New Delhi, April 20 -- Saudi Arabia has begun cracking down on visa misuse, making it more important than ever for Indian pilgrims to understand exactly which visa they need - and what happens if they get it wrong.

For millions of Muslims, the journey to Mecca is the defining spiritual act of a lifetime. But the path there has become considerably more complicated. Saudi Arabia has tightened its visa regulations and moved to bar travellers from several countries who have attempted to perform Hajj on Umrah or tourist visas. For Indian pilgrims planning either pilgrimage, understanding the distinction between the two visas is no longer merely advisable.

The two pilgrimages are related but distinct in obligation, timing and scale. Hajj is o...