The top 10 sacred spaces in the world

These places offer more than just photo opportunities. Many of them have been significant for people throughout history as places of pilgrimage and worship. Even if the faith isn’t your own many of them resonate with an atmosphere of reverence and solemnity that will touch the least religious soul. You will often leave feeling connected, if not to the whole of nature, at least to the chain of human history.

Machu Picchu, Petra, Angkor Wat, the Parthenon and the Pyramids appear in this list, proving that it’s not just the meditative perspective of remote mountain tops that pilgrims seek out in order to connect with their spiritual side. These wondrous monuments are attractions from a purely historic and architectural viewpoint as well, and many people don’t realise until they arrive how much of the atmosphere survives beyond the visitors and their cameras.

You may have already planned to visit one of these sacred places on your holiday – even to us modern folk many of them have a certain regenerative and restorative power. Could it be the perspective they give on human history, or is it just seeing such a revered spot in person and feeling the atmosphere that gives you something to think about and share with friends and family when you return?

Many of the places on this list are worth building a holiday around so trawl though and plan yourself a mini pilgrimage and recharge your spiritual batteries.

STONEHENGE, UNITED KINGDOM

More than nine hundred stone rings exist in the British Isles and twice that number may originally have been built. These megalithic structures are more accurately called rings rather than circles because they often display non-circular elliptical shapes; Stonehenge, however, is circular. It is difficult to precisely date the stone rings because of the scarcity of datable remains associated with them, but it is known that they were constructed during the Neolithic period, which in southern England lasted from approximately 4000 to 2000 BC.

Before the development of archaeological dating methods, 17th century antiquarians assumed that Stonehenge and other megalithic structures were constructed by the Druids. The Druids, however, had nothing to do with the construction or use of the stone rings. The Celtic society, in which the Druid priesthood functioned, came into existence in Britain only after 300 BC; more than 1500 years after the last stone rings were constructed. Historians in the 19th century often attributed the stone rings to Egyptian travelers who were thought to have infused Europe with Bronze Age culture. With the development of Carbon-14 dating techniques, the infusion-diffusion concepts of European Neolithic history were abandoned and the megalithic structures were shown to predate Egyptian culture.

Mid-20th century archaeology generally assumed stone rings were used for ritual activities and recent research has deepened our understandings. Beginning in the 1950’s, Oxford University engineer Professor Alexander Thom and astronomer Gerald Hawkins pioneered the study of the astronomies of ancient civilizations, or archaeoastronomy. Conducting precise surveys at hundreds of stone rings, archaeoastronomers discovered significant celestial alignments indicating that the stone rings were used as astronomical observatories. These studies also revealed the extraordinary mathematical sophistication and engineering abilities with which the stone rings were built.

Stonehenge, the most well known stone ring, is a composite structure built during three periods from 3100 to 1100 BC. Constructed with massive stones weighing as much as twenty-five tons and transported from quarry locations hundreds of miles away, Stonehenge was a structure with multiple purposes. It was a monument of nearly imperishable nature located at a specific site of terrestrial energetic power and celestial significance. It was an astronomical observation device used to predict, in advance of their occurrence, particular periods in the annual cycle when the earth energies were most highly influenced by the sun, moon and stars. It was a temple, built by and for the people, in which festivals of renewal were held at those energetic periods determined by astronomical observations. It was a structure built with certain types of stones, positioned according to sacred geometry, which functioned as a sort of battery for gathering, concentrating and emanating the earth energies of the site. It was also an eclipse predictor of astonishing accuracy.

BAGAN TEMPLES, BURMA

There are two enormous ancient temple complexes in Southeast Asia: Bagan in Burma and Angkor in Cambodia. Both sites are remarkable for their expanse of sacred geography and the number and size of their individual temples. For many visitors Bagan is the more extraordinary because of its wonderful views.

