Religious tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. Travellers worldwide come to see the pilgrimage sites as per their beliefs and engage in travel activities. In this, we can include Yoga tourism, faith tourism, and spiritual tourism they all are the same. It has been spreading at a crazy pace in countries like India. As of today, this market is niche and not widely spread but the way people accept other religions religious tourism will be a big market.
What is Religious Tourism?
As the name suggests, any kind of travel to religious or spiritual places is considered Religious Tourism. Based on their belief system a traveller visits holy sites. A Hindu goes to Mandir, a Muslim goes to Dargah, a Christian goes to Church and a Sikh goes to Gurudwara. Religious tourism in India has been famous as people strongly believe in gods. According to some reports, almost 40% of travel in India is for religious purposes.
In recent times we have seen many people from the USA and Europe also come to Indian places such as Vrindavan and Varanasi for Religious purposes.
Also read – Most Famous Temples in Jaipur | Seven Sister States of India
Famous Destinations for Religion-Based Tourism in the World
In the world there are many places which are famous for religious activities. Here the some of the best places for religious tourism in the world.
| No. | Country | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | Varanasi – Hinduism’s holiest city; Golden Temple in Amritsar |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia | Mecca and Medina – Islam’s two holiest cities |
| 3 | Israel | Jerusalem – Holy city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam |
| 4 | Vatican City | St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums – Center of Catholicism |
| 5 | Italy | Assisi – Birthplace of St. Francis; Rome – Center of Catholicism |
| 6 | Japan | Kyoto – Home to numerous Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines |
| 7 | Nepal | Lumbini – Birthplace of Buddha |
| 8 | Tibet | Lhasa – Center of Tibetan Buddhism; Mount Kailash – Sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism |
| 9 | Turkey | Istanbul – Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque; Ephesus – Early Christian site |
| 10 | Egypt | Cairo – Al-Azhar Mosque and Coptic Christian sites |
| 11 | Greece | Mount Athos – Autonomous monastic state; Ancient religious sites |
| 12 | Mexico | Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe – Important Catholic pilgrimage site |
| 13 | Jordan | Petra – Ancient city with religious significance |
| 14 | Thailand | Wat Pho and Wat Arun – Important Buddhist temples |
| 15 | Iran | Mashhad – Imam Reza Shrine; Qom – Important center of Shia Islam |
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Places for Religious Tourism in India
India is the home of spirituality, and people firmly believe in the religious activities here. In every corner of this country, you can find the religious activity. Here are the best Indian places for religious tourism
| No. | Place | Famous Temples | Best Time to Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varanasi | Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple | October to March |
| 2 | Amritsar | Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) | Throughout the year, but avoid summer |
| 3 | Rishikesh | Triveni Ghat, Parmarth Niketan | September to November and March to June |
| 4 | Haridwar | Har Ki Pauri, Mansa Devi Temple | October to March |
| 5 | Mathura | Krishna Janmabhoomi, Dwarkadhish Temple | October to March |
| 6 | Ayodhya | Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi | October to March |
| 7 | Puri | Jagannath Temple | October to March |
| 8 | Dwarka | Dwarkadhish Temple | October to March |
| 9 | Kedarnath | Kedarnath Temple | May to June and September to October |
| 10 | Badrinath | Badrinath Temple | May to June and September to October |
| 11 | Vrindavan | Banke Bihari Temple, ISKCON Temple | October to March |
| 12 | Tirupati | Venkateswara Temple | Throughout the year |
| 13 | Madurai | Meenakshi Amman Temple | October to March |
| 14 | Shirdi | Shirdi Sai Baba Temple | Throughout the year |
| 15 | Kanyakumari | Kumari Amman Temple | October to March |
| 16 | Hampi | Virupaksha Temple | October to March |
| 17 | Somnath | Somnath Temple | October to March |
| 18 | Ajmer | Ajmer Sharif Dargah | Throughout the year |
| 19 | Bodh Gaya | Mahabodhi Temple | October to March |
| 20 | Khajuraho | Kandariya Mahadev Temple | October to March |
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Benefits of Religious Tourism
- Religious Beliefs – India is a country of belief and values, and they have strong feelings for this. Religious tourism provides convenience to them and makes their belief even more stronger. Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Mahakal Corridor, Rishikesh – Yoga capital is a great example of how religion-based tourism is beneficial for the whole society.
- Spiritual Peace – Most people go for religious tours when they are in trouble. These holy sites have a positive energy that encourages a person to go beyond the limits. Visiting here gives the running thoughts a break so you feel the peace and make your way.
- Celebrate Religious Events – Almost all the festivals in the world are related to a religion. It can be Diwali for Indians, Eid for Muslims, Christmas for Christians, and more. People want to celebrate these events at religious locations so they can pay gratitude to god.
- Gratitude and Confession – Sometimes, people fail to express their feelings to people. Religious tourism gives them a chance to go to a place feel the positive vibe of the place and understand their mistake.
So, Religious tourism is the fastest-growing industry, it is directly connected to the beliefs of people. The more convenient this kind of travel is the more society gets benefits from it. It helps local people to earn money and employment. The government will earn for the industry that develops. Travelers will get to know the history, and culture and get mental peace at these locations. In our opinion, religion-based tourism is a win-win situation for all.
