Click it and Unblock the Notifications
India is a country with an amazing history & unmatchable heritage. The country also has a large population of Christians and has a rich history of Christian pilgrimage and religious places.
From north to south and east to west there are various Christian pilgrimages situated in India where people from all over India and also around the globe mark their presence at these various pilgrimages.
Here is the list of Christian Pilgrimage and Religious places in India:
1) Velankanni Church, Tamil Nadu:
The Church of Our Lady of Vailankanni is located in Vailankanni, a Christian pilgrimage site, 5 kilometres south of Nagapattinam. It's said that our lady picked Vailankanni to give the world her miracles. The Velankanni Church also referred to as the "Lourdes of the East," is one of the most renowned pilgrimages for Catholics in India.
When Mother Mary, holding the infant Jesus, is said to have appeared in this tiny community in the 16th or 17th century, that is when the church's history began. Christian pilgrims travel to Vailankanni from all over the world, particularly from Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
2) The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa:
A must-visit church in India is the magnificent church of Bom Jesus, which is famous for housing St. Francis Xavier's tomb. The church is the richest in Goa since it is encased in marble & inlaid with priceless stones. St. Francis Xavier's mortal remains are stored in a basilica with baroque-style architecture.
The body of St. Francis is enclosed in a silver casket and is placed within a glass coffin. One of the most well-known Christian pilgrimage sites in India, which attracts a huge number of people every year.
The first minor basilica in India, this Jesuit church is regarded as one of the finest specimens of baroque & Portuguese Colonial architecture in the country. It belongs to the list of the seven world wonders of Portuguese heritage.
3) Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi, Kerala:
One of the eight basilicas in India is the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica in Fort Kochi. This Keralan landmark is also one of the most magnificent churches in all of India. This basilica, the cathedral church of the Diocese of Cochin, the second-oldest Diocese in India, is next to the well-known St. Francis Church.
With the advent of Portuguese missionaries in 1500 CE, the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica's history began in the sixteenth century. When the Cochin Raja granted the first Portuguese Viceroy Dom Francisco de Almeida permission to construct a church, construction work began. Due to its unparalleled grandeur and beauty, the cathedral has become a must-visit location in Fort Kochi.
4) St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Tamil Nadu:
One of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas, was given the responsibility of spreading the Lord's teachings, and Santhome Basilica is a revered shrine that is devoted to him. It is one of the most well-liked pilgrimage tourist attractions in Chennai.
It is also known as St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica of the International Shrine of St. Thomas. This modest Roman Catholic Basilica was constructed in honour of the Patron Saint of India. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India declared it a national shrine. It serves as the focal point of the Madras & Mylapore Roman Catholic Archdiocese.
It is one of only three buildings from the apostolic era of early Christianity that are still intact today and are notable for housing an apostle's tomb. The other two are St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City & Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, Spain.
5) St. Andrew's Basilica, Kerala:
In Kerala's Alappuzha district, Arthunkal is a significant destination for Christian pilgrims. The feast of St. Sebastian has made Arthunkal famous, despite the Church's bearing the name of St. Andrew the Apostle.
Before the 7th century, Christians are believed to have resided in Arthunkal, and Jesuit missionaries began their work there in 1530 after the Portuguese visited Kerala.
Christians and missionaries fought tooth and nail from 1560 until the Muthedath king eventually granted permission in 1581 for the construction of the Church. St Andrews was finally constructed using coconut palm leaves & wood on November 30th.
