Introducing Pilgrim Stays

Hi everyone, and welcome to Pilgrim Stays! Pilgrim Stays is a new initiative in Christian travel by Tripvillas and ATC Publishers. While both Tripvillas and ATC Publishers have distinguished themselves in the travel and Christian publishing fields, we felt it was worthwhile to share with you the why and how of this idea whose time has come.

A Global Heritage

Christianity, since its founding about 2,000 years ago, has spread across the globe and has given rise to numerous structures that hold unique places in artistic, architectural and religious circles. With over 2.4 billion followers, approximately 32% of all inhabitants of planet earth have a direct bond with Christianity that goes beyond the intellectual. A well-travelled person would know that in the world’s most important cities — or, for that matter, in most parts of the world — the top ten must-see sites would unfailingly include a few Christian monuments. An understanding of these structures, their art and their history gives one a deeper understanding of the world.

Where Faith Meets Art

As you soak in the rich mélange on offer, it’s easy to understand how religion, art and architecture have become intertwined over the centuries. For the faithful, these locations offer an opportunity for reflection, inner peace and also thanksgiving. We felt, however, that there was a lack of authentic information on Christian travel. Apart from scholars, art aficionados and the devout, the world at large was not exposed to many of these treasures. Pilgrim Stays is an initiative to make these places more accessible to the broader population.

Our Hope

We hope to make a small difference in making these locations self-sustaining and better utilised. We hope you will enjoy using this website, and please do send us your feedback. We would like to acknowledge the guidance of our mentors, from the clergy as well as the laity, in getting this project from thought to deed — not forgetting the teams at Tripvillas, ATC Publishers and ATC Online, without whose dedicated efforts this website would not have seen the light of day.