India has a long history and tradition of spirituality. India is a birthplace of many religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism etc, and an origin of numerous socio-religious schools of thought. Religion is a way of life here. Innumerable temples, mosques, shrines belonging to different religions, sects and cults, are a reflection of religiosity and religious tolerance of Indians. These places of worship not only provide solace to perturbed minds but also inspire people to lead a wholesome life.

Places like Rishikesh, Haridwar, Allahabad, Varanasi, Dwarka, Kanchi have been associated with learning and spirituality since time immemorial. Besides the ancient systems of philosophy like Vaisheshika, the Nyaya, the Samkhya, the Yoga, the Mimamsa, and the Vedanta. Of these systems Yoga and Vedanta have caught the attention of students of religion, scholars, as well as lay people for their practicality, rationality, and scientific basis. All Hindus now accept Vedanta as their 'living faith'.

In modern times several teachers like Swami Vivekanand, Swami Ram Tirtha, Osho Rajneesh, etc have evolved their own brand of philosophy. Through their teachings these modern gurus have tried to bring vedic knowledge to common people and help them countenance both daily life hassles and difficult ethical issues of modern living with equal ease. The relevance and practicality of their teachings has won them many adherents across the globe. Osho international meditation resort, Pune, Ramkrishan mission, Ram Tirth mission attract visitors from different parts of world. Indian yogic postures and meditations have been unequivocally appreciated and adopted world over.

In recent times, Haridwar under guidance of Swami Ram Dev has emerged as prominent yogic centre. One can visit Kerala for its Ayurvedic treatments, Bihar for learning Buddhist philosophy, or the serene environs of Himalayas for some enlightened moments. The temple towns of Mathura-Vrindavan, Varanasi, Madurai, Bhubaneshwar, Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Rameshwaram, Badrinath and hundreds more can transcend one from physical to spiritual plane.