Christian

India is a country that is famous because of its tourist locations throughout the world. For those who are raising their brows already at the reference to Christian pilgrimage in India, this can come like a surprise that India knew Christianity much before than the European Britain and Germany did. Apostle St. Thomas, a disciple of Christ Himself, found India in 52 A.D preached the Gospel to the Brahmin groups of Kerala, established seven Churches there and was martyred in 72 AD with a fanatic, and buried at Mylapore (near Madras). The credit propagation of the religion, however, would go to the Colonial Powers – Portuguese and the British. Today, you will find about 25 million Christians in India (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants), just beneath 3% of the people in this country of the country, flaked throughout, however with major concentration in Kerala, Goa, Misoram and Nagaland.

Most famous christian holy places and pilgrimages of India like churches that you need to visit and explore the fascinating realm of Christianity in India.

India is a great sacred country of all countries that have various spiritual & pilgrimages places. India has welcomed all people of the religions with the world. The spiritual host to India is mixing of various cultures, and religions. India is spiritual land with century old temples, churches, mosques, gurdwaras and many monasteries. Christianity has experienced long and glorious relations with India. Based on some legends, St. Thomas sailed to India from Eastern Asia in AD 52. He spent 12 years in India, the final eight of his life in Mylapore in Madras (now Chennai). Several shrines have been created in the places associated with him. Apart from this, the advent of Europeans in India from your 15th century onwards resulted in the mass influx of Christians and subsequent growth and development of Christian worship places. A few of the churches of colonial India are similar to the best on the planet and are just as much a part of the heritage of india as its ancient temples.  Following are most famous christian religious places and pilgrimages of india like churches that you need to visit and explore the fascinating realm of Christianity in India.

Christian Religious & Pilgrimage Places or Churches in India

Churches in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has some most religious places for christian pilgrimages. St. Francis Xavier, who dedicated his entire life for your growth of Christianity in the Kanyakumari District saw success in form of a sizeable quantity of conversions to Christianity. The Tamil Nadu Churches therefore hold a unique place in the historical past of Christianity in South India and are among the important religious places to visit throughout a Tamil Nadu tour. Probably the most important and many visited churches in Tamil Nadu are St. Thome Cathedral Basilica and St. Mary’s Church St. John’s Church.

Delhi

The capital of india, Delhi offer you some christian religious places to have a pilgrimage tour. Further north, in the south end of Bhai Vir Singh Marg, is just one of Medd’s more ambitious projects, the Roman Catholic Church from the Sacred Heart.This Church displays a powerful Italianate influence, having a facade of white pillars supporting a canopy set against a dark brick background, and circular arcades turrets rising over the roof to every side from the entrance porch. The lofty interior features a towering curved roof, polished stone floors and broad arches set into smooth walls, presenting a really grand look.

Christ Church & St. Michael’s Cathedral, H.P.

The most prominent building on the famous Mall of Shimla is the yellow Christ Church, reputed to be the second oldest church in northern India. It still has those lovely stained glass windows for which it is so famed.

Goa Churches

Goa is literally symbolic of churches. They may be living testimonies of the rich historical past of Goa. During the beginning of the Portuguese rule in India, church building was the primary concern and occupation in Goa. This was due to their zeal to spread Christianity and convert as many people as they can.

Se Cathedral, Goa

It is famous christian religious place of india for pilgrimage tour. Se Cathedral church is one of the largest churches in , Goa Asia,and India. The church is about 10kms from the capital Panaji and is also situated in old Goa.This church is dedicated to St Catherine because Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa on the feast day 25th November 1510.The inside of the church is a combination of Mosaic-Corinthian style having principal chapel. Main altar has the presence of four chapel on either side. The outside of the church is a mixture of Tuscan- Doric architecture.

Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa

The Basilica of Bom Jesus, “Good” or “Infant” Jesus, is a Catholic basilica in Goa, is offered the status of Minor Basilica. This church house the tomb of St. Francis Xavier a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) who died on a sea voyage to China in 1552. Legend has it that when your body of Xavier was moved to Goa these year, your body was found as fresh because the day it had been buried. Consequent to this miracle the title of ‘Saint’ was conferred on Xavier and his mortal remains, confined inside his tomb, attracts devotees from all over the world.

