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.