Scattered across a vast dusty plain may be seen scores of exotic Buddhist temples. The kingdoms of Bagan date to the early 2nd century AD, yet the region entered its golden age during the reign of King Anawrahta in 1057 AD. From this time, until it was overrun by Kublai Khan's forces in 1287 AD, more than 13,000 temples, pagodas and other religious structures were built. Today, seven centuries later, approximately 2,200 temples remain standing. The river Irrawaddy has washed away nearly one-third of the original city area, thieves have torn apart many temples in search of treasures, while earthquakes and the ravages of time have reduced hundreds of other temples to piles of crumbling stones.

Two of the loveliest temples are the Mahabodhi and Gawdawpalin. The Mahabodhi, a smaller replica of the famous Bodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India (where the Buddha attained enlightenment), was built during the 13th century reign of King Nantaungmya and is covered with niches containing seated Buddha figures. The 60 meter tall Gawdawpalin temple, built in the 12th century by King Narapatisithu, was badly damaged in a 1975 earthquake but has since been reconstructed. Many of the temples of Bagan are still functioning and large numbers of pilgrims visit the ancient holy place.

BAALBEK, LEBANON

In the hills of Lebanon stands the temple complex of Baalbek, one of the most enigmatic holy places of ancient times. According to orthodox archaeological theory, the story of Baalbek goes back approximately 5000 years. Excavations around the Roman Temple of Jupiter have uncovered remains dating to the Early Bronze Age (2900-2300 BC). During the 1st millennium BC, the Phoenicians chose the site of Baalbek for a temple to their Sun-god Baal and legends tell that Baalbek was the birthplace of Baal. Next came the Seleucid and Roman Empires and it is to the Romans (64 BC – 312 AD) that archaeologists attribute the many and massive temple foundations of Baalbek.

The Roman city at Baalbek, called Heliopolis or the City of the Sun and dedicated to the sun god Jupiter, does contain the largest stone structures ever built in the Roman Empire. The Romans, however, did not have the engineering or construction skills necessary for the carving and placement of the enormous blocks of stone which underlie their own constructions. The courtyard of the Jupiter temple, completed around 60 AD, is situated upon a platform, called the Grand Terrace, which consists of a pre-Roman outer wall formed of immense, finely crafted and precisely positioned blocks. These blocks of stone, ranging in weight from 450 tons to 1200 tons, are the largest pieces of stonework ever crafted in the world. Why these stones, as large as 69 feet long by 14 feet wide, are such an enigma to contemporary scientists is that their method of quarrying, transportation and placement is beyond the technological ability of any known ancient or modern builders. These great blocks of stone show extensive evidence of wind and sand erosion that is absent from the Roman temples, indicating their construction dates from a far earlier age. Finally, the stones of Baalbek show stylistic similarities to other cyclopean stone walls at verifiably pre-Roman sites such as the Acropolis foundation in Athens, the foundations of Myceneae, and the megalithic constructions of Ollyantaytambo in Peru and Tiahuanaco in Bolivia.

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL, CANTERBURY

Mother church of the Anglican communion and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, this wonderful cathedral has featured heavily in English history—most notoriously in 1170 when Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral, since when the cathedral has attracted thousands of pilgrims. It also featured in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The Cathedralwas founded in 597AD by St Augustine—sent to convert the heathens of Britain by Pope Gregory the Great.

Augustine's original building under the nave was extensively rebuilt and enlarged by the Saxons, and the cathedral was rebuilt completely by the Normans in 1070 following a major fire. A staircase and parts of the North Wall—in the area of the North West transept, also called the Martyrdom—remain from that building. The church was substantially rebuilt at the end of the 14th century in the high English gothic style.

