5 famous Hindu pilgrimage sites that can be reached via a trek

All over the world there are many places where people and devotees go to pray, seek blessings and just to have some spiritual peace. While to some people devotion can come from the nearby temple, there are others who believe in specific temples and places where they believe every wish would be fulfilled. And a lot of these places are actually very difficult to access for they require intense treks and physical energy.
And yet, despite the daunting treks involved, millions of devotees take part in these journeys each year, driven by their faith and devotion to seek blessings of the supreme energies.
Here we list 5 holy sites that require not just mental but also physical preparedness to visit.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kedarnath temple is situated between the majestic Himalayas in Uttarakhand. The temple is of great importance and sacred nature to Hindus and Shiva devotees all over the world.
Devotees come here in lakhs every year to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva, the destroyer and transformer. The trek to Kedarnath involves going through almost 20 kilometres of rugged terrain by foot. The journey really tests the endurance, faith and patience of pilgrims. Despite the challenges, devotees go on this trek every year to have some kind of a bond with Lord Shiva and attain spiritual enlightenment.

Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world, and is situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Tungnath temple site is a part of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit. Pilgrims trek through dense forests and rocky paths to reach Tungnath, where they offer prayers and seek blessings. The trek, although very difficult and physically straining, not just gives a sense of satisfaction at the end owing to the sight of Lord Shiva but also because of the amazing Himalayan views.

Located on top of a hill in the Kullu Valley of Himachal, Bijli Mahadev is known as a manifestation of Lord Shiva.
The temple is known for its unique tradition where a lightning bolt, believed to be Lord Shiva's blessings, strikes the Shiva ling once every 12 years, shattering it into pieces. It is believed that Lord Shiva does this so that the lightning does not result in loss of life to the people near the area and so he takes the ill upon himself.
To reach Bijli Mahadev temple, devotees advance on a challenging trek through dense forests and rough roads.

Located in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, Vaishno Devi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Vaishno Devi, who is widely believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Mahalakshmi. The Vaishno Devi mandir trek attracts lakhs of pilgrims throughout the year for it is said that a single visit to the holy cave shrine can free people from many troubles and problems. While the new road to the temple isn’t as challenging, it is still 12 to 16 kilometres long. Many people take up this trek barefoot, as a mark of their faith and determination to seek the blessings of Vaishno Devi.

Situated in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, Shrikhand Mahadev is another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva that is accessible through a rocky terrain and a trek of several kilometres. The trek to Shrikhand Mahadev is famous for its difficulty, and attracts not just devoted pilgrims but also adventure enthusiasts. The trek has steep levels, icy slopes, and rocky terrain at high altitudes.
The trek and journey to Shrikhand Mahadev is extremely challenging and demands both physical and mental devotion.