World's most spiritual, mystical destinations 

Easter Island

 

 

Easter Island, a Chilean territory, is a remote volcanic island in Polynesia. It’s famed for its archaeological sites, including some 900 monumental statues, called moai, created by its early Rapa Nui inhabitants during the 10th-16th centuries. The moai are carved human figures with oversize heads, often resting on massive rock altars called ahus. Ahu Tongariki has the largest group of upright moai. The Moai statues were created to represent their deceased ancestors, while others were created to embody living and former chiefs. (Fotolia)

Mount of Olives

 

Mount of Olives, also known as Mount Olives is a mountain ridge in east Jerusalem and is important in both Christian and Jewish traditions. The Jews celebrate the festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) on the Mount of Olives. It is also a burying place for many Rabbis from the 14th to the 20th centuries. Christian New Testament states that this was the place where Jesus was betrayed to the Romans by Judas. It is also believed that Jesus spent time on this mountain teaching and prophesying to his disciples. (Fotolia)

 

Swaminarayan Mandir

 

Swaminarayan Mandir was opened in Toronto in 2007 with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and premier Dalton McGuinty in attendance. The mandir is made of Turkish limestone and Italian marble and took approximately a year to complete. The Hindu Temple was constructed by 2,000 builders who were required to follow the ancient Hindu rules on how a shrine should be built. It has been praised as an ‘architectural-masterpiece.’ient Hindu rules on how a shrine should be built. It has been praised as an ‘architectural-masterpiece.’

 

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

 

 

 The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of Resurrection is located in the walled Old City of Jerusalem. The church is recognized by some Christians as a place where Jesus Christ was crucified and buried. The church also serves as the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.

 

Temple of Artemis

 

 

 The Temple of Artemis is located in present-day Turkey. What is also known as the Temple of Diana was built around 550 BCE. The temple was influenced by many different beliefs and was adopted as a symbol of faith for many peoples. The Temple was once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but was demolished in 356 BCE by a young man named Herostratus as an act of arson.

 

 

Notre-Dame Basilica

 

 

 The Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal is said to have one of the most dramatic examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the world. What makes the basilica different from others is that the stained glass windows do not depict biblical scenes but historical religious events that took place in Montreal.

 

Teotihuacan

 

 

 

Teotihuacan is an ancient sacred site located northeast of Mexico City, Mexico. It was considered by the ancient Aztecs to be the birthplace of the gods or of those who knew the gods.

 

 Western Wall

 

 

The The Wailing Wall of Jerusalem, or the Western Wall stretches 1,600 feet and is situated on top of the Temple Mount. In Jewish traditions, people use the wall to mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple which was destroyed by the Roman Empire in 70 CE. The Jewish peoples have prayed for another Temple to be constructed but this has not yet been done.

 

 

Abu Simbel temples

 

 

 

 The Temple of Ramesses, also known as Abu Simbel is located in Egypt. The twin temples were created during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE as a monument for him and his Queen Nefertari. The monument also symbolized Ramsses’ alleged victory at the Battle of Kadesh. To this day, it is still one of the top tourist attractions in Egypt.