Tracing Hindu Mythology: 7 Places You Need to Visit in India

India is a well-known pilgrimage, for those who seek spirituality. Though the illustrious ancient times have ended, but the stories from the bygone era survive alongside the towns. Most of our myths and legends have been derived from Mahabharata and Ramayana, along with our ancient scriptures like Puranas, Vedas and Upanishads. Also, several places have been mentioned in the ancient texts arouses curiosity and leads to exploration.

What if we told you that you can travel to some of these places, that form the backdrop of the epic stories your grandparents told you? Exciting, right?! Come, let’s take you through some of the most beautiful Indian cities which have a mythological significance…

1. Prayagraj

Allahabad, now officially known as Prayagraj lies on the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati, and this confluence is believed to be the place where lord Brahma offered his first sacrifice after he created the world.

It is also one of the destinations that holds Kumbh Mela – the world’s largest congregation of devotees. According to the philosopher Shankara, the origin of this mela dates back to the 8^th century. Kumbh Mela derives its name from the Hindu legend in which the Devas (gods) fought with Asuras (demons) over a pot, or “kumbh”, of amrit (nectar of immortality), known as the ‘Ratna of Samudra Manthan’. It is said that Lord Vishnu spilled a few drops of amrit at four places, while transporting the kumbh. The amrit fell on the four sacred sites, identified as Prayag, Ujjain, Haridwar and Nashik, turning the corresponding rivers into amrit.

Here you can take a dip into the auspicious Triveni Sangam (confluence of the three rivers) to flush away all your sins (that’s what we’ve heard)!

Book Your Flight to Prayagraj

2. Chitrakoot

Chitrakoot means ‘the hills of many wonders’. It is located between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and is associated with the epic, Ramayana. Located on the banks of river Mandakini, the region has many ancient lava fields interspersed with several rivers and lakes along with forested hills.

It is said that after being banished from Ayodhya, Lord Rama along with goddess Sita and brother Lakshmana, took refuge in the forests of Chitrakoot. They stayed here for more than 11 years of their 14 years’ exile. This is also said to be the site of ‘Bharat Milap’.

#MMTTrivia: The saint-poet Goswami Tulsidas, who wrote Ramcharit Manas, also spent a large part of his life here.

Places to see here

Kamadgiri: This hill holds religious significance because of its mention in Ramayana. Some people believe that it is hollow from within and contains a sacred blue illuminated lake. It is said that only pure souls can find its entrance and pass through.

Ram Ghats: Running along the Mandakini river, the ghats were believed to be the favored bathing spot for Lord Rama, Lakshmana and goddess Sita. Here you can witness the beautiful sunrise along with numerous other devotees gathered to perform suryanamaskar. You can also take part in the evening aarti as the sun sets.

Book Your Flight to Khajuraho (Nearest Airport)

3. Puri

Located in eastern India, Puri is in the state of Odisha. It is also known as Jagannath Puri which translates to – The abode of Lord Jagannath.

According to the legend associated with the Vaishnavas, when the purpose of lord Krishna’s avatar ended with the illusionary death by Jara, his mortal remains were left behind. Lord Vishnu directed King Indradyumna to create an idol of Jagannath from a log and consecrate the remains of Krishna in its belly. The king appointed Vishwakarma, a Brahmin carpenter (also said to be the workmen’s god in disguise), to carve the murti. He accepted the commission on one condition, that he must not be disturbed. But the king was anxious to see the idol, so he visited the site where Vishwakarma was working. Upset by this, the carpenter left the idol unfinished without hands or feet. The perturbed king asked Brahma to help him and the god promised him that the unfinished idol would become famous and would be deified as carved. This resulted in the well-known Jagannath Temple.

Intrigued? So are we! This land’s myths, miracles and legends are worth exploring.

Read More: Places to Visit in Puri—The Land of Lord Jagannath

Book Your Flight to Bhubaneshwar (Nearest Airport)

4. Rameshwaram

In Hindu mythology, Rameshwaram is considered to be a sacred place for Hindus. Legend has it that lord Rama built a floating stone bridge to Lanka – the Ramsetu bridge, across the sea to rescue goddess Sita from her abductor demon-king Ravana.And, it is here that Lord Rama did his penance after killing Ravana. There is a belief that the pilgrimage to Varanasi is incomplete if one doesn’t visit Rameshwaram.

While here, don’t forget to visit the Ramanathaswamy Temple. This ancient temple dedicated to lord Shiva was built in the 17^th century and it is situated close to the sea on the Eastern side of the Rameshwaram island. This is believed to be the same place where lord Rama worshiped lord Shiva after killing Ravana. It is said that the Shiva linga in the temple was built by goddess Sita.

Book Your Flight to Madurai (Nearest Airport)

5. Hampi

Hampi is a UNESCO world heritage site in Karnataka. The temples dating back to 1500 AD are the main attractions here. The name ‘Hampi’ is evolved from ‘Pampa’, ancient name of river Tungabhadra. Pampa is said to be daughter of lord Brahma and she was devoted to lord Shiva. It is a land of many mythical stories, and according to Ramayana, Anjaneya hill was the birthplace of lord Hanuman.

While here, don’t forget to visit the Yantrodharaka Temple. It gets its name from the image of Lord Hanuman placed inside an amulet. If you look closely, you’ll see the carving of 12 monkeys holding one another’s tails. It is believed that this carving is a representation of the 12 days for which Sri Vyasaraja prayed to lord Hanuman before getting his blessings.

Book Your Flight to Bellary (Nearest Airport)

6. Dandakaranya

In Sanskrit, Dandakaranya roughly means, ‘the jungle of punishments (dandakas)’. Located in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, it is a sacred land for Hindus. It is this legendary forest that lord Rama passed through during his exile. In Ramayana, it is famous as dandak forest (abode of the demons and deadly creatures). This is the same place where Surpanakha met Lord Rama's brother Lakshmana and became infatuated with him. When Lakshman turned her down and cut her nose, she had her brothers Khara and Dushan attack him. You know the rest of the story, but you definitely need to visit this sacred land at-least once in your life.

Book Your Flight to Raipur (Nearest Airport)

7. Haridwar

Located in Uttarakhand, Haridwar is one of the first towns where river Ganga, emerging from the mountains, touches the plains. It is one of the ancient cities which have been mentioned in several Puranas and Upanishads, and is equally important to the worshippers of lord Shiva and lord Vishnu. It is believed that lord Shiva released the mighty river from the locks of his hair.

This city is one of the seven holiest places for Hindus. Devotees gather around Har-ki-Pauri and pray to goddess Ganga. After every six years, Ardh Kumbh mela is celebrated here. It is believed that if you pray at the Mansa Devi temple on the hilltop, your wishes would be fulfilled.

We’ve already told you the tales, plan a trip to one of these magical destinations for your next getaway!

Read More: 5 Pilgrimages You Must Take in This Lifetime

Book Your Flight to Dehradun (Nearest Airport)