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"This is my body."

These words, recorded in the Gospels as being spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper, are said daily at Church services around the world before the communion meal is eaten. When Christians hear these words spoken in the present, we're reminded of the past, which is always with us, which never goes away.

Just how much past are Christians reminded of? Certainly the last two millennia, which, in addition to devout celebrations of the Eucharist, are rife with doctrinal disputes, church splits, episodes of violence, excommunications, papal pronouncements, and various metaphysical debates, all revolving around the communion meal.

But we can rewind further back, to the development of the oral traditions that got fixed into texts that were incorporated into the canonical New Testament. We can also wonder about the historical meal on which the various Last Supper texts are based.

We can travel further back still, long before even the emergence of Christianity. After all, Jesus was a Jew, and so his act of breaking bread with the disciples reminds us of the entire history of the Jewish people, including their harrowing escape from Egyptian slavery and their receiving of the Torah at Sinai.

But we can go back even further. Any religious meal is, before it is anything else, a meal. It is an act of table-sharing, certainly an important ritual in the ancient Near East. Seder, and later communion, were "taken up" theologically and liturgically, but the positive feelings around table-sharing were already in place. They'd already been in place since the emergence of modern humans, about 200,000 years ago.

And yet - Homo s apiens wasn't the only species to discover the benefits of food-sharing. Neanderthals certainly pooled their resources, as did the several other Homo species dating back two million years.

"Think of uber pro-social hunter-gatherers having a meal," one of my theology professors told me when I wondered about the deep evolutionary history behind the Eucharist. "The hunters feel proud to have done well and shared with their family; those who prepared the food are recognised and appreciated; everyone's belly is getting filled and feeling good; and so many positive social interactions are taking place. No wonder so much mythological content is built up around the meal."

But food-sharing even predates our Homo ancestors, and is currently observed in chimpanzees and bonobos. In fact, one recent paper even documented research of bonobos sharing food with bonobos outside of their own social group. Barbara Fruth, one of the study's authors, told the digital magazine Sapiens that meal-sharing "must have its roots in our last common ancestor". Based on the molecular clock, the last common ancestor, or LCA, of humans and Great Apes lived about 19 million years ago.

When I hear the words "This is my Body," then, my mind immediately launches into a race to the evolutionary starting line, if you will.
Deep religion
I begin with a discussion of the Eucharist because my particular religious tradition is Christian. But the point I'm making - that religious experiences emerge from very specific, very long histories - could be made with most religious phenomena. That's because, in the words of the late sociologist Robert Bellah, "Nothing is ever lost." History goes all the way back, and who and how and where we are now is the result of its winding forward. Any human phenomenon that exists is a human phenomenon that became what it is. This is no less true of religion.

If we're going to think about the deep history of religion, then we need to be clear about what religion is. In his book The Bonobo and the Atheist, the primatologist Frans de Waal shares a funny story about participating in a panel hosted by the American Academy of Religion. When one participant suggested they start with defining religion, someone was quick to note that last time they tried to do that, "half the audience had angrily stomped out of the room". Quipped de Waal: "And this in an academy named after the topic!"

Still, we need to start somewhere, so de Waal suggests this definition: religion is "the shared reverence for the supernatural, sacred, or spiritual as well as the symbols, rituals, and worship that are associated with it". De Waal's definition echoes one given by sociologist Émile Durkheim, who also emphasised the importance of shared experiences that "unite into one single moral community".

The importance of shared experience can't be overstated since, in the story we're telling, the evolution of human religion is inseparable from the ever-increasing sociality of the hominin line. As Bellah points out, religion is as a way of being. We might also view it as a way of feeling, as a way of feeling together.

While much of the scientific study of religion is on theology-based doctrinal religions, the evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar thinks this is a narrow way of studying the phenomenon because it "completely ignores the fact that for most of human history religions have had a very different shamanic-like form that lacks gods and moral codes". (By shamanic, Dunbar means religions of experience that commonly involve trance and travel in spirit worlds.) While the theology-based forms are only a few thousand years old and characteristic of post-agricultural societies, Dunbar argues that the shamanic forms date back 500,000 years. These, he claims, are characteristic of hunter-gatherers.
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If we want to understand how and why religion evolved, Dunbar says we need to start out by examining religions "with the cultural accretions stripped away". We need to focus less on questions about Big Gods and creeds, and more on questions about the capacities that emerged in our ancient ancestors that allowed them to achieve a religious way of being together.
Adaptation or by-product?
All societies, after all, seem to have religions of some sort. "There are no exceptions to this," de Waal told me over the phone.

There are two major perspectives on why this might be. One is called functionalism or adaptationism: the idea that religion brings positive evolutionary benefits, which are most often framed in terms of its contribution to group living. As de Waal puts it: "If all societies have [religion], it must have a social purpose."

Others take the view that religion is a spandrel, or by-product of evolutionary processes. The word spandrel refers to an architectural shape that emerges as a by-product between arches and ceiling. Religion, on this interpretation, is akin to a vestigial organ. Perhaps it was adaptive in the environments it originally evolved in, but in this environment it's maladaptive. Or perhaps religious beliefs are the result of psychological mechanisms that evolved to solve ecological problems unrelated to religion. Either way, evolution didn't "aim" at religion; religion just emerged as evolution "aimed" at other things.

While folks on both sides of this debate have their reasons, it seems unhelpful to frame the evolution of religion in such either/or terms. Something that was merely a by-product of a blind evolutionary process could well be taken up by human beings to perform a specific function or solve a specific problem. ( Read about what the future of religion could be like.)

This can be true for many behaviours - including music - but religion presents a particular puzzle, since it often involves extremely costly behaviours, such as altruism and, at times, even self-sacrifice.

For this reason, some theorists such as Dunbar argue that we should also look beyond the individual to the survival of the group.

This is known as multilevel selection, which "recognises that fitness benefits can sometimes accrue to individuals through group-level effects, rather than always being the direct product of the individual's own actions", as Dunbar defines it.

An example is cooperative hunting, which enables groups to catch bigger prey than any members could catch as individuals. Bigger prey means more for me, even if I have to share the meat (since the animal being shared is already larger than anything I could catch alone). Such group-level processes "require the individual to be sensitive to the needs of other members of the group", says Dunbar.

There is no history of the religion of an individual creature. Our story is about us.
Feeling first
If we are to understand religion, then, we first need to look back into your deep history to understand how human ancestors evolved to live in groups in the first place.

We are, after all, descended from a long line of ancestral hominoids with "weak social ties and no permanent group structures", says Jonathan Turner, author of The Emergence and Evolution of Religion. That leads Turner to what he considers the million-dollar question: "How did Darwinian selection work on the neuroanatomy of hominins to make them more social so they could generate cohesive social bonds to form primary groups?" he asked me on the phone. "That's not a natural thing for apes."

Our ape line evolved from our last common ancestor around 19 million years ago. Orangutans broke away about 13-16 million years ago, while the gorilla line branched away about 8-9 million years ago. The hominin line then branched into two about 5-7 million years ago, with one line leading to the chimpanzees and bonobos, and the other leading to us. We modern humans share 99% of our genes with living chimpanzees - which means we're the two most closely related apes in the whole line.

The similarities between humans and chimps are well known, but one important difference has to do with group size. Chimpanzees, on average, can maintain a group size of about 45, says Dunbar. "This appears to be the largest group size that can be maintained through grooming alone," he says. In contrast, the average human group is about 150, known as Dunbar's Number. The reason for this, says Dunbar, is that humans have the capacity to reach three times as many social contacts as chimps for a given amount of social effort. Human religion emerges out of this increased capacity for sociality.

How come? As our ape ancestors moved from receding forest habitats to more open environments, like the savannahs of eastern and southern Africa, Darwinian pressures acted on them to make them more social for increased protection from predators and better access to food; it also made it easier to find a mate. Without the ability to maintain new structures - like small groups of five or six so-called nuclear families, says Turner - these apes wouldn't have been able to survive.

So how did nature achieve this socialisation process? Turner says the key isn't with what we typically think of as intelligence, but rather with the emotions, which was accompanied by some important changes to our brain structure. Although the neocortex figures prominently in many theories of the evolution of religion, Turner says the more important alterations concerned the subcortical parts of the brain, which gave hominins the capacity to experience a broader range of emotions. These enhanced emotions promoted bonding, a crucial achievement for the development of religion.

The process of subcortical enhancement Turner refers to dates to about 4.5 million years ago, when the first Australopithecine emerged. Initially, says Turner, selection increased the size of their brains about 100 cubic centimetres (cc) beyond that of chimpanzees, to about 450 cc (in Australopithecus afarensis). For the sake of comparison, this is smaller than later hominins - Homo habilis had a cranial capacity of 775 cc, while Homo erectus was slightly larger at 800-850. Modern humans, in contrast, boast a brain size much bigger than any of these, with a cranial capacity of up to 1,400 cc.

But the comparably smaller brain size doesn't mean that nothing was happening to the hominin brain. Brain size is measured by an endocast, but Turner says these do not reflect the subcortical enhancement that was occurring between the emergence of Australopiths (around 4 million years ago) and Homo erectus (1.8 million years ago). "It is in the story of how these [subcortical] mechanisms evolved that, ultimately, the origins of religion are to be discovered."

Although the neocortex of humans is three times the size of apes', the subcortex is only twice as big - which leads Turner to believe that the enhancement of hominin emotion was well underway before the neocortex began to grow to its current human size.

