Top 5 Spiritual Destinations in Uttarakhand

Top 5 Spiritual Destinations in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand lies in the northern mountain ranges of India right at the foot of the majestic Himalayas. These spiritual tourism places in Uttarakhand attract maximum number of peace lovers, spiritual seekers and religious enthusiasts. This land is also known as the abode of Hindu gods and goddesses because of the famous spiritual destinations scattered throughout it.

It is interesting to note the wealth of mythology and spiritual symbolism that flows around two of India's holiest rivers; Ganga and Yamuna in Uttarakhand. Although there are many holy sites in Uttarakhand, here are the top 5 spiritual destinations that you should not miss.

Hemkund Saheb in Joshimath

Joshimath is one of the most enchanting places in the spiritual state of Uttarakhand. Located at a high destination of 4329 meters above sea level, Hemkund holds religious significance for both Hindus and Sikhs. Legend has it that Guru Govind Sahib attained spiritual liberation through the mediation of Hemkund Lake. Joshimath is also home to many Hindu mythological stories and a centuries-old Lakshman temple has been built on this site. Many devotees and pilgrims have said that a visit to the Hemkund Sahib amid ice-capped peaks and the pristine Hemkund Lake is a source of great spiritual serenity.

Har Ki Pauri

Hinduism shows its quiet presence in every lane of Harki Pauri in spiritual tourism. Most spiritual seekers and religious enthusiasts have named Harki Pauri as one of their best choices for a spiritual journey. Many ancient sages have made the Himalayas their home in their search for the divine. Each temple in Harki Pauri Uttarakhand has its own religious history and rich lineage that is the stuff of legends. The surroundings of Harki Pauri are very beautiful as it is surrounded by magnificent landscapes and majestic mountains.

The best time to visit Harki Pauri is Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh. When thousands of devotees and saffron sanyasis light millions of lamps and float them in the river Ganges; The entire river glows with an eerie divine power that is sure to make you bow your head in devotion.

Nanda Devi

Nanda Devi is one of the most religious places in the entire Uttarakhand because Nanda Devi is known as Isht Devi (principle deity) of Uttarakhand. After the famous Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand, the Nanda Devi Yatra is the second most popular and spiritually significant journey in Uttarakhand. According to legend, Gaura (name of Nanda Devi) married a famous sage and returned to her maternal home in the mountains during Krishna Paksha in the 2nd week of August. At this time, Nanda Devi fair is organized in Uttarakhand.

The Nanda Devi fair envisages maximum cultural participation of women from Uttarakhand. Folk songs, holy chants, delicious prasad and bodies smeared with ash and saffron make the Nanda Devi fair one of the most beautiful occasions in Uttarakhand.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh has been a spiritual magnet for local and international tourists since the Beatles kicked up a storm there in the late 1960s. the Yoga Capital of the World, as it is better known, attracts thousands of tourists every month. The northern area off the capital Hrishikeshi is a major spirituality hotspot, enhanced by the exquisite natural beauty of the place. In the evening, a strong breeze blows through the entire city, causing the temple bells to ring and providing the appropriate background music to the songs of the sadhus. Interestingly, Rishikesh is also a very good place if you want to play musical instruments like sitar, veena etc or take a course on crystal healing and humming.

Triveni Ghat, Ram Jhula, Lakhshman Jhula and the famous Swarg Ashram are some of the major tourist attractions visited by pilgrims to Uttarakhand.

Rudraprayag

Rudraprayag is a town in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand and one of the centers of spiritual tourism in Uttarakhand. This place is revered as one of the Panch Prayag or the five confluences of rivers. The sacred rivers Alaskananda and Mandakini also meet there. There are numerous Temple of Lord Shiva, Devotees of Lord Shiva flock to Rudraprayag town to see the famous Rudranath Temple, Koteshwar Temple, Chamunda Devi Temple, Tungeshwar Mahadev Ji, Kartik Swami and Basukedart Temples there. Rudraprayag is highly sought after as a spiritual tourism destination in Uttarakhand by several thousand domestic and international tourists.