Travel to seek the blessings of spirituality
Our world is constantly evolving. Everyday scientific inventions and discoveries are engulfing us in their world. We sit on phones, apparently ‘connected’ with everyone, yet not ourselves. We binge on shows, forgetting about our own lives. We read a million books, forgetting to build our own story. We think about our life’s purpose but then why do we not try to find it? If you follow the right steps, trust me, you will find it. It is my firm belief that the best way to attain spirituality of mind, soul, and body is through travelling.
Travelling allows you to introspect yourself. It lets you get out of your daily routines and find something beyond human understanding. It allows you to heal from the scars, the ruthless world has wounded you with. Most importantly, it lets you find a purpose and a home in every corner of the Earth. However, while some destinations are great for a weekend getaway, some others demand your presence of mind and inner peace. These destinations will take you away from the worldly commotion and put you in a world of peace, gratitude, and self-awareness. Read on to know more about the 10 best spiritual destinations from the world.
1. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Location: Uttar Pradesh, India
Varanasi is a city located on the banks of the River Ganges. It is situated in the heart of the hustling-bustling state of Uttar Pradesh.
It is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. It has deep and spiritual connections with the various tales of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati and mythology of Hinduism. It is believed that taking a dip in the river Ganges here gives you salvation. Now, as you’re reading this article, imagine. Imagine the tranquil of the river Ganga in Varanasi Ghats. The cold breeze brushing your face lightly. Imagine thousands and thousands of visitors sitting on the banks of the river, meditating, and living in the moment. Their minds only filled with purity and love for their God. Imagine the sounds of the ‘aarti’ melodiously ringing in your ears, synchronizing perfectly with your heartbeats. The brightly-lit diyas spreading light in the darkness. The friendly, smiling faces of strangers making you feel at home. Indeed, an experience in Varanasi is an experience in God’s abode.
2. Mt. Kailash
Location: Tibet
Like rivers, mountains have had a huge significance in the history of spirituality. Mt. Kailash located amidst the magnificent landscapes of Tibet, is one of the best examples.
Mt. Kailash has a major influence on Hinduism, Jainism as well as Buddhism culture. According to the myths and legends, Mt. Kailash’s tip is known as the center point of cosmos rotation. It is known to be the earthly manifestation of the Mt. Semeru which is considered as the spiritual center of the universe. The greatness of the snow-capped mountains makes one’s problems and mistakes look as small as a speck of dust in the universe. The difficult trek around the mountain makes you feel each and every moment and breath of your precious life, we take for granted. It is also believed that it wipes away all the sins of a person and helps him/her in achieving a state of ‘Nirvana’.
3. Camino De Santiago
Location: Spain
Camino De Santiago is a great destination for people looking for spirituality in religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc..
The history of this pilgrimage dates way back to the 9th century when the tomb of the evangelical apostle, Saint James, of the Iberian peninsula was discovered. There are many routes for you which can take you to Santiago de Compostela. Each route has its own historical and cultural significance. You can either choose to walk or cycle. The beautiful trails along with the spiritualism running in the veins of the pilgrims make Camino De Santiago one of the best spiritual destinations in Europe.
4. Medjugorje
Location: Bosnia-Herzegovina
Medjugorje, a city located in Bosnia-Herzegovina, is a mystical and spiritual site for all the pilgrims.
The town folks believe in the sightings and apparitions of the Holy Mother Mary in 1981. This has brought about many pilgrims for various parts of the Earth to venture out on a journey leading to the path of the Almighty. The Apparition hill, named after Mother Mary’s apparition there, is one of the most popular spiritual locations. Every year pilgrims are seen there reciting prayers and asking for her blessings to the statue of Mother Mary. At all times, peace is to be maintained here. There is also an ‘Oasis of Peace’ just southwest of the statue, where silence is to be observed. This gives you a chance to spend time away from the clamorous world and lose yourself in the peace and tranquil of Medjugorje. There are various other pilgrimage sites and pilgrimage tours in this town too which you can explore.
5. Golden Temple
Location: Punjab, India
The Golden Temple gives justice to its name by being one of the most precious and spiritual locations for you and the other pilgrims.
From its architecture, a beautiful and unique amalgamation of Hinduism and Islam to its air full of sacredness and divinity, Golden Temple is a must-visit for every spiritual traveler out there. This temple is based on the principles of humility and brotherhood. It is home to every soul who is stranded in this ephemeral world. An abode for the voyagers looking for peace. A place to lose your earthly self and finding your true, inner self. Gurbani – a form of bhajan played inside the Gurudwara, makes you escape from the daily turmoil of life. Thus, making it the perfect destination for calming your mind and soul.
