Hindu holy cities

Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ), or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. Located in the middle-Ganges valley in the southeastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi lies on the left bank of the river. It is to the southeast of India's capital New Delhi and to the southeast of the state capital, Lucknow. It lies downstream of Prayagraj, where the confluence with the Yamuna river is another major Hindu pilgrimage site.

Prayagraj (, ; ISO: ), formerly and colloquially known as Allahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Prayagraj district, the most populous district in the state and 13th most populous district in India and the Prayagraj division. The city is the judicial capital of Uttar Pradesh with the Allahabad High Court being the highest judicial body in the state. Prayagraj is the seventh most populous city in the state, thirteenth in Northern India and thirty-sixth in India, with an estimated population of 1.53 million in the city.

Vijayawada ( ), also called as Bezawada, is the second largest city and a major commercial hub in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The city forms an integral part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is situated on the banks of the Krishna River, flanked by the Eastern Ghats and the Indrakeeladri Hills.

Ujjain (, , ), also known as Ujjayini, is a city in Ujjain district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the fifth-largest city in Madhya Pradesh by population and is the administrative as well as religious centre of Ujjain district and Ujjain division. It is one of the Hindu pilgrimage centres of Sapta Puri famous for the Kumbh Mela (Simhastha) held there every 12 years. The ancient and world famous temple of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is located in the center of the city. The city has been one of the most prominent trade and political centres of the Indian subcontinent from the time o

Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient times, Mathura was an economic hub, located at the junction of important caravan routes. The 2011 Census of India estimated the population of Mathura at 441,894.

Ayodhya () is a city situated on the banks of the Sarayu river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ayodhya district as well as the Ayodhya division of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ayodhya became the top tourist destination of Uttar Pradesh with 110 million visitors in the first half of 2024, surpassing Varanasi.

Haridwar (; ; formerly Mayapuri) is a city and municipal corporation in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. With a population of 228,832 according to 2011 census, it is the second-largest city in the state and the largest in the district. Haridwar is located at the south western part of the state.

Holy City in Bihar, India

Khajuraho () is a city, near Chhatarpur in Chhatarpur district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, which was the early as well as religious capital of Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti. Chandela emperors established this city and named it Kharjuravahaka, which is derived from the Sanskrit word kharjur meaning "date palm. This city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has the country's largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculptures from Chandela Era. Khajuraho Group of Monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Rishikesh or Hrishikesh is a municipal corporation and tehsil of Dehradun district of the Indian state Uttarakhand. It is situated on the right bank of the Ganges river and is a pilgrimage town for Hindus, with ancient sages and saints meditating there in search of higher knowledge. There are numerous temples and ashrams built along the banks of the river.

Vrindavan (; ), also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban, is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance for Hindus, who believe that Krishna, one of the main Gods in Hinduism, spent most of his childhood in this city. Vrindavan has about 5,500 temples dedicated to the worship of Krishna and his chief consort, Radha. It is one of the most sacred places for Vaishnava traditions.

Kanchipuram (IAST: '; ), also known as Kanjeevaram or Kancheepuram', is a City in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in Chennai Metropolitan Area. region, from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple architectures, 1000-pillared halls, huge temple towers, and silk saris. Kanchipuram serves as one of the most important domestic tourist destinations in India. Kanchipuram has become a centre of attraction for foreign tourists as well. The city covers an area of and an estimated population of 232,816 in 2011. It is the administra

Tirupati () is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and serves as the administrative headquarters of Tirupati district. It is known for its significant religious and cultural heritage, being home to the renowned Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, a major Hindu pilgrimage site, as well as other historic temples. The temple is one of the eight Svayam Vyakta Kshetras (self-manifested temples) dedicated to the deity Vishnu. Tirupati is situated 150 km from Chennai, 250 km from Bangalore, and 416 km from Vijayawada.