Here's how nature pulled it off. You've probably heard talk of the so-called four primary emotions: aggression, fear, sadness, and happiness. Notice anything about that list? Three of the emotions are negative. But the promotion of solidarity requires positive emotions - so natural selection had to find a way to mute the negative emotions and enhance the positive ones, Turner says. The emotional capacities of great apes (particularly chimpanzees) were already more elaborate than many other mammals, so selection had something to work with.

At this point in his argument, Turner introduces the concept of first- and second-order elaborations, which are emotions that are the result of a combinations of two or more primary emotions. So, for example, the combination of happiness and anger generates vengeance, while jealousy is the result of combining anger and fear. Awe, which figures majorly in religion, is the combination of fear and happiness. Second-order elaborations are even more complex, and occurred in the evolution from Homo erectus (1.8 million years ago) to Homo sapiens (about 200,000 years ago). Guilt and shame, for example, two crucial emotions for the development of religion, are the combination of sadness, fear, and anger.

It's difficult to imagine religion without the capacity to experience these emotional elaborations for the same reason it's difficult to imagine close social groups without them: such an emotional palette binds us to one another at a visceral level. "Human solidarities are only possible by emotional arousal revolving around positive emotions - love, happiness, satisfaction, caring, loyalty - and the mitigation of the power of negative emotions, or at least some negative emotions," says Turner. "And once these new valences of positive emotions are neurologically possible, they can become entwined with rituals and other emotion-arousing behaviours to enhance solidarities and, eventually, produce notions of power gods and supernatural forces."

Not to jump ahead too far, but it's important to understand how pivotal feeling is in the evolution of religion. As far as Darwin was convinced, there wasn't any difference between religious feeling and any other feeling. "It is an argument for materialism," he wrote in a journal entry, "that cold water brings on suddenly in head, a frame of mind, analogous to those feelings, which may be considered as truly spiritual." If this is true, then that means the causes of religious feelings can be pinpointed and studied just like any other feeling.
Ritual
As selection worked on existing brain structures, enhancing emotional and interpersonal capacities, certain behavioural propensities of apes began to evolve. Some of the propensities that Turner lists as already present in apes include: the ability to read eyes and faces and to imitate facial gestures; various capacities for empathy; the ability to become emotionally aroused in social settings; the capacity to perform rituals; a sense of reciprocity and justice; and the ability to see the self as an object in an environment. An increase in the emotional palette available to apes would, according to Turner, result in an increase in all of these behavioural capacities.

Though many if not all of these behaviours have been documented in apes, I want to concentrate on two of them - ritual and empathy - without which religion would be unthinkable.

In archival footage, primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall describes the well-known waterfall dance which has been widely observed in chimpanzees. Her comments are worth quoting at length:
When the chimpanzees approach, they hear this roaring sound, and you see their hair stands a little on end and then they move a bit quicker. When they get here, they'll rhythmically sway, often upright, picking up big rocks and throwing them for maybe 10 minutes. Sometimes climbing up the vines at the side and swinging out into the spray, and they're right down in the water which normally they avoid. Afterwards you'll see them sitting on a rock, actually in the stream, looking up, watching the water with their eyes as it falls down, and then watching it going away. I can't help feeling that this waterfall display or dance is perhaps triggered by feelings awe, wonder that we feel. The chimpanzee's brain is so like ours: they have emotions that are clearly similar to or the same as those that we call happiness, sad, fear, despair, and so forth - the incredible intellectual abilities that we used to think unique to us. So why wouldn't they also have feelings of some kind of spirituality, which is really being amazed at things outside yourself?
Goodall has observed a similar phenomenon happen during a heavy rain. These observations have led her to conclude that chimpanzees are as spiritual as we are. "They can't analyse it, they don't talk about it, they can't describe what they feel. But you get the feeling that it's all locked up inside them and the only way they can express it is through this fantastic rhythmic dance." In addition to the displays that Goodall describes, others have observed various carnivalesque displays, drumming sessions, and various hooting rituals.

The roots of ritual are in what Bellah calls "serious play" - activities done for their own sake, which may not serve an immediate survival capacity, but which have "a very large potentiality of developing more capacities". This view fits with various theories in developmental science, showing that playful activities are often crucial for developing important abilities like theory of mind and counterfactual thinking.

Play, in this evolutionary sense, has many unique characteristics: it must be performed "in a relaxed field" - when the animal is fed and healthy and stress-free (which is why it is most common in species with extended parental care). Play also occurs in bouts: it has a clear beginning and ending. In dogs, for example, play is initiated with a "bow". Play involves a sense of justice, or at least equanimity: big animals need to self-handicap in order to not hurt smaller animals. And it might go without saying, but play is embodied.

Now compare that to ritual, which is enacted, which is embodied. Rituals begin and end. They require both shared intention and shared attention. There are norms involved. They take place in a time within time - beyond the time of the everyday. (Think, for example, of a football game in which balls can be caught "out of bounds" and time can be paused. We regularly participate in modes of reality in which we willingly bracket out "the real world". Play allows us to do this.) Most important of all, says Bellah, play is a practice in itself, and "not something with an external end".

Bellah calls ritual "the primordial form of serious play in human evolutionary history", which means that ritual is an enhancement of the capacities that make play first possible in the mammalian line. There is a continuity between the two. And while Turner acknowledges it might be pushing it to refer to a chimpanzee waterfall dance or carnival as Ritual with a capital R, it is possible to affirm that "these ritual-like behavioural propensities suggest that some of what is needed for religious behaviour is part of the genome of chimpanzees, and hence, hominins".
Empathy
The second trait we must consider is empathy. Empathy is not primarily in the head. It's in the body - at least that's how it started. It began, writes de Waal, "with the synchronisation of bodies, running when others run, laughing when others laugh, crying when others cry, or yawning when others yawn".

Empathy is absolutely central to what we call morality, says de Waal. "Without empathy, you can't get human morality. It makes us interested in others. It makes us have an emotional stake in them." If religion, according to our definition, is a way of being together, then morality, which instructs us as to the best ways to be together, is an inextricable part of that.

De Waal has been criticised over the years for offering a rose-coloured interpretation of animal behaviour. Rather than view animal behaviour as altruistic, and therefore springing from a sense of empathy, we should, these wise scientists tell us, see this behaviour for what it is: selfishness. Animals want to survive. Period. Any action they take needs to be interpreted within that matrix.

But this is a misguided way of talking about altruism, de Waal says.

"We see animals want to share food even though it costs them. We do experiments on them and the general conclusion is that many animals' first tendency is to be altruistic and cooperative. Altruistic tendencies come very naturally to many mammals."

But isn't this just self-preservation? Aren't the animals just acting in their own best interests? If they behave in a way that appears altruistic, aren't they just preparing (so to speak) for a time when they will need help? "To call that selfish," says an incredulous de Waal, "because in the end of course these pro-social tendencies have benefits?" To do that, he says, is to define words into meaninglessness.

Yes, of course there are pleasurable sensations associated with the action of giving to others. But evolution has produced pleasurable sensations for behaviours we need to perform, like sex and eating and female-nursing. The same is true for altruism, says de Waal. That does not fundamentally alter what the behaviour is.

Such a hard and fast line between altruism and selfishness, then, is naive at best and deceptive at worst. And we can see the same with discussions of social norms. Philosophers such as David Hume have made the distinction between what a behaviour "is" and what it "ought" to be, which is a staple of ethical deliberation. An animal may perform the behaviour X, but does it do so because it feels it should do so - thanks to an appreciation of a norm?

This distinction is one that de Waal has run into from philosophers who say that any of his observations of empathy or morality in animals can't possibly tell him about whether or not they have norms. De Waal disagrees, pointing out that animals do recognise norms:
The simplest example is a spider web or nest. If you disturb it, the animal's going to repair that right away because they have a norm for how it should look and function. They either abandon it, or start over and repair it. Animals are capable of having goals and striving towards them. In the social world, if they have a fight, they come together and try to repair damage. They try to get back to an ought state. They have norm of how this distribution should be. The idea that normativity is [restricted to] humans is not correct.
In the Bonobo and the Atheist, de Waal argues that animals seem to possess a mechanism for social repair. "About 30 different primate species reconcile after fights, and that reconciliation is not limited to the primates. There is evidence for this mechanism in hyenas, dolphins, wolves, domestic goats."

He also finds evidence that animals "actively try to preserve harmony within their social network ... by reconciling after conflict, protesting against unequal divisions, and breaking up fights among others. They behave normatively in the sense of correcting, or trying to correct, deviations from an ideal state. They also show emotional self-control and anticipatory conflict resolution in order to prevent such deviations. This makes moving from primate behaviour to human moral norms less of a leap than commonly thought."

There's obviously a gap between primate social repair and the institutionalisation of moral codes that lie at the heart of modern human societies. Still, says de Waal, all of these "human moral systems make use of primate tendencies".

How far back to these tendencies go? Probably, like those capacities that allowed for play (and ultimately ritual), to the advent of parental care. "During 200 million years of mammalian evolution, females sensitive to their offspring out-reproduced those who were cold and distant," says de Waal. Of course, nurturing is arguably seen in species of fish, crocodiles, and snakes, but the nurturing capabilities of mammals is really a giant leap forward in the evolutionary story.
The early dawn of religion
Our religious services of today may seem worlds away from the mammalian play and empathy that emerged in our deep past, and indeed institutionalised religion is much more advanced than a so-called waterfall dance. But evolution teaches us that complex, advanced phenomena develop from simple beginnings. As Bellah reminds us, we don't come from nowhere. "We are embedded in a deep biological and cosmological history."

