There are a ton of different religions around the world. Some are common and well known to the rest of the world. However, some are more hidden and waiting to be discovered. Whatever the personal beliefs of the individual who studies these religions, there is one thing we must agree on: religions influence the world around us. Architecture is one of the most beautiful influences of religion. Some of the most magnificent and amazing places were built with the idea of ​​religion in mind. In this article, I will describe ten sacred religious places that I would personally like to visit. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Our first stop on this pilgrimage is at the Shwedagon Pagoda located in Yangon, Myanmar. This beautiful piece of architecture that lights up the night sky is known by locals as “Shwedagon Zedi Daw The” and sits atop a hill that allows this building to reach 99 meters high. This pagoda is known as the oldest in the world, at around 2,600 years old! The exact age of its construction is not known, however, it is known that this building dates back to the time of the Buddha when it was constructed by the Mon in the 6th century. There is a legend that this pagoda came to life thanks to two merchant brothers from Okkalapa, who met the Buddha in India. The Buddha gave the two merchants eight of his hairs, who he asked to "enshrine them in the same place on a hill in Okkalapa where the relics of the three previous reincarnations of the Buddha were buried." The merchants brought the hair back to the king and eventually, the king himself chose a place on Singuttara Hill where the relics were kept, which is now the pagoda. This building contains over 7,000 diamonds and rubies to give it a reflective base as the sun begins to set in the area. Followers of Buddha make the pilgrimage to see this site at least once. It has the same meaning for religious believers of Buddha that the Kaaba of Mecca has for Muslims. To pay homage to the Buddha, visitors must remove their shoes upon entering. They are also encouraged to make offerings and observe. An interesting fact about this pagoda is that it is said to contain the eight hairs of the Buddha! Attending it would be phenomenal because not only would I be able to observe the beauty of the gold and the entire building, but I would also be able to experience the power behind this religion. Hearing the stories of Buddha from travelers, seeing the Eight Hairs and much more make it a must place to visit. Next on our list we have the Lotus Temple located in New Delhi, India. This temple is also called the Baha'i House of Worship, or Bahai Mashriqul-Adhkar, which is part of the Baha'i Faith. This temple reflects the general principle of the Bahá'í Faith, which is the unity of humanity. Although this refers to those of the Bahá'í Faith, anyone, regardless of religious background, is welcome in the temple. The title of this temple is "Place of the Dawn of God's Remembrance", which attracts more than 70 million visitors per year, or ten thousand per day! They hold teachings of the Bahá'í Faith in the Lotus, focusing primarily on "the unity of God, the unity of religions, and the unity of humanity." The lotus flower is a common religious symbol referring to purity, found in the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Bahá'ís do not worship any particular deity, but rather the unity of the entire world through allreligions. This is extremely interesting because this religion only wants individuals to live in peace and harmony and accept different religious opinions. It would give me a unique perspective to talk to the people there and see exactly what their backgrounds are and what brought them to the Lotus Temple. We move on to Christianity and visit the Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe chapel located in Puy-en-Velay, France. The name of this chapel can be translated as "St. Michael on a needle", because the rock formation makes the chapel look like a needle. This chapel was originally built on an extinct volcano and has 268 steps to reach it. When one arrives at the chapel, one can use it to meditate, pray or have a moment of introspection. Originally in history, a dolmen was built there by the Romans. They dedicated this dolmen to Mercury, who is “the swift messenger god with winged shoes”. Later, Christians replaced this dolmen with the chapel dedicated to Saint Michael. This attraction attracts many pilgrims with the beauty of this architectural masterpiece and was also the original starting point of the Camino de Santiago. The stonework of the chapel charts specific themes from Genesis and Revelation and bears statues of different Christian idols such as St. Peter, the Virgin Mary and St. John. We also see depictions and theories of the resurrection of the dead, heaven, hell, the twelve apostles, angels and saints. The artwork in this place is by far the most exciting part for me about this place, however, I would also like to talk with the people there to learn more about my religion. I consider myself a Christian and being able to talk to people who share the same beliefs as me would allow me to connect and learn with them. Hagia Sophia located in Istanbul, Turkey is another well-known area of ​​Christian religious significance. . The name of this place translates as “Sanctuary of the Holy One of God”. Hagia Sophia was built under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, but the original order called for it to be built by Constantine. Once constructed, a fire inside damaged the building, where it was rebuilt during the reign of Roman Emperor Constans I. After reconstruction, it suffered two more partial collapses but continues to be rebuilt. Like the Bahá'í religion, Hagia Sophia is a symbol of peace, harmony and religious tolerance towards other religions. Religious tolerance is a considerable achievement, as Turkey is home to one of the largest numbers of Muslims, Jews and Christians. After all the collapses and changes the structure has undergone, today it is a museum where millions of people come to admire its architecture and its vision of religious tolerance, where no one is judged and everyone is respected. I would love to go into the museum and see the amazing artwork that chronicles these different religions, as well as see if they have any stories or depictions of how the Crusaders destroyed the altar and sacred icons of this region a long time ago. Let's travel to Asia to Shibuya, Tokyo to visit the Meiji Shrine, which represents the Shinto religion. The Shinto religion has no founder, no holy book, or even the concept of religious conversion. This shrine values ​​harmony with nature and highlights the divine spirit known as Kami. This shrine is not just a simple religious debate since it was also dedicated to Emperor Meiji, founder of Japan. Many Shinto festivals and ceremonies take place at Meiji Shrine, the largest being Hatsu-mode, which is the first shrine visit of the year, on January 