The Ganges
Let's begin by exploring the Ganges, arguably the most well known and well attended sacred site in India. It's a river that starts in the Himalayas and extends out into the ocean, passing many large and bustling cities along the way. Thus the ganges not only have a great deal of traffic, but a great deal of pollution. Still in Hinduism, the Ganges are considered an extremely sacred site that can purify you of your past karmas. In fact, the Ganges is even worshiped in her personified form (as are many physical places, concepts and ideas in Hinduism). Here's a picture of her now:
How did the ganges gain so much importance? There are various stories circulating around Hindu mythology that aim to explain the origin of the Ganges river. In one story in the Rig Veda, the river was created from water after Brahma washed Vishnu's feet. Read more on the Ganges by clicking here.
