The sacred geography of Bharat is a living map of divinity – where Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, and Murugan have left their timeless presence. To undertake the great pilgrimage across these holy places is not just a journey across land, but a journey into the soul itself. What follows is a complete vision of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Panch Kailash, Char Dham, Sapta Moksha Puri, Panch Bhootha Lingas, 51 Shakti Peethas, Vishnu Char Dham, and Arupadai Veedu – along with the best times to visit and a roadmap to guide your manifestation into reality.
The 12 Jyotirlingas – The Eternal Light of Shiva
The Jyotirlingas are twelve radiant shrines of Shiva, where he is believed to have manifested as a column of pure light. They are Somnath in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna in Andhra Pradesh, Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, Bhimashankar in Maharashtra, Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra, Vaidyanath in Jharkhand, Nageshwar in Dwarka, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, and Grishneshwar near Ellora.
The best time to visit most of these shrines is between October and March, when the weather is pleasant. Himalayan shrines like Kedarnath open only from May to October, while coastal temples like Rameshwaram are best visited between October and April.
Panch Kailash – The Five Thrones of Shiva
The Panch Kailash represents five sacred abodes of Shiva’s cosmic energy. Mount Kailash in Tibet is considered the axis of the universe and the holiest of them all. Adi Kailash in Uttarakhand is a mirror image of the Tibetan peak but lies within India. Kinnaur Kailash, Manimahesh Kailash, and Shrikhand Mahadev, all in Himachal Pradesh, complete the circuit.
The Kailash yatras are tough, high-altitude treks and should only be attempted between July and September when passes are open and weather is relatively stable.
Char Dham – The Four Sacred Abodes
The Char Dham pilgrimage covers all directions of Bharat: Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, Jagannath Puri in the east, and Rameshwaram in the south. It symbolizes balance across the land and alignment with the divine.
Badrinath is open only from May to October due to heavy snow. Dwarka, Puri, and Rameshwaram are best visited between October and March. Puri is especially significant during the Rath Yatra festival in June or July.
Sapta Moksha Puri – The Seven Gates of Liberation
Seven ancient cities are said to grant moksha or liberation: Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kashi (Varanasi), Kanchipuram, Ujjain, and Dwarka. Each of these is soaked in timeless legends of Rama, Krishna, Shiva, and Shakti.
The best time for most is October to March, when the climate is cool. Mathura comes alive during Holi in March, while Haridwar and Ujjain host the great Kumbh Mela once every twelve years, drawing millions of seekers.
Panch Bhootha Lingas – Shiva as the Five Elements
In southern India, Shiva is worshipped as the embodiment of the five elements of nature. The Earth element is at Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram, Water at Jambukeswarar Temple in Trichy, Fire at Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Air at Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh, and Space at the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram.
These temples can be comfortably visited between October and April, with Tiruvannamalai being especially important during the Karthigai Deepam festival in November–December.
The 51 Shakti Peethas – Power of the Divine Mother
The Shakti Peethas are spread across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, marking the spots where parts of Goddess Sati’s body are believed to have fallen. Kamakhya in Assam, Kalighat in Kolkata, Vaishno Devi in Jammu, Vindhyavasini in Uttar Pradesh, Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Hinglaj in Pakistan are some of the most prominent ones.
For northern shrines like Vaishno Devi, the best season is October to March. Eastern shrines such as Kamakhya and Kalighat are also best visited during the cooler months, though the Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya in June is a powerful spiritual gathering. Southern shrines such as Kanyakumari can be visited between October and April.
Vishnu Char Dham
The Vishnu Char Dham overlaps with the general Char Dham, as Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath Puri, and Rameshwaram are all Vishnu’s abodes as well. Visiting them reaffirms the Vaishnavite tradition of seeking the Lord across all directions of the land.
The timings remain the same as Char Dham, with Himalayan Badrinath open only in summer and the rest best visited in the winter months.
Arupadai Veedu – Six Abodes of Murugan
In Tamil Nadu, Lord Murugan, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is revered in six holy abodes: Thirupparamkunram, Thiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Thiruthani, and Pazhamudircholai. Each temple tells a story of Murugan’s battles and victories.
The best season to cover these shrines is October to April, when Tamil Nadu is cooler and more comfortable for travel.