As the ape line evolved from our last common ancestor in more open environments, it was necessary to pressure apes, who prefer to go it alone, to form more lasting social structures. Natural selection was able to accomplish this astonishing feat by enhancing the emotional palettes available that had long been available to our ancestors. With a broader set of emotions, the hominin brain was then able to enhance some of its capabilities, some of which quite naturally lent themselves a religious way of being. As these capacities got more acutely enhanced with the growth of the Homo brain and the development of the neocortex, behaviours such as play and ritual entered a new phase in hominin development, becoming the raw materials out of which cultural evolution would begin to institutionalise religion.

And though this history doesn't determine us - for with each new phase in life's story comes greater power of agency - this bio-cosmological history influences everything we do and are. Even the most seemingly autonomous human decision is made from within history. That's the big picture here. That's what we've been keeping in mind as we made our way back in time to the evolutionary seeds that would eventually - and quite slowly - blossom into human religion.

Though I often think theologically about the words "This is my body," I shouldn't overlook the basic fact that communion is about bodies - mine, yours, ours. Religion is an embodied phenomenon because the human religious way of being has evolved for millions of years as the bodies of our ancestors interacted with the other bodies around them. Whether or not one takes communion or even feels religious, we are at all times navigating our social worlds with our evolved capacities to play, to empathise, and to celebrate rituals with each other.
-- Brandon Ambrosino has written for the New York Times, Boston Globe, The Atlantic, Politico, Economist, and other publications. He lives in Delaware. This is the first of a two-part special examining the evolutionary roots of religion.
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"This is my body." These words, recorded in the Gospels as being spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper, are said daily at Church services around the world before the communion meal is eaten. When Christians hear these words spoken in the present, we're reminded of the past, which is always with us, which never goes away.

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In Search of One of the World's Oldest Religions

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In Search of One of the World's Oldest Religions

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In Search of One of the World's Oldest Religions

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Look closely at the objects displayed with the Cyrus Cylinder to find symbols of the ancient religion of Persia-Zoroastrianism

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Some guidance on how to argue and reason properly from the creators of the Crash Course series.

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How to Argue - Philosophical Reasoning: Crash Course Philosophy #2

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An interactive map of hundreds of sacred sites across the globe

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Tomb of Hazrat Ali Mazari Sharif

Ziyarat-i-Sakhi, Kabul (Shrine of the Generous One; sacred to Hazrat Ali)

Chishmah-i-Ayyub, Balkh Province (Shrine built over hot spring where Job is believed to have rested while journeying through Afghanistan)

Shrine of the Seven Sleepers, Ashab al Kahf

Chishma-i-Hayat, Samangan Province (sacred to Khwaja Khizr)

Gazur Gah, mausoleum of mystic Abd Allah Ansari, Herat

Kharqa Sharif, Kandahar (Shrine of the Cloak)

Mount Tomorr

Shrine of Abaz Aliu, Mt. Tomorr

Tekke of Sari Salltiku, Mali i Krujes

Tekke of Melan Bektashi

Tekke of Baba Aliut, Turan-Tepelene

Khanqah of Ali Postivani, Permet

Tekke of Melcanit, Korce

Tyrbe Bektashiane Turan, Korce

Tempulli Bektashian, Vlore

Temple of Kuz Baba, Vlore

Tekke of Frashër

St Nicholas Monastery, Mesopotam

Monastery of St. Mary, Apollonia, Pojan

Gjin Aleksi Mosque, Rusan

Basilica of Lujan

Basilica of St. Mary of the Rosary, San Nicolas

Stone monoliths near town of La Rioja

Difunta Correa shrine

Petroglyph site near Ichigualasto

Petroglyph site near Tunduqueral

Grotto of Lourdes, Puerto Deseado

Basilica of the Virgin Mary, Mariazell

Annaberg church

Frauenberg church

Hallstatt church

Pilgrimage church of Maria Geburt, Mariastein

Pilgrimage church of Mary, Maria Taferl

One of four peaks on the Vierbergelauf pilgrimage route, Magdelensberg (the others being Ulrichsberg, Veitsberg and Lorenziberg)

Church of St. George on site of Celto-Roman temple, Georgenberg

Teufelstein (Devil's rock), 30 km east of Kapfenberg

Aboriginal sites:

Uluru - Ayers Rock

Kata Tjuta -The Olgas

Mt. Warning, Wollumbin

Kunkuwarra, Western Australia

Warmalana Island, Western Australia

Barralumma, Western Australia

Noonkanbah, Western Australia

Umpampurre (Pea Hill), Western Australia

Wullunggnari, Western Australia

Pukamani Burial Poles, Northern Territories

Melville Island, Northern Territories

Balawurri and Ubirr, Northern Territories

Nourlangie Rock, Northern Territories

Yelangbara Beach, Northern Territories

Kulaluk, Northern Territories

Oobarr, Northern Territories

Ingelaladd, Northern Territories

Kulunbar (Katherine Gorge), Northern Territories

Devil's Marbles, Northern Territories

Ngama Cave, Northern Territories

Winbaraku, Northern Territories

Mount Gulaga

N'dhala Gorge and Ewaninga, Northern Territories

Anthwerrke, Northern Territories

Ntaripe, Northern Territories

Arta-Wararlpanha, South Australia

Franklin River, Tasmania, Australia

Oyster Cave, Tasmania, Australia

Mumbulla Mountain, New South Wales

Kuring-Gai Chase, New South Wales

Red Hand Cave, New South Wales

Terania Creek Cave, New South Wales

Lennox Head, New South Wales

Goanna Headland, New South Wales

Woolool Wooloolni, New South Wales

Bulls' Head Mountain, New South Wales

Mount Bingingerra, New South Wales

Widgee Mountain, Queensland

Carnarvon Gorge, Queensland

Mount Tabletop, Queensland (no longer in use)

Laura, Queensland

Pilbara, Western Australia

Depuch Island, Western Australia

Bungle Bungles, Western Australia

Mootawingee

Nullarbor caves

Koonalda cave

Island of the Dead, Nyungar, Western Australia

Bennets Brook, Western Australia

Yarnda Thalu, Western Australia

AZERBAIJAN

BANGLADESH

BELARUS

Cathedral of the Holy Ghost, Minsk

BELIZE

BHUTAN

BOTSWANA

Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, Salvador

Pilgrimage church and cavern, Bom Jesus da Lapa

Shrine of Padre Cicero, Juazeiro do Norte

Pilgrimage church of Bom Jesus do Matosinhos, Cogonhas

Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, São Paulo

Church of Matriz de Santa Ana - Paróquia Santa Ana e São Joaquim, Barra de Santana

Estátua de São Francisco, Caninde

Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia, Salvador

Igreja Matriz de Santana, Salvador

Santuário do Caraça

Basilica of Trindade, Divino Pai Eterno, Trinidade

CHAD

Mt. Emi Koussi, Tibesti Mountains

Basilica of Our Lady of Carmel of the Maipu, Santiago

Easter Island

Mt. Heng Shan Nan, Hunan; Taoist mountain of the south

Mt. Heng Shan Bei, Shanxi; Taoist mountain of the north

Mt. Hua Shan, Shaanxi; Taoist mountain of the west

Mt. Tai Shan, Shandong; Taoist mountain of the east

Mt. Song Shan, Henan; Taoist mountain of the center

Mt. Emei Shan, Sichuan; Buddhist mountain of the west

Mt. Wu Tai Shan, Shanxi; Buddhist mountain of the north

Mt. Jin Hua Shan, Anhui; Buddhist mountain of the south

Mt. Pu Tuo Shan, Zhejiang; Buddhist mountain of the east

Mt. Huang Shan, Anhui

Matsu Temple, Meizhou Island, Fujian

Mt. Lu Shan, Jiangxi

Mt. Wu Yi Shan, Fujian

Mt. Amnyemaqen (Magen Gangri), Qinghai

Mt. Luo Fu Shan, Guangdong

Mt. Mao Shan, Jiangsu

Mt. Tian Tai Shan, Zhejiang

Mt. Lao Shan, Shandong

Mt. Zhong Nan Shan, Shaanxi

Mt. Ge Zao Shan, Jiangxi

Mt. Qing Cheng Shan, Sichuan

Mt. Shao Shan, Hunan

Mt. Wu Dang Shan, Hubei

Mt. Gu Shan, Fujian

Mt. Ding Hu Shan, Guangdong

Mt. Long Hu Shan, Jiangxi

Mt. Mai Ji Shan, Gansu

Mt. Kawakarpo, Yunnan

Mt. Kong Dong Shan, Gansu

Mt. Qian Shan, Liaoning (Taoist mountain)

Mt. Qi Yun Shan, Anhui (Taoist mountain)

Mt. San Qing Shan, Jiangxi (Taoist mountain)

Mt. Miao-feng Shan, Hebei

Mt. Huang Mei Shan, Hubei

Mt. Ji Zu Shan, Yunnan

Mt. Tian Long Shan, Shanxi

Mt. Jing Gang Shan, Jiangxi

Mt. A Yu Wang Shan, Zhejiang

Mt. Jizu

Longmen Grottoes

Yungang Grottoes

Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Cartago

Irazu volcano

Arenal volcano and hot springs

Poas volcano

CRETE

El Santuario del Quinche, Pichincha

El Santuario de la Virgen del Cisne, Cisne

Church of Our Lady of the Holy Water, Banos

Ruins of Ingapirca

Ruins and pyramids of Cochasqui

Ruins of Rumicucho

Mt. Chimborazo

Mt. Cotapaxi

Mt. Tungurhua

Great Pyramid, Sphynx, Sphynx temple

Tell el Amarna

Temple of Seti I and Osireion, Abydos

Temple of Hathor, Dendera

Luxor and Karnak

Temple of Horus, Edfu

Kom Ombu

Temple of Isis, Philae

Red Pyramid, Dashur

Coptic monastery, Almuharraq

Monastery of St. Anthony, Deir el Qaddis Antwan

Monastery of St. Paul, Deir Mari Bolos

Mt. Sinai and Monastery of St Catherine

Temple of Amun, Siwa oasis

Coptic church of Our Lady of Zeitoun, Cairo

Ruins of temple complex, Mt. Serabit-el-Khadem

Monasteries of Deir el Soriani, Deir Amba Bshoi, Wadi el Natrun desert

Deir Amba Baramus, Deir Abu Markaryus

Stone ring and megaliths, Nabta (west of Nile, southern Egypt)

