Map of some holy places around India

The Seven Ancient Holy Towns

1. Ayodhya
2. Mathura
3. Haridwar
4. Varanasi
5. Kanchipuram
6. Dvaraka
7. Ujjain

The Four Holy Dhamas

1. Puri (East)
2. Rameshvaram (South)
3. Dvaraka (West)
4. Badrinatha (North)

The Four Maha Kumbha Mela Sites

1. Prayaga ( Allahabad)
2. Haridwar
3. Ujjain
4. Nasik

Personal Reflection

• What is it that makes a place sacred?
• What experiences do you have of sacred places?
• Are there tangible differences between a holy site and other places, or are they simply imaginary?

Holy Sites for the Four Main Denominations

Vaishnavas

• Mathura/Vrindavana
• Dvaraka
• Badrinatha
• Puri (Jagannatha Puri)
• Tirupati
• Ayodhya
• Nathdwar
• Udupi

Shaivites

• Varanasi
• Kedarnatha
• Somnath
• Rameshvaram
• Chidambaram

Note: for more holy places dedicated to Vishnu or Shiva, see Vaishnavism and Shaivism.

Shaktas

• Kanyakumari
• Madurai
• Vaishno Devi
• Calcutta ( Kali Temple)

Note: there are 51 principle Shakti sites throughout India

Smartas

• Puri
• Rameshvaram
• Dvaraka
• Badrinatha

Note: these correspond to the four dhamas (most holy sites in India)

http://hinduism.iskcon.com/practice/503.htm


Also see the map of the places related to Ramayana at

http://vishvambhara-bilde.blogspot.com/2011/04/map-of-places-related-to-ramayana.html