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Chandidevi temple is one of the popular shaktipeethas in Haridwar,North India. It is also called siddhapitha as it is believed that the Goddess Chandi fulfills the wishes of her devotees. The temple is situated at the hilltop near Haridwar. The pilgrims can visit the temple by the ropeway in around 5 minutes while the steep climb by steps takes over 45 minutes. The main image at Chandidevi temple is said to have been installed by Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century A.D.

The ancient and sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) of the Tirupati Hill, and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini what is known popularly today as Tirupati Balaji Temple. The main temple complex of temple houses awe-inspiring idol of the Lord of the Seven Hills and is worshipped by millions of devotees all over the world. The devotees flock the temple in large numbers and make offerings in large quantity making it the richest temple in India. The temple has a long history and has acquired significance in Indian religious lore.

A holy shrine of quite antiquity that holds Vithoba, a localized version of lord Krishna is one among the numerous devout destinations in Pandharpur. The temple is believed to be centuries old and the most amazing aspect in this holy shrine is the scripture that dates back to the year 1195.The devotees used to rub their back on this scripture, which is believed to absolve them from the wheel of rebirths. The lord is seen accompanied by his consort Rukmini. The deities look truly impressive with its blackish colour and in Navarathri and Dusshera celebrations they would be clothed with new clothes everyday. The temple is open for the public for the whole day during Vari. After Vari the temple is washed with water and the deities would be fed with special meals.

The Palitana temples are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place (tirtha) by the Jain community. There are more than 1300 temples located on the Shatrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble. The main temple on top of the hill, is dedicated to 1st tirthankar lord Adinath (Rishabdeva). On the top the Shatrunjai Hill is a cluster of Jain temples, built by generations of Jains over a period of 900 years, from the 11th century onwards.No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. The town is considered by many Jains to be more important than the temple covered hills of Bihar, Gwalior, Mt Abu and Girnar. Palitana was the capital of a princely state of the Gohil Rajput clan. It is also one of the greatest tourist attractions in Gujarat for foreign tourists.

Renuka Devi Temple at Mahur in Nanded in Maharashtra is one of the important temples dedicated to Goddess Shakti. At Mahur Temple, the Murti worshipped is the head of Goddess Renuka Devi. Mahur is amongst the four places of pilgrimage having the abodes of the three and a half goddesses that are of major significance in the state of Maharashtra. The other three are Kolhapur, Tuljapur, and Saptashrungi and Mahur is half, because it is only the head of the goddess that is visible.

Mathura, the birth city of Bhagwan Krishna is situated on the banks of river Yamuna and is approximately 145 kms from the capital city Delhi. Mathura is renowned for being host to the most revered temple of Shri Krishna-the famous Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir. The temple is the place where lord is said to have been born thousands of years ago. Along with neighboring towns Govardhan, Nandgaon and Vrindavan, the area is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus. According to historians, the prison cell,popularly known as 'Garbha Griha', in the temple premise is the exact place where lord Krishna was born. The stone walled cell is reminiscent of the cruelty of King Kansa. Many statues and sculptures of the bygone era were found on excavating the site. The prison cell was gradually turned into the present beautiful temple. Lakhs of devotees throng the temple during Janmashtami. The festivities and celebrations during the festival is famous all over India. Celebrations begin during mid night with the birth of Bhagwan .

Suchindram temple, built mainly in the 17th century, is 13 km from Kanyakumari. It contains a linga, known as Sthanumalaya Swami, the triple aspect of God. This linga is Siva, Vishnu, and Brahma in one form. When you enter the temple, you see a laurel (konnayadi) tree that is about 2000 years old. In the hollow of the tree there is a linga of the Trimurtis-Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva

Aru padai Veedu Lord Murugan temples are located in Tamilnadu Skanda - also known as Murugan, Kartikeya, Subramanya is one of the most revered deities in the southern state of Tamilnadu. but six temples are considered most important - The arupadai veedus of Muruga. These are Palani near Madurai (Dhandaayutapani), Swamimalai (Swaminathanaswamy), Tiruchendur - (Bala Subramanya Swami and Senthilandavar), Tiruttani near Tirupati and Chennai (Bala Subramanya Swami), Tirupparamkundram near Madurai (Subramanyaswami), Pazhamudirsolai near Alagar Koyil near Madurai (Solaimalai Murugan). The deities in these temples depict various stages in Lord Muruga's life - as an angry child in Palani offering upadesam to his father in Swamimalai destroyed Surapadman & worshipped Lord Siva in Tiruchendur after destroying the asura Surapdman in Tiruttani married Deivayaanai in Tirupparankundram with Valli & Deivayaanai in Pazhamudirsolai

Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkatta is regarded as the holiest peeth or pith of the 52 Shakti Peethams of India, where the various parts of Sati's body are said to have fallen, in the course of Shiva's Rudra Tandava. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the right foot of Shakti or Sati fell, Another legend says that once a devotee saw a bright ray of light impending from Bhagirathi River. He located the light and discovered a piece of stone in the form of a human toe. In its vicinity, he also found a 'Svayambhu Lingam' of Nakuleshwar Bhairav. He placed the images in a small temple and started worshipping them in the forest. Kalighat Kali Temple is dedicated to the goddess Kali . The original temple was built by Raja Basanta Roy, who was the uncle of Pratapaditya and the King of Jessore (Bangladesh). The original temple was sited on the banks of Hooghly; however the river has shifted away from the temple with the period of time. In the past days, traders used to take stop at Kalighat to pay their obeisance to Goddess Kali.

Kancheepuram, one of the most sacred and religious Hindu pilgrim centers in India is also called the ‘Land of the Thousand Temples’. This ancient city was once the capital of some of the mightiest empires that rules South India. There was the Pallava Dysansty that rules the place and built some of the most amazing temples during their reign. Later, Kancheepuram also became the capital of the Chola and the Vijaynagar Empire. The magnetism that draws in tourists and pilgrims from all over to this city of perpetual veneration are the sacred temples situated here. Kancheepuram, which literally means the city of gold, is also called the Kashi or Varanasi of South India. Kancheepuram has also been a major seat of Tamil learning and a centre of religious and cultural growth for centuries . Some of the Famous Temples are Kailasanathar Temple- This is not only the oldest temples in kanchee, but of the whole of South India. Built by King Rai Singh in about 700 A.D, this temple in Kancheepuram is mainly devoted to Lord Shiva. Kamakshi Amman Temple- Built by the Cholas in 14 AD, the Kamamkshi Amman Temple is the center of all kinds of relogious activities in kancheepuram. Devarajaswami Temple- The Devarajaswami Temple was built by the Vijaynagar kings, devoted to Lord Vishnu. Ulahalanda Perumal Temple- the Ulahalanda temple is one of the most ancient temples in Kancheepuram, located near the Kamakshi Amman Temple. Ekambareswarar Temple (Ekambaranathar Temple)- This temple in Kancheepuram is one of the Panchabootha Sthal, where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of ‘prithvi’ lingam. Chitragupta Temple- the Chitragupta Temple in Kancheepuram is one among the few rare temples that are dedicated to Lord Chitragupta.

Sabarimala Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples. It is believed that "Parasurama Maharshi" who retrieved Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa. Sabarimala holy shrine is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demon, Mahishi.Lord Ayyappan's temple is situated here in the midst of 18 hills. The area is in the Sahya ranges of Kerala . Sabarimala (Mount Sabari - about 3000 feet above sea level) is the most favourite and significant temple in Kerala. Pilgrimage to this temple symbolises the journey to heaven.The pilgrims observe severe austerities, wearing rudraksha or tulsi beads strings in the neck and trek up the forest to reach the temple. The feeling of delight and spiritual elevation one gets when devotees have the darshan (when devotee sees) of the deity is remarkable and significant. The magnetic charm is so high, it makes any devotee, who undertakes the yatra (pilgrimage) once, to revisit the shrine every year in quest of spiritual solace. Sabarimala temple is open to all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, social status or nationality. The pilgrims undergo 41 days of fast to cleanse the mind. He carries on his head, the holy ghee for the Lord's Abisheka filled in coconut in "Irumudi" (two compartment cloth bag). The temple is open only to males and menopaused females (beyond 50 years of age) and little girls below 10 years of age. This is because the Lord is a chaste yogi in Sabarimala. The male pilgrims are called 'Ayyappan' and the female pilgrims are called 'Malikappuram'. The shrine is open only during specific period in a year. It is open from Mid- November to Mid-January and for first five days of every Malayalam month.

