Meditate on These 10 Most Sacred Mountains of India

The Himalaya mountain range of the Indian subcontinent is considered sacred in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Himalaya Mountains, Vindhya Range, Western Ghats or Sahyadri are spread across the Indian states and also home to sacred lakes, peaks, hills, caves and sub mountain ranges. Here is the list of most sacred hills, peaks and mountains of India.

Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva, located near Lake Manasarovar and Lake Rakshastal. The Mount Kailash is considered sacred in all four religions of Bon, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Mount Kailash is known as Mount Meru in Buddhist texts, Sumeru is the most sacred five-peaked mountain of Hindu and in Buddhism.

Kangchenjunga, Sikkim

Kangchenjunga mountain of the Himalayas lies between Nepal and Sikkim of India, is the third highest mountain in the world at an elevation of 8,586 m. The mountain landscape is part of the Mixed Heritage site of India and home to many endangered flagship species like red panda, Asian black bear and snow leopard.

Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand

Nanda Devi mountain of Uttarakhand is sacred as the daughter of the Himalayas and the most sacred mountains in the Indian Himalayas, home to Nanda Devi National Park and also a World Heritage Site.

Sunanda Devi is the lower peaks of the highest mountain, located in the state of Uttarakhand and part of the Garhwal Himalayas. Nanda Devi and Sunanda Devi two adjacent peaks of Uttarakhand and considered sacred as home to Goddesses popular in Uttarakhand.

Mount Arunachala, Tamil Nadu

Mount Arunachala also known as Arunachalam is a holy mountain in Tamil Nadu and also one of the five holy places in South India for Shaivism. The Annamalaiyar Temple or Lord Shiva is located at the base of Arunachala hill and the temples is associated with the five elements of Pancha Bhoota Stalas.

Girnar Mountains, Gujarat

Girnar Parvat is a group of mountains in Gujarat, considered to be sacred by Jains, Buddhists and Hindu. The Girnar mountain range is home to Ashoka’s Rock Edict, list of Jain temples and Ambaji Temple, hence top Mountain is called as Ambaji Shikhar.

Velliangiri Mountains, Tamil Nadu

Velliangiri Mountains situated at the Western Ghats and part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu. The Seven Mountains of Velliangiri one of the most powerful place on the planet after Mount Kailash, where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Swayambhu.

Shivagange, Karnataka

Shivagange sacred mountain is shaped as a shivalinga and also known as Dakshina Kashi or Kashi of the South India. The mountain peak and area is a popular place for rock climbing in Karnataka and the temples are protected monument under the Ancient and Historical Monuments of the state.

Mount Abu, Rajasthan

Mount Abu in Rajasthan is the only hill station of the state and the highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar at 1,722 m. The Arbuda Mountain is a notable tourist attraction and the sacred range mentioned in the epic Mahabharata.

Kalsubai, Maharashtra

Kalsubai mountain in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra is visited by trekkers and wildlife enthusiasts, at an elevation of 1646 m and the highest peak of Maharashtra. The mountain range is home to the sacred temple of a local deity and Bhandardara is the historic and natural place of interest near Kalsubai,.

Agastya Mala, Kerala/Tamil Nadu

Agastya Mala is the peak of the Pothigai mountain range lies at the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, home to devotees of the Hindu sage Agastya. The Pothigai and Agastyamalai range is home to the Kanikkaran tribes, sacred forest, wild animals and part of theAgasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.

Mountains are considered sacred in India and home to list of most famous hill temples of Hindu God and Goddess like Trikuta Mountains of Vaishno Devi, sacred Hindu site in Mathura- Govardhan Hill, Garuda Hill in Tirumala, Malaya Mountains,Mount Gandhamadana and Mahendra Mountains. Image source: Pixabay