Guide to the most popular Shaktipeeths of India
There are many religious and pilgrimage sites in India that are etched in everyone’s heart. One connecting dot to all these sites is the tradition of doing yatras. Be it the Char Dham Yatra in India or the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, this tradition not only lets you experience the various places to visit in India but also brings serenity and divinity to your soul. One such experience is visiting the Shaktipeeths of India.
According to religious texts, the Shaktipeeths are dedicated to Goddess Shakti and the “Shakti Pithas” are symbols of the seat of her power. There are nearly 51 Shaktipeeth shrines in India spread across 101 locations, where the body parts of Lord Shiva’s spouse, Sati, fell. The list of 51 Shaktipeeth list is pretty long and, in this blog, we’ll be taking you through the 10 popular shakti peeths of India and how you can visit them. Make sure to stick till the end, where we’ll recommend you some of the best villas in India to stay while visit the Shaktipeeths of India.
Here are the top 10 Shaktipeeths to visit in India –
In this Blog
1) Shri Amarnath Cave Temple
The Amarnath Yatra is one of the top shakti peeths to visit in India and is frequented by many tourists throughout the year. Located in Jammu and Kashmir nearly 141 km from Srinagar, this temple is one top places to visit in India. The best time to visit Amarnath Yatra would be during the month of May to July. The temple is mostly not accessible to tourists for the rest of the year due to the harsh weather conditions. The closest city to Amarnath Caves would be the quaint hill station of Pahalgam, a breezy hill station that is perfect for a break after
2) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
Perched at a height of 5,200 ft on top of the Trikuta Hill in Jammu and Kashmir. The closest city to the pilgrimage site is Katra. The reason why this is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage site in India is because of the naturally occurring three rock formation called Pindis. Inside, they are worshipped in the shapes of Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati and Maha Lakshmi. In case you want to visit this site, then Katra to Vaishno Devi trek is most popular way to travel to Mata Vaishno Devi temple. Apart from this, there are a number of Ponies and helicopter services that you can avail. However, kindly note that you’ll need to book the helicopter 60 days before the journey.
3) Jwalamukhi Temple, Kangra
Himachal Pradesh is already known for its vast number of temples and Jwalamukhi Temple is the most popular tourist attraction in Himachal Pradesh. Located close to Himachal Pradesh, the temple is a manifestation of Goddess Jwalamukhi and is known for having temple without any idols. Located in the lap of Shivalik range of the Kangra Valley, reaching Jwalamukhi Temple is fairly easy. The closest railway station is the Jwalaji road in Ranital located at a mere distance of 20 km from the shrine. One of the best things about this shaktipeeth is that it’s pretty close to Dharamshala. A trip to Jwalamukhi Temple is the perfect day trip from Dharamshala that must be in your itinerary.
4) Vishalakshi Temple, Varanasi
Located in the Mir Ghat on the banks of the Ganga River in Varanasim Sri Kashi Vishalakshi temple is a popular Shaktipeeth in Uttar Pradesh. The most interesting facet of this Shaktipeeth in India is that it was constructed using South India architectural design that looks beautiful in the banks of Ganges. It is believed that the Mata Sati’s earings fell in Varanasi and pilgrims often take a dip in the Ganges river before visiting this Shaktipeeth in Uttar Pradesh. Reaching the Vishalakshi Temple is fairly easy as it on located in Varanasi, the most popular tourist destination in India.
The city has its own airport called Lal Bahadur Shashtri Airport, connecting it to major tourist destinations in India. It even has two railway stations, Varanasi Junction and Mughal Sarai Junction that make it easy to reach. In terms of accommodations, there are many villas and homestays in Varanasi which also have view of the Ganga River. One such villa in Varanasi is the Ganga House by StayVista. This villa in Varanasi is decked by the Ganga River and provides picture perfect view of the Trilochan Ghat. The Ganga House’s entrance point is unique, as it allows guests to take a picturesque boat ride or wander through Varanasi’s enchanting bylanes before arriving at the villa.
5) Kalighat Mandir, Kolkata
In case you’ve made a 3-day Kolkata itinerary, you’ve probably heard about Kalighat Mandir in Kolkata. This popular tourist attraction in Kolkata is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is one of the oldest temples in Kolkata. It is believed that the best time to visit Kalighat temple would be during the months of October to November when Durga Puja is held. Believe us, watching a Durga Puja in Kolkata is an experience in itself.
When it comes to visiting Kolkata, choosing the right play to stay is extremely important. A mix of old and new world charm, the villas in Kolkata carry a history of their own. Villas in Kolkata like Ishva Bungalow and Taruchaya – Raichak by StayVista are perfect for enjoying a blissful stay in Kolkata. Checkout these villas in Kolkata by StayVista and make sure book a stay at the earliest as Durga Puja is approaching fast.
6) Kamakshi Amman Temple, Chennai
Located close to Chennai, Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram is one of the must-visit 51 Shaktipeeths in India. Kanchipuram is believed to be the centre of the eastern hemisphere as Goddess Sati’s Nabhi or navel fell here. The temple is spread across 5 acres of unsolicited ground and dates back to the 7th century. An important aspect of the temple is the image of the Goddess Kamakshi’s seating. The position is referred to as Padmasana and looks like a lotus.
As we can see being located close to Chennai, the temple is perfect if you’re visiting Chennai. Not only Chennai has some beautiful places to visit in South India, but also the longest beaches in India. Make sure to book your perfect villa in Chennai for a hassle free and easy stay in Chennai.
7) Maa Taratarini Temple
This blog would definitely be incomplete without this one. Not only this is an important part of the 51 Shaktipeeths in india but also four ancient Tantra Peetha. The temple is located on a hill top nearly 30 kilometeres from the city of Brahmapur. It is believed that parts of her corpse fell into the hills of Tara and Tarini, hence the temple has two old stone statues with gold and silver embellishments. A notable part is that the temple hosts many festivals throughout the year, the most important of them being the Chaitra Yatra.
Brahmapur is a beautiful place near Bhubaneshwar that is located close to the Chilika Lake in Odisha. In case you want to visit this temple, you’ll need to visit Bhubaneshwar and then hop to Brahmapur by road.
Well then, we’ve covered some of the most iconic Shakti peeths from the 51 Shakti peeths in India. The culture and history of India is such that there are many more of such temple to visit in India. However, the one mentioned above are part of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, 16 being in India and two in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
If you’re interested in reading more about such yatras, checkout these blogs on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the iconic Char Dham Yatra in 2024.