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The Chidambaram temple houses the Nataraja (Shiva in Ananda Tandava pose; the Cosmic Dance of bliss) statue. It is of great religious, historical and cultural significance. Chidambaram is one of the foremost Shaivite shrines in India. It is interesting to note that the word "Koyil" or temple in the Tamil Shaivite tradition refers to Chidambaram, where Natarajar is enshrined in the Ananda Tandavam (Dance of Bliss) pose. Chidambaram is one of the Panchabhoota signifying the 5 elements of wind water, fire, earth and space. The famous Tamil poets like Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar as well as Manikkavacakar have sung verses in praise of Chidambaram temple. Besides the above-mentioned poets, there are many other literary works that praise the glory of Chidambaram.

Darbaranyeswarar Temple is one of the Navagraha Temples Located near Kumbakonam,Tamil Nadu This Shivastalam is a vast temple shrine of great significance, especially in light of Saneeswarar's sannidhi here, which attracts thousands when the planet Saturn transits between zodiac signs. Tirunallar is located in close proximity to Karaikkal and Nagappattinam, (is under the administration of Pondicherry) and is well connected by road to many other towns in the area. Tirunallar is best accessed, driving from Mayiladuturai or from Nagapattinam. Tirunallar is one of the 7 Saptavitanka stalams of Tyagaraja connected with the Mucukunda Chola legend and Tiruvarur - housing Nagavitankar (Unmatta Natanam). The seven Vitankastalams are Tiruvarur, Tirukkuvalai, Tirukkaaraivaasal, Tirumaraikkaadu, Tiru Naagai, Tirunallaaru and Tiruvaimur. The image of Tyagarajar at Tiruvarur is the foremost of the 7 from which Indra is believed to have asked Muchukunda Cholan to pick the original image of Somaskandar worshipped by Mahavishnu. . Muchukunda Cholan is believed to have picked the right one (the image at Tiruvarur) , and Indra is believed to have rewarded him with all of the 7 images, which the latter installed at 7 different places within his territory, and it is these 7 temples which constitute the 7 Vitankastalams. Tirunallar is also ssociated with Sambandar's Pachaippatikam which remained 'green' even in the midst of his 'Anal Vaatam' at Madurai. .King Nala of the puranas is said to have been relieved of his afflictions upon worshipping here. The Tirunallar temple is a one of a kind temple with a shrine of this grandeur exclusively dedicated to Saturn. The architectural features date back to the Chola period and inscriptions dating back to the twelfth century AD are found in the temple.

Guruvayur, the abode of Lord Sree Guruvayurappan, is located 29 kms north west to the cultural capital of the Gods own country, Kerala. This narrow coastline strip of land on the south western edge of Indian subcontinent is one of the 10 paradises in the world The Srikovil (sanctum) is square in shape. The Lord, as seen in the sanctum, is believed to have given darshan in this particular form to Vasudeva and Devaki at the time of His birth and to Arjuna during the Kurukshetra battle. The gracefully decorated little idol of Sri Krishna with Shanku, Chakra, Gadha and Lotus in His hands is awe-inspiring. The constant chantings of the Lord’s names `Narayana’ and `Guruvayurappa’ fill the spiritual atmosphere around the sanctum.

The Temple of Lord Omkareshwar is situated on the banks of River Narmada, in between Indore & Khandwa.Lord Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is situated by the banks of Narmada river in the Malva area. Gods of all the Gods Lord Shiva’s Omkareshwar linga is situated on the mountain Mandhata. The Shiv Purana speaks of the greatness of Omkareshwar and Mammaleshwar. The 2 sons of the sun dynasty Mandhata (Ambarish and Mucchkund), practiced severe penance and austerities here pleased Lord Shiva. They had also performed great religious sacrifices here, because of this the mountain is named Mandhata. Before entering the temple one has to pass through 2 rooms. The Omkareshwar is not affixed to the ground, but is naturally installed there. There is always water around it. The significance of this linga is that the linga is not situated below the cupola. The idol of Lord Shiva is situated on the top of the temple. A huge fair is organised here on the day of Kartik Poornima. Omkareshwar is undoubtedly amongst the 12 Jyotirlingas but another name often comes up in this context is Mammaleshwar. Not only the name but the existence of these two are also thoroughly different. The temple of Maleshwar is situated south of the river Narmada, but both the forms of Shiva have been counted as one. It is said that once upon a time Vidhya Parvat practiced severe penances and worshipped Parthivarchana along with Lord Omkareshwar for nearly six months. As a result Lord Shiva was pleased and blessed him with the desire boon. On the sincere request of all the gods and the sages Lord Shiva made two parts of the ling. In one he resided as the Pranav or Omkar and assumed the form of Omkareshwar and Bhagwan Sadashiva, Parameshwar, Amareshwar or Mamaleshwar assumed form from the Partivlinga. The temple is built in the North Inidan style of architecture, with high spires The soft stone of which it was constructed has lent its pliable surface to a rare degree of detailed work, of which the frieze figures on the upper portion is the most striking with the stone roof of the temple being intricately carved also. Encircling the shrine are verandahs with columns which are carved in circles, polygons and squares. The temple also houses the shrines of Panchamuga Ganesha, and Annapoorani which are considered very auspicious by the devotees