THE PARTHENON, GREECE

The supreme expression of ancient Greek architectural genius, the Parthenon has enchanted painters and poets for two thousand years. Neolithic remains indicate a continuous sacred use of the hill from at least 2800 BC. Built upon the foundations of an earlier Mycenean temple, the first known Hellenistic structures, dating from the 6th century BC, were temples dedicated to the goddess Athena. In 480 BC Persians destroyed these temples and in 447 BC the Athenian leader Pericles erected the presently standing temple of Athena. Made of white marble, the temple had 46 columns, was roofed with tiles, and enshrined a 40 foot tall golden statue of Athena. The Parthenon has suffered considerable damage over the centuries. In 296 BC the gold from the statue was removed; in the 5th century AD the temple was converted into a Christian church; in 1460 it housed a Turkish mosque; in 1687 gun-powder stored by the Turks inside the temple exploded and destroyed the central area; and in 1803 much of the remaining sculpture was sold by the Turks, who controlled Greece at the time, to the Englishman Lord Elgin, who then removed the sculptures and sold them to the British Museum.

The name Parthenon refers to Athena Parthenos, the daughter of Zeus. Patroness of Athens, she represents spiritual development, intellect and understanding, and is the symbol of the human aspiration for wisdom. The character of Athena represented these qualities yet it was the sacred geographical location, the astronomical orientation and the sacred geometry of the temple which actually generated the qualities for which Athena was known. In the Greek religious tradition particular geographical locations were known to have and express specific energetic characteristics. Therefore, while Greek sacred architecture praises the qualities of certain deities, it was understood that the deities themselves were metaphors for unique natural powers which already existed before the temples were constructed. Certain holy places around Greece, being expressive of specific powers, were also understood to be in spatial relationship with one another, as shown by the study of sacred geography. The temples developed at these sites incorporated sophisticated mathematical and astronomical knowledge which further enhanced the powers inherent at these places.

PETRA, JORDAN

Petra or the Rose City as it is commonly called gets its nickname from the pink sand cliffs, which surround it. For anybody travelling to Jordan, Petra must top the list of things to do there. Make sure to reach this UNESCO heritage site as early as you can. This way, you get to enjoy the place while it is less crowded and the sun is not too high. The light at that time is perfect, so you can get good photos too. Keep a whole day aside to explore Petra.

The walk is a bit long and steep. Expect to walk around 8 kilometres past the Treasury (the most famous structure) to reach the main sites and then back. One needs to be quite fit to make it there but in the end, it is all worth it. It’s a spectacular sight and there is just so much to see there. You name it and Petra has it all – ancient architecture, camel and horse rides, buggy and donkey rides.

One of our most surreal experiences at Petra was our meeting with Mofleh Bdoul, the sole Bedouin who refused to leave despite pressure. He sells tea from his cave and tells stories to people who are willing to listen. He speaks English fluently and it is mesmerizing to hear him speak about the ruins.

Petra is a perfect blend of natural beauty and archaeology. It is unique and should definitely be on your bucket list- the views are stunning, local people friendly and the whole trip also provides some much needed exercise on holiday. Go to Petra for the magical sunrise and sunset, for the lovely people, for the amazing view and we promise you that it will surpass your expectations.

THE GREAT PYRAMID, EGYPT

The Great Pyramid is the most substantial structure of the ancient world, and one of the most mysterious. Constructed from approximately 2.5 million limestone blocks weighing on average 2.6 tons each, its total mass represents more building material than is found in all the churches and cathedrals built in England.

The Great Pyramid was originally 481 feet tall, covered an area of 13 acres, and was encased in polished, white limestone. Arab laborers forced their way into the Great Pyramid in 820 AD, to find the inner chambers completely empty except for a stone coffer. Orthodox Egyptologists assume this coffer was for the burial of Khufu (Cheops), yet no embalming materials, hieroglyphic inscriptions or other clues were found in the pyramid or its chambers to indicate that Khufu was buried there.