6. Shashamane
Location: Ethiopia
The spiritual culture of Shashamane in Ethiopia is different from the spiritual culture of the West. Shashamane lifestyle follows a holistic approach to life, away from the dirty politics and power of the world. It’s believed that it is a way to separate yourself from the unholy things. This type of lifestyle is known as the ‘Rasta’ concept where one becomes aware of one’s consciousness and the history of mankind with various evolving factors of the earth. Contrary to popular opinion, Shashamane is not just about wearing dreadlocks and smoking cannabis but also reading the Bible and finding yourself in the process of spiritual awakening.
Hence, Shashamane is definitely an underrated spiritual destination which travelers need to visit.
7. Mt. Athos
Location: Greece
Greece has an extensive culture and history. The myths and tales of the ancient greek gods and goddesses are still wafting through the air of the entire world.
Did you know that you can actually savor and appreciate Greek history and spiritualism? Mt. Athos is definitely the best stop for you. Founded by the ancient orthodox Christian monks, this site is believed to be sacred for Zeus – The God of sky and thunder. It also makes many appearances in the stories of Greek mythology. Mt. Athos is home to 20 monasteries. To date, Mt. Athos is protected from the world of civilization. It’s a pure ecosystem in itself because human settlements, as well as the excavation of land, are forbidden. This makes Mt. Athos the most peaceful and tranquil place for attaining spirituality amidst ‘the Garden of the Mother of God’.
However, females and also the female domesticated animals, are prohibited from entering due to some reasons.
8. Mashhad
Location: Iran
There is a sense of belonging in visiting the shrines. Mashhad endowed upon mankind many such shrines, filled with a spiritual atmosphere and the melodious sounds of ‘Azaan’ ringing through your ears.
Mashhad offers people from various parts of the world to become a part of the Shia community. There are shrines, like the tomb of Imam Reza, and museums for pilgrims wanting to experience Islamic spirituality. This city is also known as the spiritual capital of Iran. If you’re someone who seeks spiritualism through art, Mashhad is an embodiment of Persian art and culture. The enchanting poetry of the Iranian poet, Ferdowsi, flows through the city of Mashhad and brings about serenity, one wishes to experience.
9. 88 Temple Circuit
Location: Japan
Since time immemorial, Japan has been a country of culture and spiritualism.
88 Temple Circuit is an ancient pilgrimage route for pilgrims participating from all around the world. This route is 1,400 kilometres and has 88 temples. This pilgrimage route is filled with beautiful scenery of lush green forests, magnificent mountains, and the deep-blue coastal regions. This will give you some time off the concrete jungles and let you contemplate the meaning of life. Apart from natural scenery, you cannot miss the stunning architecture and sculptures present. As it is rightly said, ‘Life is about the journey’, and this journey is definitely one of the best ones.
10. Adam’s Peak
Location: Sri Lanka
Adam’s peak is considered as a Buddhist pilgrimage. The mountain offers pilgrims to climb and set foot on the top of the world.
The beautiful and heavenly sight of the horizon brings calmness in times of despair. It is always preferable to start the journey at night in order to reach the summit in the morning to experience the bewitching views of sunrise at dawn. You may also see the mysterious shadow of the mountain – which is thought to be a representation of ‘Triple Gem’ – in Buddhism. This concludes the list of the 10 best spiritual destinations. However, it is important to remember that spirituality is a state of mind and no matter how hard you try, it can only be achieved through self-consciousness and divinity. These destinations are just a journey to spiritualism, the real destination is reaching the depth of your heart and soul.
By Saniya Baxi
References:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-holy-city-of-varanasi-42862228/
https://www.tibettravel.org/kailash-tour/reasons-to-trek-mount-kailash.html
http://santiago-compostela.net/
https://www.travel-medjugorje.com/travel-info/medjugorje-pilgrimage
https://www.faena.com/aleph/articles/the-inspiration-and-vision-of-the-golden-temple-of-amritsar/
https://www.lifegate.com/rastafarians-of-ethiopia
https://sacredland.org/mount-athos-greece
https://theculturetrip.com/middle-east/iran/articles/the-top-10-things-to-do-and-see-in-mashhad/
https://wikitravel.org/en/88_Temple_Pilgrimage
https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/sri-lanka/kandy/adams-peak/
