The study proposes a holistic pilgrimage experience model by integrating the personal/psychological/affective components, as well as the external destination attributes from the pilgrims’ perspective in the backdrop of Indian Hindu pilgrimage destinations. A systematic exploration of the extant literature and the conduct of Interactive Qualitative Analysis reveal internal factors viz., religiosity, spiritual engagement, ritual experience and transcendent experience and external factors such as temple environment, destination support services, cultural heritage, recreation and leisure facilities and destination hospitableness. The study identifies key factors germane to religious destination experiences leading to better destination management that addresses and caters to the imperative needs of pilgrims.