India is embellished by some of the most stunning wonders, that are not just difficult to imagine but also to visit. Some of the holy sites in India find themselves in that list. These pilgrimage sites across the nation does prove that to attain solace, you need to put yourself through the test of hardships.
Kailash Mansarovar
At 6,638 metres in Tibet, Mt. Kailash is a famous holy site. People of many faiths&ndashHindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon culture&ndashundertake the pilgrimage to this revered site. Pilgrims also take a dip in the Mansarovar lake, which is also considered to be sacred.
Best time to visit April to June and September to October
How to reach Reaching Kailash Mansarovar through India is tricky, therefore, it is recommended that you route it via Nepal. The ideal way would be to fly to Nepal first. From there, you need to board a different flight to Lhasa Gonggar Airport. From Lhasa, you can either hail a private cab or a local bus to reach Kailash Mansarovar.
Amarnath Cave Temple
Located in Jammu and Kashmir, this temple is one of India's most prominent cave temples. The holy site houses the Shiva Linga, naturally formed out of snow, at an elevation of 3888 metres. This temple is also regarded as one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas and is a significant site for Hindu pilgrims.
Best time to visit June to August
How to reach To begin your journey to Amarnath, you need to first reach Pahalgam or Baltal and then trek up to Amarnath. Srinagar airport, located 70 km away, is the nearest to both these places&ndashfrom there you can hail private taxis or local buses. The nearest railway station is at Jammu, from where you can find many buses plying to Pahalgam.
Shikhar Ji Temple
Perched on Parasnath Hill, located in Jharkhand's Giridih district, Shikhar Ji Temple is one of the important pilgrimage sites for Jains. It is also believed that twenty out of the twenty-four Tirthankaras attained moksha here. To reach this temple, pilgrims undertake a 28 km long trek from the base camp in Madhuban.
Best time to visit October to March
How to reach Parasnath railway station is the nearest railhead, while Durgapur and Ranchi have the nearest airports. From there, you can hail many local buses plying Madhuban.
Phugtal
Phugtal is a Buddhist monastery located in the mystical Zanskar region of Ladakh. This site can only be reached on foot, as it is built around a natural cave. Buddhist pilgrims also believe that many respected scholars, sages and monks used to reside here.
Best time to visit July to September
How to reach To reach Phugtal, you would need to start trekking from Cha village in Zanskar. The nearest airport to the district is at Leh, from where it is very well-connected by road.
Shrikhand Mahadev
This famous pilgrim site, located in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district, is popular among the devotees of Lord Shiva. The site's sanctity owes itself to the fact that it is also considered one of the five Kailash (Shiv Ling). To reach here, pilgrims have to undertake an adventurous trek&ndashhowever, one gets to witness magnificent views of the Himalayas.
Best time to visit June to July
How to reach To reach Shrikhand Mahadev, you need to first reach the base at Jaon village. The Kalka railway station and Bhuntar airport in Kullu are the nearest&ndashfrom here you can hail a local bus or a private cab to reach Jaon village. If you want to travel by road, hail a bus to Shimla, then a different bus to Rampur from where you can reach Jaon village via Nirmand.