Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

The richest and most visited temple on Earth — Lord Venkateswara's hilltop abode on the seven Tirumala hills draws up to a lakh pilgrims a day, whose offered hair and donations fund vast charities, and whose chant of 'Govinda!' rolls up the ghat road day and night.

Why visit: Devotion at planetary scale — the world's busiest place of worship.

History: Worship here spans two millennia through Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagara patronage — Krishnadevaraya's gilded gifts still adorn the ananda-nilayam dome.