Sts. Marie de la Mer; Gypsy pilgrimage church

St. Guilhem le De'sert church

Pilgrimage cathedral and church of St. Michael, Le Puy

Pilgrimage church, Conques

Holy grotto and pilgrimage church, Lourdes

Pilgrimage church, Rocamadour

Pilgrimage church, Paray le-Monial

Pilgrimage church of Mary Magdalene, Vezelay

Pilgrimage church, Pontigny

Pilgrimage church, Reims

Pilgrimage church, Amiens

Cathedral of Notre Dame, Basilica of Sacre Coeur, Sainte-Chapelle, Paris

Pilgrimage church atop pagan sacred site, Chartres

Cathedral of Mary's mother on pagan site, St. Anne d'Auray

Basilica of St. Nazaire, Carcassonne

Cathedral of St. E'tienne, Bourges

Abby of St. Michael on pagan site, Mont Saint-Michel

Cave of the ascension of Mary Magdalene, St. Baume

Shrine of the Virgin, Boulogne-sur-mer

Rennes le Chateau

Monastery of St. Martin, Mt. Canigou

Megalithic site and nearby Locmariaquer, Carnac

Megalithic site, Gavr'inis Island

La Grotte des Fe'es megalithic site, Arles

La Houque Bie megalithic site, Jersey

Cathar fort, Montsegur

Mont Ventoux Celtic holy mountain and spring, Vaucluse; near Carpentras

Coat-an-Hay and Coat-an-Noz sacred Celtic forests, near Guingamp

Celtic sacred forest of Foret de Paimpont and megalithic site of La Roche aux F'ees, Rennes area

Pagan holy island, accessible by boat from Audierne, Island of Ile de Sein

Celtic goddess site and Black Madonna shrine, Douvries-la-Delivrande

Saint-Maure-de-Touraine church atop Celtic site, Indre-et-Loire

Celtic sacred forest of Foret de Huelgoat, Montagnes d' Arre'e

Lagadjar megalithic site (143 menhirs), near Camaret, Finistere region

Summit of Puy de Dome, Auvergne, temple of Mercury and statue of Hermes (no longer standing)

La Grotte des Fées

La Sainte-Baume, Grotto of Mary Magdalene

GAMBIA

Stone rings, Kerr Batch, N'jai Kunda, Wassu

Externsteine; megalithic site

Owen; Celtic holy mountain of Teck / hill of Boelle and oracular cave of Sybillenloch

Baden-Wurttemberg; church of Murrhardt on Celtic/Roman sacred site

Speyer; pilgrimage cathedral on pagan sacred site

Aachen/ Aix-la-Chapelle; pilgrimage church pagan sacred spring

Colonge; pilgrimage cathedral, Shrine of the three Kings

Ettal; Benedictine Abbey

Pilgrimage Church of Wies

Rugen Island (northeast of Rostock); Temple of Arkona

Shrine of god Triglaw, Stettin

Shrine of Svaricic, Rethra

St. Bartholomew's Church, Berchtesgaden

GHANA

Athens; Acropolis, Asklepion shrine

Ruins of Delphi, Athena Pronaia, Mt. Parnasus (and Corycian cave and shrine of Pan and the Nymphs)

Delos Island

Ruins of Eleusis and nearby Mt. Kerata

Ruins of Dodona

Ruins of Cape Sounion

Aegina Island; Greek temple ruins

Patmos Island; Holy Grotto of the Revelation, Monastery of St. John

Athos; monasteries and hermitages, Mt. Athos

Meteora; Greek Orthodox monasteries

Tinos Island; Church of the Megolohari, Mt. Prophet Elias

Samothrace; Sanctuary of the Great Gods

Temple of Hera; Argos

Profitis Elias cave (Ayios Ilias)(Haghios Hadrianos), near Tiryns; also Megaron on acropolis of Tiryns

Olympia; Temple of Hera and Temple of Zeus

Isthmia, shrine of Poseidon; 8k/east of Corinth

Island of Kos; Asklepion

Mt. Parnasus

Epidauros; Asklepion and sanctuary of Apollo Maleatas

Perachora-Skaloma shrine; Corinthia area

Marathon; cave of Pan

Island of Keos (Ceos); Bronze Age sanctuary of Ayia Irini and Lion of Julius

Camiros, Rhodes; sanctuary of Apollo

Sikinos Island; temple of Pythian Apollo

Mt. Euboia, Amarynthos; ancient festival site of Artemis Amarynthia

Mycenae ruins

Samos; temple of Hera

Mt. Hymettos, Attica; sanctuary of Zeus, cave dedicated to Apollo and the Nymphs

Mt. Parnes; sanctuary of Zeus and cave of Pan

Mt. Lycaeon; sanctuary of Zeus

Mt. Ithome

Mt. Ptoon; sanctuary of Apollo, sanctuary of Demeter

Necromanteion of Ephyra; Oracle of the Dead/Hades

Milos island, Sanctuary of Phylakopi

Mt. Aegaleos (opposite Salamis, west of Athens), Attica; temple of Apollo

Mt. Arachneion, northwest of Epidauros, near Ligourio; altars of Zeus and Hera

Mt. Pelion; lair of Chiron cave, home of the Centaurs; northeast of Volos

Mt. Kokkygion, east of Hermion, above Kranidi town; sanctuary of Zeus

Mt. Cyllene; Birthplace of Hermes, between Achaia and Arcadia

Island of Ithaki; cave shrine of the Nymphs (near Bay of Phorkys)

Namea; temple of Zeus

Island of Poros; sanctuary of Poseidon

Mt. Lycabettos, Athens; sacred to Gaia

Church of Panagia Chrisopigi, Sifnos Island

Monastery of Hozoviótissa, Amorgos Island

Ruins of Copan

Tegucigalpa; Church of Our Lady of Suyapa

HUNGARY

Marian Shrine, Máriagyud

Marian Shrine, Máriakéménd

Basilica, Gyor

Church of Our Lady, Márianosztra

Complex of Seven Chapels, Vac

Mariabesnyo Marian Shrine, Godollo

Greek Orthodox Church of St. Michael with Black Madonna, Máriapocs

ICELAND

Mt. Helgafel

Althing sanctuary, Thingvellir

ANDRA PRADESH ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Gorsam Chorten, Zemithang, 92 kilometers northwest of Tawang

Bomdila monastery, Bomdila

ASSAM
BIHAR ( Bihar Photo Gallery)

Mahabodhi temple and Bodhi Tree, where Buddha attained enlightenment, Bodh Gaya

Vishnupad temple, Gaya

Vulture Peak Buddhist site, Rajgir

Takht Patna Sahib, Patna

Ajgaivinath Dham Shiva temple, Sultanganj

Khudneshwar Asthan Shiva temple, Morwa

Hariharnath temple, Sonepur

Makhdoom Wali Azam Sufi Shrine, Maner

Maa Mundeshwari temple, Paunra

GUJURAT
HARYANA ( Haryana Photo Gallery)

Brahma Sarovar & Sannihit Sarovar temples, Kurukshetra

Shrine of Bu Ali Shah Qalandar, Panipat

HIMACHAL PRADESH ( Himachal Pradesh Photo Gallery)

JAMMU ( Jammu Photo Gallery)
JHARKHAND

Shikharji Jain temple, Parasnath hill

Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga temple and Jai Durga Shakti Pitha, Deoghar

KARNATAKA ( Karnataka Photo Gallery)

Gomateswara Jain temple, Sravanabelagola

Malahanikareshwara temple, Sringeri

Sri Vidyashankara temple, Sringeri

Sharadamba temple, Sringeri

Mahabaleshwar temple, Gokarna

Maha Ganapati temple, Gokarna

Dargah of Sufi saint Hazrat Kwaja Bande Nawaz Gaisu Daraz, Gulbarga

Udupi Sri Krishna temple, Udupi

Rishimukh Hill, Virupapuragaddi

Virupaksha temple, Vijayanagara Temple complex

Sri Mookambika temple, Kollur

Shri Banashankari Shakti Pitha temple, Badami

Chandramouleshwar Shiva temple, Hubli

Murudeshwar Shiva temple, Murudeshwar Island

Mylara Lingeshwara Shiva temple, Mylara

Anegudde Ganapathi temple, Anegudde

Shree Sharavu Mahaganapati temple, Mangalore

Manjunatha Shiva temple, Dharmasthala

Himavad Gopalswamy Temple, Gopalaswamy Hills

Shree Dodda Ganapathi temple, Bangalore

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Shiva temple, Nandi

Ramalingeshwara temples, Avani

Srikanteshwara temple, Nanjanagud

Chennakesava Vishnu temple Somnathapur

Chamundeshwari Durga temple, Mysore

Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple, Mysore

Sri Nandi Temple, Mysore

Sri Chamundeshwari Ammanavara temple

Ganapati Ganesh temple, Gokarna

Mahaballeswara Shiva temple, Gokarna

KASHMIR ( Kashmir Photo Gallery)

