India is a unique country that has had four religions that have originated from the Indian subcontinent. All over India there are sacred sites that believers have dubbed as holy.

One of the religions that have originated on the Indian continent is the Hindu religion. The site that draws many Hindu followers is the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. This Temple is reported to be the wealthiest and most visited temple in India. Since there are so many people that visit the Temple, there are special tickets that pilgrims have to obtain before getting a glimpse of the deity of the Temple. Once the opportunity arises to see the idol of the deity, devotees are allowed only 15-60 seconds to view the idol.

The second religion that has origins in the Indian subcontinent is Buddhism. The Mahabodhi Temple is located in Bodh Gaya, which is where Buddha obtained enlightenment. The Gupta Dynasty was a strong proponent of the Buddhist faith, but after the Dynasty declined, so did the Buddhist religion. Therefore the Mahabodhi Temple is one of the few remaining Buddhist strongholds in India. The Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest gathering places for Buddhist believers.

Sikhism is a religion that is especially strong in the Indian state of Punjab. The location that Sikh followers believe to be holy is the Harmandir Sahib. The Harmandir Sahib is important to the Sikhs because Sikhs believe that the soul of Guru Granth Sahib resides within the Temple. The Harmandir Sahib is sometimes called the “Golden Temple” because of its gold appearance. The Golden Temple is located upon a large lake, which is why visitors must cross a causeway or a long road elevated across a body of water.

Jainism is another religion that can be traced back to India. The Palitana Jain Temples is an area with well over a thousand temples. Jainists consider the Temple Complex and the holiest pilgrimage site. The Palitana Jain Temples were built as a place where the gods could reside. As a result, it is forbidden for tourists and even the priests to sleep in any of the temples. The Palitana Temples are all located above a hill. On this hill alone there are twenty-seven thousand idols.