The Kal Sarp Yoga is formed when all the planets are situated between Rahu & Ketu.When all the planets are hemmed between Rahu and Ketu i.e., the moon's north node and the moon's south node Kal Sarp Yoga is formed. Complete Kal Sarp Yoga is formed only when half of the chart is unoccupied by planets. The Kal Sarp Yoga is a dreaded yoga that can cause one's life to be miserable. A person under the affliction of this yoga leads a life of pain and misfortune. If it is highly afflicted this yoga has the capacity to cancel out all the good Yoga's of the chart. . This dosha is said to be severe when all planets are within the arc from Rahu to Ketu in their natural motion direction. There are supposed to be 12 types of Kalasarpa Doshas, based on the placement of rahu from the lagna to the 12th house. These 12 have been named after 12 fearful sounding snakes: Anant, Kulik, Vasuki, Shankhapal, Padma, Mahapadma, Takshak, Karkataka, Shankhanaad, Patak, Vishakata and Sheshanag. Kalsarpa Pooja : Kalsarpa Yog Shanti Pujan must be performed according to the conventions of the Vedic Shanti heritage. The ritual is begun with a holy dip in the Godavari signifying the purification of the mind and soul. Followed by worshipping Lord Mahamritunjay Trimbakeshwar only after which the main ceremony begins. Kalsarpa Yog is meant to fulfill pleasing wishes and desires so it is important to purify the body by passing atonement resolution. One gets the right to perform the rituals only after attaining expiation for the sins committed with ones knowledge or ignorance. To expiate all the sins committed one is asked to donate cow, the earth, sesame, butter gold and similar such ten donations are made to the spiritual guide. The Worshipper has to claim that the elimination of the Kalsarpa appeared in the horoscope namely Birth/ Gochar /Zodiac that is mentioned in the prime resolution would be carried as per the Vedic Traditions.

Shri Siddhivinayak Temple situated in holy land of Mumbai, Maharashtra Mahim east near by railway station. The siddhi vinayak has its own speciallity. In 1987 the vision came from lord Ganapathi in to the heart of Shri Chellappa and today we see a holy construction consist of different idols and lords.Shri Chellappa initiated the process of converting his earnings in to construction of the temple and the contribution from wellwishers.

Temple of Bhagwan Mahakal is situated in the town of Ujjain. Ujjain is near Indore, and is reached by train via Ratlam or Bhopal One of the 12 Jyotirlingas Temples in India, the lingam at the Mahakal is believed to be swayambhu (born of itself), deriving currents of power (Shakti) from within itself as against the other images and lingams which are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti. The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known to be dakshinamurti, facing the South. This is a unique feature, upheld by tantric tradition to be found only in Mahakaleshwar among the 12 jyotirlingas. The idol of Omkareshwar Shiva is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine. The images of Ganesh, Parvati and Karttikeya are installed in the west, north and east of the sanctum sanctorum. To the south is the image of Nandi. The idol of Nagchandreshwar on the third storey is open for darshan only on the day of Nagpanchami. The temple has five levels one of which is undergound. The temple itself is located in a spacious courtyard surrounded by massive walls near a lake. The shikhara or the spire is adorned with sculptural finery. Brass lamps light the way to the underground sanctum. It is believed that prasada (holy offering) offered here to the deity can be re-offered unlike all other shrines.

