The purpose of this study aimed to explore the pilgrimage experiences of Buddhist practitioners who participated in the Indian pilgrimage. The research questions to achieve the research objectives are as follows. First, what were the pilgrimage vows of Buddhist practitioners who participated in the Indian pilgrimage? Second, what were the pilgrimage and reflections of Buddhist practitioners who participated in the Indian pilgrimage? Third, what were the post-pilgrimage plans of Buddhist practitioners who participated in the Indian pilgrimage? To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 Buddhist practitioners who participated in the Indian pilgrimage in March 2023 and analyzed using a consensual qualitative research method. As a result of this study, 15 categories were derived from the pilgrimage experience in three areas: ‘pilgrimage vows’, ‘pilgrimage and reflections’, and ‘post-pilgrimage plans for return’. First, in the ‘Pilgrimage Vow’ section of Buddhist practitioners participating in the Indian pilgrimage, four categories were derived: ‘Vow to meet my inner self through pilgrimage’, ‘Vow to gain the power to walk along the Buddha’s path’, ‘Vow to be altruistic’, and ‘Vow to revive Korean Buddhism’. Second, in the ‘Pilgrimage and Reflection’ section of Buddhist practitioners participating in the Indian pilgrimage, ten subcategories were derived from the categories of ‘Thoughts and Feelings before the pilgrimage’, ‘Thoughts and Feelings during the pilgrimage’, and ‘Thoughts and Feelings after the pilgrimage’. Third, in the ‘Plans for Return after the Pilgrimage’ section of Buddhist practitioners participating in the Indian pilgrimage, ‘Vow to practice the Dharma and preach the teachings’ was derived. The significance of this study is that it confirmed the meaning of the Indian pilgrimage to Buddhist practitioners and provided suggestions for practicing Buddhist values.