Christmas festival is celebrated every year on 25 December. Lord Jesus was born on this day. It is one of the important festivals of Christians which is celebrated all over the world. On this day, all-night prayers, and cultural and religious programs are organized in churches. The beauty of churches is worth seeing on Christmas night. There are many such beautiful and famous churches in India, to see which people come here not only from the country but also from abroad. Today in this episode, we are going to tell you about some of the grand and famous churches of the country whose beauty will make you happy. Let us know about these churches...

Christ Church, Shimla
The historic Christ Church is situated on the ridge grounds of Queen of the Hills, Shimla. This is the second oldest church in North India, whose beauty attracts many people today. This church, built in Neo-Gothic art in the year 1857, was built for the Anglican British Community, which was called Simla at that time. This church looks like a crown from many kilometers away. There are 5 big windows in this church. These windows symbolize Christian faith, hope, charity, patience, and humility. It is open every Sunday. Every year lakhs of tourists from India and abroad come to see and pray at this church.

All Saints Cathedral, Allahabad
Allahabad is a religious city of Hindus, but All Saints Cathedral Church, known as the 'Church of Stones' located in Allahabad, is also very popular among visitors. This church was built by the British in the 19th century in Gothic style. It was designed by the famous British architect 'William Emerson', who had earlier designed the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. Along with its beauty, the church of Allahabad is also known for its vastness. It is said that 400 people can sit and pray together in this church.

St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata
Kolkata is known as City of Joy. The specialty of the city is that here you get all the things in one place. Be it a museum or any place related to religion. St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata has the distinction of being the first Episcopalian church in Asia. This church is built right in the middle of Kolkata. The architecture of this church built by the British is a wonderful blend of Indian and Gothic architecture. To see the real beauty of this church, you should come to Kolkata during Christmas time. At this time this church remains bathed in bright light. The special thing is that people of all religions are allowed to come to this church. One of the oldest and most beautiful churches in India, St. Paul's Cathedral is a must-see.

St. Andrew's Basilica Church, Kerala
There are many such churches in India, seeing which makes your heart happy. One of these churches is St. Andrew's Basilica Church. It is considered to be the largest church of St. Sebastian. This church was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. This church is located in Kerala and is known as the Shrine of St. Sebastian International Church. A large number of tourists come here every year and know about its beauty and history.

Velankanni Church, Tamil Nadu
This church is known as ‘Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health’. This parsonage was built as a cottage in the 16th century but later became a parish church in the year 1771. This church remains open from five in the morning to nine in the evening. During this period, collective prayers are offered in Tamil, Malayalam, and English at different times of the day. A large number of pilgrims visit this church during the September festivals and Christmas.

Vallarpadam Church, Kerala
'Our Lady of Ransom' Church located in Ernakulam, Kerala state is known for its grandeur and beauty. Thousands of tourists visit this church every year. These tourists are not only from the state of Kerala but a large number of tourists from other states also come to this church for prayers. Regarding this church, it is said that it was constructed in 1524 AD. It was built by the Portuguese in 1676, but this church was destroyed due to a flood in 1676. After this, this church was rebuilt and the Government of India declared it a national pilgrimage site in 1951.

Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
There would probably be someone who would not have seen this church on your Goa trip. Although there are many churches in Goa this church is the most special among them. The construction of this church was started in 1594. After 11 years of hard work, this church was finally completed in 1605. The structure of this church is Baroque architecture. It has been placed on the map of India which gives it a distinct identity. This approximately 400-year-old church has now been included in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. This church will remind you of old times. Which is its most unique thing. Perhaps because of all these specialties, this church remains on the list of every traveler visiting Goa.

Santa Cruz Basilica Church, Kochi
This church was also built by the Portuguese. This is one of the first churches in India. This is one of those buildings in the city which displays Gothic influence. It was one of the few buildings saved from destruction when Dutch invaders were destroying Catholic buildings. This church has murals and canvas paintings that tell the story of the birth and death of Jesus Christ.

Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry
It would not be wrong to call this church built in 1686 the pride of Pondicherry. This church is famous not only in Pondicherry but in the entire country. For this reason, people keep coming from all over the country to see it. This church, dedicated to St. Peter, was once a small chapel. Later it was molded into the form seen today. The special thing about this church is that it stood strong even after the attack by the British. This church fits perfectly into the French atmosphere of Pondicherry. From a distance, it looks no less than a palace. You should also definitely see this church decorated in white and golden colors.

(PC: Lifeberrys)