Finding yourself often means finding a new destination to find yourself. Around the world there are plenty of spiritually sacred places you can go and soak up the aura of something beyond the confines of our physical world.
Although many of these sites are often steeped in religion, you don’t have to worship a higher power to appreciate their beauty. In fact, it doesn’t even matter if you’re not in the least bit spiritual. The three sacred sites we’ve chosen are fantastic travel destinations in their own right. And, who knows, maybe you’ll discover a side to you that you never knew existed.
Mount Kailash, Tibet
When it comes to sacred spots that appeal to the broadest spectrum of faiths, few places can rival Mount Kailash. The Tibetan mountain is a place where members of the Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Bon faiths converge on an annual basis (although not all at the same time).
However, what really makes this place stand out from the masses is the physical challenge it poses. It’s often said that overcoming a physical challenge can leave you spiritually invigorated and this is certainly true at Mount Kailash. The kora (or walk around the base of the mountain) consists of a 32 mile trek that snakes up as high as 5,600m! So, if you want to challenge your body as well as your mind, Mount Kailash is the perfect place to go.
St Nectan’s Glen, UK
The UK is awash with sacred landmarks, with the most famous being Stonehenge. However, if you’re looking for something a little less busy and a lot less commercialized, St Nectan’s Glen in Cornwall is the place to go. For those lucky enough to go, the picturesque combination of land and water brings up allusions of fairies in the woods and tale of supernatural forest beings.
In fact, this is one of the main reasons Pagans flock to the site every years. According to the writings of Paganism, nature and our “oneness” with is the secret to a peaceful life. Indeed, if you’re looking for a spot that looks as though it was carved by fairies so we could all enjoy nature at its finest, this is it.
Mount Sinai, Egypt
One of four main Judeo-Christian sacred mountains, Mount Sinai is reportedly the spot where Moses received the Ten Commandments from god. With many of those morals still forming the backbone of society today, Mount Sinai still has some relevance regardless of where your religious persuasions lie.
When it comes to impressive feats of engineering and construction, the chapel on the peak of Jebel Musa (atop of Mount Sinai) is one that boggles the mind. The chapel as it stands today was built in 1934 on the ruins of a 16th century church. Having the dedication to build something like that atop of a mountain is something that should inspire anyone looking from a slice of enlightenment.
Traveling the world doesn’t always have to be about fine cuisine, impressive pieces of architecture or highly commercialized tourist hotspots. Sometimes it’s nice to get away from the crowds, lose yourself in some outstanding natural beauty and get in touch with your spiritual side. Hopefully the three destinations listed above will help you achieve these goals as you aim to become a more enlightened human being.
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