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BRIDHADISHWARA TEMPLE

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu The Bridhadishwar Temple is one of the largest and best preserved shrines in India that dates from the Middle Ages. Just over a thousand years old, it is also considered to be one of the great engineering feats of the Middle Ages. Among its features are one of the tallest pyramid towers in India (it was one of the tallest structures in the world at the … [Read more...]

ANNAMALAIYAR TEMPLE

August 10, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu The Annamalaiyar Temple in Thiruvannamalai is an absolutely gargantuan temple complex, one of the largest in India. Dedicated to Shiva, it is associated with the Jyotirlinga legend (though it is not one of the Jyotirlinga temples). It covers an immense area, and boasts four of the tallest pyramid towers in Tamil Nadu. Millions of pilgrims descend on … [Read more...]

VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE

August 9, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Pattadakal, Karnataka The city of Pattadakal is extremely rich in some of India’s oldest standing temples, many of whiah are collectively now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of these, the largest and most magnificent is arguably the Virupaksha Temple. Dedicated to the Lord Shiva, this impressive building dates back to the 8th century, making it one of India’s oldest … [Read more...]

HOYSALESWARA TEMPLE

August 9, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Halebid, Karnataka The Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebid is one of the most impressive and popular temples to Shiva in Southern India. This is particulary true of the temple interior, which is easily one of the finest temple interiors in the country. It is the largest of the Hoysalan shrines, and the carvings and artwork that cover the temple are, simply put, among the best … [Read more...]

VADAKKUNATHAN TEMPLE

August 9, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Trichur, Kerala The Vadakkunathan Temple is arguably the most important Hindu temple in Kerala. It is certainly among the oldest, largest and most popular for pilgrims. Architecturally it is significant as it is one of India’s few major temples that include significant elements constructed from wood, as well as its magnificent murals. Although believed by locals to have been … [Read more...]

GRISHNESHWAR TEMPLE

August 9, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Aurangabad, Maharashtra The Grishneshwar Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the twelfth temple of the list, though not necessarily in importance. Per the Jyotirlinga legend, Shiva appeared on the spot as a beam of light. Although it is not mandatory that this temple be the … [Read more...]

RAMANATHASWAMY TEMPLE

August 9, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu Rameswaram is one of the most sacred Hindu cities in Southern India. It enjoys several major religious distinctions. First is that it is home to one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlinga (a sacred object associated with Shiva). Second, it is one of four cities that mark the four cardinal compass points in Hinduism, in this case the south. Third, it is held to … [Read more...]

AUNDHA NAGNATH (NAGESHVARA) TEMPLE

August 9, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Aundha Nagnath, Maharashtra The Nageshvara Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the tenth temple of the list, though not necessarily in either importance or in order to be visited. Per the Jyotirlinga legend, Shiva appeared on the spot as a beam of light. Like several of the … [Read more...]

TRIMBAKESHWAR SHIVA TEMPLE

August 9, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Trimbak, Maharashtra The Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the eighth temple of the list, though not necessarily in either importance or in order to be visited. Per the Jyotirlinga legend, Shiva appeared on the spot as a beam of light. The Trimbakeshwar … [Read more...]

BHIMASHANKAR TEMPLE

August 9, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Bhimashankar, Maharastra The Bhimashankar Temple is one of the Jyotirlingas, one of twelve Hindu temples of particularly special importance to the deity Shiva. It is traditionally the sixth temple of the list, though not necessarily in either importance or in order to be visited. Per the Jyotirlinga legend, Shiva appeared on the spot as a beam of light. The Bhimashankar Temple … [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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