10 Sacred Places in the World: Some places are visited due to their location and some for their religious significance. With the world following many different religions, some places have been at the forefront to promote a specific religion and have etched in the books as being one of the sacred places in the world.
Being worshipped for a long time and when you visit those regions you will feel connected with nature and also you wonder how this place compared to vast amount space has occupied the special position for a particular sect or religion.
There are many places that are featured here which make you believe that not only meditation but also the structure or a place will make you feel one is connected to the larger being. Some places mentioned here are monuments and some are places that are constructed/ discovered by our forefathers and have been worshipped/visited ever since.
Many of us would have heard about the place yet never made a point to visit it, however, once you visit it you would know what importance it holds bringing positive vibes to one’s body.
10. Cenote Sagrado, Mexico
The ancient revered lake of Ancient Maya is believed to have life-sustaining power as the ancient Mayans used to worship Chac, the god of rain. Many areas in Mexico are said to have been dotted with Cenotes which are natural underground sinkholes and the Mayans believed that the god of rain, Chac is believed to have visited these areas himself. As a result of this, some of the Cenotes are kept for bathing, drinking, and crop water, and the rest for the spiritual side where they worship the place.
Out of the many ones ancient Cenote is Cenote Sagrado located near the famous Chichen Itza is considered sacred. The cenote is created from natural limestone cave and is around 60 ft from the waterline. The cenote was used to please the gods that Mayans worshipped. When discovered, the archaeologists found gold, masks, cups, human bones, and jade pieces that denote that Mayans used to offer this to please the gods.
9. Bagan temples, Myanmar
Bagan temple is one of the 2 largest temples that is located in South East Asia, the other being the famous Angkor temples in Cambodia. Both of these sites are remarkable for their sacred history and geographical location. Many tourists visit Bagan for its exotic location and its sacred location.
The Bagan temples are scattered across the vast dusty plain where you can see many temples which are dedicated to Lord Buddha. The kingdom of Bagan dated as early as the 2nd Century and the golden age was attained in the year 1057 AD. During this time the temples were constructed and held a sacred position.
When you visit you can witness over 2,200 temples, pagodas, and other religious structures that remain standing now. During the golden period of Bagan, it was estimated that there were 13,000 such temples the 3/4th of the temple structures were washed away by the River Irrawaddy, some thieves had broken into and destroyed and some due to earthquakes and other natural calamities.
8. Bodh Gaya, India
The city of Bodh Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar is considered to be the holiest place for Buddhists. It is the home of the Mahabodhi tree which according to Buddhist traditions is where Prince Siddhartha after wandering across the state of Bihar took rest under a native bodhi tree, after 3 days of meditating he awoke with enlightenment and started preaching his teachings to his disciples.
The tree was sacred as this is where Prince Siddhartha became Gautama Buddha and preached his teachings across most regions in South East Asia. This tree is one of the most important pilgrimage centers for many centuries and the majestic tree is still worshipped and protected.
7. Machu Picchu, Peru
If you visit Peru, then it is not complete if you do not visit Machu Picchu. Located on the top of the mountain, the ancient city of the Incan has been a favorite destination to visit by tourists for centuries.
The ancient city has 3 primary structures Temple of the Sun, the Room of the Three Windows, and Intihuatana. It is a part of the Inca trail which is a popular trail around the world and it takes a minimum of 5 days to complete. Unfortunately, one can take part in the trial by hiring a tour guide.
6. Mount Kailash, Tibet
Mount Kailash in Tibet is a sacred place for 3 religions, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. It is believed to be the mythical axis for the centre of the universe. Hindus say that it is where Lord Shiva resides, Buddhists say that the mountain is home to Buddha Demchog, who represents supreme bliss and the Jains believe that this is the place where the first Jain attained enlightenment.
The mountain is the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia, including the Sutlej, the Indus, and the Ghaghara and there is a lake nearby called Lake Manasarovar which is one of the holiest lakes worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists.
5. Crater Lake, Oregon
Crater lake was formed due to the massive eruption of Mount Mazama which collapsed and it formed a beautiful freshwater lake that plunges as deep as 2,000ft below ground which makes it the deepest in the US and 7th deepest in the world.
It is considered a sacred lake by the Native American Klamath tribe and the legends say that the chiefs of the above world and the below world fought here which has led to the destruction of Mazama mountain. The Klamath tribesman used this lake in their vision quests and is still considered a sacred spot.
4. Taktsang, Bhutan
Taktsang sits at a perilous cliff located around 900m above Paro valley in Bhutan. The Buddhist monastery and temple also known as The Tiger’s Nest was built around 1692 at a site of a cave where Guru Rinpoche or the second Buddha—meditated for “three years, three months, and three hours” to ward off evil. This has been a sacred site ever since and visiting this beautiful location takes a steep 2-hour climb from the valley.
3. The Church of Nativity, Bethlehem
This is the holy site for Christians. Often we hear the stories of Jesus Christ taking birth in the ancient city of Bethlehem which is a holy city located on the west bank. It is the place where Jesus took birth and you can visit the Church of Nativity where a silver star lies on the ground. It is said that this is the exact point where Jesus was born.
It is one of the most popular tourist destinations and during Christmas time, the place will be bustling with crowds and the carols will be sung from midnight.
2. Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Kabba is a small shrine located in the centre of the Great Mosque in Mecca is considered to be the holiest shrine for Muslims. Muslims orient themselves towards the shrine during their 5 times daily prayer, bury the dead facing the meridian and make a point of visiting the pilgrimage site at least once in their lifetime.
1. Uluru-Kata, Australia
Located in Australia’s red centre, the two natural rock formations are the main attractions of the continent and are a World heritage site. Uluru-Kata is the country’s most recognized landmark, Uluru is a flat-topped sandstone rock standing about 1,100 feet high and almost six miles around, with a soulful, deep-red hue that changes throughout the day and about 30 miles is the Kata Tjuta which has 30 domes of varying rock types.
Both these sites are sacred to the Anangu people of the Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal tribe, who believe the rocks were built during the ancient creation period and are still inhabited by ancestor spirits.
