Spiritual travel is not a new idea; it dates back to thousands of years of human history. In fact, with evolving human consciousness in the pre-historic era, when humans were trying to make sense of the astonishing natural phenomena, they tried to find peace in rituals, rites, and customs that were meant to restore their souls and connect them with the higher intelligence. That gave birth to the long and often painstaking pilgrimages and spiritual journeys in search of either God or oneself.
With historical roots and beliefs from centuries, we still have many places around the world that are known for their strong spiritual vibrations and energy-emitting powers.
“Pilgrimage is a powerful metaphor for any journey for the purpose of finding something that matters deeply to the traveler.” – Phil Cousineau
Let’s explore a few of them:
- Camino de Santiago, Spain
Originally known as an adventurous hiking trail amidst the mesmerizing beauty of nature, Camino de Santiago later came to be known as a spiritually uplifting place. In Middle Ages, it was known to be the final resting place of King James, although it is still not confirmed.
With a long hiking trail with some difficult paths, this route is considered as a spiritual awakening path that leads to many realizations for the ones who want to “open their hearts and eyes”. Those who walk on this path consider it to be a source of spiritual purgation after death.
The overall atmosphere and natural scenes are enough to make any pilgrim delve deep into the power of nature and its influence on body, mind, and soul.
- Tibet
Tibet is known as one of the most adventurous and ideal places for those who are out on spiritual journeys. This small country is famous for its simple and monistic life with temples and spiritual guides spread all around.
People from Europe, America, Asia, the Middle East, and everywhere look forward to the natural scenes and the spiritual guidance from the Tibetan monks and their rituals.
Here are a few prominent places in Tibet that can be visited by thousands of people all year:
- Jokhang Temple, Lhasa
- Potala Palace
- Mount Kailash
- Tashilhunpo and Toling Monasteries
- Namtso Lake
- Lake Manasarovar
- Pangong Tso
- Borobudur, Indonesia
Amazing built from millions of stone blocks, the temple in the Borobudur is an inspiring place to be on many levels. It is one of the most known retreats for nature lovers and spiritual travelers.
Located in the Indonesian island of Java, this place has Buddhist shrines and holy places where monks reside and guide the newcomers. The temple has a wonderful pyramid-shaped architecture whose center represents the Buddhist Nirvana concept.
Drenched in the beauty of a forest, the temple is itself a place to breathe fresh air, listen to nature’s sounds, and absorb the spiritual essence and energy.
- Angkor Wat, Combodia
A collection of many temples, Angkor Wat is located amidst forests and nature’s positive energy. It is known to be built for a Hindu King Suryavarman in the 12th century. Now this place is the most famous among the monks around the world as their resting place.
Travelers in Southeast Asia never miss a chance to visit this spiritually uplifting and naturally appealing place. It is a wonderful and maze-like place for inner exploration.
- Uluru, Australia
Also known as the Ayer’s Rock, this place is a 550 million-year-old sandstone structure that was naturally formed with time. Uluru is a sacred place for indigenous Australians along with modern travelers who seek spiritual energy and a soulful revival.
The place is known for its mystical nature and energy which is grasped through rituals and observations in the rock caves with ancient paintings. This place has been drawing spiritual seekers for years.
People believe that climbing Uluru can be of great significance for the revival of soul and spiritual wisdom and guidance.
These places are known to be most famous among the long-distance spiritual journeys which are known to be providing guidance and “inner-change” among the travelers.
Going through the difficult paths, trails, mountains, and valleys in these journeys create a soulful connection to nature and the universal energy.
