10 Most Famous Pilgrimage in the World

The calmness and pristine feel that the pilgrims offer to cast a spell on the visitors. Visiting and offering prayers at a pilgrim detoxes your body and soul in ways that one cannot express in words. One sees the pilgrim place to embark on their spiritual journey or get connected with their routes; each person has at some point of time visited the pilgrims. In the present day world, pilgrims also serve the purpose of a tourist spot, and people from all age groups visit the pilgrim sites.

Some of the most visited pilgrims of the world that both national and international visitors visit are as follows:

1. River Ganges

River Ganges needs no introduction; every place it touches becomes a pilgrim or a holy place. Whether it is the place of its origin in Uttarakhand or where it flows in its full might that is Varanasi, it is considered pious in all stages.

Over 20 millions Hindu pilgrims annually visit River Ganges, and it is believed that one needs to take a holy dip in the water of the Ganges to get over all their sins.

As per Hindu customs, it is mandatory that after death, a person’s ashes need to be submerged in the Ganges. It is the most visited pilgrim of the world. The Ganges is a river and is considered a deity and is worshiped in all its stages.

Also, read:

• Top Places to Visit in Varanasi
• 20 Best Places to Visit in Uttarakhand

2. Kaabah

The second most frequented pilgrim site globally is Kaabah, situated in the Holy city of Mecca. Nearly 13 million Muslims visit the pilgrims in the Islamic month of Zil-Haji. It is believed that Prophet Muhammad was born here, and he received the first revelation of the Quran here.

The ritual includes praying around the black stone in Kaabah. All the Muslims must visit the holy city on a Hajj journey (pilgrimage) once in their lifetime, wearing simple white clothes called Ihram.

3. Golden Temple

Approximately 50,000 Sikh pilgrims and followers of other religions visit the Golden Temple every year. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, built from marble with a dome covered in gold leaf, is famous for its ‘langer’ services.

It has the most significant and the biggest community kitchen, which offers free food to people. Despite being a pilgrim place for Sikhs, the Gurudwara is open for people from all cases and creeds, thus making it the third most visited pilgrim.

More about Golden Temple, Amritsar:

• 10 Facts About Golden Temple Amritsar
• 10 Best Hotels Near Golden Temple Amritsar
• Top 15 Places to See in Punjab
• List of Religious Places and Temples in Punjab

4. Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica

Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica, Mexico City, has more than 10 million visitors every year. It has the most popular Marian Shrine and is the most visited Catholic Church after Saint Peter’s Basilica.

5. Vaishno Devi Temple

The second most famous religious site for the Hindus is the Vaishno Devi Temple in the northern state of Kashmir. It is located at an altitude of 5200 feet; the Vaishno Devi Temple has more than eight million devotees from all parts of the world.

Read Also: 11 Interesting facts about Jammu & Kashmir

6. Notre Dame de Lourdes

Every year, about 7 million visitors come to this southern French town of Lourdes. It is a popular place of worship for Catholics to celebrate the ascent of the Mary Virgin from heaven and a few other events.

7. Bahai Gardens

About half a million people visit the Bahai Gardens in Haifa, the largest city in Northern Israel. The garden is a popular site for meditation and peaceful resilience. The park is geometric, symmetrical, and lined by rows and avenues of flowers.

8. St. Peter’s Basilica

With 4.2 million visitors paying, the St. Peter’s Basilica Vatican in Italy worships the Catholics. It is considered that St.Peter took his last breath. Since 1929, Vatican City has become an independent, self-governing city-state.

9. Dome of Rock

It is a popular worship site for the followers of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Jerusalem has more than 2 million tourists every year. Jews believe that it is the place 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 believe that Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from here.

10. Church of Nativity

The tenth most visited pilgrim globally, where 1.4 million people call the church every year. The Church of Nativity, Bethlehem, is the birthplace of Jesus and a trendy place of worship during Christmas. It is the oldest surviving Christian church.

Each of the above pilgrims gives us a break from the hectic demands of modern-day life and brings calmness to our chaotic lives. The pilgrim sites help us take a break from the technology and connect with the place’s local culture. The pilgrims are scattered in all parts of the world, and the journey is worth your while.