The most impressive sacred sites on earth

share | tweet | MORE |

 

Whether you’re spiritual or not, some religious places fill you with a sense of peace and quite, and often awe. Religious sites are built to impress, so most of the time they are large, ornate or plain…shiny. Pilgrims make long journeys every year to these sites, and while they go in order to benefit from the spiritual powers of the place, and simple visitors come so that they can marvel at the beauty of these places.

Sacred places reflect a people’s values and beliefs, so if you are off on a trip with the goal of getting to know the culture of a place, visiting a sacred site or two is a must. So to start, here are the most impressive sacred places on earth.

The Red Rocks of Sedona, Arizona

Sacred sites don’t necessarily have to be man-made, and the Red Rocks are the ultimate proof for this. The natural rock formation can compete with any cathedral when it comes to size and beauty. The Native Americans who live and used to live in the area thought that the rocks have healing powers and could help a person to discover themselves, and traveled to Sedona on “Vision Quests”.

New Age groups visit Sedona on spiritual quests, non-believers can simply go and enjoy the natural beauty of the rocks and the region.

Temple of Poseidon, Sounion

There are lots of ruined temples in Greece, and most of them are so beset by visitors that it is sometimes difficult to savour the mysterious atmosphere of these ancient places. The Temple of Poseidon was built in a location that might discourage some people from visiting it, since it is perched on top of some cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea (the perfect spot for a temple dedicated to the god of the seas), and it isn’t surrounded by any other buildings that might distract you.

Lord Byron was among the first visitors of the temple, and the first person to carve their name on the ruin – thus setting an unfortunate example.

Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan, Jordan

Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan is one of the most important recent discoveries in biblical archaeology, and it is believed to be the place where John the Baptist lived and Jesus was baptized. In ancient times and in the Middle Ages, many pilgrims visited the place, but due to the location of the site on a disputed border, it was rediscovered and opened to the public in 1996. You can see the remains of the church of John the Baptist, as well as his sacred spring, a complex of hermit cells and caves, and a large baptism pool.

Bulguksa, South Korea

Bulguksa Temple is a perfect example of 8th century Silla architecture, despite having been extensively restored. It is a hugely important site for South Korean Buddhists, and it houses no less than seven Korean national treasures: two of the pagodas, two bridges, two gilt-bronze buddha statues and a sarira pagoda shaped like a lantern.

Ibn Tulun Mosque, Cairo

Ibn Tulun is a large mosque with a long history, and also the oldest mosque in Egypt which has still kelp its original form. It is said that Ibn Tulun was built on the site where Noah’s Ark landed, where Moses confronted the pharaoh, and where Abraham wanted to sacrifice Issac.

Of course, these are only legends, but that doesn’t change the fact that the mosque laden with religious significance. The complex is the third largest in the world, and it is decorated with beautiful stucco and carvings, and the minaret is unique in Egypt.

You might also like

share | tweet | more |

 

Leave a comment on The most impressive sacred sites on earth

Enter your comment below, or Trackback from your own blog. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS
 

Leave a comment:

* your name

* your email address (will not be published)

your website

 

*=required