Shiva cave, Amarnath

Cave shrine of Hazrat Azin-ud-Din Wali, Aish-Muqam

Roza Bal, tomb of Yuz Asaf - Jesus, Khanyar, Srinagar

Hazratbal Dargah Sharif, Srinagar

Makhdoom Sahib Dargah, Srinagar

Chatti Padshahi Gurudwara, Srinagar

Sharika Chakreshwar temple, Srinagar

Jamia Masjid, Srinagar

Ziyarat Naqshband Sahab, Srinagar

Dastgeer Sahib Sufi Shrine, Srinagar

Khanqah Shah Hamadan Masjid (Khanqah-e-Moula), Srinagar

Bul Bul Lankar Mosque (Dargah of Hazrat Syed Sharaf-ud-Din Abdul Rahman), Srinagar

Kheer Bhawani temple, Tulmul

Avantiswami temple ruins, Awantipora

Martand Surya Sun temple, Anantnag

Dargah of Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani, Charari Sharief

KERALA ( Kerala Photo Gallery)

Sabarimala Ayyappan temple, Sabarimala

Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram

Ettumanoor Mahadevan temple, Kottayam

Guruvayur Krishna temple, Guruvayur

Attukal Bhagavathy temple, Thiruvananthapuram

Madhanantheswara Shiva and Ganesh temple, Madhur

Shree Muthappan Madapura, Parassinikadavu

Mamapuram Valya Palli mosque, Mamapuram

Jama'at Mosque, Valanchery

Vadakhunnathan Shiva temple, Thrissur

Kurumba Bhagavathy Kava temple, Kodungallur

Shankara Janmasthan, Kalady

Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam

Ernakulam Shiva temple, Ernakulam

Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple, Chottannikkara

Vaikom Mahadeva temple, Vaikom

Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva temple, Kaduthuruthy

Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple, Ettumanoor

Sree Krishna Swamy temple, Ambalappuzha

Sree Vallabha temple, Thiruvalla

Parthasarathi Vishnu temple, Aranmula

Bhagavathy Shiva temple, Changannur

Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja temple, Haripad

Chettikulangara Bhagavathy temple, Mavelikara

Jenardhana Swamy temple, Varkala

Beemapalli Mosque, Thiruvananthapuram

Attukal Bhagvathy temple, Thiruvananthapuram

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram

Saraswathi Mandapam, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram

Chengallor Mahadeva temple, Thiruvananthapuram

LADAKH ( Ladakh Photo Gallery)
MADYA PRADESH

Jain and Hindu temples, Khajuraho

Buddhist stupas, Sanchi

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple, Ujjain

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga temple, Mandhata Island

Narmada Udgam temple, Amarkantak

Kamadgiri sacred hill and temples, Chitrakoot

Ram Raja temple, Orccha

Shri Digambar Jain Siddha Kshetra Muktagiri temple, Thapoda

MAHARASHTRA ( Maharashtra Photo Gallery)
MANIPUR MEGHALAYA

Mawphlang sacred forest groves

NEW DELHI Haryana & Punjab Photo Gallery
ODISHA

Jagannath Vishnu temple, Puri

Khirachora Gopinatha temple, Remuna

PUNJAB ( Punjab Photo Gallery)

Hari Mandir Golden Temple, Amritsar

Goindwal Sahib Sikh Gurudwara (23 km from Tarn Taran Sahib)

Gurudwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib, Tarn Taran Sahib

Anandpur Sahib Sikh Gurudwara, Anandpur

Dargah of Shaikh Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi, Rauza Sharif, Sirhind

Shrine of Sakhi Sarwar (Syed Ahmad Sultan) Nigahia

Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talvandi Sabo

Rauza Sharif, Fatehgarh Sahib

Gurudwara Shri Fatehgarh Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib

Ziyarat of Sheikh Mujaddid Alfa Thani, Fatehgarh Sahib

Rauza Sharif Mandhali Sufi Darbar, Mandhali

RAJASTHAN SIKKIM

Lingdum monastery

Gonjang monastery

Hanuman Tok, Gangtok

Lake Tsongmo (Changu Lake)

Kirteshwar Mahadev temple, Legship

Sanga Choeling monastery

Tashiding monastery

Dubdi monastery

TAMIL NADU ( Tamil Nadu Photo Gallery)

Sri Ramananthaswami temple, Gandhamadhana Parvatham Hanuman temple, Rameshvaram

Mt. Arunachala and Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar temple, Tiruvanamalai

Swamimalai Murugan temple (near Kumbakonam)

Sri Ranganathaswami Vishnu temple, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli

Thiruchendur Murugan temple, Tiruchendur

Palani Murugan temple (Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani), Palani

Tiruttani Subramanya Swami Thirukkovil, Thiruttani

Ekambareswarar temple, Kanchipuram

Kailasanathar temple, Kanchipuram

Karchapeswarar temple, Kanchipuram

Kamakshi Amman temple, Kanchipuram

Kumarkottam temple, Kanchipuram

Varadharaja Perumal temple, Kanchipuram

Tiruththanka temple, Kanchipuram

Trilokyanatha Jain temple, Kanchipuram

Nataraja Shiva temple, Chidambaram

Meenakshi Amman temple, Madurai

Thiruparankundram Murugan temple, Thiruparankundram

Pazhamudhircholai Murugan temple, Aligarh Hills

Devi Kanyakumari temple, Kanya Kumari

Dargah of Sufi saint Shahul Hameed, Nagore

Tomb of the Apostle St. Thomas, St. Thomas Basilica, Mylapore, Chennai

Bhu Varaha Swamy temple, Srimushnam

Vanamamalai Perumal Vishnu temple, Nanguneri

Aranganathar Vishnu temple, Karamadai

Sree Thanumalayam Shiva temple, Suchindram

Karpaga Vinayagar Ganesh temple, Kottaram

Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Kanyakumari

Arulmigu Bhagavathy Amman temple, Kanyakumari

Arulmigu Sri Mutharamman Thirukovil temple, Kulasekharappattinam

Arulmigu Subramanya Swamy temple, Tiruchendur

Sri Vaikuntanatha Perumal Vishnu temple, Srivaikuntam

Nellaiappar Shiva and Parvati temples, Tirunelveli

Arulmigu Thiruparankundram Murugan temple, Madurai

Arulmigu Kodak Azhagar Vishnu temple, Madurai

Meenakshi Amman temple, Madurai

Kudalalagar Devasthanam Vishnu temple, Alagar Kovil

Kalamegha Perumal Vishnu temple, Melur

Karpaga Vinayagar (Karpaka Vinayaka) Ganesh temple, Pillayarpatti

Athmanathaswamy Shiva temple (Tirupperunturai), Avudaiyarkoil

Arulmigu Uchchi Pillaiyar Ganesh temple, Tiruchirappalli

Vaidyanathaswamy Shiva temple, Thirumazhapadi

Brihadeshavara Shiva temple, Thanjavur

Swamimalai Muruga temple, Kumbakonam

Adi Kumbeswarar Shiva temple, Kumbakonam

Tiruvidaimarudur Mahalingaswamy Shiva temple, Thiruvidaimarudar

Saranath Perumal Vishnu temple, Tirucherai

Thyagaraja Shiva temple, Thiruvarur

Velankanni Church, Velankanni

Nagore Dargah Shariff (tomb of Sufi saint Shahul Hameed), Nagore

Sowriraja Perumal Vishnu temple, Thirukannapuram

Mayuranathaswamy Shiva temple, Mayiladuthurai

Thillai Nataraja Shiva temple, Chidambaram

Devanathaswamy Vishnu temple (Thiruvanthipuram Kovil), Thiruvanthipuram

Thirukkovilur Vishnu temple (Ulagalantha Perumal), Tirukoyilur

Betrayaswamy Vishnu temple, Denkanikottai

Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple, Sripuram

Vedagiriswara Shiva temple, Tirukkalikundrum

Neervanna Perumal temple and Ranganatha hilltop temple, Tiruneermalai

Kamakshi Amman temple, Kanchipuram

Kapaleeshvara Shiva temple, Mylapore, Chennai

Adikesava Perumal Vishnu temple, Mylapore, Chennai

Sri Parthasarathy Vishnu temple, Chennai

Bhaktavatsala Perumal Vishnu temple, Thirunindravur

Arulmigu Lakshmi Narasima Swamy temple, Sholinghur

Yoga Anjenayar Swamy temple, Sholinghur

Arulmigu Subramanya Swamy temple, Thiruttani

TELANGANA TRIPURA
UTTARAKHAND ( Uttarakhand Photo Gallery)

UTTAR PRADESH ( Uttar Pradesh Photo Gallery)