Pushkar is an ancient temple town located on the shore of Pushkar Lake near Ajmer City and headquarters of Pushkar tehsil in the Ajmer district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is situated about northwest of Ajmer and about southwest of Jaipur. The town lies at an elevation of about 510 metres (1,670 ft) and is surrounded by hills on three sides, with Nag Pahar ("Snake Mountain") forming a natural boundary between Ajmer and Pushkar.

hill station in Sirohi district of Rajasthan state in western India

Rameswaram (; also transliterated as Ramesvaram, Rameshwaram) is a municipality in the Ramanathapuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka. It is in the Gulf of Mannar, at the tip of the Indian peninsula. Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, is connected to mainland India by the New Pamban Bridge. Rameswaram is the terminus of the railway line from Chennai and Madurai. Together with Varanasi, it is considered to be one of the holiest places in India for Hindus

Eluru ( ) is a city and the district headquarters of Eluru district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the 14 municipal corporations in the state and the mandal headquarters of Eluru mandal in the Eluru revenue division. Situated on the banks of the Tammileru River, Eluru is strategically positioned in the southeastern part of Andhra Pradesh. It was historically known as Helapuri. Census of India, the city had a population of , where as Eluru Urban Development Authority has a population around 2,760,160, reflecting its status as a major urban centre. The city's historical sign

Rajahmundry ( ), officially Rajamahendravaram (the city of King Mahendra), is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and the district headquarters of the East Godavari district. It is the fifth most populated city in the state.

Deoghar (pronounced Devghar) is a city and a municipal corporation in Deoghar district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is also the administrative headquarters of Deoghar district. It is a holy place of Hinduism. The city is primarily known for Baidyanath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. The sacred temples of the city make this a place for pilgrimage and tourists. The city is very sacred to the followers of Hinduism, regardless of sects.

Konark is a medium-sized town in the Puri district in the state of Odisha, India. It lies on the coast by the Bay of Bengal, 65 kilometres from the state capital Bhubaneswar. It is the site of the 13th-century Sun Temple, also known as the Black Pagoda, built in black granite during the reign of Narasinghadeva-I. The temple is a World Heritage Site. The temple is now mostly in ruins, and a collection of its sculptures is housed in the Sun Temple Museum, which is run by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Gangotri is a town and a Nagar Panchayat (municipality) in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is 99 km from Uttarkashi, the main district headquarter. It is a Hindu pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi – the origin of the river Ganges. The town is located on the Greater Himalayan Range, at a height of . According to a popular Hindu legend, the goddess Ganga descended here when Shiva released the mighty river from the locks of his hair. thumb|Bhagirathi River and [[Himalayas in Gangotri, Uttarakhand]]

Kurukshetra () is a historical region in India, also known as Dharmakshetra ("Realm of duty") and as the "Land of the Bhagavad Gita". It also refers to the city Kurukshetra, situated in the area and administrative headquarters of Kurukshetra district in the Indian state of Haryana.

Amarkantak (NLK Amarakaṇṭaka) is a pilgrim town and a Nagar Panchayat in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India. The Amarkantak region is a unique natural heritage area. It is the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura Ranges, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. This is where the Narmada River, the Son River and Johilla River (tributary of Son) originate.

Religious town of Madhya Pradesh

Pandharpur (Pronunciation: [pəɳɖʱəɾpuːɾ]), also Pandaripuram is a popular pilgrimage town, on the banks of Chandrabhagā River, near Solapur city in Solapur District, Maharashtra, India. Its administrative area is one of eleven tehsils in the District, and it is an electoral constituency of the state legislative assembly (vidhan sabha). The Vithoba temple attracts about a million Hindu pilgrims during the major yātrā (pilgrimage) in Ashadha (June–July). Kasegaon is the largest village in pandharpur talukas.A small temple of Śri Vitthala-Rukmini is also located, which is as old as the main Vitth

Sringeri (IAST: Śṛṅgerī; ) also called Shringeri is a hill town and Taluk headquarters located in Chikkamagaluru district in the Indian state of Karnataka.

historical temples located in India

village in Amaravathi mandal, Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh, India

temple complex in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India

four Hindu pilgrimage sites in India

Barsana is a historical town and nagar panchayat in the Mathura district of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The town holds cultural and religious significance as the birthplace of Hindu goddess Radha, the chief consort of Krishna. Barsana is situated in the Braj region. The main attraction of the town is the historical Radha Rani Temple which attracts huge number of devotees throughout the year.