1st. This temple is unique inthe sense in which it pays homage to the founder of Japan. I would also like to talk with people about not worshiping a specific deity, but rather the concepts of Kami and what exactly Kami is. This would allow me to have a deeper understanding of religion. Batu Caves located in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia is a Hindu temple near Kuala Lumpur that has 272 steps to complete before arriving and is a place of pilgrimage for many people practicing Hinduism. These caves house a large golden statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu deity of war. Devotees of the religion will arrive here to make offerings, pray and participate in the various festivals organized to celebrate Hindu life. The most famous celebration is Thaipusam, a festival where people pierce their bodies as penance. It is a symbol of triumph over evil and of the path to follow well. The most common offerings are fruits, flowers and buckets of milk. For me, seeing this place would allow me to put myself in the shoes of a person practicing Hinduism and truly observe its rituals and religious practices. We are now making our journey to Ravenna, Italy to visit the Basilica of San Vitale. This architectural masterpiece offers some important pieces of early Christian Byzantine art. Julianus Argentarius, a wealthy individual, financed most of the church to keep it open. Inside it contains mosaic medallions of Christ and depicts the twelve apostles. There are two very important depictions of Abraham. One of them, Sarah, Abraham's wife, waits for him while he brings a calf to other guests at the table, and also the famous story of Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to show God that he was completely devoted to him. him. The entire church is filled with tons of artwork with Christian significance. Because I am a Christian, I would like to see the artwork depicted, especially with the story of Abraham and his son Isaac, as it would allow me to immerse myself in that era with my faith. This would allow me to feel part of my religion and share it with others who have made the journey there. The next important place houses two religions in one place, symbolizing religious tolerance. The Spanish Synagogue in Josefov, Czech Republic, houses the Jewish and Muslim faiths. This synagogue was built because of its history, where Spain initially expelled Moors and Jews, forcing them to flee to various other countries in Europe. What's even more interesting is that the synagogue is very respectful of both religions and can accommodate both. For example, in the Quran, one of the laws prohibits the direct depiction of a person or animal in a sculpture or painting. For this reason, all the figures needed to tell a story are used as geometric shapes rather than physical features. The synagogue mainly covers the Jewish faith, as it explains the history of Czech Jewry during the Enlightenment and Emancipation era. It also depicts the hardships of Jews and Germans, showing stories about the Holocaust and what Jews had to do to hide from the Germans. In 1942, the Nazis closed the synagogue and most of the staff working there (who were mainly Jewish) were sent to concentration camps. Visitors learn about the destruction of the Jewish city, the struggles of the Jewish people, and mourn those who were taken away during its closure. This synagogue has since reopened today as a museum with many different concerts. I am notpersonally never been to a museum that shows the struggles of Jews during the holocaust and other hardships. It is important to never forget and learn about these events as many lives were lost. I would also like to learn more about their faith by talking to people, because the Jewish faith is not very far from Christianity. The Boudhanath Stupa located in Kathmandu, Nepal is a beautiful sight to see focused on Buddhism. The most amazing thing about it is the history involved and how it truly represents all the beliefs of Buddhism, such as the five Buddhas. This stupa was built in the 14th century after the Mongol invasions and has been a major pilgrimage and meditation destination ever since. The individuals who come here are local Tibetan Buddhists and Nepalese. If you look at the building from above, it looks like a diagram of the Buddhist cosmos. Inside the structure, the four cardinal points are located using the four Dhyani Buddhas, with the fifth Buddha, Vairocana, in the center of the building. In addition to marking the points of the Stupa, the five Buddhas also represent the five elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether. They also have 13 rings which symbolize the path to enlightenment, which is also represented in the name, as another name for the path is "bodhi". The Stupa celebrates various events, but the most popular is the Tibetan New Year, also known as 'Losar', which is the biggest celebration in all of Nepal. By visiting this place, I can discuss with locals the Buddhist beliefs and values ​​that I learned from my religious upbringing. I would also be able to make connections between my learning and the physical artwork and religious sculptures that are in this facility. Additionally, I would like to ask who is living on the path to enlightenment and what they are doing to stay on the path. Finally, during my last stop of my pilgrimage, I will visit Angkor Wat located in the north of Cambodia. This structure is considered the largest religious monument in the world and is home to the Buddhist religion. In the Khmer language, Angkor Wat translates to “temple city,” and for good reason, because the entire structure looks like a ton of temples squeezed into a city. Although this temple is no longer active due to overgrowth of forests and earthquakes, its original purpose was as an offering to the Hindu god Vishnu. However, in the late 12th century it became a Buddhist temple. However, Angkor Wat was not always a Buddhist temple. The original ruler of the time was Suryavarman II, who imposed Hinduism as a religion throughout the Cambodia region. Later, it was taken up by Buddhism. The founder of this magnificent temple was a French explorer named Henri Mouhot, who said it was "greater than anything Greece or Rome left us." Most Buddhists believe that "the construction of the temple was ordered by the god Indra and that the work was completed in one night." The overall structure of the temple was meant to represent Mount Meru, the abode of the gods. Even though this temple has been taken over by Buddhism, it still depicts many Hindu gods within the temple walls as well as Buddhist gods. Although I cannot enter the temple, I would like to visit with other Hindus and Buddhists the largest religious monument in the world. I would have so many questions about their core beliefs and to hear the history of the temple and understand the religious significance of the area. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a customization trial. ».