Read the excerpt. What are your observations? Locate the route the group must have taken from Rameswaram to Haridwar. Why do you think the group was going straight to Haridwar instead of stopping at Delhi?
The pilgrims travelled in small groups with women and men together, carried their own food supplies (atta, ghee, sugar), had limited time, and were focused on completing their pilgrimage efficiently.
The route from Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu, southern India) to Haridwar (Uttarakhand, northern India) passes through multiple states, covering a vast distance across the Indian Subcontinent from south to north.
The group prioritised reaching Haridwar because it is a sacred tīrtha and an important pilgrimage destination. Delhi was only a transit point for changing trains, not a religious destination. Pilgrims often focus on completing their spiritual journey efficiently.
Explanation
(a) The excerpt from Dharampal describes pilgrims who were organised and self-sufficient during their three-month pilgrimage journey. (b) Students can trace this route on a map, showing how pilgrimage routes connect distant parts of India. (c) The chapter emphasises that pilgrimage is both a physical and inner journey with a specified code of conduct, focused on sacred destinations.