It’s summer, and practically everyone is thinking about vacation. It might be too late to pull off an international retreat to a spiritual destination this summer, but you can certainly begin to plan to find the roots of your faith by visiting one of these great locations around the world.
Let’s Go to Africa
Morocco probably isn’t the first place you think of when it comes to spiritual destinations, but Moulay Idriss is considered a holy city. The prophet Muhammed’s great-grandson is buried there. He is the one who brought Islam to Morocco. It’s a picturesque town filled with tourist opportunities for hiking, photography and exploration of the culture. The Mausoleum of Idriss I is open only to Muslims.
Mt. Sinai in Egypt holds a place in Jewish, Christian and Muslim heritage as the site where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Law. Many pilgrims who travel to the mountain also visit the Monastery of St. Catherine and the location of the Burning Bush.
Lalibela, Ethiopia, is home to 11 monolithic churches. The most famous would be the Bete Giyorgis, or the Church of St. George. Some consider the church to be the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” but there is no formal designation other than being part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many Orthodox Christians make a pilgrimage to the church. It’s not only a spiritual destination, but an architectural monument carved from solid rock.
In the 1940s, the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests, Kenya, were abandoned. Today, these forest sites along the coast are revered. Councils of elders maintain the remains of the villages as a direct link to tradition. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the sacred abode of the Kayas.
Maybe Asia Is Your Dream Spiritual Destination
Jerusalem is a mecca for Christians, Muslims and Jews. It’s the site of many historic events. For example, Jesus held his Last Supper in the city. It’s also the location of Solomon’s Temple and Muhammed’s Night of Ascension. It’s religious significance notwithstanding, Jerusalem is also home to other cultural and artistic attractions.
The Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India, is a Bahá’í House of Worship that has been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers for its unique architectural “flowerlike” shape. All Bahá’í Houses of Worship are open to everyone, regardless of religious beliefs. No sermons are delivered, and there are no ritual ceremonies practiced. Many people read their own prayers or scriptures inside the Lotus Temple to worship God as they choose. The temple uses solar power, a first in Delhi.
Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar, is a sacred site with hundreds of temples, shrines and statues dedicated to Buddha. One shrine is thought to hold strands of Buddha’s hair. The site is over 2,500 years old. Most people would recognize the beautiful golden pagoda from pictures but may not know where it is. The golden color is from real gold plates, which are maintained through donations from around the world.
Taking a pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash, Tibet, is thought to erase the bad karma that someone accumulates over a lifetime. A trek to this holy site revered by Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Bon faiths is no easy task. It’s customary to perform a “kora” around the base of the mountain. It’s a 32-mile hike that can take about three weeks to complete.
In the Shinto tradition, the Meiji Shrine, located in Tokyo, Japan, is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken, who are deified. The emperor’s grave is actually in another location, but this site is considered sacred to the Shinto. It was destroyed during World War II but rebuilt and completed in 1958.
Europe, Australia and South America all have sacred buildings and sites that hold a special place in their religious traditions. Any of these places would make a memorable vacation, holiday or honeymoon.