Pilgrimage sites in West India are renowned for their architectural versatility, cultural heritage, historical significance and religious relevance. India is recognised as a unique country with diverse religions and traditions, which is quite evident from the several religious institutions and pilgrimage spots scattered throughout the nation. The western Indian states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat are enriched with marvellous mosques, ancient temples, dargahs and other religious monuments. Such religious sites are maintained and visited by millions of travellers and devotees throughout the year, which includes native Indian citizens as well as foreign tourists. Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples are existent here and also the pilgrimage spots popular amongst Christians and Muslims.
Pilgrimage Sites in Rajasthan
Rajasthan, the city of the bold Rajputs has been the home of a large quantity of ornate Hindu temples, some of which has been existent since ancient or medieval ages. Jagatpita Brahma Temple in Pushkar which is 2000 years of age, Karni Mata Temple at Bikaner, Kalika Mata Temple at Chittorgarh which belongs to an age predating Maharana Pratap Singh, Eklingji Temple, Ambika Mata Temple, Neemach Mata Temple and Jag Mandir at Udaipur, Shri Dev Dham Jodhpuria Temple at Tonk, Govind Dev Ji Temple, Birla Mandir, Shila Devi Temple and Galtaji Temple at Jaipur, Dadhimati Mata Temple belonging to the 4th century at Nagaur, the 900-year-old Sundha Mata Temple at Jalore, Parshuram Mahadev Temple at Pali are amongst the large number of temples located here.
This Indian state also possesses several Jain Temples which consist of five Dilwara Temples: Khartar Vasahi, Vimal Vasahi, Luna Vasahi, Pithalhar and Mahaveer Swami, which exhibit beautiful architectural grace. Some other well-known Jain temples situated in Rajasthan comprise Mirpur Jain Temple at Sirohi, Ranakpur Jain Temple at Ranakpur, Soniji ki Nasiyan Temple, Tijara Jain Temple at Alwar, Shri Mahavirji Temple at Sawai Madhopur, Osian Temple at Jodhpur, Rishabhdeo Jain Temple at Udaipur, etc. The regional mosques of Rajasthan are Jama Masjid at Ajmer which was built by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, the sacred dargah of Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti and Adhai Din-ka-Jhonpra.
Besides temples and mosques, there also exist some beautiful churches in this part of the country like Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Rajasthan Pentecostal Church, St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Shepherd Memorial Church, Emmanuel Church, St. Sebastians Church, St. Xaviers Church, Kalvari Bible Church, St. Andrews Church, Pentecostial Mission Church and many more.
Pilgrimage Sites in Gujarat
Visitors to Gujarat will come across various temples including Akshardham Temple at Gandhinagar, Somnath Temple at Junagadh District, Ambaji Temple at Banaskantha District and several other spectacular ones. The area of Palitana in Gujarat is famous for being an important Jain pilgrimage spot. There exist Jain temples here like Digambar Jain Temple, Hatheesing Jain Temple at Ahmedabad, Talaji Jain Temple, Mahudi Temple, Muchhal Mahavir Temple in Pali District and Taranga Jain Temple.
Muslim religious spots based in Gujarat are inclusive of Lila Gumbaj ki Masjid at Champaner, Jama Masjid at Champaner, Kevada Masjid at Champaner, Nagina Masjid at Champaner, Sarkhej Roza at Ahmedabad, Bawaman Mosque at Champaner, Muhafiz Khan Mosque at Ahmedabad, Rani Sipri Mosque at Ahmedabad, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque at Ahmedabad and Sidi Bashir Mosque at Ahmedabad amongst numerable others. St. James Church at Baroda, Methodist Church at Maninagar, Shahpur Methodist Church, St Francis Xavier Catholic Church at Ahmedabad, Church of Christ at Vadodara, etc. are some of the churches which are thronged by devotees.
Pilgrimage Sites in Maharashtra
Pilgrims arrive in large numbers at Maharashtra which is quite reputable for its innumerable Hindu temples, mosques and churches. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Mumbai, Sri Brahma Chaitanya Gondavalekar Maharaj Temple at Gondavale, Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple at Aurangabad, Dashabhuja Temple at Pune, Ekvira Mata Temple at Pune, Kopineshwar Temple at Thane, Kala Ram Temple at Nasik, Hanuman Temple at Pangari, Siddhivinayak Temple at Mumbai, Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir at Matheran, Mahalakshmi Temple at Kolhapur, Kailasha Temple at Ellora, Tulja Bhavani Temple at Osmanabad
District, Satpuda Manudevi Temple at Adgaon are a few of the numerous Hindu temples which are popular here.
Some of the Jain religious spots in Maharashtra are Mangi-Tungi at Nasik, Shri Dharmachakra Prabhav Tirtha at Nasik, Kumbhoj at Kolhapur District and Shantinath Jain Teerth. The mosques situated in this state are Jama Masjid at Nagpur, Dwarkamai Masjid, Masjid of Biloli, Gharib Nawaz Mosque at Nagpur, Shah Ganj Masjid and others. One would also catch sight of well-known churches of Maharashtra which comprise St. Mary`s Church at Pune, Infant Jesus Church at Dombivli, St. Francis Xavier`s Church at Giriz, Holy Cross Church at Kurla, Mount Mary Church at Bandra, St. Thomas` Cathedral at Mumbai, Church of Our Lady of Health at Cavel and others.