Jawalamukhi, also known as Jwalamukhi or Jawala-ji, is a temple town and a nagar parishad in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is the location of the Jwalamukhi temple, which is known for a naturally burning flame emanating from a rock fissure, and recognized as one of the Shakta pithas.

Sainthia (formerly Nandipur) is a city and a municipality in Suri Sadar subdivision of Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is known as business city of Birbhum district. The city is under the jurisdiction of Sainthia police station. Sainthia is the fourth most populous city in Birbhum district and 95th most populous city in West Bengal. The city covers an area of 10 km2 and had a population of 44,601 in 2011. Located on the banks of Mayurakshi River, Sainthia has been a major human settlement. The city is famous for Nandikeshwari Temple, one of the Shakta pithas

Yamunotri, also Jamnotri, is the source of the Yamuna River and the seat of the Goddess Yamuna in Hinduism. It is situated at an altitude of in the Garhwal Himalayas and located approximately North of Uttarkashi, the headquarters of the Uttarkashi district in the Garhwal Division of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the four sites in India's Chota Char Dham pilgrimage. The sacred shrine of Yamunotri, source of the river Yamuna, is the westernmost shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas, perched atop a flank of the Bandarpunch mountain. The chief attraction at Yamunotri is the temple devoted to the Godd

Pithapuram (also spelled as Pitapuram) is a city and municipality in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, India. With a history spanning over 1,500 years, it is one of the oldest towns in the state. Pitapuram served as the capital for various kingdoms of Andhra, dating back to the 4th century CE, and continues to be an important pilgrimage destination.

Indian fort

Thiruvarangam officially Srirangam is a neighbourhood in the city of Tiruchirappalli in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. A river island, Srirangam is bounded by the Kaveri River on one side and its distributary Kollidam on the other side. Considered as the first among the 108 Divya Desams, a group of Vishnu temples, it is famous for the Ranganathaswamy Temple, the largest temple complex in India and the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world. Srirangam is also home to a significant population of adherents of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

Mayapur () is a pilgrimage town in the Nabadwip CD block in the Krishnanagar Sadar subdivision of the Nadia district, West Bengal, India. It is situated at the confluence of the Jalangi River and the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges. The area is considered spiritually significant by followers and devotees of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

Trimbak (also known as Trimbakeshwar Trayambakēśvara) is a city and a municipal council in Nashik District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple is located here, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, where the Hindu genealogy registers at Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra are kept. The origin of the sacred Godavari River is near Trimbak.

Shiva ( Jyotirlinga) temple in Maharashtra, India

Tirumala is a Hindu religious temple town in Tirupati district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the neighbourhoods of the Tirupati city. The town is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority and located in Tirupati (urban) mandal of Tirupati revenue division. The town is strictly vegetarian. It is a hill town where Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is located, a popular shrine of Vishnu. Vishnu is believed to reside here with his full power, as in Vaikuntha, and thus the place is also called 'Bhuloka Vaikuntha'.

temple in India

thumb|left|230px|Dvaraka, modern Dwarka, is the setting for many chapters in Harivamsa. The city is described as near the sea, in modern-era [[Gujarat; a painting of the city in the 19th century (lower).]]

Arunachala (IAST: , 'Red Mountain') is a hill in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, and one of the five main Shaiva holy places in South India. The Arunachalesvara Temple to Shiva is located at the base of the hill. The hill is also known by the names Annamalai, Annamalaiyar Hill, Arunagiri, Arunachalam, Arunai, Sonagiri, and Sonachalam.

Dakor (Gujarati: ISO 15919: Ḍākōra) is a small city and a municipality in Kheda district in the state of Gujarat, India. It is prominent for its temple of Raṇchoḍrāyjī.

Shiva ( Jyotirlinga) temple in Maharashtra, India

shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva

thumb|255px|Bhattiprolu is one of the Holy relic sites of Andhra Pradesh

Sanskrit term denoting Hindu pilgrimages

confluence of three holy rivers, important in Hinduism