An extraordinary example of geographic surveying, mathematical knowledge and engineering brilliance far beyond the capacity of early Egyptian builders, the Great Pyramid continues to baffle researchers. What was the purpose of the structure? While no authoritative answer can presently be given to this question, legend, archaeology, and mathematics seem to indicate that the Great Pyramid, and especially the main chamber, was a monumental device for gathering, amplifying, and focusing a mysterious energy for the spiritual benefit of human beings.

The coffer was the focal point of both celestial and terrestrial energies gathered and concentrated by virtue of the geographical location, celestial alignment, and construction mathematics of the pyramid. These energies were conducive to the awakening, stimulation, and acceleration of spiritual consciousness. The Great Pyramid (incorrectly) attributed to Khufu is on the left side of the photograph; the pyramid attributed to Khafre/Chephren on the right.

MACHU PICCHU, PERU

A trip to Peru is incomplete without conquering the mammoth that is Machu Picchu. There are multiple ways of making it to the top and exploring this mystical Incan city that has captured the minds of tourists for centuries but there is none more special than a hike to the top. The standard Inca trail takes about four days to complete if you are short on time and five days if you want to complete it at a relaxed pace. The Inca Trail is one of the most popular walking and hiking routes in the world and not without reason. There are vantage points at every corner and the 26 mile long trail traverses tropical forests, Incan ruins, and cloud forests. All along, panoramic mountain views are on offer.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to hike the Inca Trail without a guide or travel agent. So you will have to choose the kind of package that suits your style best; there are comfortable camping options as well as tons of basic camping options for budget travellers. The trail can be strenuous at times but it is completely worth it. The first glance of this seductive Incan city, famous for being the birthplace of civilisation as we know it, is spellbinding to say the least. Take your time exploring these Incan ruins for you have worked hard for it.

ANGKOR WAT, SIEM REAB

There are two great complexes of ancient temples in Southeast Asia, one at Bagan in Burma, the other at Angkor in Cambodia. The temples of Angkor, crafted by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, represent one of humankind's most astonishing architectural achievements. From Angkor the Khmer kings ruled over a vast domain which reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of Bengal. The structures one sees at Angkor today, more than 100 stone temples, are the surviving remains of a grand religious, social and administrative metropolis whose other buildings—palaces, public buildings, and houses—were built of wood and are long since decayed and gone.

Conventional theories presume the lands where Angkor stands were chosen as a settlement site because of their strategic military position and agricultural potential. Other scholars however, believe the geographical location of the Angkor complex and the arrangement of its temples was based on a planet-spanning sacred geography from archaic times. Using computer simulations it has been shown that the ground plan of the Angkor complex—the terrestrial placement of its principal temples—mirrors the stars in the constellation of Draco at the time of spring equinox in 10,500 BC. While the date of this astronomical alignment is far earlier than any known construction at Angkor, it appears that its purpose was to architecturally mirror the heavens in order to assist in the harmonization of the earth and the stars. Both the layout of the Angkor temples and iconographic nature of much its sculpture are also intended to indicate the celestial phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes and the slow transition from one astrological age to another.

At the temple of Phnom Bakheng there are 108 surrounding towers. The number 108, considered sacred in both Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies, is the sum of 72 plus 36 (36 being half of 72). The number 72 is a primary number in the sequence of numbers linked to the earth’s axial precession, which causes the apparent alteration in the position of the constellations over the period of 25,920 years, or one degree every 72 years. Another mysterious fact about the Angkor complex is its location 72 degrees of longitude east of the Pyramids of Giza. The temples of Bakong, Prah Ko and Prei Monli at Roluos, south of the main Angkor complex, are situated in relation to each other in such a way that they mirror the three stars in the Corona Borealis as they appeared at dawn on the spring equinox in 10,500 BC. It is interesting to note that the Corona Borealis would not have been visible from these temples during the 10th and 11th centuries when they were constructed.

