Pilgrimages in India
Many people travel to India to on religious pilgrimages. Many religions have a base and history in the country, so visits from those of diverse faiths are common, with followers coming to seek blessings and spiritual growth. Pilgrims travel to sacred sites to be blessed, including Rishikesh and Varanasi.
If you’re looking for a tailor-made pilgrimage, our team of experienced faith leaders are on hand to plan a religious trip or pilgrimage based on your religious interests. From ground checks to accommodation, we’ll take care of everything and create a custom itinerary for you. Your experienced guide will support you throughout your pilgrimage, ensuring your journey to the ancient sites across India is spiritually fulfilling.
OUR PILGRIMAGES IN INDIA
Known as the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, India is one of the world’s most important pilgrimage destinations. Every year, locals and visitors from around the world take a journey of faith in India, gathering for religious rituals and festivals at the country’s many renowned temples, churches and monasteries.
Pilgrimage sites across all regions of India are deeply spiritual places. They are spiritually and culturally important to various religions, and bring together communities from many different faiths, who join together for traditional festivals and rituals. Holy sites often reflect the shared culture and history between different religious groups, encouraging respect for other beliefs and acting as collective worship spaces for people of all backgrounds. Many of India’s holy sites also reflect messages of love and service, values shared by people of all religions.
Travellers from all backgrounds often journey to India to pay their respects and find spiritual connections at pilgrimage sites across the country. The holy sites of Tirupati, one of many famous Hindu pilgrimage sites in India, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar attract millions of visitors each year to seek blessings and peace.
SELF-GUIDED INDIAN PILGRIMAGE TOURS AND EXPERIENCES
Whether you’d like to visit ashrams and meditation retreats or the South Indian pilgrimage sites and architecture, we take the time to understand your interests, priorities and beliefs before putting together a customised pilgrimage, ensuring a meaningful and memorable journey.
As an experienced specialist pilgrimage tour operator in India, we understand that every traveller has unique preferences, and we pride ourselves on offering flexible tour options. You can tell us how long you would like to travel for, what your faith and background are, and what type of accommodation you’d prefer to stay in, and we’ll put together an itinerary to suit your preferences.
If you’d like to lead or take part in a planning a pilgrimage, our Take Your Own Pilgrimage tours are personalised to your individual needs and interests and those of your group. We are on hand to support you from start to finish, providing everything from group briefing papers and packing tips to flight tickets and travel insurance advice.
The experience of guests while they’re on our tours are important to us, and we are always looking for ways to refine our self-guided pilgrimages in India. After your trip, we’ll send you feedback forms and a link to leave a review so you can give us honest feedback.
CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGES IN INDIA
India’s many Christian pilgrimage destinations include the city of Shimla, which is often visited by pilgrims who want to spend time in Christ Church. One of the oldest churches in North India, its symbolic stained-glass windows and beautiful Gothic-inspired architecture have attracted visitors for over a century.
Many of our group tours in India, including the Faith Tour of India, visit Delhi, home to the Cathedral Church of the Redemption. Its historical architecture and calm atmosphere make it an important spiritual site for India’s Christian community to gather for ceremonies and services
To discover some of India’s 65,000 Christian churches, join our Coast to Coast – Journey to South India tour. Following ancient pilgrimage routes, you’ll visit St Mary’s Anglican Church in Chennai, India’s oldest British-built church, and St Francis Anglican Church in Cochin, which has Portuguese, Dutch and British heritage.
Our Pilgrimage to South India takes you to St Thomas Mount, believed to be where the apostle was martyred. With its peaceful views of Chennai and spiritual connections, travellers visit the mount to pay their respects and reflect upon their lives. You’ll also spend time at St Thomas Cathedral, home to the saint’s tomb and a famous Christian Chennai landmark.
BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGES IN INDIA
Buddhist pilgrimage tours are popular ways to visit sacred Buddhist sites, and many of our pilgrimages are dedicated to Buddhism and its monasteries, communities and retreats.
For travellers interested in learning about Buddhism alongside the many other sacred religious sites in India, our Faith Tour of India takes you to Sarnath Deer Park near Varanasi, the site of Buddha’s first sermon. You’ll also experience Buddhist riverside prayer rituals at the ghats on the river Ganges.
