Pilgrimage to holy places is meant to cleanse inner selves, wash out the evil tendencies and open up before them the path of righteous living

At the end of the Mahabharata, Yudhistra decided to go on a pilgrimage with his four brothers Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahdev and Draupadi. Before leaving they called on Lord Krishna. Handing over his Kamandal ( wooden pot used by mendicants) Krishna said, "whenever you get an opportunity to bath in the river, lake or sea during the pilgrimage, do dip this Kamandal in the water." On their return Yudhistra handed over the Kamandal to Krishna and told him that it was dipped in all holy bathing places. Krishna took the Kamandal and smashed it against the floor. It broke into tiny pieces. He distributed the tiny pieces to all as prasad. Whoever put the prasad in mouth found it bitter and spit it out. When lord Krishna saw the faces of those who had tasted prasad, he turned towards Yudhistra and asked, "the Kamandal has visited all the pilgrimages and also bathed in all the holy places, yet it tastes bitter?"
"What are you saying, Can washing of the Kamandal rid it off its bitterness", asked Yudhistra.
"If that be so, then following the spiritual advise of bathing in holy places how can one cleanse the inner self just by washing or purifying the body or using ornaments?"
Yudhistra corrected himself and understood the need for cleansing of inner self through pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage to holy places is meant to cleanse inner selves, wash out the evil tendencies and open up before them the path of righteous living.‪ "Tirthas" were created in the ancient times to provide the motivational energy and atmosphere for transcending and transmuting both "Gyana and Karma" into the supreme state of self-realisation. Pilgrimage is for introspection, practice of penance and selfless service and for resolving to single-pointedly strive for an enlightened future!
Hari Om Tat Sat Namah Shivaya ~ Bum Bum Bhole!!!