupati to all the major cities in south India. 

A visit to Badrinath

Badrinath

Badrinath is a holy town and a nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the most important of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage and gets its name from the temple of Badrinath. The lovely temple is located at a height of around 10,250 feet above sea level and it's surrounding landscape provides breathtaking visuals. The route to Badarinath is also very fascinating with hilly terrain and scenic Himalayan vistas.

Adi Shankaracharya, the famous Hindu philosopher saint of 8th century, constructed the present temple. It has been renovated and reconstructed a number of times since it was damaged by earthquakes and landslides. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is divided into 3 main chambers namely Garbha Griha (main sanctorum where the idol is placed), Darshan Mandap (where religious ceremonies take place) and the Sabha Mandap (where all devotees assemble).

Badrinath Temple

There are 15 idols in the temple all of which are made of black stone. The main idol of Lord Vishnu is sitting in a meditative pose with cross legs and folded hands. The temple is closed during the winter season since the temperatures drop below zero. It is open from April-May to October- November. It is recommended to take heavy woolens there.

Places to stay:- It is advisable to book the accommodation in advance as large number of people visit it frequently. Besides hotels, there are several ashrams in Badrinath which offer accommodation and food at minimal costs. Ashrams cost less than Rs 100 a day. Luxury suites cost at least Rs 3,000. Tourists can pitch their own tents and can get ready made tents from local shops. However it is advisable to stay in hotels as they provide easy access to the temple and main parts of the town.

Badrinath can be reached in following ways:-

By Air- Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest domestic airport. Nearest international airport is New Delhi.

By Train- The nearest railway station is Dehradun Junction.

By Road- The roads of Badrinath are decently connected with the neighbouring places. Buses and taxis are easily available from places like Uttarakhand, Gaziabad and Srinagar.

Rajgir- "House of the King"

Rajgir

Rajgir was the ancient capital city of the kings of Magadha. The name Rajgir literally means "House of the King". Rajgir pilgrimage is a very important Buddhist site since Lord Buddha spent his 12 years here and also preached two sermons. The Rajgir Buddhist pilgrimage is one of the most visited sites in India and has many structures built in the Buddhist architectural style. 

Rajgir is famous for its hot water springs. It's major attraction is the peace pagoda, Vishwa Shanti Stupa. It was built in 1969 to spread the message of peace and non-violence. Then there is Venu Vana, an artificial forest where one can enjoy eternal peace and practice meditation. Main tourist attractions of Rajgir include the ancient city walls from Ajatshatru's period, the Bimbisar's Jail, Jarasandh's Akhara, Gridakuta Hill and Sonabhandara Cave.

Some major sites worth seeing in Rajgir are as follows: 

Gridhakuta Hill

Gridhakuta Hill: It is also known as the Vulture's Peak. This is the place where Lord Buddha preached many of his teachings and sermons. Upon the attainment of enlightenment, he preached two of the most important sermons named as Lotus Sutra and the Prajnaparamita.

Saptparni Cave: It is the cave where the first congregation of the Buddhist Council took place after Lord Buddha attained nirvana. The place also has a Burmese temple and a Japanese temple. 

Shanti Stupa

Shanti Stupa: It is a beautiful structure in white and is one of the major Buddhist attractions at Rajgir. Located at the top of Ratnagiri hill, it has four golden statues symbolizing the four stages in life- Birth, Enlightenment, Teaching and Death.

Jain Temples: The Jain temples on the hills surrounding Rajgir are worth the visit. Not only is it fun to go for a trek on the hills, but also the surrounding landscape provides delightful panorama. There are 26 Jain temples in all. 

Rajgir can be reached in the following ways:-

By Air: Rajgir can be reached through Gaya International Airport. Another airport is at Patna. Air India, Indigo and Jet Airways connect Patna to Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.

By Rail: Rajgir railway station connects the city to other parts of country yet the nearest convenient railhead is at Gaya. 

By Road: Rajgir is connected by road to Patna - 110 km, Nalanda - 12 km, Gaya - 78 km, and Pawapuri - 38 km.

Given below is a video shown by a lady on some of the famous places of Rajgir which are worth a visit!!

The City of Temples "Pushar"

Pushkar

Pushkar is a town which lies in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. It's pilgrimage site is one of the holiest in India. It is a mellow town by the great lake of Pushkar amidst the perfume of jasmine and rose flowers. The town of Pushkar is also called as "City of Temples". One of the most important Hindu temples in Pushkar is the Brahma Temple. The small quiet town springs to life and buzzing activity every year during the famous Camel Fair that is held usually in the month of October. 

