India welcomes thousands of visitors each year to see its shrines, temples and other places of worship to fulfil their search of spiritual enlightenment. In addition, the majority of these pilgrimage sites are hidden away in areas of breath taking natural beauty. In the nation of temples and pilgrimages, we've handpicked the top ten sites for pilgrims in India

Shirdi, a sacred town in Maharashtra, is associated with Sai Baba, the saint who was adored by people of all faiths and is reported to have performed countless miracles. Devotees flock to his shrine all year, with the main festivals being Ramnavami, Guru Purnima, and Vijayadashmi.

The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati is one of India's holiest spots. The temple honors Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Every year, millions of worshippers flock to the temple, particularly during the annual nine-day Brahmotsavan celebration in October.

The Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram is one of Lord Shiva's 12 Jyotirlinga temples and is part of the Char Dham circuit. Rameswaram, located on Pamban Island and connected to mainland India by a bridge, is a must-see for everybody, devout or not. Mahashivratri and Navratri are exceptionally popular festivities here.

The magnificent seashore temples of Dwarka and Somnath are simply breathtaking. Dwarka is one of the four shrines that make up the Char Dham and is home to the Jagat Mandir, also known as the Dwarkadheesh Temple, which is devoted to Lord Krishna. The Somnath temple is one of Lord Shiva's 12 sacred Jyotirlingas.

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The Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra in Jammu is one of the most important Indian pilgrimages. The temple is located at a height of 5,300 feet and can only be accessed via a difficult hike. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and is devoted to the goddess Shakti. The most important festival observed here is Navratri.

Puri, a sacred beach town in Odisha, is famous for its Jagannath Temple. The temple's Rath Yatra (or chariot festival), dedicated to Lord Jagannath, attracts worshippers from all over the world, honouring the dieties' procession from the temple to the ocean waves.

A journey to Amritsar's Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is a must-do, with its glittering golden façade mirrored in the river, soothing intonations of the Granth Sahib being read out, and the peaceful ambiance. Don't miss the langar, where hundreds of pilgrims are fed every day. Guru Nanak Jayanti and Baisakhi are two holidays that are observed with zeal here.

Dargah Sharif, the Sufi shrine of the saint Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer, is a favourite of Bollywood celebs, who flock there before every film release! Thousands of devotees flock here to donate a chadar in exchange for their desires being granted. The Urs Festival is held every year to honour the Sufi saint.

Mathura and adjoining Vrindavan, known as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, are home to hundreds of temples dedicated to the mischievous, dark-skinned divinity. Among the notable shrines in this area are Keshav Dev Temple and Banke Bihari Temple. Dwarka's primary holidays are Janmashtami and Holi.

Varanasi, the historic city, is considered one of the holiest cities, and there are several temples on the Ganga river's banks. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sankat Mochan Temple are two of the city's most popular attractions. The annual Ganga Mahotsav commemorates India's rich cultural history.