The Dream-Pilgrimage Roadmap
Such an immense yatra cannot be completed in one go. It is best approached as a lifetime pilgrimage, divided into manageable phases aligned with geography and seasons.
Phase One: Southern Sacred Circuit
Route: Chennai → Kanchipuram (Earth Linga) → Trichy (Water Linga) → Tiruvannamalai (Fire Linga) → Chidambaram (Space Linga) → Srikalahasti (Air Linga) → Rameshwaram (Char Dham & Jyotirlinga) → Madurai (Murugan shrines) → Kanyakumari (Shakti Peetha).
Duration: 14–18 days
Best Time: October–April
Approximate Cost (Ex–Chennai):
- Spiritual Standard: ₹1.5–2.5 lakh (Domestic) | $3,000–$4,500 (NRI)
- Spiritual Premium: ₹3–5 lakh (Domestic) | $6,000–$8,000 (NRI/HNI)
- Spiritual Elite: ₹7–12 lakh (Domestic) | $12,000–$18,000 (HNI), with private charters, luxury hotels, curated darshan
- Senior Citizens: 10–15% less with assisted travel support
Phase Two: Eastern Circuit
Route: Bhubaneswar (airport) → Jagannath Puri (Char Dham) → Konark Sun Temple → Kolkata → Kalighat (Shakti Peetha) → Guwahati → Kamakhya Devi (Shakti Peetha) → Gaya → Deoghar (Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga).
Duration: 12–16 days
Best Time: October–March (or June for Rath Yatra, Ambubachi Mela)
Approximate Cost (Ex–Kolkata/Bhubaneswar):
- Spiritual Standard: ₹1.2–2 lakh | $2,500–$4,000
- Spiritual Premium: ₹2.5–4.5 lakh | $5,000–$7,500
- Spiritual Elite: ₹6–10 lakh | $10,000–$15,000 (luxury stays, helicopters for Guwahati–Kamakhya, premium Rath Yatra seating)
- Senior Citizens: 10–20% less with guided assistance
Phase Three: Northern Himalayas
Route: Delhi/Dehradun → Haridwar (Moksha Puri) → Rishikesh → Kedarnath (Jyotirlinga) → Badrinath (Char Dham) → Joshimath → Adi Kailash trek (Uttarakhand) → Mathura (Moksha Puri).
Duration: 20–25 days
Best Time: May–October
Approximate Cost (Ex–Delhi/Dehradun):
- Spiritual Standard: ₹2.5–3.5 lakh | $4,000–$6,000
- Spiritual Premium: ₹5–7 lakh | $8,000–$12,000 (helicopter Kedarnath darshan, premium stays)
- Spiritual Elite: ₹12–20 lakh | $18,000–$30,000 (luxury tents, chartered heli to Kedarnath/Badrinath/Adi Kailash)
- Senior Citizens: Special packages with wheelchair assistance, helicopter transfers, ₹2–3 lakh less
Phase Four: Western Circuit
Route: Ahmedabad/Rajkot → Somnath (Jyotirlinga) → Girnar Shakti Peetha → Dwarka (Char Dham & Moksha Puri) → Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.
Duration: 8–12 days
Best Time: October–March
Approximate Cost (Ex–Ahmedabad):
- Spiritual Standard: ₹1–1.5 lakh | $2,000–$3,500
- Spiritual Premium: ₹2–3.5 lakh | $4,500–$7,000
- Spiritual Elite: ₹5–9 lakh | $9,000–$15,000 (private darshan at Dwarkadhish, Somnath light-sound exclusive shows, 5-star luxury stays)
- Senior Citizens: 15% lower packages with senior-friendly schedules
Phase Five: Central India
Route: Indore → Omkareshwar (Jyotirlinga) → Maheshwar → Ujjain (Mahakaleshwar & Moksha Puri) → Nasik (Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga) → Vindhyachal (Shakti Peetha).
