Pilgrimage Tourism in North India consists of a number of religious centres of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and the tribal people, that is coloured by the hues of North Indian climate and topography and infested with the popular culture of the northern part.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Haridwar
The Himalayan Mountain Range serve as the exotic abode of the popular "Chardham" or four pilgrimage centres of Hinduism namely Gangotri, Yamunotri temple, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Haridwar is also an important Hindu pilgrimage site.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Allahabad
The Kumbha mela of Allahabad is the largest religious fair in the country.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Rishikesh
Rishikesh, situated in the northern part of Uttarakhand, is known as the Tapo Bhumi or Place of Meditation. Lord Vishnu is said to have demolished the demon, Madhu, here in Rishikesh.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir
The shrine of Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir is one of the most notable Hindu pilgrimage centres in north India. The shrine consists of one of the holy body remnants of the Female Creative Power of the Universe, called Shakti by the ancient Vedic scriptures. The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is located in a cave and has images of three deities the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.
Monasteries in Ladakh
Ladakh is a home to some of the splendid monasteries of the world. Pilgrims in large numbers visit these monasteries to attain spiritual enlightenment. The well known monasteries are Lamayuru monastery and Alchi monastery among others. 
Pilgrimage Tourism in Punjab
The majority of population in Punjab is Sikhs. The most sacred shrine of the Sikhs is the Golden temple of Amritsar. Devotees from all sects of life irrespective of their cast and creed come here to pay reverence to the temple. Various other gurudwaras are scattered throughout the state of Punjab. Religious centres for the Muslims area also present in the state of Punjab such as, Mazaar, Pir Baba Haji Rattan in Bathinda City. Other Muslim religious places in Punjab include Moorish Mosque, Kapurthala City, Imam Nasir Mausoleum and Jama Masjid in Jalandhar City and Chilla Baba Seikh Farid in Faridkot City which are flocked by Muslim pilgrims all throughout the year.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Haryana
In Haryana, there are pilgrimage centres for both Hindus and the Sikhs.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Uttar Pradesh
Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, is the birth-place of Lord Krishna, a history which gives a sacred character to the pilgrimage of Mathura. Vrindavan and Varanasi are also holy Hindu pilgrimage sites. Sarnath, Kapilavastu, Kushinagar, Kaushambi and Saravasti in the state of Uttar Pradesh are pious destinations for the Buddhist pilgrims. Kashi is an example of a place of sanctity. Kashi includes all the other tirthas within itself. The presence of all tirthas in Kashi is more than a matter of literary tribute. Many places of pilgrimage are part of Kashi`s sacred geography. Kashi is a cosmopolitan city. Kashi is also considered as the city of Lord Shiva. The winter months of Marga Shirsha and Pausha are prescribed for a pilgrimage to Kashi. In Kashi, Dwaraka is situated in the Shankhoddhara in the south-western outskirts. Kashi contains the four abodes of the gods at the four directional points of India. These are all ancient shrines and were given emphasis in the ninth century when the great philosopher Shankara travelled around India. Kashi, the place of divine light, is an abode par excellence. The northern refraction is called Badrinath, a Vaishnava site located in the Himalayas. Badrinath is opened only during the summer months and it is on of the popular pilgrimage places. In Kashi, Badrinath is placed at Nara-Narayana tirthas which is in the northern sector of the city between Gaya and Trilochana Ghats. In Kashi Rameshvaram is presented in three different places: the temple at Rama Kund in central Kashi, the village of Rameshvara on the Panchakroshi Road, and the shrine of Rameshvara at Man Mandir Ghat. As for the refractions of the Divine in west India there is Dwaraka, the western abode in Gujarat. In the east is the temple of Lord Jagannath in Odisha. In Kashi, the similar site of Puri is now near Asi Ghat, in a large rural temple compound. The pilgrimage to these four pilgrimages of India is well known. In Kashi, the presence of the four abodes is an impressive fact of the city`s sacred geography.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Delhi
Delhi in north India has a wide array of Muslim pilgrimage sites. The Jama Masjid and the Dargah of Sufi Saint Nizamuddin Aulia are among the Muslim religious places of Delhi.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Uttarkhand
Uttarkashi is one of the most revered and famous centres of pilgrimage in India which is a vital town in Uttarakhand, on the banks of Bhagirathi River at an altitude of 1352 m above sea level. It is home to a number of ashrams and temples and also the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. The Bhotiya Jadh people predominantly inhabit Uttarkashi. It is also known as Soumya (modest) Kashi or Soumya Varanasi, just like the Varanasi of the plains lies situated between the Varuna and Asi which go on to join the Bhagirathi on the west and east of the town respectively. It was called the Varnavarta in the Skanda Purana and was formerly known as Barahat, a celebrated place for centuries. This place is northernmost among the five Kashis in India. It is set in beautiful surroundings among the standing as it is on the Bhagirathi against a background of hills. Like Varanasi, Uttarkashi is also a town of temples and also like Varanasi the most important temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva under the name of Vishwanath. It is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. In a hall right in front of the temple stands a Trishul of Lord Shiva signifying power. It is said to have been erected there by a Malla King. Other important temples of the town are those dedicated to Parushurama, Dattareya, Annapurna, Bhairava and Kadashudra. The temple of Lakeshwar is in the eastern part of the town and is associated with the lac house built by Duryodhana. Gangotri Temple lies in the state of Uttarakhand and is one among the Char Dhams or the Holy pilgrimage sites of the Hindus in India. The other four are Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The temple lies in the town of Gangotri, a beautiful and scenic place lying along the banks of the Bhagirathi River. Gangotri Temple is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga. Gangotri is the highest and the most important temple of Goddess Ganga. It lies perched at a height of 3200 metres nestled beautifully amidst Deodar and Pine trees. The present temple is said to have been built by Amar Singh Thapa, a General Gorkha in the early 18th century. There are a number of Ashrams and Dharamshalas around the area.
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