Holiest Sites in the World
Below is an illustrated index of the 24 Holiest Sites in the World profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.
For the Egyptians, Abydos was one of the holiest sites in the world. It was the cult center of the god Osiris and the gateway to the underworld, and therefore a popular place of pilgrimage and burial.
The holiest mosque in the world, the Haram Mosque has been much expanded from its original 7th-century form. Today it can accommodate up to 820,000 worshippers in air-conditioned comfort.
The Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya is a descendant of the tree under which Siddharta Gautama attained enlightenment after 49 days of meditation and became the "Enlightened One."
This historic church shelters the holiest site in all Christendom: the tomb where Christ was buried and rose from the dead. It is shared by several denominations.
Delos was a major sacred site in ancient Greece, second only to Delphi. A short boat ride from the island of Mykonos, the ruins of Delos include a variety of ancient temples and shrines.
This is the holiest site in Istanbul and one of the most sacred places in the Islamic world. Erected by Mehmet the Conqueror, it honors the tomb of Eyüp Sultan, the standard-bearer for the Prophet.
The holiest site in Sikhism, the Golden Temple seems to float on the water. It enshrines the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, which is venerated by pilgrims throughout the day and put to bed at night.
Every Tunisian city has a Great Mosque, but the one in Kairouan is the most important. It is the oldest mosque in North Africa and commonly regarded as the fourth holiest site in Islam.
Founded in 1345 by St. Sergius and containing his relics, this is the most important monastery in Russia and the spiritual center of Russian Orthodox Christianity.
This historic temple in Lhasa is the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism. It houses a venerated Buddha statue and has been a major pilgrimage destination for centuries.
This sacred stupa marks the site of the Buddha's enlightenment and is the main destination for Buddhist pilgrims. The temple dates from the 2nd century AD but has been restored over the years.
This is the world headquarters of the Christian Science faith founded by Mary Baker Eddy. It includes two historic church buildings, dating from 1894 and 1906.
This 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.
This important Hindu temple is dedicated to a manifestation of Shiva called Pashupati (Lord of Animals). It lies along the sacred Bagmati River and is used for cremations.
Founded by Brigham Young and completed in 1893, the Salt Lake Temple is the most important Mormon temple in the world.
Home to the famous Oracle of Delphi, this mountain sanctuary was the holiest site in Ancient Greece. It was believed to be the center of the world, marked by the sacred Omphalos stone.
For Roman Catholics, St. Peter's is the most sacred site after the Holy Land. It centers around the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle and is one of the largest churches in the world.
A holy site to Jews, Muslims, and Christians, the Temple Mount is the historic site of the Jewish Temple and the current site of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.
The Ka'ba is believed to have been built by Abraham and his son Ishmael. Enshrining a sacred stone, it is said to be first place on earth that was created. It is the directional focus of worldwide Muslim prayers.
This huge mosque stands over the site of the Prophet Muhammad's house and tomb and is the second holiest mosque in the world after al-Haram in Mecca.
Located on the western shores of the sacred river Ganges, Varanasi is the holiest city in Hinduism.
The holiest Buddhist shrine in Thailand, this large temple complex within the Grand Palace houses a revered statue of the Emerald Buddha.
The holiest shrine in northern Thailand, this Buddhist temple crowning Doi Suthep mountain was founded in 1386 under miraculous circumstances.
This is all that remains of the Temple that was once the center of Jewish worship. The Western Wall Plaza is a vast, open-air synagogue that is the preferred place to pray for Jews worldwide.
