Page 43 - Masala E-magazine Vol 9 Issue 4 February-March 2018

2 Varanasi (Benaras, Banaras or Kashi)

With large numbers of visitors coming here every day,
Varanasi is consistently one of the most important pilgrimage
sites for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Situated on the banks of
the Ganges River, you can join thousands of others for a dip in
the sacred river that is believed to cleanse your soul. Varanasi
houses countless attractions, including Kashi Vishwanath
Temple, a sacred shine dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is
also Bharat Mata Temple, devoted to Mother India. This
temple features a huge map of an undivided India carved in
marble, which is a beautiful amalgamation of patriotism and
spiritualism. Lastly, there is the Tulsi Manas Mandir, dedicated
to Lord Rama with engraved verses and scenes from the epic
poem Ramacharitamanasa, which translates to ‘Lake of the
deeds of Rama’.

Best time to visit: October to March
How to get there: Take a fl ight to Varanasi via Gaya
or New Delhi
www.varanasi.nic.in
From top to bottom, clockwise:
The Varanasi riverbank; Kashi
Vishwanath Temple; Bharat
Mata Temple

3 Vaishno Devi

Located in the glorious state of Jammu and Kashmir,
Vaishno Devi is one of the most sought-after
pilgrimage destinations in India. Tucked inside
a cave on the Trikuta Mountain, visitors have to
Left: Venkateswara Temple;
trek about 14 kilometres to reach this sacred site Right: Idol of Devi Padmavathi
that is dedicated to Parvati or Goddess Shakti,
kama (satisfaction) and moksha (enlightenment). 4 Tirupati
the Divine Consort of Lord Shiva. It is believed
that she can fulfi ll all the longings of human life
Located in the Chittoor district, Tirupati is revered
– dharma (righteousness), artha (material gains),
as the spiritual capital of Andhra Pradesh. Dedicated
There are also countless shops and stalls nearby for to the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Venkateswara
buying food and souvenirs. Temple, situated on the seventh peak of Tirumala
hill, 18 kilometres from Tirupati, houses an eight-foot
tall idol of Lord Venkateswara. Aside from being the
When to visit: March to October
How to get there: Once you reach New Delhi, take a second most frequented shrine all over the world,
fl ight or train to Jammu the sanctum also holds the title of being the richest
www.maavaishnodevi.org temple in the world. If you wish to explore more
revered sites, you can also visit the Padmavathi
Temple and Kapila Theertham. Rich with cultural
signifi cance and remarkable architecture, both
Left: Vaishno Devi Holy Cave;
Bottom: Shri Mata Vaishno temples exude positive vibes that are inspiring to
Devi Shrine non-believers too. Furthermore, Tirupati is also a
food-lover’s dream, so don’t miss out on the local
delicacies while you’re there.

When to visit: July to October
How to get there: Take a fl ight to Tirupati via
Hyderabad or Kolkata
www.tirupati.cdma.ap.gov.in

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