The various temples which are located in Pushkar are:-

Brahma Temple

Brahma Temple: It is the temple in India that is devoted to the creator of the universe, Brahma. Lord Brahma had performed a religious ritual over here along with other Gods and hence is considered to be a very sacred place. It is said that the beautiful lake at Pushkar was created miraculously when a lotus fell down from the hands of Lord Brahma and fell at Pushkar. 

Savitri Temple: This temple is dedicated to Goddess Savitri, the wife of Lord Brahma. The temple is located at the top of a hillock and the views of the surrounding landscape from here are said to be splendid. The temple is reached by a long series of stairs. 

Waraha Temple: A famous temple in Pushkar this temple is dedicated to the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu which was in the form of a boar. It is said that Lord Vishnu killed the demon Hiranyaksha, recovered a stolen Veda and saved the earth from drowning in the ocean.

Rangji Temple

Rangji Temple: This temple is unique because of its architectural style. It was constructed in the Dravidian style with a typical "Gopuram" (main temple dome) rising at the top. One can also see some influences of Rajput style of architecture. 

A glimpse of Pushkar Mela

Pushkar Fair: It one of the world's largest livestock and camel fairs held every year. It continues for five days and these five days are a period of relaxation and merry-making for the villagers. Countless people in their colourful attire gather and the whole town comes alive with vibrant folk music, camel races and various traditional entertainment competitions.  Animals, including over 50,000 camels, are brought from miles around to be traded and sold. Special stalls are set up selling finery and jewellery for the camels. Camels wear jewellery of silver and beads. There are silver bells and bangles around their ankles that jangle when they walk.

One can reach Pushkar in following ways:-

By Air: The nearest airport from Pushkar is Sanganer Airport at Jaipur at distance of 146 km .

By Road: Pushkar is connected with Ajmer by Pushkar road which goes through aravalli range. The mountain portion road separates Pushkar from Ajmer City. 

By Rail: Pushkar railway station started operations in January 2012 and connects to the nearest railway station Ajmer. Ajmer railway junction is connected to almost all cities of India.

The "Haridwar" in Uttarakhand

Haridwar is one of the most important Hindu pilgrim places of India. It has very rich religious and cultural heritage. It is located at the foothills of the Himalayas and is the point where River Ganga reaches the plains. The landscape of Haridwar is filled with thousands of temples and ashrams. About 1 crore pilgrims from all over the world participate in the Kumbh Mela held at Haridwar.

Haridwar

There are numerous bathing Ghats at Haridwar. The most sacred bathing spots at Haridwar are Gangadwara, Kankhal, Nila Parvata, Bilwa Teertha and Kusavarta. The most fascinating sight at Haridwar is the Ganga Aarti which is held every evening at 7 pm. The Aarti is performed in all temples at the same time and thousands of devotees participate in it. The Aarti ceremony is followed by offerings of lamps and flowers to River Ganga.

Ganga Aarti

Various temples situated in Haridwar are as follows:-

Mansa Devi Temple: Situated at the top of Bilwa Parwat, it is the temple of Goddess Mansa Devi meaning the Goddess who fulfills desires. The main temple houses two idols of the Goddess, one with three mouths and five arms, while the other one has eight arms.

Maya Devi Temple

Maya Devi Temple: This ancient temple of Maya Devi is of 11th century. It is considered one of the Siddhapithas and is said to be the place where the heart and navel of Goddess Sati had fallen.

Pawan Dham Temple: This temple, a popular tourist spot is made entirely of glass pieces. It was constructed by Swami Vedantanand Maharaj. People from Punjab have put considerable efforts and money for this place.

Bharat Mata Mandir

Bharat Mata Mandir: It is a multi-storey temple dedicated to Bharat Mata and was inaugurated on 15 May 1983 by Indira Gandhi on the banks of the river Ganges. It is situated adjacent to the Samanvaya Ashram and stands eight stories tall to a height of 180 feet. Each floor depicts an era in the Indian history from the days of Ramayana til India's independence.

Shopping: Famous places for shopping is Bara Bazar, Moti Bazar, Ranipur Mor and Jwalapur. Tourists usually buy items of devotion and inexpensive ornaments. There are large number of shops throughout Haridwar where one can buy devotional items ranging from rudraksha ornaments, deity statues to music cassettes of devotional bhajans.

