In India, there is an ancient tradition of pilgrimage to sacred sites and holy places that remains strong today. Today's Hindus still travel to holy cities, lovingly anoint temple statues, bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges and celebrate colorful religious festivals – just as they have done for thousands of years.

Over 80% of India's population practices Hinduism, the ancient indigenous religion of India which has a wide variety of forms and expressions. Muslims, concentrated mainly in north India, constitute about 10% of the Indian population. Other significant religious groups in India include Sikhs, Jains, and Christians. Buddhism is almost extinct in the land of its birth, but many exiled Tibetan Buddhists now make their home in India, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

India's famed spirituality has made it a popular destination for spiritually-inclined travelers and seekers for decades. Originally attracting mainly die-hard, budget New Age travelers, India has in the past decade also come into its own for top-end travelers who want to be pampered and rejuvenated as well as spiritually and culturally inspired. Today, visitors come to India for a variety of reasons: to soak up the spirituality, enjoy the colorful culture, relax on the beaches, or rejuvenate at an Ayurvedic spa.

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