Sacred Mountains
Below is an illustrated index of the 15 Sacred Mountains profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.
Braga, North Portugal, PortugalThis hilltop sanctuary is an important Catholic pilgrimage site that also offers interesting architecture and fantastic views.
Rome, Lazio, ItalyThe most sacred of the seven hills in Rome, Capitoline Hill once hosted a great temple. Today it is home to the Capitoline Museum, with temple ruins and classical sculptures.
Sichuan, ChinaMount Emei is the highest of the four Buddhist sacred mountains of China, rising 3,099 m. It is noted for its breathtaking scenery, mysterious natural wonders, and historical Buddhist sites.
Glastonbury, EnglandThis conical hill, topped by a 14th-century church tower, may have been a place of ancient ritual and it was a place of penance and pilgrimage for Catholics in medieval times.
Urubamba Valley, PeruThis well-preserved ancient ceremonial site high on a mountain ridge in Peru contains the ruins of a large Inca palace, temples and other buildings.
Bali, IndonesiaAn active volcano, Mt. Agung is a Hindu sacred mountain that is home to Pura Besakih, the Mother Temple of Bali.
Chubu, JapanThis beautiful peak is named for the Buddhist fire goddess Fuchi and is sacred to the Shinto goddess Sengen-Sama, whose shrine is found at the summit.
TibetThis diamond-shaped peak in the Himalayas is the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia. It is sacred to four faiths: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bön.
JordanMt. Nebo is believed to be the mountain from which Moses viewed the Promised Land and the mountain on which he is buried. It is an important Christian pilgrimage site.
California, USAThis tall peak in the Cascade Mountains has long been sacred to Native Americans of the area. Today it is also a major center of New Age spirituality.
Sinai Peninsula, EgyptMount Sinai (or Jebel Musa or Mount Moses) in Egypt is the traditional site where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. At the summit are small chapels and spectacular sunrise views.
IsraelThis steep hill has played an important role as a fortress in biblical and Greco-Roman times and it is thought by some to be the site of the Transfiguration.
County Mayo, IrelandEach year, a million pilgrims and visitors make the trek to the top of this holy mountain to pray, do penance, or just enjoy the spectacular views.
Henan, ChinaLocated in Henan Province near the city of Luoyang, Song Shan is one of the five sacred Taoist mountains of China. It is best known for its natural beauty, geological importance, and its Shaolin Temples.
Shandong, ChinaMount Tai is the most important of five sacred Taoist mountains in China and an important historic site. Rising to a height of 5,000 feet, it is home to 22 temples plus many ruins and inscriptions.
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