Pilgrims may feel that pilgrimage is a journey of the heart because after a pilgrimage many pilgrims feel spiritually fulfilled and more aware of their spiritualism.
Pilgrims need to be in the right frame of mind and have to plan their trip, maybe saving money and doing a route plan.
Faith and religion are generally believed to come from the soul and pilgrimage is meant to strengthen the religious faith and as the soul is not a physical element pilgrims may think it is a journey of the heart.
Pilgrims may feel that they have become closer to God, if they are Christian, or Shiva, if they are Hindu, and closer it means not in the physical way of being nearer by instead more in tune with the relevant being for their particular religion.
Often pilgrims are looking for confirmation of their faith. This means they are looking for something to prove to them that their faith and believe has not been in vain. Visions or enlightenment are often searched for and these are divine things rather than material objects.
To achieve moksha Hindus to on a pilgrimage to bathe in the Ganges at the time of the Kumba Mela and as Moksha is not a physical thing pilgrimage could be thought to be of the heart.
Hindus may also go on a pilgrimage to receive good Karma or to do their Dharma that is their duty so pilgrimage to some Hindu’s is a journey of the heart.
There are also some pilgrims who feel that pilgrimage is a journey that is physical rather than being from the heart.
The act of walking to the site to pilgrimage is a physical journey and makes up one of the main arguments for this point.
Hindu pilgrims will often go on pilgrimage as the last thing they do in their life so they can die in the Ganges or be cremated near it and then have their ashes scattered into it. The carrying of their body is a physical task which often takes great effort on the part of the pilgrim.
If someone in a Hindu family has died one or some of their family members may take part in a pilgrimage to carry the ashes to the Ganges. The carrying of the ashes is a physical thing.
Fertility is a physical state of body that many pilgrims will pray for when at their place of pilgrimage.
Going on pilgrimage is often not cheap so lots of pilgrims have to raise money somehow which is a physical task.
There are also some points that could be used on both sides depending on the way they are looked upon.
The act of walking to the pilgrimage site is not only a physical journey but also needs the devotion of he heart for it to succeed.
At places of Hindu pilgrimage there are many sacred people who keep themselves in uncomfortable and unnatural positions for long periods of time to get good Karma and show their devotion. This not only a physical procedure but also need spiritual strength for this to be achieved.
Christian pilgrims often fast before, after or during pilgrimage which although food is a material object it is necessary to have enough will power to carry out the fast to its end and not to break it half way through.
Pilgrims may go to be physically healed of wounds of disabilities for example but some pilgrims also journey to be mentally or spiritually healed or cleansed.