Religion calls people to all corners of the world on arduous pilgrimages for ages. In India it remains the strongest motivator of tourism. The reason is very simple, India is a country of many religions where the majority of Hindus have lived in harmony with the Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and many other religions for centuries. So our country's temples and shrines are the strongest magnets of domestic tourism.

All along the Ganges, the most sacred river for the Hindus, there are holy cities, towns and temples. Where the Ganges narrows in its upper reaches, beyond the city of Haridwar, the forested hills that close in are scattered with religious sites. Haridwar is one of the seven holy cities of Hinduism. For strong Hinduism believers, Haridwar is the start of the final pathway to the abode of Gods in the Himalayas.

Thousands of pilgrims throng Haridwar to worship in the temples and bath in the ghats. Among the forested hills of Haridwar, there are many shrines and ashrams in the Garhwal region to the North-east of Haridwar, such as those at Rishikesh and Devaprayag.

The end of the steep track is Kedarnath. The temple here at Kedarnath is the most important shrine to Lord Siva in India. The town of Badrinath on the banks of Alakananda River, the main tributary of the Ganges, draws a large number of Hindu devotees to its temples and hot springs.

The holiest city in the world for Hindus is Varanasi, which lies on the west bank of the Ganga. Devotees arrive in Varanasi from all over the world constantly. The narrow streets on the old part of the city are lined with many sacred buildings including the great 18th century Golden Temple and the ochre-coloured Durga Temple of the same era.

At the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna is the city of Allahabad. Melas of Allahabad which is attended by millions of pilgrims, including many Sadhus, is the most important religious festival of the city.

In the East, down the Orissa coast from Konark, the temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri is one of the several sacred Hindu Shrines. Pilgrims come from all over the country, throughout the year to worship at the wooden statues of Jagannath.

Down south, the historic city of Madurai in Tamilnadu houses the famous Madurai Meenakshi Temple and every year devotees come here to celebrate her marriage with Lord Siva. Madurai Mennakshi temple is a treasure of architectural beauty from the ancient architects of various Tamil dynasties.

The tenth century Sri Venkateshwara Temple at Tirupati is one of India's most important centres for Hindu pilgrims. Tirupathi - Thirumala Devasthanam is the richest temple in the world that attracts pilgrims in millions everyday, from all over the world. Tirupati is located to the extreme south of Andhra Pradesh in Chittoor district, 740 kms away from Hyderabad. The Brahmosavam festival is celebrated here in Sept./Oct.

Sabarimala Temple in Kerala is another sacred shrine. The temple draws over 10 million devotees annually. The pilgrimage begins in the month of November and ends in January. Mandalapooja (in November) and Makaravilakku ( in January) are the two main events of the pilgrim season. The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu (April).

For Buddists, there is no more sacred a place than Bodh Gaya, just south of the Ganges in Bihar state. 2600 years ago, young Buddha, searching for the meaning of life along the banks of the holy river, received enlightment under the Bodhi Tree here. The 19th century Mahabodhi Temple here now marks the site of his awakening. The site draws pilgrims from all over the world.

India's holy sites could be the answer to your prayers for a perfect holiday.