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SRILAKSHMI GOLDEN TEMPLE

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Vellore, Tamil Nadu The Srilakshmi Golden Temple is one of the newest major temples in India, and the most important modern temple in the south of the country. Constructed less than ten year ago, much of the temple is covered in copper plate which is in turn covered in layer upon layer of magnificent gold leif artwork. Dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi, it is popular with the … [Read more...]

SEVAGRAM ASHRAM

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Sevagram, Maharashtra India is home to many Ashrams, monastic communities (of sorts) which function as centers of religious and academic learning as well aspious retreat. Ashrams throughout India covering centuries of history can be found everywhere, but few, if any, have achieved the prominence of the Sevagram Ashram outside of the town of Wardha. It was here, from 1936 to … [Read more...]

MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Madurai, Tamil Nadu The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is the largest and most magnificent temple in India dedicated to one of the female Hindu deities, in this case, Parvati, the wife of Shiva. It may also be one of the oldest temples in Tamil Nadu (or at least a descendent of one of the oldest). The temple also hosts one of the largest annual pilgrimages to a female deity … [Read more...]

SOUTH FORT CAVE TEMPLES

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Badami, Karnataka The Badami Cave Temples, also known as the South Fort Cave Temples, are a series of four rock-cut temples that date back to the height of the Chalukya Empire. They are the finest and best known cave temples in south India, and are arguably third in popularity in the entire country after the cave temples in Ajanta and Elora. Long abandoned, the caves of Badami … [Read more...]

VIJAYANAGAR RUINS TEMPLES

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Hampi, Karnataka The Vijayanagar Ruins in the city of Hampi is home to one of the best collections of decaying old temples in Southern India. Once the capital of one of the wealthiest kingdoms in Indian history, the city of Hampi at its height boasted some of the most splendind temples constructed after the Middle Ages. There are dozens of amazing temples here in various … [Read more...]

SRI VENKATESWARA TEMPLE

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh The Sri Venkateswara Temple is one of India’s stellar religious attractions. It is estimated that over 30 million pilgrims visit this temple every year, making it the most visited Hindu site in the world and puts it in the running for one of the most visited sacred places in any religion anywhere. Dedicated primarily to Vishnu, its claim to fame is … [Read more...]

SRI RANGANATHA TEMPLE

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Srirangapatna, Karnataka The Sri Ranganatha Temple is one of five sacred shrines along the Kaveri River dedicated to Vishnu. The most upstream of the five, it is considered the most important, and is a popular starting point for pilgrims traveling along the river. Architecturally it boasts one of the finest pyramid dome towers in Karnataka, and is a popular destination for … [Read more...]

CHENNAKESHAVA TEMPLES

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Belur & Somnathpura, Karnataka The Chennakeshava Temples are a trio of temples constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries under the auspices of the Hoysala kings in Southern India. All three honor Chennakeshava, a form of the deity Vishnu, and are among the best preserved and awe-inspiring temples in Karnataka. Of the three, two are considered among the best (and most … [Read more...]

SHORE TEMPLE

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu The Shore Temple is one of southern India’s most unique temples, both historically and architecturally. It gets its name from the fact that its stands on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, and it might have once served a dual purpose as a light house. Unlike virtually every other major temple in India, which are generally rock cut and involve intricately … [Read more...]

SABHANAYAKA NATARAJA TEMPLE

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu The Sabhanayaka Nataraja Temple is one of the most religiously important in the the South of India. According to legend, it was here that the Lord Shiva descended to Earth in primordial times and first performed the Cosmic Dance. Because of this it draws a particularly large number of Hindus specifically on pilgimrage (whereas most other temples in … [Read more...]

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THE COMPLETE PILGRIM

Welcome to The Complete Pilgrim(TM)! This site, created by Howard Kramer, is a combination travel blog and online guide to the world's greatest sites of religious interest (with some historic and recreational places thrown in for good measure). All written content has been originally researched and produced and is provided free for public research and enjoyment. Thank you for visiting!

Site of the Week

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

Wittenberg, Germany The … [Read More...]

Friends of TCP Spotlight

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

by Glory Ali The City of Brotherly Love offers tons to see and do and get this, it’s FREE. That’s right you heard it right it’s FREE. Click here for complete article  

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

by Mary Neuhauser President Trump recently announced his intentions to move the United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby recognizing Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel. The purpose of this article is to give you a brief overview of what this decision means and why it matters. Click here for […]

Photo of the Week

BASILICA OF ST. DENIS

Last month, I visited one of the most fascinating churches I have ever been to, the almost completely ignored Basilica of St. Denis in the northern suburbs of Paris.  Almost every French monarch is buried here, and almost nobody goes here.  Here are some pics I took:

Basilica of St. Denis

Tomb of Clovis

Tomb of Clovis

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Royal Tombs

Royal Tombs

The Crypt

The Crypt

 

 

 

 

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Contact Us

Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at hkramer@thecompletepilgrim.com.

About the Author

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is the culmination of years of his work and passion.

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