Duration: 10–14 days
Best Time: October–March
Approximate Cost (Ex–Indore):
- Spiritual Standard: ₹1.2–1.8 lakh | $2,500–$3,500
- Spiritual Premium: ₹3–4.5 lakh | $5,500–$8,000
- Spiritual Elite: ₹6–10 lakh | $10,000–$16,000 (luxury boats on Narmada, curated Mahakal aarti access, 5-star stays)
- Senior Citizens: Assisted tours with relaxed pace, 15% lower
Phase Six: Himalayan Kailash Yatras
Route: Delhi → Kathmandu → Lhasa (for Mount Kailash–Mansarovar) → onward to Indian Kailash circuits: Adi Kailash (Uttarakhand), Kinnaur Kailash, Manimahesh Kailash, Shrikhand Mahadev (Himachal).
Duration: 30–40 days (can also be split into smaller yatra segments)
Best Time: July–September
Approximate Cost (Ex–Delhi):
- Spiritual Standard: ₹3.5–5 lakh | $6,000–$9,000 (group tours, shared logistics)
- Spiritual Premium: ₹8–12 lakh | $14,000–$20,000 (small groups, luxury tents, helicopter from Simikot to Hilsa)
- Spiritual Elite: ₹20–40 lakh | $35,000–$60,000 (private charters, luxury Tibet tour, personal sherpas, medical team)
- Senior Citizens: Only recommended with helicopter support; ₹2–3 lakh lower than Premium
Note: All costs are per person basis and exludes 5% GST. Excludes international flights, and personal shoppings, etc. Any other customisation will change the cost.
Yearly Spiritual Roadmap
- Jan–Mar: Western & Central circuits (Dwarka, Somnath, Ujjain, Omkareshwar).
- Apr–May: Southern circuit before summer heat.
- May–Oct: Himalayas (Char Dham + Kedarnath + Badrinath).
- Jul–Sep: Panch Kailash (high-altitude treks).
- Oct–Dec: Eastern circuit (Puri, Kamakhya, Gaya) + South India temples.
This sacred manifestation can be customized for every seeker – whether you are a domestic pilgrim, an NRI reconnecting with roots, an HNI desiring luxury spiritual experiences, or a senior citizen seeking comfort and guided darshan.
- Spiritual Standard ensures a safe, authentic pilgrimage with guided tours.
- Spiritual Premium blends comfort with deep spiritual experiences like helicopter darshan, priority aartis, and boutique hotels.
- Spiritual Elite offers the ultimate – charter flights, curated rituals, and private access for the spiritual connoisseur.
💫 This is not just travel – it is a soul journey across lifetimes, wrapped in divine grace.
Why Choose DharmikVibes for Your Sacred Journey
In a world where travel often becomes mechanical, DharmikVibes creates spiritual journeys that touch the soul. This pilgrimage is not just about reaching the shrine — it is about living the experience, connecting deeply, and receiving blessings with ease, dignity, and devotion.
Here’s why DharmikVibes is special:
Local DharmikGuides
Experienced, rooted in tradition, and fluent in local customs – they ensure you understand the legends, rituals, and hidden spiritual significance of each temple.
24×7 Spiritual Concierge
From travel arrangements to temple timings, from emergency support to custom rituals, a dedicated concierge ensures your journey is seamless.
Access to Ashrams & Satsangs
Exclusive opportunities to spend time in traditional ashrams, listen to discourses by saints, and join satsangs for true spiritual immersion.
Participation in Spiritual Events
Festival alignment, Kumbh Mela experiences, Rath Yatra access, and Karthigai Deepam celebrations are integrated into your journey.
Puja & Chadava Arrangements
No stress of logistics – all offerings, pujas, and rituals are arranged on your behalf with authenticity and devotion.
Sugam / VIP Darshan
Skip long queues and gain peaceful access to the sanctum, with personalized assistance for smooth darshan at major temples.
Spiritual Comfort & Care
Carefully chosen hotels, luxury resorts, or ashram stays depending on your category (Standard, Premium, Elite), blending comfort with authenticity.
Senior-Friendly Options
Assisted walking, wheelchair access, slower itineraries, and medical support for senior citizens so they can enjoy their journey without strain.
A pilgrimage is not only about where you go, but how you are guided. With DharmikVibes, every moment – from your first aarti to your last blessing – is infused with devotion, comfort, and care.
This is not just a tour. It is your manifested dream-pilgrimage, turned into a sacred reality – a journey for the body, mind, and soul.