Key points
- Every year, Indian Hindu pilgrims embark on a spiritual journey to Pakistan
- Pakistan is home to numerous religious sites, reflecting its diverse heritage
- Sadhu Bela Temple is located on an island in Indus River
- Pakistan is home to around 480 tourist sites
ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Hindu pilgrims from India, led by Sant Yudhishtarlal, visited the ancient Sadhu Belo Temple in Sukkur, Pakistan, where they performed their rituals and prayed for global development, prosperity, and regional peace, local media reported on Monday.
Every year, Hindu pilgrims from India visit Sukkur, Pakistan to pay homage to their historical places of worship.
Sadhu Bela Temple
The Sadhu Bela Temple, located on an islet in the River Indus, is a significant pilgrimage site, founded by Baba Bankhandi, an Udasi missionary from Nepal.
According to Pakistan state-run news agency, APP, the delegation was warmly received by the Hindu community and local people, who welcomed them with traditional drum beats.
Ishwar Lal, head of the Hindu Panchayat Sukkur, Deputy Mayor Dr Arshad Mughal, and other officials extended a warm welcome to the delegation.
Yudhishthir Lal expressed his gratitude for the love and affection shown to the delegation, adding it would be remembered forever.
He highlighted the strong bonds between the people of Pakistan and India, and stated that the people of both sides have a special place in their hearts for each other, APP reported.
READ ALSO: Indian Hindu Pilgrims Reach at Historic Katas Raj Temple
Pakistan, the cradle of the Indus Valley Civilization, is home to numerous religious sites. This presents immense potential for religious tourism in the region.
Religious tourism is a rapidly growing industry worldwide, offering vast opportunities for visitors to explore sites as well as attend religious events.
According to the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), there are around 480 tourist sites across Pakistan, 120 of which are religious sites.
Local officials said that Pakistan is also making efforts to provide facilities to tourists in the country. According to local media reports, Pakistan has recently constructed a modern residential facility at the Katas Raj Temples complex to facilitate Hindu pilgrims visiting the sacred Hindu site from India and other parts of the world.
READ ALSO: Immense Potential for Religious Tourism
Birthplace of Guru Nanak
Pakistan hosts the majority of Sikhism’s most important sacred sites, including Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.
The south Asian country has 195 Gurdwaras, with four of the most significant being Kartarpur Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, and Nankana Sahib.
The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) said that between October 1 and November 29, 2024, over 60,000 Sikh pilgrims visited Pakistan to perform their religious rituals in various cities.
Similarly, over 13,000 Sikh pilgrims arrived from nations like the US, the UK, Canada, Europe, and Australia, while 2,559 pilgrims came from different cities in India.