St. Francis of Assisi ,Goa

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is located in exactly the same compound because the see Catherdal and is 9 km far from Panaji The church had been a convent first and was created into a church for the Franciscan friars in 1521.The church consists of Mauline style main entrance, Tuscan style exterior and internal buttress wall separating the chapels and supporting intricate floral design gallery on top.

Santa Cruz Basilica, Kerala

The Santa Cruz Basilica is actually a historic church that was built by the Portuguese. The church was elevated to a cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558 AD. In 1795 AD, it fell into the hands of the British when they took over Cochin and was demolished. When it comes to a hundred years later, Bishop Dom Gomez Ferreira commissioned a brand new building in the same site in 1887 AD. The church was proclaimed a Basilica in 1984 by Pope John Paul II.

Goa – Famous Christian Pilgrimage site:

Goa, the beautiful state found on the western coast of India, is blessed with lots of attractive tourist attractions. where all perhaps you have planned Goa for any weekend getaway or perhaps a honeymoon.Goa generally is synonymous with churches. They’re living testimonies of the rich background of Goa. During the beginning of the Portuguese rule in India, church building was the first concern and occupation in Goa. It was because of their zeal to spread Christianity and convert as numerous people as they possibly can.

Goa on India’s west coast used to be a Portuguese enclave. The legacy of Christianity and of the Gothic architectural style popular in Portugal during previous centuries, can nonetheless be seen in the churches of Goa today.

Panaji

The capital of Goa is a heritage location with lots of renowned Churches and buildings constructed in Gothic style, situated on the left bank of the Mandovi river. The church focused on our Lady of Immaculate Conception, the Chapel of St. Sebastian and the statue of Abbe Faria are must-see stops on the itinerary associated with a religious travelist.

Kerala:
The Malayatoor Church, Valiya Palli Church, St. Francis Church and most significantly Santa Cruz Basilica (raised to some cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558 AD) are noteworthy churches of India’s Christianity holy-hub Kerala with about 9 million Christians. Keralalite Christians possess a more remote ancestry compared to Christians of numerous of the Countries in europe.

Tamil Nadu:
Churches worth seeing in Tamil Nadu are Christ The King Church, Kandal Cross Shrine, Luz Church, Manappad Church, Santhome Cathedral Basilica, St. Andrew’s Church, St. Mary’s Church In The Fort, St. Thomas Mount and Velankanni Church.
Sacred Arogya Matha Church,Velankanni is situated 12 km south of Nagapattinam on the Coromandel Coast, in Tamil Nadu. The shrine here’s dedicated to Our Lady of Health, the Madonna of Velankanni and is popularly referred to as ‘Sacred Arogya Matha Church’. Virgin Mary is considered to have miraculous healing powers. A large number of pilgrims belonging to various castes and communities flock daily for this ‘Lourdes of the East’. The church comes with an imposing facade with tall spires and the wings present the form of a cross. In a distinct segment in the alter is enshrined the statue in our Lady of Health.In 1560, Virgin Mary has been said to have seemed to a shepherd, asking him for milk to quench the thirst of baby Jesus. When the shepherd returned to his master, after performing the good deed, his pitcher kept filling with milk. Consequently, a little thatched chapel was built at the site. At the end of the 16th century, Virgin Mary appeared again in front of the lame boy, who regained the utilization of his limbs. The actual church was constructed after the incident.

Uttar Pradesh
Allahabad, A 1870 Anglican Cathedral with white and red stone exterior and marble altar, at Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), form another visual and spiritual feast.

Delhi
Churches worth seeing include the Church of the Sacred Heart & the Cathedral Church of the Redemption.

Mumbai
Mumbai’s first Anglican Church -Cathedral of St. Thomas,

Chennai
Chennai’s Little Mount in Saidapet, where the Saint lived and preached are sites you shouldn’t miss. And if you wish to combine religious ardor having a summer-retreat,

Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh has significant Churches worth visiting like Christ Church and St Michael’s Cathedral, the Catholic Church of St. Francis, St. John’s Church-In-Wilderness, and the Christ Church.