Haridwar can be reached in these ways:-

By Road: National Highway 58 between Delhi and Mana Pass passes through Haridwar connecting it with Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzzafarnagar, Roorkee and Badrinath. Then the National Highway 74 originating from Haridwar connects it with Kashipur, Kichha, Nagina, Pilibhit and Bareilly.

By Rail: The Haridwar Railway Station links the major cities of India such as Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar and Puri.

By Air: The nearest domestic airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is a located 35 km from Haridwar. Indira Gandhi Airport in New Delhi is the nearest international airport.

Rameshwaram- The Southern India Pilgrimage Site

Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is situated at the tip of the Indian peninsula. It is considered a sacred place for the Hindus. Legends have it that Lord Rama built a bridge across the sea from Rameshwaram to rescue his wife Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to wash away the sin of killing Ravana. It is also known as the Varanasi of South India. It is believed that Lord Rama performed thanks giving rituals to Lord Shiva after his triumph over the demon king Ravana. It happens to be one of the most visited pilgrimage sites of India. 

Attractions of Rameshwaram

Ramanathaswamy Temple

Ramanathaswamy Temple: The famous Ramnathswamy temple was built in the 17th century and is situated close to the sea on the eastern side of the Rameshwaram. It is famous for its 1200 massive granite columns. The temple has 54 meter tall gate-tower and 1220 meters of magnificent corridors.

Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi: It is located at the eastern end. It is named after Lord Ram's bow and is at a distance of 8 km from Rameshwaram. The boulders in the sea between Sri Lanka and Dhanushkodi are known as Adam's bridge. It is said that Lord Hanuman used them to reach across Sri Lanka. 

Erwadi

Erwadi: At a distance of 24 km from Rameshwaram, it is an important place of Muslim pilgrimage as the tomb of Ibrahim Sahid Auliya is present here. Muslims from across the globe visit Erwadi, especially during the month of December to participate in the annual festival held to pay tribute to the saint.

This video is a short film consisting of major Rameshwaram pilgrimage destinations!!

The Ancient Pilgrimage "Puri"

Puri 

Puri is one of the ancient pilgrimage centers of India. It is located on the Orissa coast and is 60 km from Bhubaneswar. Puri is among the four sacred "Dhams" other than Dwarka, Rameswaram and Badrinath of the Hindus. The Sand art and Applique art are some of the important crafts of the city. It is one of the 12 heritage cities chosen by the Government of India for holistic development. The biggest attraction of Puri is the Jagannath Temple where devotees come to worship regularly. The famous Rath Yatra Festival is held in Puri every year.

Huge Crowd during Rath Yatra

The Rath Yatra begins on the second day of the bright fortnight in the month of Asad (June-July). This festival is held to commemorate the journey of Lord Krishna from Gokul to Mathura. It is celebrated at Puri with great pomp and gaiety. In the Rath Yatra Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are taken out in procession in three Rathas (chariots). Millions of devotees pull the ropes of the Rath.

Other than this festival the Hindus make it a point to bathe in the sacred Pancha Tirtha or the Indradyumana Tank, the Rohini Kunda, the Markandeya Tank and the Swetaganga Tank to complete their pilgrimage to Puri. These tanks have perennial sources of supply in the form of rain water and ground water. Moreover they go to the Balighai Beach of Puri to watch the sunrise and sunset as it is one of the scenic attractions of the beach. The beach is located 8 km away at the mouth of Nunai River from the town.

Pilgrimage Attractions of Puri are as follows: 

Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri Jagannath Temple: The temple of Lord Jagannath is one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots in India and one of the four Dhams of the divine that lie on the four directions of the compass. The temple commands great influence over every aspect of life in Puri. The huge temple compound is surmounted with a 20 foot wall. It is truly an institution unique in the India. 

Gundicha Mandir

Gundicha Mandir: It is located some 3-km northeast of the Jagannath temple. During the 'Ratha-Yatra' festival, Lord Jagannatha goes to the Gundicha temple and stays there for a week. After one week Lord Jagannath returns to his original temple.

Cultural activities: Apart from religiuos festivals the cultural fuctions held annually are The Puri Beach Festival held between 5 and 9 November and the Shreeksherta Utsav held from 20 December to 2 January where cultural programmes include unique sand art, display of traditional handicrafts and food festival. The Odissi dance, Odiya music and folk dance are major part of this event.