Religious/ Spiritual

Atala Masjid or Atala Mosque is a 15th century mosque in Jaunpur. It is one of the chief tourist attractions in Jaunpur. The mosque bears the evidences of the times in which it was built. The Atala Masjid is a useful specimen of mosques, not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in India.

The Jaunpur Atala Masjid was built by Sultan Ibrahim (1401-1440), Sharqi Sultan of Jaunpur on foundations laid during the reign of Tughluq Sultan Firuz Shah III (1351-1388). Though the emergence of this mosque dates back to 1377 A.D., the construction work was completed in the year 1408.

Acclaimed as the first church that is in the name of saint Jude, St Jude shrine in Jhansi makes remarkable influence not only to the Christians but also to the devotees of other faiths. Prettily erected in a serene environment, the church architecture reflects a blend of Christian and Hindu cultures. Three colossal domes on the entrance signify the influence of typical Hindu style architecture.

Consecrated in the year 1966, the church witnesses massive participation in the daily masses and holy Novenas. There are three masses on Sundays that are scheduled, as 6:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m in summer season and during winter it would be on 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

An eighteenth century temple dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi, Mahalakshmi temple is a much-revered devout centre in Jhansi. This shrine is located in Lakshmi Tal outside the Lakshmi Darwaza. Splendor in terms of architecture, this temple witness large influx of devotees especially on the auspicious occasions of Laxmi Puja and Diwali.

A lovely shrine situated adjacent to the entrance of the Jhansi Fort, Ganesh Mandir has got some historical importance. It was here in this shrine that the Maharaja Gangadhar Rao tied the nuptial knot with Rani Lakshmi Bhai. As the name suggests the presiding deity of the temple is Lord Ganesh.

Radha kund is the sacred lake in Govardhan where Krishna and Radha along with the gopis used to assemble and spent their time. The popular belief is that this Kund is the embodiment of Krishna’s love towards Radha.

Kusum Sarovar is the must visit site in Mathura. Kusum Sarovar is actually a 450 feet long tank that belongs to the era of Lord Krishna. Kusum Sarovar is 60 feet deep and has numerous flights of stairs from all sides. Kusum Sarovar is just half an hour walk from another famous tank named Radha Kunj.

The thing that makes Kusum Sarovar a place worth visit is the peace and serenity that it offers. The place is marked by groves of tress, mostly Kadamb. Interestingly, Kadamb was the favorite tree of Lord Krishna. It is said that Kusum Sarovar is the place where Gopis or milkmaids used to pick flowers for lord Krishna. The place remains the best swimming spot in the Braj region till date.

Close by is the famous red sandstone temple of Haridev, founded during the reign of Akbar.

It is believed that Govardhana Hill was about 16 miles (29 km) high, 5,000 years ago. The young lord Krishna is said to have held Giriraj up on the tip of a finger for 7 days and nights to shield the people of Braj from the deluge of rain sent down by lord Indra. A popular Vaishnavaite icon, the entire hill is circumambulated by thousands of pilgrims every year.

Garhmukhteshwar is thronged throughout the year by devotees, who come over to Jarkhandeshwar Temple and Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple to pay their obeisance. Infact, the place is famous basically for the beautiful temples. The temples of Dudheshwar Nath and Durga Devi are also located in the city.

Garhmukteshwar which is located on the banks of the river Ganges is a holy place. It is renowned for temples like that of Durga Devi and Dudheshwar Nath.

Goswami Tulsidas is closely associated with the twin towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad. The saint poet had written the epic Ramcharit Manas (Ramayan) and is still a revered name in any Hindu household. The Garden dedicated to the poet saint is located on the National highway and was earlier known as Victoria Park and had a statue of Queen Victoria at the center. It was in 1960, that the park was renamed Tulsi Udyan.