| One of the biggest democracies in the world and one | | | | sights that foreign tourists love for their picturesque |
| with a secular base, India has one of the most | | | | views. Thousands of lit earthen lamps floating in river |
| complex demographic profile. Hindus, Muslims, | | | | waters and jumbled up voices of innumerable |
| Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Jews, Parsis, and | | | | devotees echoing the 'aarti' present a surreal picture |
| several other smaller religious denominations are all | | | | that is difficult to capture in words or camera. Similarly, |
| inseparable part of Indian society and Indian culture, all | | | | the luxury boat rides on River Ganga, with muted |
| complimenting each other like myriad colors of nature. | | | | music of table and sarangi, are perfect to see how the |
| India Pilgrimage Tour take you on an unbelievable | | | | world rises with the first rays of the sun, drowning the |
| journey of 'oneness' in humanity that binds us all, | | | | darkness and silence of night into the busy |
| despite our origins, ethnicity, languages we speak, | | | | movements and sounds of life and prayers during |
| philosophies we believe, and paths we follow. | | | | daytime. |
| Pilgrimage tours in India take us on an exploration to | | | | It is surprising to see how the 400-year old Mughal rule |
| discover ourselves, our spirit, and our divinity. | | | | brought a turnaround in Hinduism-dominated Indian |
| Monasteries in Ladakh preserve Tibetan Buddhism | | | | culture and some of the most major temples of the |
| well. Besides preserving religious sects, they showcase | | | | North now coexist with mosques, joined wall-to-wall. |
| the beauty and wisdom of Tibetan culture and Tibetan | | | | The Babri Masjid structure in Ayodhya, birthplace of |
| society. If you care to delve deeper, you will find | | | | Lord Rama, has been demolished due to power politics |
| several tributes to Tibetan struggle for freedom. The | | | | but the Krishna Janmabhoomi at Mathura, birthplace of |
| chief attractions of these monasteries are their dance | | | | Lord Krishna; and Gyanvapi Mosque besides Kashi |
| festivals which are grand and bring color to the frozen | | | | Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi, the City of Lord |
| lands of Leh and Ladakh. | | | | Shiva, are still standing as the proof of love and |
| Golden Temple of Amritsar, with its sparkling reflection | | | | affection between the two communities. |
| in the sacred lake where devotees take a holy dip, is | | | | India has also been the birthplace of Lord Buddha and |
| certainly the best maintained religious precincts in India. | | | | Lord Mahavir and several Jain and Buddhist pilgrimage |
| Entirely taken care of by devotees who take on the | | | | sites form the highlights of pilgrimage tours in India. |
| duties of the temple as a boon and opportunity to | | | | Churches of Goa are noteworthy too and were the |
| serve their Gurus, the Golden Temple is much | | | | harbingers of Christian missionary work in India. The |
| appreciated for its cleanliness and services. | | | | land of one and all, India has preached love and |
| River Ganges, originating at Gangotri in Uttaranchal and | | | | humanity to the world since old times. Today, |
| dropping off at Bay of Bengal, has several religious | | | | Pilgrimage Tours in India are a tribute to its spiritual |
| sites along its banks. Ganga Aarti at Haridwar and | | | | glory and supremacy and express a hope that |
| Rishikesh, and an early morning boat ride along the | | | | message finally passes around the world and helps us |
| Ghats of Varanasi are one of the most wondrous | | | | to curb violence and terrorism. |