Angkor Wat, built during the early years of the 12th century by Suryavaram II, honours the Hindu god Vishnu and is a symbolic representation of Hindu cosmology. Consisting of an enormous temple symbolizing the mythic Mt. Meru, its five inter-nested rectangular walls and moats represent chains of mountains and the cosmic ocean. The short dimensions of the vast compound are precisely aligned along a north-south axis, while the east-west axis has been deliberately diverted 0.75 degrees south of east and north of west, seemingly in order to give observers a three day anticipation of the spring equinox.

Unlike other temples at Angkor, Ta Prohm has been left as it was found, preserved as an example of what a tropical forest will do to an architectural monument when the protective hands of humans are withdrawn. Ta Prohm's walls, roofs, chambers and courtyards have been sufficiently repaired to stop further deterioration and the inner sanctuary has been cleared of bushes and thick undergrowth. But the temple itself has been left in the stranglehold of trees. Having planted themselves centuries ago, the tree's serpentine roots pry apart the ancient stones and their immense trunks straddle the once bustling Buddhist temple. Built in the later part of the 12th century by Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm is the terrestrial counterpart of the star Eta Draconis the Draco constellation.

During half-millennia of Khmer occupation, the city of Angkor became a pilgrimage destination of importance throughout Southeastern Asia. Sacked by the Thais in 1431 and abandoned in 1432, Angkor was forgotten for a few centuries. Wandering Buddhist monks passing through the dense jungles occasionally came upon the awesome ruins. Recognizing the sacred nature of the temples but ignorant of their origins they invented fables about the mysterious sanctuaries, saying they had been built by the gods in a far ancient time. Centuries passed, these fables became legends, and pilgrims from the distant reaches of Asia sought out the mystic city of the gods. A few adventurous European travellers knew of the ruins and stories circulated in antiquarian circles of a strange city lost in the jungles. Most people believed the stories to be nothing more than legend however, until the French explorer Henri Mouhot brought Angkor to the world's attention in 1860. The French people were enchanted with the ancient city and beginning in 1908 conducted an extensive restoration project. The restoration has continued to the present day, excepting periods in the 70's and 80's when military fighting prevented archaeologists from living near the ruins.

Orthodox archaeologists sometimes interpret the temples of the Angkor complex as tombs of megalomaniacal kings yet in reality those kings designed and constructed the temples as a form of service to both god and their own subjects. The temples were places not for the worship of the kings but rather for the worship of god. Precisely aligned with the stars, constructed as vast three dimensional meditational forms and adorned with stunningly beautiful religious art, the Angkor temples were instruments for assisting humans in their realization of the divine.

Jayavaram VII, spoke of his intentions in erecting temples as being “full of deep sympathy for the good of the world, so as to bestow on men the ambrosia of remedies to win them immortality….By virtue of these good works would that I might rescue all those who are struggling in the ocean of existence.”

MOUNT FUJI, JAPAN

Fuji San is frequently, but mistakenly, spoken of as the most sacred mountain in Japan. While there is no such thing as a most sacred mountain in Japan, Fuji has become famous as a national symbol because it is the highest peak in the country (12,388 ft), it is one of the most symmetrical volcano cones in the world, and it is visible from the city of Tokyo, only 60 miles away. Younger than many Japanese mountains, Fuji began to rise only 25,000 years ago and had probably assumed its general form by 8000 BC. Occasionally smoking since its last major eruption in 1707, the mountain has an ancient body of myths regarding its divine origins, resident deities, and spiritual powers. The beautiful peak has been venerated as the home of a fire god, later the dwelling of a Shinto goddess of flowing trees, and since Buddhist times, as the abode of Dainichi Nyorai, the Buddha of All-Illuminating Wisdom. While scholars debate the origin of the mountain's name, one of the most commonly used names means ‘everlasting life.’ According to early myths, the mountain was first climbed by the wizard-sage En no Gyoja around 700 AD, but it is more likely that the first ascents began in the 12th or 13th centuries. Today, more than 400,000 people climb the mountain annually. The mountain is called Fuji San, the ‘san’ being an indication of deep respect.