Travelers around the globe plan a budget-friendly pilgrimage in India. They undergo a spiritual journey to India to learn about the divine vibe of the country. Most people want to explore India’s pilgrim sites as they are within your budget. Well, India is, no doubt a heaven for budget travelers as the country offers you an enriching travel experience without breaking the bank. With the year-round availability of affordable accommodation options, budget-friendly public transportation, abundance of sacred sites, and low cost of living, experiencing a spiritual journey to India will be a rewarding experience for you. However, planning an affordable pilgrimage tour in India is not as easy as it seems to be. If you are visiting India for the first time and looking to embark on a spiritual journey without overspending, the following tips will be beneficial for you: -
Make sure to plan a spiritual trip to India around the festivals. During this time, you will easily get an opportunity to participate in the festivals of the country which will offer you a rich cultural experience. Besides, you will get affordable accommodation options during the festivals. Right from attending free events to experiencing delectable Indian food at minimal prices, you can do everything without spending too much. Traveling from one place to another will also be cost-effective for you during the festival time. However, you should always book your accommodation in advance to avoid any problems during your pilgrimage tour.
It is crucial to book the train tickets in advance. This will avoid the stress of booking them at the eleventh hour. When you have your train tickets with you before your trip, you can easily concentrate on other things that are important for your spiritual trip. Also, the trains fill up quickly during the pilgrimage season. Thus, it is better to book your tickets in advance. You can easily book them online through IRCTC—a government website for booking trains. However, you can also visit Cleartrip or MakeMyTrip to book your train tickets early.
If you are on a budget-friendly pilgrimage tour in India then consider traveling during the cheapest time of the year. This will help you explore the sacred sites of the country without breaking the bank. Unlike the peak season, you can easily book your flights at the most competitive rates during the off-season. Also, the hotel rooms are available at low prices during this season. Another advantage of planning your journey in this season is that there is not much crowd during this time. April is the cheapest time to book your flights. But the temperature can go up to 32°C in some of the destinations such as Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, etc.
Traveling at night is an easy way to cut your travel experiences during your pilgrimage tour. You can book a 2 or 3-tier train carriage instead of booking a first-class cabin for you. This would be highly affordable to you. However, you can also book premium trains during your pilgrimage tour in India such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, etc. Apart from that, you can also consider traveling by night bus. When you travel by bus at night, you won’t require a hotel room which would save your travel costs.
One of the important tips to cut your travel expenses during a pilgrim tour is to identify the affordable pilgrim sites of the country. However, consider your preferences and faith while identifying these places. Some of the budget-friendly pilgrimage destinations in India are as follows: -
While planning a budget-friendly pilgrimage in India, choose the hotels that offer you great discounts. If you are visiting India in the off-season, you will get good discounts. Thus, you can search for hotels online that offer attractive discounts. You can also bargain and get a hotel room at the best prices.
You will find a plethora of budget-friendly accommodations in India if you are on a pilgrim tour. If you want to stay in budget during your pilgrimage trip in India, you can opt for the following: -
You should also plan for local transportation during your visit to the pilgrimage destinations of India. Here are a few affordable ways to explore a city.
Most pilgrims do not plan their dining during their pilgrimage tour. However, if you plan your dining smartly, you will be able to reduce your food and dining costs to a certain extent. The pilgrimage cities in India offer numerous affordable dining options to you: -
Make sure to pack smartly during your pilgrimage tour. Identify the things that are essential for you during your visit. Once you identify them, pack them smartly to avoid any unnecessary luggage charges. Some of the important things that you should pack during your pilgrimage tour are as follows: -
Another best tip to travel to any pilgrim spot is to plan your pilgrimage tour in the off-peak season. The off-peak season starts from April to June. You will see fewer crowds in this season, so you can find affordable accommodation and cheap flights. The monsoon season i.e. the time from June to September is the best to visit a few famous pilgrim destinations such as Haridwar, Dharmashala, Rishikesh, etc. These destinations are less crowded during this time. So, you can get affordable accommodation if you visit them during these months. Wintertime is ideal for several pilgrimage destinations in South India. However, you should avoid December and January months to save your hard-earned money.