Numerous Krishna temples, Vrindavan

Triveni Sangam Kumbha Mela river site, Allahabad

Numerous temples, ghats and pilgrimage circuits, Varanasi

Sarnath Buddhist site

Parinirvana Buddhist Stupa, Kushinagar

Sankassa Buddhist site ruins, Farrukhabad district

Naimisaranya Vishnu temple, Naimisaranya

Lalita Devi temple, Naimisaranya

Shiva temple, Naimisaranya

Byash Gaddi temple (Vyas Gaddi), Naimisaranya

Hanuman Gaddi temple, Naimisaranya

Maa Vindhyavasini Durga temple, Vindhyachal

Gorakhnath temple, Gorakhpur

Saint Kabir Samadhi (Burial site), Magahar

Bateshwar temple, Bateshwar

Devipatan Shikti Pitha temple, Tulsipur

Jetavana ancient Buddhist monastery, Shravasti

Dhamek Buddhist Stupa

WEST BENGAL

Dakshineshwar Ramakrishna Kali temple, Calcutta

Taraknath Shiva temple, Tarakeswar

Dhamesvara Shri Chaitanya temple, Nabadwip

Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math, Nabadwip

Tarapith Shakti Pitha temple, Tarapith

Kapil Muni temple, Sagar Island

Kalighat Kali Shakti Pitha temple, Kolkata

Mt. Bromo, Java

Mt. Semeru, Java

Mt. Salak, Java

Mt. Gede, Java

Mt. Tidar, Java

Mt. Lawu, Java

Mt. Kawi, Java

Mt. Penanggungan, Java

Borobudur Stupa, Java

Prambanan temple, Yogyakarta, Java

Candi Jolotundo temple, Java

Parahyangan Agung Jagatkarta temple, Java

Candi Belahan temple, Java

Candi Jawi temple, Java

Gunung Padang temple, Java

Candi Sukuh temple, Java

Mt. Batukaru, Bali

Mt. Batur, Bali

Mt. Abang, Bali

Mt. Agung, Bali

Besakih temple, Bali

Pura Luhur temple, Bali

Pura Tirta Empul temple, Bali

Pura Luhur Lempuyang temple, Bali

Mt. Rinjani, Lombok

Bada Valley megaliths, Sulawesi

Besoa Valley megaliths, Sulawesi

Napu Valley megaliths, Sulawesi

Imamzadas (Mausoleums) of Shah-e' Abdal-Azim, Tehran

Bibi Shahrbanu, Abdul Qasim, Shan Tahir, Saleh

Mausoleum of Abu Loolu, Kashan

Mausolum of Fatima ibn Musa, Masjid Imam Hasan al-, Qum

Askari, Masjid Jamakaran, Shrine of Hazrat Masumeh

Mausoleum of Imam Ali ibn Musa al Ridha (Imam Reza), Gowharshad Mosque, Mashhad

Mausoleum of Hazrat Ahmed ibn Musa (Shah Cheragh), Shiraz

Ruins of the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire during the Achaemenid period, Persepolis

Jomeh Mosque, Imam Mosque, Mosque of Sheikh Lotfollah, Isfahan

Mosque built by Sheikh Afif Saleh Hassan ibn Mosleh Jamkarani in 1006, Jam Karan

Shrine of Shah Nur-ed-Din Nematollah Vali, Mahan

Archaeological ruins of Takhte Soleiman on Holy Mountain of Shaz, south of Miyaneh, west of Zanjan, near Takab, Takhte Soleiman

Zoroastrian sites in region of the city of Yazd: Pir-e Sabz (Chak Chak), Pir-e Herisht, Pir-e-Naraki, Pir-e Narestaneh, Pir-e Bano, Yazd

Ruins of the ancient city of Arg-e-Bam, built during Sassanian & Safavid times, Bam

Atesyhkade Zoroastrian fire temple, Pir-e-Sabz Zoroastrian site, Pir-e-Naraki, Yazd region

Lake Hamun and Zoroastrian site of Kuh-e Khwaja (30 k/sw Zabol), Pir-e-Pars Banu

Mt. Damavand

Prophet Nahum gravesite; Kurdistan

Gravesites of Mordecai and Esther; Hamadan

Qara chuch and monastery of St Thaddeus, 10 miles NW of Jolfa. Pilgrimage festival on June 19 (another source says near July 1)

Mt. Zion, Dome of the Rock, Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Via Dolorossa, Gethsemane, King David's Tomb, Tomb of the Prophet Samuel on Nebi Samwill peak, Tomb of Mary

Cave of the Nativity, Tomb of Rachel, Beit Jala (near Bethlehem) Christian shrine of birthplace of St. George/Jewish site of burial of Prophet Elias/Muslim site of Khidr, the Green One

Cave of Machpelah with tomb of Prophets (Burial site of Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah)

TIBERIAS

Mount of Beatitudes, Tomb of Moses Maimonides (Rambam), Tomb of Rabbi's Meir Ba'al Ha-Nes, Tomb of Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai

NABLUS

MERON

Cave tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yokkai (Yohai), Tomb of Hillel, Tomb of Shammai, Tomb of Rabbi Eleazar

HAIFA

Mt. Carmel, Elijah's cave, Bahi'i shrine of Baha'u'llah

MT. TABOR

Basilica of Christ's Transfiguration

Cave of Quarantana (near Jericho); site of Christ's 40 day temptation

SAFED - ZEFAT

Tomb of Rabbi Isaac Luria (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, Kabbalist)

Ari synagogue of Ashkenazim

SHECHEM

LYDDA

OTHER JEWISH HOLY PLACES

Prophet Nahum gravesite; Kurdistan

Gravesites of Mordecai and Esther; Hamadan, Persia

Gravesite of Prophet Jeremiah; Fostat (Old Cairo), Egypt

Gravesite of Yehouda Benatar, Fez, Morocco

Gravesite of Chaim Pinto, Mogador, Morocco

Gravesite of Rabbi Amram Ben Diwane, Quezzan, Morocco

Gravesite of Yahia Lakhdar, Beni-Ahmed, Morocco

Gravesite of Moses ben Israel Isserles, aka Remuh, Krakow, Poland

Ruins of Paestum, near Naples

Rome; Basilicas of St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, St. Peter; Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (Mary over Minerva)

Basilica of St. Francis, Temple of Goddess Minerva, Assisi

Holy House of Loretto church, Loretto

Padua / Padova; Shrine of St. Anthony

Subiaco; Sacro Speco Holy cave of St. Benedict

Monte Casino; Monastery of St. Benedict

Monte Gargano

Assergi; Church and spring of San Franco

Fonte Colomba cave; St. Francis site

La Verna; St. Francis site

Civitella; Church of San Michael

Syracuse; Cathedral built over temple of Athena

San Giovanni Rotondo; shrine of Padre Pio

Monte Sant' Angelo; Church of San Michele

Castelpetroso; Marian apparition site

Cervo; Church of St. George over temple of Celtic god

Varallo; Sacro Monte

Sagra di San Michele, Piedmont

San Michele church at Castiglione de Gargagnana

Tempietto di Clitunno (Temple of Clitumnus) near the town of Campello sul Clitunno

Church of St. Benedict, Norcia

Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Pianella, on the ruins of a Roman temple in honour of the goddess Vesta.

Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Venice

Monte Amiata, Tuscany, sacred mountain of the Etruscans

Alatri acropoli

Mt. Osore

Mt. Iwaki

Mt. Ga and Mt. Yudono

Mt. Bandai

Mt. Asama

Mt. Ontaki

Mt. Katsuragi

Mt. Hiei

Izumo Taisha shrine

Usa shrine

Miyajima Island, Itsukushima shrine and Mt. Misen

Mt. Aso

Mt. Hiko

Mt. Ishizuchi

Mt. Nachi

Mt. Yoshino

Mt. Koya

Mt. Omine

Mt. Kongo

Mt. Tamaki

Kumano Hongo Taisha shrine

Kumano Hayatama Taisha shrine

Mt. Atago

Mt. Haku

Mt. Kirishima; Kirishima Jinga shrine

Mt. Chokai

Mt. Kaimon

Takachiho shrine, Kyushu

Togakushi shrine, Nagano, Honshu

88 shrines of Kobo Daishi, Island of Shikoku

100 pilgrimage shrines of Kannon

Stone circles of Wappara, Oyu, Manza, Nonakado, Komakino, Morimachi, Achiya, Ono, Oshoro, Isedotai

Mt. Miwa

Risshaku-ji Temple

Mt. Daisen

Mt Kumara & Kumara-dera temple

KENYA

Mt Nyiro, sacred mountain of Samburu people

Namoratunga megalithic stellar observatory at the west side of Lake Turkana

KOREA (North)

LESOTHO

LIBYA

Sabratha and Leptis Magna Roman ruins

LUXEMBOURG

Cathedral of Our Lady of Luxembourg, Luxembourg

MADAGASCAR

Royal Hill and spring of Ambohimanga

MALAWI

MALAYSIA

Kinabalu National Park. The Kadazan Dusun people who live on Mt Kinabalu believe the mountain to be sacred as it is the resting place for their ancestors' spirits.

Batu Caves, Batumalai Sri Muruga Perumal Kovil Hindu pilgrimage site

MAURITANIA

Moque, Village of Chinguetti

MAURITIOUS

Volcanic lake, Grand Bassin now named Ganga Talao, center of island; pilgrimage on the night of Maha Shivaratree every March, honoring Lord Shiva.

