Holy Places of India Photo Essays

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	Bhubaneswar The capital of Orissa. The temple of half-Visnu and half-Siva, Hari-Hara Lingaraja, is often visited by pilgrims before going to Jagannath Puri.

	Gangotri Krishna said in Bhagavad-gita: "Amongst rivers I am Ganges" and all over the world you will hardly find a river more worshiped and more sacred than Ganges. Gangotri is situated on the upper reaches of Ganges, 3140 m above sea level near the most famous Ganges's source - Gomukh.

	Gokul Mahavana - Gokul is a place on the opposite side of Yamuna River where Krsna performed His childhood pastimes until He was three years old.

	Gomukh Ganges has many streams which are gradually combining into full-fledged Ganges. But the most famous is Gomukh located 23 km northeast from Gangotri.

	Govardhan The Govardhan Hill that was lifted by Krsna's hand for protection of inhabitants of Vrindavan is one of the three things that remained in Vraja from the times of Krisna's pastimes 500 years ago.

	Haridwar Haridwar is located on the west bank of the river Ganges. "Haridwar" literary means "the gate to Lord Hari", Lord Vishnu. It is one of the seven most sacred places of India and in the Puranas it is called Mayapuri-ksetra.

	Hrisikesh In Hrisikesh, 356 m above the sea level, Ganges leaves the Himalayas and flows into India's lowlands.

	Jagannatha Puri The city of Puri - also called Nilacala and Sri Ksetra

	Jaipur and Karoli "Town of Victory" with the fort where the original 5000 year old Govindaji Deity from Vrindavana is now being worshiped.

	Kanchipuram Kanchipuram is known as the "Golden City of Temples." It is considered one of the seven main sacred cities of India. Varanasi, Haridwar, Ujjain, Mathura, Ayodhya and Dvaraka are the others.

	Mt. Abu Dilwara Jain Temples are not classical Vaishnava sites of pilgrimage, but they are really worth to see. In its beautiful carvings you can find also scenes from Narasimha's and Krishna's pastimes.

	Pune

	Radhakunda The pond of Srimati Radharani near Govardhana Hill in Vraja is one of the most sacred place on Earth for Gaudiya-Vaishnavas.

	Rameswaram Rameswaram is a small town on the eastern side of an island, which is the shape of a conch shell, 55 km by 12 km. It is one of the four dhamas, or kingdoms of God. The other three are Badrinath, Puri and Dwarka.

	Raval and Dauji Raval is the birthplace of Srimati Radharani and the nearby village of Dauji is the home of an ancient Deity of Lord Balaram, Krisna's elder brother.

	Srirangam Srirangam (Sri Rangam) is located 2 km north of Tiruchirappalli. The main deity is Lord Ranganatha, or Lord Vishnu, reclining on Sesa Naga. This temple is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines of Lord Vishnu (Swayam Vyakta Ksetras). It is also considered the most important of the 108 main Vishnu temples (Divya Desams).

	Tirupati Tirupati is 170km northwest of Chennai (Madras), in Andhra Pradesh near the Tamil Nadu border. In Tirupati there is the important Sri Govindaraja Swami Temple, Kothanda Rama Swami Temple and the famous Kapileswara Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Siva.

	Varsana The residence of Maharaja Vrsabhanu, the father of Srimati Radharani. Many pastimes of Radha and Krishna took place in this area of Vraja.

	Vrndavan Small town on the bank of Yamuna River where Krsna performed His rasa-lila pastimes. One of the most sacred Holy Places in India for pilgrims and sadhus from many faiths.

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