Sri Nathji Located in Shri Nathadwara in Rajasthan (India) is an absolutely beautiful black marble Deity of Lord Krishna, standing with His hand upraised lifting Govardhana Hill. The idol of Srinathji, sculpted out of one piece of black marble was installed first at the Jatipura temple at Mathura (UP) by Jagatguru Sri Vallabhacharya. Many devotees who visit Nathdwara do service for the Deity, such as carry wood, cut vegetables, sweep the temple, or make garlands. There is a story that Sri Nathji once tore his garment while rushing back to the temple to be on time for darshan. From that day on it has been a custom to blow the conch and then wait several minutes before opening the altar doors. In that way Sri Nathji may return leisurely to his temple from wherever he may be sporting. The temple of Sri Nathji and other places of worship for the followers of Vallabhacharya are like houses. They are made to be like the Gokul house of Krishna's father, Nanda Maharaja. The temple, therefore, is also known as Nanda Bhavan or Nandalaya, "the house of Nanda Maharaja." On the top of the temple is a spire, or kalasa, as well as the disc of Lord Vishnu and seven flags. The temple owns lot of cows. One of the cows is called the "Sri Nathji's cow" and comes from a lineage that has served the Deity for generations. The milk from this cow goes only for Sri Nathji to drink. Milk from the other cows is made into various sweets for the Deity.

Sri Nathji Located in Shri Nathadwara in Rajasthan (India) is an absolutely beautiful black marble Deity of Lord Krishna, standing with His hand upraised lifting Govardhana Hill. The idol of Srinathji, sculpted out of one piece of black marble was installed first at the Jatipura temple at Mathura (UP) by Jagatguru Sri Vallabhacharya. Many devotees who visit Nathdwara do service for the Deity, such as carry wood, cut vegetables, sweep the temple, or make garlands. There is a story that Sri Nathji once tore his garment while rushing back to the temple to be on time for darshan. From that day on it has been a custom to blow the conch and then wait several minutes before opening the altar doors. In that way Sri Nathji may return leisurely to his temple from wherever he may be sporting. The temple of Sri Nathji and other places of worship for the followers of Vallabhacharya are like houses. They are made to be like the Gokul house of Krishna's father, Nanda Maharaja. The temple, therefore, is also known as Nanda Bhavan or Nandalaya, "the house of Nanda Maharaja." On the top of the temple is a spire, or kalasa, as well as the disc of Lord Vishnu and seven flags. The temple owns lot of cows. One of the cows is called the "Sri Nathji's cow" and comes from a lineage that has served the Deity for generations. The milk from this cow goes only for Sri Nathji to drink. Milk from the other cows is made into various sweets for the Deity.

Temple of Lord Somnath is situated near the town of Veraval in Western part of Gujarat. Veraval is reached from Rajkot. There is an interesting story associated with the emergence of this Jyotirlinga, mentioned in the Purana The temple is dedicated to Someshwara, the Lord Shiva, with moon on his head. In its external design the Somnath temple compares well with the temple of Rudramala at Siddhapur and is more or less of the same size in length. The dome, however, is as large as any other built in this period. The temple faces to east and once had an enormous central hall with three entrances, each protected by a lofty porch. The fragments that lie scattered at a short distance from the site give some idea of the sculpture decorating the temple. The richly carved doorways, the sculptured representations of Nandi, Sivas bull, and the figures of goddesses and their female attendants must once have presented a grand ensemble of great beauty. In the recesses of the balconied corridor, there is a mutilated form of Nataraja, the dancing Shiva. Although essentially a Brahmanical temple, the influence of Jain architecture is clearly discernible

