Places in India to Experience Spirituality

India is known as the land of mystics, and a place which has seen many civilizations rise and fall. The experience of India can transform a person’s life completely. Every place in India has its own story with enlightenment at the core. Travelling the expanses of the country is more than sightseeing. It is a spiritual experience which cannot be forgotten. There is nothing better than an adventure with spiritual experience. If Yoga is the aim of travel, then India is the not only the place of origin but also has many options to choose from. Devotional and meditative experience is there in every place you go. In India Yogic practices are embedded in the culture and the true experience of this ancient knowledge can be had by experiencing the culture. The blend of modern and ancient makes India the place to visit.

So, the question that comes to the mind is which places to visit to get the magical and mythical experience? There is no single answer to this question. The diversity of culture and the abundance of places to visit make making the choice very difficult. You can take a journey of ancient Hindu temples and places of importance to Buddhism as both are closely attached to meditation and spirituality. Trying to visit every corner of the country can be very tempting but is not practical. So, the endeavor of the article is to introduce you to three most popular places with each location with a different experience. The attempt is to bring together the three forces of nature which are abundant in India – Rivers, Mountains and Sea.

1.  Varanasi the City of Prayer – The constant chanting of mantras and the jingling of puja bells makes Varanasi the city of prayers. Varanasi is said to be one of the oldest cities in the world and is built on faith and prayer. The holy Ganga and its 80 Ghats make the place. As per Hindu mythology, the city is placed on the Trident of Shiva and will survive parlay (Apocalypse). The boon of Shiva reverberates throughout the city, and people who want to get rid of the cycle of birth and death come here to get salvation.

Yoga is a part of life here in Varanasi, which includes the morning Surya Namaskar and the evening aarti. Even the practice of bowing before the deity in temples is a Yogic practice. If you keep an open mind you can find meditation and spiritual energy all around in the city. Another location which is just 10 Km away from the Varanasi city is Sarnath, the place where Buddha gave his first sermon.

 

2. Rishikesh the place of Yogis – Located at the confluence of Himalayas and Ganga Rishikesh has been a place of mystics since time immemorial. This is the last place Ganga is in the hilly terrain before it enters the plane at Haridwar. The place is rightfully called the land of meditation and now recognised as the Yoga capital of the world. Sage Vashishta one of the contributors to the ancient text Vedas is believed to have practised mediation here. The pristine Ganga gurgling through the mountains is like a chant of spirituality. 

The Ganga is not only a river but a soul purifying deity for the yogis. The water of the river is said to have magical property of curing some incurable disease, and also the place for yogic practices. Today there’re many options of retreats here in Rishikesh. A must visit place if you want to tap into the deep spiritual spring.

3. Mahabalipura (Now Mamallapuram) the City of Artists – During the reign of Pallava rulers, this ancient town was a place for art and craft. You can find a treasure of creation, which includes the many shrines dedicated to gods. The clink of artisans creating ancient art from their chisel is like the rhythm of our own breath.

You can see the oldest sculpture of a yogic pose “Tree” here. Perhaps the carving is of Arjuna the warrior who fought in the Great War Mahabharata. He is said to come here for Tapa for getting the weapons from gods. Here you can find a different form of Yoga being practised by the Brahmins of Tamil Nadu. Yoga is in their daily routine. Surya Namaskar and other poses are a part of their lives, and you can learn from them living in their closed knit community.

There are many other places in India which you can visit for the spiritual and magical experiences. These three places can be a good start of the journey.

For more information visit on: http://goo.gl/Hs0caC