Annual pilgrimage, on September 9, to the tomb of Catholic priest Father Laval; Sainte Croix, near Port Louis

Mt. Citlatepetl Orizaba

Mt. Popocatepetl

Mt. Iztaccihuatl

Basilica of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe upon pagan sacred hill of Tepeyac

Naucalpan; church of Our Lady of Remedies of San Bartolo

Cerro de la Estrella / Mt. Huixachtecatl

Teotihuacan ruins, sacred Mt. Cerro Gordo

Cuicuilco pyramid

Monte Alban ruins, Dainzu ruins

Mitla ruins

La Venta Olmec ruins (and Olmec museum at Villahermosa)

Palenque Maya ruins

Edzna Maya ruins

Bonamak Maya ruins

Yaxchilan Maya ruins

Labna, Sayil and Kabah Maya ruins

Uxmal Maya ruins

Izamal; Maya ruins and pilgrimage church

Chichen Itza Maya ruins

Coba Maya ruins

Tulum Maya ruins

Patzcuaro; church of the Virgen de la Salud

San Juan de los Lagos; pilgrimage church

Talpa; pilgrimage church of La Virgen del Rosario on pagan site of earth Goddess Cihuacoatl

Tlaxcala; hill top shrine of La Virgen de Ocotlan at pagan site

Oaxaca; church of La Virgen de la Soledad

Guadalajara; basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan

Cozumel; Mayan shrine of Goddess Ixchel

Atotonilco; sacred spring and shrine

Mt. Cerro Tlaloc / Mt. Tlalocatepetl

Mt. Nevada de Toluca; crater lakes

Chalma; church of El Senor de Chalma upon Aztec shrine of Ostocteotl

Cholula; great pyramid and pilgrimage church

Huixquilucan; mountain top shrine of Santa Cruz Ayotusco

Dzibilchaltun Maya ruins

Tula Toltec ceremonial site

Tepoztlan; pyramid of Tepozteco, birthplace of Quetzalcoatl

Juxtlahuaca Olmec site

Mt. Matlalcueye / Cerro Metlalcoeyin, Tlaxcala

Malinalco Aztec shrine

Teotitlan del Valle

Izapa ruins, Chiapas

Chapel of St. Malverde, Culiacan, Sinaloa

San Martin Pajapan volcano peak, Tuxtla range

Wirikuta plateau, Huichol sacred region

Church of Santiago Tlatelolco, on site of Mexica sanctuary

Church of Christ of Sacromonte

MICRONESIA

Nan Madol ruins, Pohnpei Island

Tuvkhun Monastery, Orkhan Valley

Demchig Hiid Monastery

Hamrin Hiid Monastery

Mount Han Bogd Hairham

Ulgil Hiid Monastery

Mt. Otgontenger

Mt. Bogdkhan Uul

Mt. Burkhan Khaldun

Khovsgol Lake (Dalai Ej)

Erdene Zuu Monastery

Zayiin Horee, Tsetserleg

Tsetseegum, Chingeltei, Songino Khairkhan and Bayansurkh, these are 4 peaks surrounding Ulaanbaatar that are considered holy

The "Blue Pearl", Lake Hovsgol is a 100-mile long pristine alpine lake located in the north of Mongolia, close to the Siberian border in the Altai mountain region.

Zawiya of Moulay Idris I, Zerhoun

Zawiya of Moulay Idris II, Kairouine Mosque, Zawiya of Yehouda Benatar, Zawia of Sidi Ahhmed Tijane, Zawia of Sidi Harazin, near Fez

Koutoubia Mosque, Shines of Seven saints of Marrakesh: (Sidi Bel Abbas (the patron saint of the city), Sidi Muhammad al-Jazuli, Sidi Mohammed ben Slimane, Sidi Abu al-Qasim Al-Suhayli, Cadi Ayyad ben Moussa, Abdelaziz al-Tebaa and Abdallah al-Ghazwani), Zawia of Sidi Rahhal (east of Marrakech), Marrakesh

Zawiya of Chaim Pinto, Mogador

Zawiya of Rabbi Amram Ben Diwane, Quezzan

Zawiya of Yahia Lakhdar, Beni-Ahmed

Zawia of Mulay Bus'aib, Azemmur

Zawia of Mulay Buselham, on coast, south of Larache

Zawia of Mulay Abd as-Salim ibn Mashish, Tetuan

Gravesite of Yehouda Benatar, Fez, Morocco

Gravesite of Rabbi Amram Ben Diwane, Quezzan, Morocco

Gravesite of Yahia Lakhdar, Beni-Ahmed, Morocco

Swayambhunath stupa, Pashupatinath Jyotir Linga, Bodhnath stupa, Budhanilkantha, Changu Narayan, Nagarjun hill, Mahankal temple, Dakshinkali, Kwa Bahal, Matsyendranath temple, Mahabuddha temple, Kathmandu and Patan area

Namobuddha

Pharping; Asura cave, Vajra Yogini Mandir, Shikar Narayan Mandir

Lumbini (birthplace of Buddha)

Janakpur; Janaki temple (birthplace of Sita)

Kutsapternga monastery, near Jomson

Mustang region; Cyrstal Mountain and Shey Gompa

Mt. Shell-mo-gangs, Humla district

Raling shrine, Nying, Humla

Grotto of Dru-phug, Torpa, Humla

Lake Gosainkunda, Langtang valley; pilgrimage festival of Janai Purnima in August

Gauri Shanker peak

Chapel St. Bonifatius, Dokkum

Mary's chapel and holy well, Heiloo

Mary's chapel, Haarlem

Church St. Johannes, Laren

St Liduina chapel, Schiedam

Mary's chapel in Cathedral, Hertogenbosch

St. Joseph's chapel, Smakt

Church, holy well, Roermond

Basilica of St. Servatius, Maastricht

Megalithic site (dolmens - hunebedden), Assen

Megalithic site, Emmen

NEW ZEALAND

El Viejo; Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

NIGERIA

Yoruba sacred groves of Oshogbo. These groves are sanctuaries for the Orisha - and of the Yoruba gods. Shrines within the site provide them with a ceremonial home, and associated sculptures embody their myths. There are five sacred spaces in the groves, plus nine worship points along the river that runs through the site, 40 shrines and two palaces. The groves in Oshogbo are the home of Oshun - the goddess of "The waters of life".

Nidaros cathedral, Trondheim

Rodal church, southeast of Bergen

Borgund Stave church, Borgund

Stave Church, Eidsborg

Borre church, Borre

Selja Island (ruins of old Abbey and other churches)

Data Darbar Shrine, Mausoleum of Dadaji Ganjbaksh, Lahore

Shrine of Hazrat Shah Hussain (Madhu Lal Hussain), Lahore

Shrine of War Mubarak, Shrine of Sadruddin Badsha, Shrine of Khwaja Khadir on Island of Bakhar, Sukkur

Shrines of Hazrat Bahuddin Zakriya, Shah Shams Tabriz, Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Bad-Shahee Mosque, Multan

Tomb of Sachal Sarmast, Daraza Sharif

Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sehwan

Shrine to Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi, Nurpur Shahan

Bibi Jawindi Shrine, Uch Sharif

Mausoleum of Pir Meher Ali Shah, Golra Sharif

Shrine of Fariduddin Ganjshakar (Baba Farid), Pakpattan

Gurdwara Panja Sahib

Hinglaj Temple

PALESTINE (see Israel)

Mt. Misti

Mt. Ausungate

Mt. Pariaqaqa

Mt. Cerro Blanco

Mt. Tunga

Mt. Illa-kata

Ollantaytambo ruins

Machu Picchu ruins

Pisac ruins

Aramu Muru ruins, near Juli

Trujillo; ruins of Chan Chan

Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna, near Trujillo

Pachakamaq ruins, south of Lima

Amantani Island, Lake Titicaca; ruins of Pachatata and Pachamama

Coricancha Inca temple and church of Santo Domingo, ruins of Sacsayhuaman, ruins of Kusilluchayuq, ruins of Tambo Machay, ruins of Kenko, ruins of Puka Pukara, ruins of Tipon, church of Senor de los Temblores, church of Christ of Huanca, church of Mollepata, church of Inkilpata, church of Tayankani, church of Pampakucho, church of Pampamarca, Cuzco and nearby region

Nasca lines

Apurlac ruins

Cahuachi ruins

Sechin ruins

Sillustani ruins

Marcahuasi ruins, near village of San Pedro de Casta

Chavin de Huantar ruins

Wariwilka ruins

Vilcabamba ruins

Candelabro geogylph, Paracas peninsula

Marcahuamachuco ruins, near Huamachuco

Kuelap ruins

Paramonga; ruins of Chimu temple

Pajaten ruins

Mt. Cerro la Raya and ruins of Tucume pyramid

Church of the Virgen del Carmen, Paucartambo

Church of the Virgen de la Candelaria, Puno

Church of the Virgen de Chapi, Arequipa

Church of Senor de los Milagros, Lima

Church of Virgen de Cocharas, Ayacucho

Church of El Senor Cautivo, Ayabaca

Cave shrine of Cross of Chalpon, Motupe

Church of Virgen of Chapi, Chapi

Mountain shrine of Senor de Qoyllur Rit'i

Church of the Virgen de Copacabana, Chuquibamba

Church of La Virgen de la Puerta, Otuzco

Hot springs, Banos

Hot springs, Churin

Calera hot springs, Chivay

Jasna Gora Marian shrine, Czestochowa

Niepokalanow religious community with Shrine of St Maximilian Kolbe, Basilica of St Mary Immaculate, Teresin

Holy mountain of Grabarka, Bialystok

Monastery, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń, Licheń Stary

Jan Chlosta Marian shrine, Gietrzwald

Gravesite of Moses ben Israel Isserles (Remuh), Krakow

ROMANIA

Monastery of Voronet, Gura Humorului

Romanian Orthodox monastery, Putna

Franciscan monastery of Şumuleu Ciuc, Miercurea-Ciuc

Metropolotan Cathedral of Moldavia, Lasi

Sucevita Monastery

Dacian temple in Orastie mountains, Sarmisegetusa Regia

Dacian ruins, Ulpia Trraiana Sarmisegetusa

RWANDA

Marian shrine of Our Lady of Kibeho, Kibeho

Ka'aba, Hajar al-Aswad, Hijr Ismail, Well of Zamzam, Jannat al-Mualla cemetary, Jabal Nur, Masjid Hudaibiya, Jabal Rahmah, Masjid Numrah

Medina; Masjid an-Nabawi, Masjid Quba, Jannatul Baqi cemetary, Grave of Hamza, Masjid Qiblatayn, Mecca/Makkah

Grave of Lady Hawa (Eve, wife of Adam), Jeddah

Jabal al Lawz (near Al Bad') alternative site of Mt. Sinai

Sentkut Holy Well and Marian Apparition site, Doroslovo

SIKKIM

SOUTH AFRICA

Mapungubwe hill (sacred hill of the jackal), Mapungubwe World Heritage Site. Mapungubwe means a place of the stone of wisdom.