Dwarka city is located in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat. It is one of the most ancient cities in India and houses the famous Dwarkadhish temple, which is one of the biggest Hindu pilgrimage places in India. Dwarka was also called Swarna Dwarka (golden Dwarka) because of its prosperity. It even finds reference in the great Hindu epic of Mahabharata. After Shri Krishna killed his maternal uncle Kansa, his father-in-law was enraged. In order to take revenge of his son-in-law, he attacked Mathura 17 times, along with his friend Kalayavan. To save the people from the threat of the war, he decided to shift his capital from Mathura to Dwarka, which was basically a piece of a land reclaimed from the sea. The city was designed and constructed by the celestial architect Vishwakarma. It was a planned city and served as the capital city of the Lord till His holy presence on the earth. After he died, the Yaduvansh (Krishna's clan) declined. It is said that the original city built by the Lord submerged in the sea after he departed from the world. Later, one of the grandsons of the Lord constructed the Dwarkadhish Temple. Dwarkadheesh Temple is also known as the Jagad Mandir and it is made from limestone and sand. The spire of the temple is about 170 feet high. The flag on the top of the shrine is the symbol of the majesty of the Lord and is changed three times in a day. Dwarkadhish Temple has five storeys and stands on 60 pillars. It has a unique construction and did not even budge at the time of Tsunami or Earthquake. The temple mainly has two doors, with the entrance door being called the Swarga Dwara and the exit door the Moksha Dwara. Dwarkadhish Temple is adorned with rich carvings and is an architectural gem. It welcomes the poor and the rich alike. The temple is one of the important Moksh Dhams of India. One can have the splendid view of River Gomati from the temple, as it flows nearby. Apart from Lord Krishna, there are a number of deities present in the Dwarkadhish Temple. The temple holds the same significance for Hindus like Mecca for Muslims. It is thronged by thousands of pilgrims each year, who come here in quest of the eternal peace

Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple is situated at Kashi (Banaras) and famous by the name of Shiv Vishwanath Kashi. It is said in the scriptures that when the earth was submerged under water (Pralaya). Lord Shiva upheld holds this place by his Trishul. It is believed that who come and die here attain liberation (Moksha). Lord Shiva gives the Tarak Mantra to the ones who die here. The one who prays and worships Vishweshwar with devotion attains all his desires of happiness and liberation; and one who incessantly recites his name attains all siddhis and finally gets liberated Situated amidst the crowded lanes of Varanasi, the temple of Vishwanatha can be approached from a lane called Vishwanatha lane. Inside the courtyard is the temple of Vishwanatha surrounded by many subsidiary shrines. There is a well, called Jnana Vapi i.e. ‘wisdom well’ located to the north of the main temple. As one enters the temple from the southern side the first temple to the left of the pilgrim are three temples in a row one behind the other – Vishnu, Virupakshi Gauri and Avimukta Vinayaka. A cluster of five lingas enclosed in a temple is called Nilakantheshvar temple. Just above the Avimukteshvara Vinayaka are temples of Shanishchara and Virupaksha. To the right just near the entrance is the temple enshrining a linga called Avimukteshvara. There is a controversy regarding the original Jyotirlinga at the place, which suggests that not the Vishwanatha but the Avimukteshvara is the original Jyotirlinga. According to some scholars the other lingas like the Mahakala, Nikumbheshvara, Dandapanisvara, Vaikuntheshvara, kala Bhairava, kapileshvara, Kubereshvara bear the names of Yakshas. There are also images of Saubhagya Gauri, Shringar Gauri, Savitri, Vighneshvara Ganesha, Vyaseshvara etc. along with a cluster of small lingas to the north is called the court of Vishwanatha. The Vishwanatha temple consists of a mandapa and a sanctum. Inside the sanctum a linga is set into the center of the floor in a square silver altar. The Linga is of black stone. Though the interior of the temple is not large and elaborate it presents the peaceful atmosphere ideal for worship. Puja timings: The temple is kept open from 5.30 in the morning and stays so till 12 in the noon. The temple usually remains closed during the noon hours, and reopens in the evening at 4 p.m. The temple closes in the night after the last pujas are performed by 8 p.m. The pilgrims visit the temple any time of the day and worship the Lord by offering flowers and bilva leaves and chanting mantras of Shiva. Daily five times the Aarati is performed. The evening Aarati is known as Shringar Aarati. During this Aarati the linga is decorated with variety of flowers.

