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India is the spiritual home of The Indian Connection. It’s where all of our products come from and the cultural and aesthetic inspiration for our company. What inspired us to embark on the journey of bringing wholesale Indian clothing, incense, essential oils, spiritual aids and body & health products back to the United Kingdom? Our time travelling across India, of course. This piece is dedicated to sharing 7 must see places in India. So if you’re interested in a holiday or pilgrimage to India here are 7 must see places to add to your list.

Golden Temple

The Golden Temple otherwise known as Harimandir Sahib, translated to ‘house of God’, can be found in the rejoin of Punjab in the city of Amritsar. This jaw dropping, beautiful temple is a place of spiritual worship open to all faiths and is the most holy place on earth for Sikhs. The Golden Temple is surrounded by a man-made pool of holy water. The settlement was started by Sikh Guru Ram Das and then completed by Sikh Guru Arjan. The area is steeped in history and has faced much hostility over the years with the central place of worship being damaged and rebuilt multiple times. It is said that the Golden Temple held the first complete version of the Sikh scriptures completed by Guru Arjan.

The temple was built using marble and copper and covered with a layer of gold foil which gives it its distinguished golden look. These days it is a place of pilgrimage and worship for millions of people each year and also home to one of the world’s largest and most philanthropic kitchens feeding 100,000 people each day with free meals.

Havelock Island

Situated in the Bay of Bengal and actually closer in proximity to Thailand than India itself, Havelock Island is a great place to enjoy some eco-friendly tourism. The largest island in Ritchie’s Archipelago in the Andaman Islands, Havelock has become increasingly popular with visitors thanks to its beautiful beaches, relaxed atmosphere and great opportunities for snorkelling and scuba diving. It’s an area of stunning natural beauty and a must see for anyone travelling to the region.

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

The oldest national park in India is home to over 50 different species of mammals including elephants, bears, monkeys, crocodiles, leopards and tigers. There are also more than 600 species of bird that reside in the 520.8 sq km of deep forest. Established in the 1930s and named after hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett, the park is an area of sublime natural beauty with vast expanses across the Himalayan foothills. Among the savannahs, forests and grasslands you’ll also find many of the natural botanicals that are used in our products like essential oils and incense. If you’re travelling to the subcontinent make sure you spend some time at Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand.

Goa

A melting pot between Indian and Portuguese cultures, Goa has some of the world’s most wonderful beaches, best seafood and is a haven for spirituality. Spend some time in Goa and you’ll be able to participate freely in many forms of Yoga, meditation and other spiritual practices.

Goa has long attracted serene hedonists and is still known for its psychedelic trance parties from back in the 90s. These days the area is more tourist-friendly but hasn’t lost its charm, beauty and spirituality. Go there for the beaches, let alone everything else Goa has to offer.

Dharamshala

Dharamshala means “a spiritual dwelling or place for pilgrims to rest,” which is quite appropriate since it was the place His Holiness The Dalai Lama came to after escaping Tibet. Dharamshala is a popular destination for buddhist study alongside Yoga and cooking. Travel to this charming city at the right time and you may be able to attend a teaching session His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Visually Dharamshala is stunning with views of the towering Himalayas close by.

Varanasi

Another destination with spiritual significance is the city of Varanasi, situated next to the Ganges River. Varanasi is known as the spiritual capital of India and nicknamed ‘City of Temples’ with it being packed with temples and shrines for many gods. It’s a place that has been written about in myths, legends and sacred texts for hundreds of years.

Varanasi is one of the world’s oldest cities and a place of pilgrimage for many Hindus who seek to bathe in the Ganges for spiritual purification. It’s also famous for its incense and home to many of the most popular brands of incense that we stock here at The Indian Connection. Varanasi is a city that will stimulate all of your senses during the day and especially at night time.

Ancient Ellora Caves & Temples

Without doubt the inspiration for the famous Indiana Jones Temple of Doom film, the Ancient Caves and Temples of Ellora are a sight to behold. The area features a network of ancient caves and temples carved out of solid rock. There are 34 man-made caves at the site, 12 are Buddhist temples, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain. They caves and temples took hundreds of years to complete and began at around 500 A.D. They offer beautiful shrines to lord Shiva and many statues and carvings. Seeing the temples in person will leave you totally awe-inspired.

Conclusion

India is such a large and beautiful country with so much to offer. We hope you choose to visit some day and if you do make sure you check out some of the amazing places that have inspired us here at The Indian Connection.