Religious Tourism

Pilgrimage has been a significant part of human civilization, binding cultures, religions, and races across continents. It’s a spiritual voyage that millions undertake each year, seeking solace, answers, or simply an intimate encounter with their faith. What are the  pilgrimage destinations you must visit, and why are these places so revered?

River Ganges

Photo by Balouriarajesh

River GangesWith over 20 millions Hindu pilgrims annually, River Ganges is #1 on the world’s most popular pilgrimage sites. The river that originates in the Himalayas and follows to the Bay of Bengal is considered as a goddess and anyone who touches its waters is believed to purified and cleansed of all sins.

Kaabah

Photo by Chzaib

The second most visited pilgrims sites is the city of Mecca with nearly 13 million Muslims visiting the place every year and two million pilgrims in the last Islamic month – Zil-Hajj. The pilgrimage includes series of rituals like praying, circumambulation around the black stone Kaabah.

Golden Temple

Photo by Cuyahoga

Golden Temple Approximately 50,000 sikh pilgrims pay their respects at The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. The temple has a strong sikh foundation and distinct identity and heritage. Despite being a religious site, the temple is an open pilgrimage spot for people of any faith and creed making it the third most visited pilgrims sites 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica

Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe

Our Lady of Guadalupe BasilicaOur Lady of Guadalupe Basilica, Mexico City with 10 million visitors the most popular Marian shrine in the world, and the second most visited Catholic church in the world after Saint Peter’s Basilica. 

Vaishno Devi Temple

Photo by 8827rajneesh

The the second most popular religious site for the Hindus is the Vaishno Devi Temple in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir. Located at an altitude of 5200 feet, the Vaishno Devi temple has over eight million devotees every year. 

Notre Dame de Lourdes

Photo by MANOLOBLASCO

Notre Dame de Lourdes With seven million visitors every year the southern French town of Lourdes is a popular site where Catholics celebrate the Virgin Mary’s ascent to heaven amongst other celebratory events. 

 BAHAI gardens

Photo by Glavo

Over half a million people visit the Bahai Gardens in Haifa, the largest city in Northern Israel. The gardens are geometric, symmetrical, and lined by rows and avenues of flowers creating a serene environment of meditative thought and peaceful resilience.

 St Peter’s Basilica

Photo by SteenJepsen

St Peter’s BasilicaWith 4.2 million visitors the St Peter’s Basilica Vatican in Italy is a holy place for the Catholics. It is said that it was here that St. Peter took his last breath. Since 1929, Vatican city has been an independent, self-governing city-state.

 Dome of rock

Photo by Walkerssk

Significant site for followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, Dome of Rock, Jerusalem has over 2 million tourists yearly. Jews believe it is the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac. For Christians it was among official seals of the Order’s Grand Masters and an architectural model for round Templar churches across Europe. Muslims belive it was here that Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.

 Church of the Nativity

Photo by paulkjm66

Church of the NativityFinally, the tenth most visited pilgrims sites with nearly 1.4 million people, Church of Nativity, Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus is popular pilgrimage site during Christmas and one of the oldest surviving Christian churches.

Photo by BiancaVanDijk

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