Shree Siddhivinayak Ganpati Mandir is the most popular & significant places of worship of Shree Ganesh in India.Shree Siddhivinayak Temple of Mumbai located in Prabhadevi is counted amongst the most venerated temples of India. It is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the Elephant God, and is situated in the Prabhadevi locality of the city. The credit for the construction of the temple goes to Vithu and Deubai Patil. Built in the year 1801, Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is visited by people belonging to almost all the sects of the society. The temple comprises of a small mandapam (hall), where the idol of Siddhi Vinayak (Lord Ganesha) has been enshrined. Boasting of exquisite architecture, the sanctum sanctorum has been fitted with wooden doors that have been meticulously carved with the images of the Ashtavinayaka (the eight manifestations of Lord Ganesha). Its inner roof has been beautifully adorned with gold plating. Inside the sanctum is placed the central statue of Lord Ganesha. The idol portrays the Lord with four arms, carrying a lotus, an axe, modakas (sweet dumplings) and a garland of beads, respectively. The upper floors of Shree Siddhi Vinayak Temple of Bombay comprises of the residential quarters of its priests. Though the temple remains crowded throughout the week, it receives exceptional rush on Tuesdays. Siddhivinayak or Lord Ganesha holds a very important position in the Hindu mythology. It is believed that any new work, new place or new possession will prosper if one prays to the lord before starting or using it. This is one of the main reasons why renowned people, including politicians and celebrities like Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar and Bal Thackeray, regularly visit the temple. One of the narrow lanes that lead to the premises of the Shri Siddhivinayak Temple is known as the 'Phool Gali'. The street remains dotted with a large number of stalls, where one can find shopkeepers selling tulsi flower garlands, coconuts, sweets, etc - to be offered to the Lord. The temple witnesses exceptionally large rush of devotees, during Angaraki and Sankashti Chaturti. Whenever you happen to visit Mumbai, make sure to pay a visit to this amazing shrine.

Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the devout Hindu. It is set amidst the stunning mountainscape of the Garhwal Himalayas at the head of the Mandakini River. Kedar is another name of lord Shiva, the protector & the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passions - love, hatred, fear, death & mysticism which are expressed through his various forms. Lord Shiva manifested in the form of Jyotirlingam or the cosmic light. Kedarnath is highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas. This ancient and magnificient temple is located in the Rudra Himalaya range. This temple, over a thousand years old is built of massive stone slabs over a large rectangular platform. Ascending through the large gray steps leading to the holy sanctums we find inscriptions in Pali on the steps. The present temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya.The inner walls of the temple sanctum are adorned with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic - Mahabharata. According to legends, the Pandavas sought the blessings of lord Shiva to atone their sin after the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed, he dived into ground leaving behind his hump on the surface. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. The temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. It is situated at an altitude of 3,581 mt. It is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund

Manmad Gurudwara is situated at Manmad which is a major junction on Delhi to Mumbai route. Before starting of Sachkhand Express, pilgrims had to change the train at this station to travel to Shri Hazur Sahib, Nanded. Guru Gobind Singh Ji brought two royal prisoners from Satara Fort by air route here by holding the stir rups of his horse. The names of the prisoner were Balarao and Rustumrao. There was then very dense forest at the place of Manmad Gurudwara. Sant Baba Nidhan Singh Ji started karseva for constructing Gurudwara here by clearing the dense forest with the help of his people. Hidden Bauli was found while constructing the Gurudwara. After cleaning the well, it was noticed that the water of the well is divine and sweet. Because of this hidden well (Gupta Kuwan) the Gurudwara is later named as Gurudwara Gupatsar Sahib.

GOLDEN TEMPLE : Amritsar is at the epicentre of the Sikh faith, for it is home to the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines. For Sikhs it is both a place where Punjab's wealth is on full display, as well as an important pilgrimage. But it is not only Sikhs who come here. People from all faiths come to the Golden Temple, a tribute to the syncretist traditions of a faith whose holy book is a compilation .

Lord Shabarimala is a perfect embodiment of compassion and grace. Visiting Shabarimala, taking his darshan with love and devotion enhances the morale of the devotees and his blessings make an end to human sufferings. Staunch devotee of Lord Ayyappa should visit the Shabarimala temple, to receive the grace of God and lead a better and meaningful life. Aiming at this noble cause and keeping the difficulties faced by the devotees to visit the old Shabarimala temple, a few people staying at Goregaon decided to construct an Ayyappa temple at for the devotees staying in Mumbai.

Ranakpur - The Jain Temples in Aravali
Ranakpur in the state of Rajasthan is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. It is home to an exceptionally beautiful temple complex in the Aravali ranges and a must visit for the tourists coming to this region.

Location
Ranakpur is tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravali range. It is situated around 60 km north of Udaipur in Pali district and boasts of one of the largest and most important Jain Temples in the country. The place is well connected through a road network to other places in the region.

