Sapta Puri (7 Sacred Cities)

Per the Garuda Purana, the Sapta Puri are seven cities considered moksha-dayini (giver of liberation): Ayodhya (Lord Rama's birthplace), Mathura (Lord Krishna's birthplace), Haridwar (Ganga gateway), Kashi/Varanasi (Lord Shiva's city), Kanchipuram (Devi + Vishnu), Ujjain (Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga + Kumbha Mela site), and Dwarka (Lord Krishna's kingdom). Dying or being cremated in any of these cities is believed to grant moksha. The full circuit covers 6,000+ km across 6 states and takes 18-22 days. Most pilgrims complete it as 3-4 regional trips. Key timings: Ayodhya Ram Navami (Mar-Apr) draws 50 lakh pilgrims, Kashi during Dev Deepawali (Nov), Ujjain Simhastha Kumbha (every 12 years, next 2028). Pair with adjacent shrines — Mathura with Vrindavan + Govardhan, Dwarka with Bet Dwarka + Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Kashi with Sarnath + Allahabad.