India’s Camino: Can We Build Sacred Walking Routes?

India’s Camino: Can We Build Sacred Walking Routes?

Every year, hundreds of thousands walk the Camino de Santiago, a network of ancient pilgrimage trails crisscrossing Europe, all leading to the shrine of St. James in northwest Spain. But it’s not just about religion. The Camino is a journey of reflection, connection, and slow travel. Pilgrims walk for days or weeks, meeting strangers, crossing small towns, and letting the rhythm of their feet quiet the noise in their heads.

Now pause and think: If Spain can do it, why not India?

We already have the ingredients. India’s spiritual geography is vast. From Kedarnath to Kanyakumari, there are shrines, temples, mosques, gurudwaras, churches, and sacred forests that people have been visiting for centuries. Pilgrimage in India is not new. What’s missing is the infrastructure, storytelling, and community that could turn these ancient journeys into something more immersive, India’s own version of the Camino. And which everyone of all ages can enjoy. 

Beyond the Tourist Bus

Today, most pilgrimages in India are done by car, train, or packed buses. There’s a rush to get there, offer prayers, and head back. But walk any of these routes, say, from Rishikesh to Badrinath, or from Srirangam to Chidambaram and something shifts. You start noticing the land. The stories. The silences between the temples.

Walking slows you down. It invites introspection. It humbles you. And in a country where spiritual depth often gets reduced to photo ops and packaged tours, a sacred walking trail could bring back a kind of personal sacredness that doesn’t need an Instagram reel to validate it.

Sacred Trails Waiting to Be Walked

Imagine a marked trail through the Western Ghats tracing old forest paths between ancient shrines. Or a desert route linking Jain temples across Rajasthan. A Buddhist trail winding through Bihar and Sikkim. A Sufi path across Punjab and Kashmir. These routes already exist informally. Monks, sadhus, and devotees have walked them for centuries. What if we built on that? Added simple accommodation, mapped the route, and gave people a reason to walk with intention?

It wouldn’t need to be overly polished. The charm of the Camino is in its simplicity, basic hostels, hand-painted arrows, shared meals. India could take a similar path, rooted in local hospitality and grounded in community involvement.

More Than Religion

One of the most powerful things about the Camino is that you don’t need to be religious to walk it. People do it after a loss, during a transition, or just to unplug. India’s sacred routes could offer the same. A walking journey that blends history, landscape, faith, and silence. Where the temple or dargah or monastery is a pause point, not the end goal.

It’s also an opportunity for rural revival. A well-marked trail brings walkers, which brings income to villages, homestays, artisans, and small eateries. When done thoughtfully, it can create a circular economy that respects the land and uplifts the community.

What’s Stopping Us?

Honestly, not much, except imagination and will. We don’t need grand infrastructure. We need a mindset shift. Pilgrimage doesn’t have to be rushed. Sacredness doesn’t need to be bought in a VIP darshan ticket. And walking isn’t just for fitness, it’s for finding your place in the world.

We have the land. We have the stories. We have the seekers.

Now, all we need is to begin walking. One route at a time. One step at a time. Maybe India’s Camino is already here just waiting for us to slow down and notice.