History
Ranakpur is named after Rana Kumbha whom Dharna Sah, a Jain businessman, approached when he had the vision of his great temple to ask for the land for its construction. Renowned for some marvelously carved Jain temples in amber stone, Ranakpur is one of the five holiest places of the Jain community and exceptional in beauty. Situated at a distance of around 60 km from Udaipur, these temples were constructed in the AD 1439.

Pilgrimages Attractions of Ranakpur
The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the liberal and gifted Rajput monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. The basement is of 48,000 sq. feet area that covers the whole complex. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are intricately carved with no two being alike. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an interesting sight. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kg whose sound echoes in the entire complex. The main temple is a Chaumukh or a four-faced temple dedicated to Adinath.

The three other Jain temples in the same complex, including a temple of the Sun God, are all well worth a visit. One kilometer away from the temple complex is the temple of Amba Mata.

Sadri
Sadri, eight km away, is famous for some beautiful temples and an old dargah of Khudabaksh Baba. The Varahavtar temple and the Chintamani Parsvanath temple are the oldest of the temples situated here.

Temples at Desuri
Three temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Navi Mata are among some noteworthy temples at Desuri around 16 km from Ranakpur. An old mosque situated here is also worth a visit. A temple dedicated to Parsuram Mahadeo, nestled in the hills, is also close by.

Another nearby place, Ghanerao, abounds in Hindu temples. Most notable is the temple of Gajanand with a life-size statue of the goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi. The statue in the main shrine is guarded by idols of Hanuman and Bhairon on either side.

• Muchhal Mahavir temple
  The Muchhal Mahavir temple is situated about five km from Ghanerao in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary. Its distinctive feature is the statue of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. The two statues of elephants guarding the gateways are splendid examples of temple decoration. In the vicinity are the Garasia tribal villages famous for their colorful costumes.
• Falna Ranakpur
  The Jain Golden Temple in Falna, a small town in Rajasthan has a unique attraction worldwide. It is the first temple that has been constructed by the people of the Jain community. The specialty of the temple is that, from the Falna town itself about 90 Kg. of gold was donated by the ladies of the Jain community for the idolization of temple dome and Lords idol.

The history behind the Sri Sri Radha Krishna temple is rooted in devoted members of ISKCON and their efforts to bring awareness of their religion and Indian culture to western Countries. The influence of this movement can be traced back thousands of years to the basic beliefs surrounding Krishna, and additionally to modern advocates for Krishna Consciousness like Swami Prabhupada.

The Sri Sri Radha Krishna temple located in Spanish Fork, Utah is in existence mainly due to the efforts of Charu Das (formerly Christopher Warden) and his activity within ISKCON. Charu Das is American by birth and left the United States in order to protest and avoid the war in Vietnam. He then traveled through Europe, India, and Singapore. While in Singapore he met his future wife, and the two of them began a lifetime of work to further Krishna Consciousness. The two went to Australia where they lived and worked for a time. After spending several years with a community of Krishna devotees, Charu left Australia and returned to the United States where he served in several different positions for the ISKCON.

Charu Das first visited Utah in 1975 when he traveled to BYU to sell books for a trust under ISKCON. His impressions were positive, and he appreciated the atmosphere of tolerance and interest. Years later after leaving his position at a temple near Berkley he returned to Utah. On November 10, 1996 ground breaking ceremonies were held at the temple's current location in Spanish Fork, and on February 16, 1998 the construction of the temple began.
The Sri Sri Radha Krishna temple continues to thrive each year as it attracts thousands of guests for both tours and seasonal festivals.

[edit] Events, Festivals, and Grounds

The temple houses a natural amphitheater with the capacity to accommodate thousands. From March through October the temple usually holds entertainments such as art and photography displays, tour guides, cuisine tasting, cultural exhibits on India, a gala pageant of the epic Ramayana, the burning of a 20 foot high effigy of the demon Ravana, weddings and receptions, guided llama tours, and fireworks. There is a gift shop on site as well. Annually, the biggest celebration of Holi festival (also known as the Festival of Colors) in the US is held here, typically teaching a Hindu message to a mostly LDS audience. Visitors can buy different colored chalk to throw it at a replica of Holika in the evening bonfire. The Authentic Indian Gulal is especially imported from India. There are many different visitors such as schools, scout troops, summer or senior organizations, and family reunions^[2].