The cities of India that serve as the center for the Hindu and Buddhist religions are Varanasi, Sarnath, Prayagraj, Gaya and Bodhgaya. The presence of the River Ganga and Phalgu makes them more sacred for the Hindu pilgrims.
Varanasi is the spiritual capital of India. It is considered an auspicious place to die, as it is believed to grant moksha or liberation from the cycle of life and death. Sarnath is the place where Gautama Buddha taught the first Dharma. While, Allahabad is famous for Triveni Sangam or the meeting point of three rivers – the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati. Gaya has the sites associated with Vishnu and has key importance for the performance of the pind-daan ritual. Bodhgaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex and it is the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree.
