When it comes to discussing travel for a religious pilgrimage, destinations in the Holy Land of the Middle East are what first come to mind. As the birthplace of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, no place on earth could possibly hold as much religious significance as the Middle East. Well, maybe. Although not drawing as many travelers, India, the land to the south and east, might just be its equal for pilgrims.

Like the Middle East, India is the spawning ground for two major religions – Hinduism and Buddhism – and is the location of holy sites for several others. Hindu pilgrims make annual journeys to bathe in the waters of the Ganges River and Muslims visit for some of the most famous mosques in the world. During the 1960s, the Beatles even came on a pilgrimage to India to study transcendental meditation at the feet of the Maharishi.

Hinduism

For those wanting to visit the mystic land, there are plenty of travel agencies that package religious pilgrimages to India. By far, the largest number of citizens are Hindus. More than 80 percent of the Indian population practice Hinduism and there are hundreds of temples and religious sites to visit. In fact, there are too many religious sites to visit on any one tour. Travelers are better served to pick a package tour that concentrates on one region of the country.

One of the most famous pilgrimage sites is the holy Ganges River. Hinduism is a religion of many gods and the Ganges is personified as a goddess. Holy sites along the river include Haridwar, known as the “Gateway to the Gods” and one of the seven most holy Hindu places. Bathing in the Ganges is said to purge one of their sins and many have had their ashes spread across the waters, including Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead.

Sikhs and Buddhists

Other religions to have their origin in India are Buddhism and Sikhism. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, in the state of Punjab, is the most holy site for Sikhs. The Golden Temple, also known as Darbar Sahib, is symbolic of religious tolerance and is open to all persons regardless of caste.

For Buddhists, India is the birthplace of Prince Gautama, who attained enlightenment under the Asvatta tree (also called as the Bodhi tree) at Bodhgava and became known as Lord Budha. One of the four most holy sites of Buddhism, even the Dalai Lama of Tibet makes frequent visits there. The site also hosts a living Bodhi tree, which is said to be more than 100 years old and descended from the original.