In the world, almost every religion recognizes the spirituality of travel. In scripture, some places are given great significance for the roles they play in different belief systems. Some religious places are thought to be gifts from the gods, some are the birthplaces of gods, some are centers of religious leaders and some are simply adorable places to worship. We’ve collected the top 10 famous pilgrimage places around the world. These religious places are amazing and inspiring even to the people in their religion, draw pilgrims from all corners of the world each year.
1. Lumbini
It is the birthplace of the lord buddha and located in rupandehi, Nepal. In 623 BC, Lord Buddha is said to have been born in a garden in Lumbini, Nepal. He was a prince who left his palace at the age of 29 to seek enlightenment. After 249 BC, this place began attracting pilgrims, when the Indian emperor King Ashoka first traveled there. The Ashokan Pillar in the Lumbini garden is inscribed with a dedication to the Buddha and marks the king’s pilgrimage. Other sacred places include a house by the Maya Devi Temple, the stone slab where Siddhartha was born, and the pool in which Siddhartha was bathed after being born, called Pushkarini.
2. Vatican City
It is the home of the Pope and center of the Roman Catholic Church and surrounded by Rome, Italy. The Vatican city or holy see has become an independent state in 1929. St Peter’s Basilica houses the tomb of the first people, the apostle St Peter, who was buried and crucified there. Other attractions include the Vatican gardens, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican museums.
3. Wittenberg
It is the birthplace of the protestant reformation, located in Saxony, Germany. He wrote the controversial ninety-five theses on the power and efficacy of indulgences. Much of Wittenberg was destroyed during the seven years’ war, but Castle Church was rebuilt in the 1800s and the text of Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses was inscribed into the church’s front doors.
4. Mecca
This place is the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad and located in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is the holiest place in Islam, non-muslims are not allowed inside mecca, so this excursion is only for believers. It is central to Islam that one of the five pillars of religion is for every able-bodied adult to carry out the Hajj at least once in their lifetime, providing they can afford to. It is where Muhammad, the prophet who founded Islam, was born, and where he received the first revelation of the Qur’an.
5. Badrinath
The most important site of the Char Dham, the four Hindu pilgrimage centers which are located in Uttarakhand, India. It is a sacred place of the god Vishnu. The area’s main attraction is Badrinath Temple, built in the 9th Century by Garhwal kings. It is a place to worship Vishnu, although other gods are also represented. Take a spiritual cleanse in one of the area’s natural hot springs, Surya Kund and tapt kund.
6. Golden Temple
It is the holiest place of worship for Sikhs that is located in Amritsar, India. The Harmandir Sahib, or golden temple, is the most important gurdwara, or temple, in Sikhism. It was built from marble in the early 1600s and then overlaid with gold leaf. You will find the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text of Sikhism inside the temple.
7. Western Wall
The holiest of Jewish sites are located in Jerusalem, Israel. After the First Temple had been destroyed by the Babylonians and the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The remaining wall, Kotel, or western wall, became a place of worship and mourning for the old temples and it is often called the Wailing Wall.
8. Shrine of the Bab
It is the mausoleum of the founder of the precursor religion to the Bahá’í Faith that is located in Haifa, Israel. It is located on Mount Carmel, combines beautiful buildings with beautiful greenery. Meander about the hanging gardens of Haifa in the shrine, the terraced gardens designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba.
9. Palitan
It is the most sacred city for Jains in Gujarat, India. Shatrunjaya hill is a place of worship in Jainism in the city of Palatine, a belief system that revolves around non-violence toward all living things – people, animals, even insects. Shatrunjaya is a hill that has steps of stretching 591m high. Along the way are 863 temples made of marble, comprising the holiest place on earth for Jainism.
10. Sri Pada
It is a religious destination for four major religious groups in Sri Lanka. The beauty of the holy mountain Sri Pada is appreciated by everyone. That’s why four different religions consider the peak a sacred site worthy of pilgrimage. A rock formation near the summit takes a different shape: Hindus believe it is the footprint of Shiva, Buddhists believe it is the footprint of the Buddha; Muslims believe it is the footprint of the prophet Adam and Christians believe it is the footprint of St Thomas.
These are the top ten pilgrimage places around the world. So, which place you would love to visit?
