There are many destinations in the world that I admire and I have a dream to visit someday. There are many places that have touched my heart; as every place and every destination has its own beauty. Similarly, there are many pilgrimages worldwide that have such astonishing beauty and are attractive enough to gain attention of millioms of pilgrims every year.
The Seven famous Pilgrimages of the world
As a young person I dream of visiting any of the following seven most beautiful pilgrimages someday.
Kaabah:
The most frequented pilgrim site globally and a dream of every Muslim is Kaabah, situated in the Holy city of Mecca. Nearly 13 million Muslims visit the pilgrims in the Islamic month of Zil-Haji. It is believed that Prophet Muhammad was born here, and he received the first revelation of the Quran here. In Mecca there are also other places to visit including The Mountain of Light known as Jabal Al Noor.
Another place is the Makkah Museum, it is a historic center of Muslim Pilgrimage. Another place of significant importance is Mountain Arfat, it is a granodiorite hill with a splendid height of approximately 70 m(230 ft) located about 20 km southeast of Mecca. Another place is the Jamraat Bridge, Jamarat Bridge is a pedestrian bridge sited in the city of Mina just east of Mecca. The bridge is one of the holy places which is populated annually by Muslim pilgrims to perform Islamic Hajj.
These are the Holy places in Makkah that are visited by millions of Muslims each year and are famous worldwide for their significance and tremendous beauty.
Dome of Rock:
It is a popular worship site for the followers of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Jerusalem has more than 2 million tourists every year. Jews believe that it is the place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.
For Christians, it was among official seals of the Order’s Grand Masters and an architectural model for round Templar churches across Europe. Islam’s third holiest site after Mecca and Medina, the Dome of the Rock is built on top of the Temple Mount in the Old City. At the heart of the sanctuary is the Foundation Stone where, according to Islamic tradition, the prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven.
Golden Temple:
Approximately 50,000 Sikh pilgrims and followers of other religions visit the Golden Temple every year. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, built from marble with a dome covered in gold leaf, is famous for its ‘langer’ services.
It has the most significant and the biggest community kitchen, which offers free food to people. Despite being a pilgrim place for Sikhs, the Gurudwara is open for people from all cases and creeds, thus making it the third most visited pilgrim.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica:
The second largest pilgrimage in the world, Our Lady of Guadalupe, near Mexico City, sees the visit of nearly 20 million people every year, including more than 6 or 7 million in the month before December 12.
It is Christianity’s most visited sanctuary. The original shrine was built near the hill of Tepevac in the 16th century. That’s where Our Lady of Guadalupe, or the Virgin Mary, is believed to have appeared to a Native American peasant named Juan Diego in 1531. She asked that a church be built on the site
Vaishno Devi Temple
The second most famous religious site for the Hindus is the Vaishno Devi Temple in the northern state of Kashmir. It is located at an altitude of 5200 feet; the Vaishno Devi Temple has more than eight million devotees from all parts of the world.
The Yatris have to undertake a trek of nearly 12 km from the base camp at Katra. At the culmination of their pilgrimage, the yatries are blessed with the Darshans of the Mother Goddess inside the Sanctum Sanctorum- the Holy Cave. These Darshans are in the shape of three natural rock formations called the Pindies.
Ise Grand Shrine:
Shintoism originated in Japan and its practitioners find spirituality in all things. Shinto Shrines create a harmonious environment suitable to meditation and contemplation. The Ise Grand Shrine is considered by many as the faith’s most significant. Dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, it features a wooden frame design characteristic of Shinto architecture.
Visitors often remark about the feelings of calm and tranquility that seem to permeate the site. The Shinto faithful consider the Ise Grand Shrine an important place of pilgrimage and one everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Make some time to explore nearby Oharaimachi Street where you will find numerous small craft stores along with lovely cafes and noodle shops
Notre Dame de Lourdes
Lourdes is a famous pilgrimage site in France where the waters are believed to have healing powers. In 1858, Bernadette Soubirous, a young local girl, was said to have seen the Virgin Mary at Lourdes and her friend was said to have been healed in the waters.
Bernadette was made a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1933. Every year, about 7 million visitors come to this southern French town of Lourdes. It is a popular place of worship for Catholics to celebrate the ascent of the Mary Virgin from heaven and a few other events.
These are the seven most tremendously beautiful pilgrimages that I wish visit someday.
By: Aamna Saleem Khan
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