Many pilgrim destinations in the country offer free or low-cost spiritual events that will offer you the desired mental peace. Many temples in the country let you have free darshan as well as other important devotional activities. Many temples in South India offer free entry to the pilgrims. Moreover, a few ashrams in Dharamshala and Rishikesh offer free meditation sessions and yoga classes to tourists. If you want to experience Yoga without spending money, this is the best opportunity for you. Thus, you can partake in these sessions to get an unforgettable spiritual experience. Few pilgrim places offer free satsangs to tourists. Thus, if you want to experience these spiritual gatherings, you can join them free of cost.
Make sure to research your tour agency well before booking it. Check reviews of these tour operators before finalizing a travel company. If you research them carefully, you will find a lot of companies that will offer you budget-friendly pilgrimage tours in India. However, make sure to book the local pilgrimage tour agencies as they are aware of the best pilgrimage destinations of the country. They offer affordable group tours which will help you minimize the cost of accommodation, meals, and transportation. With the help of these tours, you can explore the spiritual vibe of a particular pilgrimage spot in the country without spending much.
Another best way to save money during your pilgrimage tour is to rely on a few apps. You will find numerous apps and websites that offer you attractive discounts for your pilgrim tour. Some of the apps that you can use to reduce your expenses include the following: -
You would be surprised to know that hiring a local guide during your pilgrimage tour will be highly affordable for you. Several temples offer guides to you in lieu of a minimal fee. They are well aware of the history and other important information related to a pilgrimage site. This will offer you an enriching experience which you will never forget in your lifetime. A few pilgrimage destinations offer attractive discounts for groups, students, and senior citizens. Thus, if you want to get the most out of your pilgrimage tour without unnecessary expenses, these discounts are highly suitable for you. Hence, you must always ask for these discounts before getting entry into any temple or any other religious spot.
Make sure to manage your budget during your pilgrimage tour. If you do this, you will end up saving a lot of money during your tour. To reduce your expenses, you must avoid unnecessary expenses during your tour. It is advisable to use a budgeting app to track your expenses.
Make sure to create a good budget after considering the essential expenses that you need to make during your tour. For example, put some money aside for offering donations and offerings at any temple. This will help you avoid making unnecessary expenses during the visit to any pilgrimage site. Apart from that, you also need some money if you fall ill during the trip. However, it is not required if you have your medical kit with you. Keeping a medical kit will help you a lot during your tour. Moreover, you should also get travel insurance when you are on a pilgrimage tour of India. If you have the right insurance, you will be covered for any medical emergency during the tour.
Getting connected with your friends and family is important during India’s pilgrimage tour. If you are a foreigner, you must buy a local SIM card after reaching India. This will save you from the international roaming charges. Many companies offer SIM cards in India such as Jio, Vodafone, Airtel, etc. You can easily find these cards in all major cities of India and also at the airport.
Another tip to save money during your tour is to bargain while purchasing anything in the local markets. Most people do a lot of bargaining which helps them save a good amount of money during their tour. Hence, you must bargain for everything you buy in India. You can also bargain while choosing your local transportation. However, make sure to be polite while bargaining. This will help you get a good deal.
Make sure to stay safe during your tour. Always pack your valuable belongings properly before starting your tour and keep an eye on them during your visit to the pilgrimage sites. This will help you avoid any financial loss in case these things or lost or stolen during the tour. Thus, you should be extra cautious during your pilgrimage tour and reduce unnecessary expenses by being safe.
Planning a budget-friendly pilgrimage in India is easy if you adopt the right approach. You can easily explore the important pilgrimage sites in India without overspending. Choose the most affordable pilgrim destinations and eat free meals to get the most out of your spiritual destination without spending too much. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and explore the spiritual essence of India at the most competitive prices.