Holy places everywhere are meant for purifying the consciousness of the visitor. A place is made particularly holy by the presence of the Lord and His pure devotees.

For Gaudiya Vaisnavas the major places of pilgrimage are Vrindavana, Mayapur, and Jagannatha Puri. Vrindavana is the site of Lord Krishna's pastimes, while Mayapur and Puri are the sites of Lord Caitanya's pastimes.

A visit to a holy place doens't only mean taking a bath in a sacred river or visiting temples. According to Srila Prabhupada, if one visits a holy place, he should search out the devotees residing there, take lessons from them and try to apply such instructions in practical life. Krishna is always present with His devotees and by their actions any place can become a place of pilgrimage. For this reason, the places where Srila Prabhupada visited are also considered places of pilgrimage.