Let's say you've dumped your life for work, get bored at your life, and wanna have a vacation. What would we choose from those vacation package at travel agent? Planned to spend your holiday to casino in Vegas, sunbathing in Ibiza, have fabulous candle light dinner at Paris, and end up the night at upper club in NY? Sounds interesting. But sometimes glamorous vacation can be devastating, while our soul still weeping, needs for refreshment.
There are lot of alternative vacation plans to chill out your hungry-for-peace soul, and spiritual vacation is one of it. The main attraction of spiritual vacation is visiting the sacred city/place according to visitor's faith. There are more than 4000 faiths still being practiced all around the world and many of them have its own sacred place, but I will only review 5 of the most visited sacred cities in the world:
1.Jerusalem
If you were a Jew, Christian, or Muslim you must known this city very well. Sharing its history with those three religions, makes the city rich with sacred sites. This city have Wailing Wall, where the temple of Salomon was stand and still regarded to be most sacred place by Jews. Just walk few meters from the wall, you will find Al Aqsa mosque where Muslims believe to be the descending place from Night Journey. Walk up to hill, you will find Church of The Holy Sepulchre, place where Jesus was crucified according to New Testament.
Getting into Jerusalem city is quite challenging since the conflict still raging on, but once you get into the old city you'll find great excitement to fill your thirsty soul. If you traveled to Jerusalem, don't get mess with the conflict, just follow your soul and experience the highlight of your faith.
2.Vatican
Vatican is only a smart part in metropolitan Rome, but it has been the center of Roman Catholics for hundred years. If you traveled to Vatican, don't forget to check out the mass communion schedule to your travel agent, it will be a great experience to be given communion by Pope himself at St. Peter's Square. Next, you can get into Sistine chapel, where you can see Michelangelo's masterpiece on its ceiling. You can also take your picture with famous Swiss Guard and show it to your friends, just after you arrived back home.
3.Mecca
Mecca is home for Kaaba, the most sacred building of Muslims and believed to be the center of the world. Mecca is believed to be built by prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, and birthplace of prophet Muhammad. Each year, millions of Muslims arrives here to attend Hajj, the pilgrim journey of Muslims. Due to millions of visitor each years, Saudi government expanded the city very rapidly so you can see the mixture of classic building and modern hip building all around town. But unfortunately, Mecca gives its entry pass only for Muslims, non Muslims believers are prohibited to entering this city.
4.Varanasi
Ganges River is sacred, and Varanasi is heart and center of Hindu universe. Each year millions of Hindus attend Varanasi festival to celebrate the legend of God Shiva at holy shrine of Lord Kashi Vishwanath. Varanasi is also a sacred city for Buddhist. They believed that Varanasi is one of four Buddha Gautama's pilgrim place, and place where Buddha gave his first sermon to his students. If you traveled to Varanasi, try to get yourself blended with people at Ganges River bank, and rejoyce your soul by swimming in river!
5.Bodhgaya
Wanna have your own personal enlightenment? Here at Bodhgaya you can find Bodhi tree where Buddha was meditated for 49 days and finally attained enlightenment. And at front of holy Bodhi tree, you can find Mahabodhi temple, the most sacred temple of Buddhist.
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