Churches in India attract a number of tourists throughout the year which thrive to portray the post colonial hangover, the cultural Diaspora of India. Christianity is India"s third largest religion and beautifully embellished churches adorn every city and town in India.

Popular Churches in India
Here is a list of most popular churches that India has to offer:

Basilica of Bom Jesus: It is located in Old Goa which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It holds the mummified remnants of St. Francis Xavier, one of the co-founders of the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits. It was constructed from 1594 onwards and was sanctified in 1605 and has since seen thousands of visitors every year.

Santa Cruz Basilica: It is located in Kerala and is one of the eight basilicas in the country. It was established in 1505 by Francisco de Almeida and was declared as a basilica by the then Pope John Paul II in 1984. There are various frescoes and murals modelled on Christ and a reproduction of the Last Supper adorning the walls of it.

Se Cathedral: It is located in Old Goa and is one of the largest churches in India which is dedicated to Catherine Alexandria. It is the cathedral of the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the seat of the Patriarch of the East Indies. It also has a baptismal font made in 1532 which was used by Saint Francis Xavier in order to baptise several Goan converts.

Velankanni: Among the Christians, this church is considered to be a place that will help them with any health related illnesses. It is situated at Tamil Nadu. It is believed that people, who visit the church with faith, can proffer candles to Mother Mary. Making this offering and praying will provide the ailing person with relief from the ailment.

St. Aloysius Chapel: It is often compared to the chapels in Rome and built in 1884. It is located in Mangalore. The paintings tend to cover every inch of the walls of this serene chapel.

Sacred Heart Church: It is located in Shimoga, Karnataka. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Shimoga or Sacred Heart Church is the second largest church in India and architectural marvel of Karnataka. Sacred Heart Church is spread over an area of 18000 square feet and built in a Roman and Gothic styles.

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary: It is Asia"s second largest Catholic Church. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary is located in a small town called Kunkuri, Chhattisgarh.

Medak Cathedral: It is the largest of all churches in Telangana state. It is also the single biggest bishopric in Asia. It was originally built by Charles Walker Posnett British Wesleyan Methodists and was consecrated on 25th December 1924.

Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours: It is a minor basilica of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Thrissur City. It is famous for its Gothic style architecture and is the third tallest church in Asia. It is known as an archaeological wonder of olden times.

San Thome Basilica: It is located in Chennai and is primary church of the Roman Catholic and a famous pilgrimage centre for Christians in India. San Thome Basilica is one the important tourist attractions in the city of Chennai.

St. Mary"s Basilica: It is located in Bengaluru. It is the oldest church in the city which has been built in the Gothic style and the church has been elevated as the status of a minor basilica in Karnataka.

Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health: It is one of the most-frequented religious sites in the small town of Velankanni in Tamil Nadu. It is built in the Gothic style of architecture and one of must visit Church of India.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church: It is located in Goa and is elegant in the heart of the capital city Panaji. This is one of the oldest churches in Goa and part of the Churches and Convents of Goa monuments.

Paul"s Cathedral: St. Paul"s Cathedral of Kolkata was also the first cathedral built in overseas province. This Cathedral is largest cathedral in Kolkata and noted for its Gothic architecture.

Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom: It is located in Tamil Nadu and is a famous centre of pilgrimage. This is an ancient Christian Church dedicated to the Holy Spirit, which was the first of its kind in Asia.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: It is located in Puducherry and has become one of the famous pilgrimage spots for Christians. It contains rare stained glass panels portraying events from the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Church.

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica: It is located in Cochin which is one of the eight Basilicas Churches of Kerala and as one of the heritage structures of the state. This church is one of the supreme and most remarkable churches in India.

St. Lawrence Shrine: St. Lawrence Shrine is also called "Attur Church" which is a Roman Catholic church located in the Udupi district of Karnataka. "Attur Church" is located in the outskirts of Karkala town and is famous for three days annual feast and festival.

Cathedral Of The Sacred Heart: The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Delhi. It is one of the oldest church buildings in New Delhi, located at Connaught place.

Mount Mary Church: Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount is well thought-out to be the oldest Church in Mumbai, situated in the West Bandra. Mount Mary Church stands on a hillock in Mumbai and draws lakhs of devotees and pilgrims every twelve months.

All Saints Cathedral: It is also known as "Patthar Girja" which is a Gothic style church, build at the hub of a large open space at Civil lines. The cathedral is one of the most extraordinary structure and part of the Church of North India.

St. Andrew"s Basilica: Arthunkal St Andrew"s Basilica is one of the most sacred churches in Kerala, visited by lakhs of devotees once a year. It became the first Basilica in the diocese of Alleppey.

Reis Magos Church: It is situated at North Goa district in Goa and was built in 1555 by Franciscan Friars. This Portuguese-styled church is also known as the "Church of the Three Magi Kings" and one of the few churches in the country to be dedicated towards celebrating the Feast of the Three Wise Men annually.

Kadamattom Church: Situated in Moovattupuzha in Kerala, Kadamattom church was constructed in the traditional Kerala architectural style. Some believe that a little land was gifted to Mar Sabor after he cured a child of a wealthy family and he used that to build the church.

Other popular churches of India are Christ Church of Shimla, St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of Malayattoor, Parumala Church of Parumala, Rosary Church of Karnataka, Basilica of Holy Rosary Church of Hooghly and so on.