Ujjain. also known as the 'City of Temples,' dates back to 700 BCE and is mentioned in early Hindu literature including the Mahabharata.
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Madurai
Tamil Nadu's Madurai was a cultural hub for over 2,500 years, centered around the 17th-century Meenakshi Amman Temple.
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Varanasi
Varanasi, the holy city along the Ganges River, dates back to 800 BCE and is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva.
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Patna
Formerly Pataliputra, Patna is a 2,000-year-old city that was crucial in the spread of Buddhism. The city served as the capital of the Mauryan and Gupta dynasties.
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Puri
Puri has a rich cultural history and houses the Jagannath Temple, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The city has references in the Mahabharata.