Sacred Roads

The urge to undertake a pilgrimage is both ancient and universal. In this richly detailed and absorbing book, Nicholas Shrady travels to six famous sites, investigating not only the phenomenon of pilgrimage itself but also the enduring vitality of the spiritual quest. From the mountainous trails of the Way of St James to the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi, from the ancient walls of Jerusalem to the contemporary 'pilgrimage trade' of Medjugorje, Bosnia, and from the mystical Tomb of Rumi to the Sacred Buddhist Trail of India and Nepal, the author explores the landscape, the culture and the particular religious rituals of each pilgrimage. Nicholas Shrady reveals the conflicts and tensions, and the profound and very real insights, that the pilgrimage process can inspire. Sacred Roads combines exciting anecdote and adventure with a unique window on to the state of the world's great religions. The result is a highly entertaining and intelligent work of travel literature that is also the story of a genuine spiritual journey.