अयोध्या
LocationUttar Pradesh, India
Ayodhya
The city of Rama’s dynasty, exile and return in the Ramayana, and a living pilgrimage centre.
Strong traditional identification
The world
Earthly Sacred Locations.
Living pilgrimage places and epic geography, with explicit identification confidence.
71 profiles
बद्रीनाथ
LocationUttarakhand, India
Badrinath
The Himalayan Vishnu pilgrimage centre is associated with Nara-Narayana and the northern Char Dham tradition.
Confirmed physical location
भीमाशंकर
LocationMaharashtra, India; regional alternatives
Bhimashankar
The Maharashtra pilgrimage shrine is a major Jyotirlinga identification; alternative regional claims should be acknowledged.
Confirmed physical location
चेदि
LocationCentral India
Chedi
The kingdom associated with Shishupala; its ancient boundaries are not a single modern point.
Probable ancient region
चिदम्बरम्
LocationTamil Nadu, India
Chidambaram
The Nataraja temple expresses Shaiva traditions of divine dance and sacred space.
Confirmed physical location
चित्रकूट
LocationUttar Pradesh–Madhya Pradesh, India
Chitrakuta
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana dwell in Chitrakuta during exile; Bharata’s meeting belongs to its narrative.
Strong traditional identification
दण्डकारण्य
LocationCentral and eastern India
Dandakaranya
The forest region of Rama’s exile is a broad epic landscape, not one precisely bounded modern forest.
Textual geography
धनुष्कोडि
LocationTamil Nadu, India
Dhanushkodi
The coastal settlement at the end of Rameswaram island belongs to the living landscape of Rama Setu traditions.
Confirmed physical location
द्वारका
LocationDwarka, Gujarat, India
Dvaraka
Krishna’s western city in epic and Puranic narratives. The living pilgrimage site and individual archaeological claims are separate matters.
Strong traditional identification
एकचक्रा
LocationMultiple regional traditions, India
Ekachakra
The Pandavas’ refuge and the Bakasura episode belong to this epic settlement; modern identifications differ.
Uncertain identification
गान्धार
LocationNorthwestern South Asia; Pakistan and Afghanistan
Gandhara
The ancient northwestern region associated with Gandhari and Shakuni.
Probable ancient region
गंगा नदी
LocationNorthern Indian river system
Ganga — Sacred River
The river Ganga is a physical river and sacred narrative landscape, distinct from the goddess Ganga’s being record.
Confirmed physical location
गंगोत्री
LocationUttarakhand, India
Gangotri
A Himalayan Ganga shrine; the temple town and the glacier source landscape are distinct locations.
Confirmed physical location
गोदावरी
LocationPeninsular India
Godavari
The river belongs to the southern sacred landscape and Rama’s Panchavati setting.
Confirmed physical location
गोकर्ण
LocationKarnataka, India
Gokarna
A living Shaiva pilgrimage town whose Atmalinga tradition connects Ravana and Ganesha.
Confirmed physical location
गोकुल
LocationGokul, Uttar Pradesh, India
Gokula
A traditional setting of Krishna’s childhood with Nanda and Yashoda.
Strong traditional identification
गोवर्धन
LocationGovardhan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Govardhana
The sacred hill central to Krishna’s lifting of Govardhana and later circumambulation traditions.
Confirmed physical location
घृष्णेश्वर
LocationMaharashtra, India
Grishneshwar
A living Shiva Jyotirlinga shrine near Ellora.
Confirmed physical location