10 Most Sacred Places in the World
The word ‘sacred’ signifies a connection with the divine powers believed to be the ultimate source that drives every occurrence in this world. And through this concept, the people have developed their way of worshipping this power in their own way in the form of religion. There are different types of religion prevailing in this world through which the people acquire the hope and courage to face every opportunity and challenge in life. And so they have created some amazing and beautiful places all over the world to achieve serenity from these places. Well, some natural places are also there which are being considered as sacred according to the people. Here is the list of some top sacred places in the world considered the holiest places in this world.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia:
It is located in the central part of Australia. It is actually millions of years old and is considered one of the country’s most magnificent heritage sites. Actually, Uluru and Kata Tjuta are two highlands made of elements generally like sandstone, granite, and basalt separated by a distance of about 30 miles from each other. The Anangu people of the Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal tribe believe that the two rocks are very sacred as their ancestor spirits still occupy them. They perform various rituals there in order to seek blessings from their ancestors to improve their lifestyle.
Rishikesh, India:
We all know that Rishikesh is a holy place and also for ancient spiritual practice finding higher knowledge. It is one of the primary pilgrimages of India. In Rishikesh, yoga schools have beautiful landscapes connecting with nature, and doing yoga everyday will have many benefits for our body-mind, and soul. If someone is suffering from mental disorders, stress, tension or health issues, the best thing one can do is, get some time, visit Yoga School in Rishikesh, meditate and practice yoga for immense benefits. You can also learn Yoga to teach and guide others and become a certified yoga teacher.
Mahabodhi Tree, Bodh Gaya, India:
This is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage located at Bodh Gaya in the state of Bihar of India. It is believed that when the founder of Buddhism, Lord Buddha or Prince Siddharth, back then was wandering around in search of the ultimate answers to all the questions associated with life, it was under this tree that he meditated for around 3 days and achieved the goal of enlightenment to his unsolved queries about life. In recent times, a temple has been built around the tree where huge numbers of people receive blessings of Lord Buddha, whose statue has also been made under that tree.
Mount Sinai, Egypt:
Mount Sinai, which can also be termed as Jabal Musa in a traditional manner, is a mountain located in Egypt’s the Sinai Peninsula. It is believed that here, the most important prophet of Judaism, Moses received the famous Ten Commandments. Several monasteries were made around that area based on this theory.
Mount Kailas, Tibet:
It is one of the most remote areas located in the Tibetan Himalayas. It is a peak of the Gangdise Mountain range and is located near Manas Sarovar, also considered a holy place. Mount Kailas is associated with various religious beliefs as the Hindus believed it to be the home to one of the supreme gods of Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva. On the other hand, the Jains call it Mount Ashtapada and believe that the very first Jain received his nirvana here. The Buddhists believe that it is the home of Buddha Demchok, the symbol of supreme bliss.
Mecca, Saudi Arabia:
Mecca is the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, who is the founder of the religion Islam. It is considered the most sacred place in the Islamic community. It is the capital of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia. According to Islam’s religious words, it is the duty of every Muslim to visit Mecca at least once in a lifetime. Also, non-Muslims are not permitted or allowed to enter the city.
Cenote Sagrado, Mexico:
This is a Mexican sinkhole called a cenote, which exposes the water table to the surface. It is also known as the ‘Well of Sacrifice.’ It is actually a place for worshipping the God of Rain, Chac. People sacrifice their belongings according to their affordability to this sinkhole.
Jerusalem, Israel:
It is one of the oldest cities in the world and is the place of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is also associated with the religions, namely Judaism and Islam. According to the Islamic religious book, Quran, Muhammad made his night journey to Jerusalem, where he escalated to heaven and met God. Sepulchre. It is a church since the fourth century, which is notable as a place of two important sites, which are:
a) The site where Jesus was crucified. (Name of the place: Calvary or Golgotha)
b) The place where the empty tomb of Jesus is located, where he was buried and resurrected.
Lourdes, France:
It is one of the most important sites of pilgrimage and religious tourism in the world. It is a small market town located in the Pyrenees in south-western France. It is believed that at this place, a 14-year-old peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, had seen the Marian apparitions, i.e., the supernatural appearances by the mother of Jesus Christ, Mary.
Golden Temple, Amritsar:
Also known as Harmandir Sahib, i.e., Home of God, the Golden Temple is a gurdwara situated in Amritsar in Punjab, India. It is the leading pilgrimage site of Sikhism. It is known as the Golden Temple as the sanctum center is covered with gold foil. It is the most significant shrine for the Sikhs and is believed as a symbol of Power, Bravery, and Faith for the people associated with Sikhism.
Conclusion
There are such innumerable pilgrimage places where thousands of pilgrims visit to seek blessings or peace or to attain courage to fight against all the odds of life. These places are also a licensed part of the World Heritage Site, managed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