If you’d like to explore the life of Buddha, Discovering the Roots of Buddha takes you to Buddhist communities and practitioners. You’ll visit Sarnath, where Buddha taught his first sermon, and the world-famous Bodhgaya, where Buddha found enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. There will also be plenty of time to relax and meditate with your experienced yoga practitioner guide.
Enjoy a blend of yoga and sightseeing on our Yoga, Palaces and Buddhist Temples tour . You’ll see where Buddha did severe penance at the Mahakala caves and visit the Dalai Lama’s Monastery in McLeod Ganj, home to impressive statues and full of Tibetan history and culture. You’ll also take part in yoga sessions and spend time reflecting upon the teachings of Buddha.
SUFI PILGRIMAGES IN INDIA
India’s Sufi shrines, or dargahs, are important pilgrimage sites for people of all faiths. They are spiritual spaces built to honour Sufi saints and bring together people of all backgrounds and beliefs, encouraging peace and harmony.
Across the country, pilgrims visit sacred Sufi sites to seek blessings and peace or take part in puja ceremonies and Sufi zikr. These practices involve remembering God or praying for peace and protection and include rhythmic chanting, dancing and music.
Follow in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims on one of our tours of Indian Sufi shrines. Join our Faith Tour of India and visit the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. Sitting in one of Delhi’s oldest neighbourhoods, the dargah is often filled with Sufi music and spiritual gatherings. Spend time praying, reflecting and experiencing the atmosphere of the shrine.
Travel on our tailor-made Jainism and Jain Hill Shrines of Rajasthan and Gujarat tour and reflect on the secular teachings of Sufi Saint Khawaja Moin-ud-din Chisti at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, one of the holiest Indian Muslim shrines. People of all faiths and backgrounds visit the dargah to pay their respects to the saint, known for promoting peace, love and compassion.
PILGRIMAGE TO SOUTH INDIA
If you’re interested in Indian pilgrimage traditions, South India is a must-visit. It’s home to many holy pilgrimage sites and welcoming communities, and is dotted with dargahs, temples and churches.
Join our Pilgrimage to South India for an expert-led guided tour taking in many holy wonders, including the World Heritage site of Mahabalipuram with its beautiful temples and carvings. You’ll also spend time at Arjuna’s Penance, the site of one of the largest bas-reliefs in the world.
For a combination of culture and spirituality, our Temples, Ashrams and Churches tour explores the wide religious history of the south. You’ll experience the peaceful ancient temples of Tamil Nadu, the mountain Christian communities of Kerala, and the Meenakshi Temple at Madurai. Relax and unwind with a visit to Munnar Tea Plantation and the heritage buildings and churches of Fort Kochi, which has Dutch, British colonial and Portuguese-inspired architecture.
PILGRIMAGE IN INDIA FAQs
1. How experienced are you at organising pilgrimages?
We are a trusted pilgrimage company in India with decades of experience dating back to 1997. We are experts at organising and running pilgrimages, working closely with knowledgeable guides, including religious leaders, education professionals and yoga and meditation teachers.
Using our guides’ extensive understanding of the diverse faiths in India and taking the time to speak to you about your interests and faiths, we create tour packages catering to your needs.
2. What types of tours do you offer?
As a specialist pilgrimage tour operator in India, we organise tailor-made pilgrimages, group tours, Take Your Own pilgrimages, Tours for Teachers, and solo and charity trips. Our expert team takes the time to fully understand the type of experience you’d like, and each Indian pilgrimage itinerary is customised to your beliefs and interests. Our tours cover a range of religions, including Christianity, Buddhism and Sikhism, taking you to sacred sites, markets and retreats for a mix of spirituality and adventure.
3. How are my consumer rights protected when I book a Soul of India Tour?
We offer the highest standards of security and protection. We ensure our travel advice is monitored and updated in line with the latest Foreign Office travel advice. We are ATOL and ABTA registered and follow the Civil Aviation Authority rules. This means you will be refunded and helped back to the UK if Soul of India ceases trading while you’re away or fully refunded if your trip is yet to depart. You’ll also be supported with any serious travel issues while on your tour.