Ukhahlamba-Natal Drakensberg Park

Lake Fundudzi, Limpopo region

Natal Drakensberg National Park. Numerous rock paintings by the San people (or Bushmen).

Marian shrine, Ngome

Adam's Calendar stone ring

Cape Town area ancient sites

Sri Nagapooshani Amman Kovil

Nagapeepa Purana Rajamaha Viharaya
Keerimalai Naguleawaram Temple

Vallipura Aalvar Kovil

Nallur Kanthaswamy Temple

Thirukketeeswaram Kovil

Shrine Of Our Lady Of Madhu

Koneshwaram Temple

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

Verugal Kovil (Sri Murugan Kovil)

Sigiriya

Polonnaruwa

Sri Veerapathra Kali Amman Kovil, Udappu

Sri Partha Sarathi Temple, Udappu

Munneswaram Kovil

Matale Aluvihara Raja Maha Viharaya

Sri Muthumariamman Thevasthanam

Mandur Kandaswami Temple

Sri Kannahi Amman Alayam

Kelani Raja Maha Viharaya

Seetha Eliya Temple

Kataragama Kiri Vehera

Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya

Thissamaharama Stupa

Thissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara

Devinuwara Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya
St. Anne's Shrine, Thalawila

Sri Dalada Maligawa, Temple of the Tooth

Dafther Jailany Mohiyadeen Jumma Masjid

Kushitic and Nubian pyramids, temples, Meroe

Meroitic and Napatan sacred hill, pyramids, temple of Amun, Jebal Barkar

Sufi shrine, Abu Haraz

Tomb of Sufi female saint Sit Maryam, Sinkat

Tomb of Sufi Sheikh Mohamed Osman, Khartoum

Ruins of Alvastra Monastery, Mt. Omberg

Ales Stenar, standing stones in Skåne province.

Stenshuvud, sacred mountain in Skåne province, National Park

Gamla Upsala, huge mounds and vast burial fields from 300-600 CE.

Hågahögen, huge mound from the Bronze Age on the outskirts of Uppsala

Ekornavallen, great burial and ceremonial site with cairns and standing stones, province of Västergötland

Ålleberg, sacred mountain just South of the city of Falköping, province of Västergötland

Anundshög, Anunds mound, on the outskirts of the city of Västerås

Nämforsen rock carvings

Rock carvings in Tanum, province of Bohuslän

Rösaring ceremonial path

Alvastra Abbey

TAHITI

Marae Taputapuatea, Ra'iatea Island

TAJIKISTAN

Abdullatif Madrassah and Mosque, Istaravshan

Mausoleum of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, Kulob

TANZANIA

Chiang Rai; Phra That Doi Tung

Chiang Mai; Phra That Doi Suthep, Phra That Com Thong, Phra That Phra Sing

Lamphun; Phra That Hariphunchai

Uttaradit; Phra Thaen Sila At

Phitsamulok; Phra Si Ratana Maha Dat

Kanchanaburi; Phra Taen Dong Rang

Nakhon Pathom; Phra Pathom Chedi

Nakhon Si Thammarat; Phra Mahathat

Chaiya; Wat Mahathat

Bangkok; Phra Sri Ratanasadaram

Saraburi area; Phra Phutta Bat

Chachoengsau; Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan

That Phanom; That Phanom Chedi

Phra That Phuttabat Bua Bok

Yala area; Tham Koo Hu Pimuk cave temple

Doi Suthep Temple

Toling and Tsaparang monasteries

Tirthapuri

Mt. Targo and Lake Dangra

Tsalung (birthplace of Milarepa) and Drakar Taso (Milarepa hermitage)

Lapchi; monastery and caves (Milarepa hermitage)

Tashilhunpo monastery

Lhasa; Potala Palace, Jokhang temple

Mt. Hepo Ri, Samye monastery, Chimpu monastery

Lake Lhamo Latso and Daglha Gampo monastery

Mt. Takpa, Tsari region (retreat site of Milarepa and Padmansambhava)

Mt. Bonri

Pemako valley

Drak Yerpa (Milarepa hermitage)

Lake Nam Tso

Lake Yamzho Yumco

Tomb of Sufi poet Rumi, Konya

Hittite ceremonial site, Yazilikaya

Shrine of Goddess Aphrodite, Aphrodisias

Greek oracle site, Didyma

House of Mary near ruins of Ephesus

Mt. Judi (Mt. Cudi)

Ibrahim Magaras (Pools of Abraham), Throne of Nimrod (citadel above city), Sanliurfa

Akdamar Kilisesi Church of the Holy Cross, Akdamar Island

Ulu mosque, Yesil mosque, Bursa

St. Peter's Grotto. Also nearby Muslim shrine of Hazreti Hizir Makami, Antioch/Antakya

Mt. Duzgunbaba

Eyup mosque, shrine of Ayyub Ansari, Istanbul

Haci Bektas; shrine of Sufi saint Haci Bektas-i Veli, Hacibektas

Mt. Ida (also called Kazdagi and Mt. Gargaros), precinct of Aphrodite. In ancient times, the mountain was dedicated to the worship of Cybele, an Earth Mother Goddess of caverns and mountains.

Shrine of St. George, Island of Buyuk Ada (also called Prinkipo)

Monastery of Gumusler, Eski Gumus

Somunca Baba, Sufu shrine, Darende

Nemrut Dagi

Mt. Sipylos

Mt. Mycale, and ancient Greek temples at Priene with temple of Poseidon

Mausoleum of Sufi saint Haji Bektash Veli

Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, St. Alban's, London

Canterbury cathedral, St. Martin's church, Canterbury

Catherdral, Winchester

St. Michael's Mount and nearby megalithic sites, Penzance

Arthur's castle and nearby megalithic sites, Tintagel

Glastonbury Tor, Chalice Well and numerous nearby sites, Glastonbury

Cathedral and Roman hot springs, Bath

Stonehenge

Stone ring and numerous nearby megalithic sites, Avebury

Cathedral and holy well, Walsingham

Castel Dinas Bran, Llangollen, Wales

Church and mineral sprint of St. Winifred, Holywell, Wales

Mother Shipton's oracular cave, Knaresborough

Castlerigg stone ring, Keswick

Holy island and church ruins, Lindisfarne

Cathedral and Old Sarum, Salisbury

St. David's; pilgrimage church and holy well of St. Non

Holy island, Iona

Megaliths and well of St. Anne, Trelleck

Carn Ingli holy mountain

Cader Idris holy mountain

Megaliths, holy well, shrine of St. Beuno, Clynnog Fawr

Holy well and rock of St. Fillan, Dunfillan hill, megaliths

Shien fairy hill, New Scone

Holy hill of Healabhal Mhor and Healabhal Bheag, Dunvegan

Callanish stone ring and numerous nearby megalithic remains, Isle of Lewis

Stones of Stennes, Ring of Brodgar, other megalithic sites, Orkney Island

Holy hill of Beinn-na-Greine, Portree

Holy cave of Smoo, Durness

Fingal's cave, Island of Staffa

Clava cairn and other megalithic remains, Inverness

Megaliths, Rudston

Bardsey Island

Alaska

Mt. McKinley (Denali)

Mt. St. Elias: Sacred mountain of Yakutat Tlingit Indians

Arizona

Dzil Nchaa Si, Apache sacred mountain, Mount Graham

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

I'ito (Montezuma's Head) & 'Oks Daha (Old Woman Sitting)

Doko O Sliid, Navaho sacred mountain of the west, Mt. Humphreys

Navaho sacred site, Canyon de Chelly

Tohono O'odham sacred mountain, Mt. Baboquivari

Meteor Crater

Black Mesa

Superstition Mountains

Sacred to Zuni, Acoma, Laguna, Hopi and Taos Indians, Zuni Lake

California

Mt Tamalpais

Mt. Diablo

Sacred mountain of Cahuilla Indians, Mt. San Jacinto

Mt. Lassen

Joshua Tree

Tecate Peak

Simolaki mountain, Sacred to Ajumawi Indians, Soldier mountain

Chumash sacred site, Conception Point

Colorado Florida Georgia Hawaii

Mt. Haleakala, Maui

Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Piilanihale Heiau temple, Maui

Moku'ula, Maui

Iao Valley, Maui

Mo' okini Luakini Heiau, Hawaii

Pu' uhonua O Honaunau, Hawaii

Birthplace of Pele, goddess of volcanoes, Mt. Kilauea, Hawaii

Kaulu Paoa Heiau, Kauia Island

Idaho

Nez Perce Historical National Park
Illinois Indiana Iowa Louisiana Maine

Sacred mountain of Penobscot Indians, Mt. Katahdin
Michigan

Michigan mounds

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Minnesota

Sacred to the Dakota, Lakota, and other tribes of Native Americans, Pipestone Quarry

Jeffers Petroglyph site

Mississippi Montana Nebraska

Sacred to Pawnee Indians, Pahuk Pawnee
Nevada

Cave Rock

Yuman sacred mountain, Spirit Mountain (Newberry Peak)

New Hampshire New Mexico

Tsoodził, Sacred mountain of Navaho of south, Acoma, Laguna and Zuni people, Mt. Taylor

Chaco Canyon

White Sands

Chimayo

Ute Mountain

Navaho sacred site (off limits to climbers), Shiprock

Dzil Na'oodilii, Navaho sacred mountain of the center, Mt. Huerfano

Ch'oolii, Navaho sacred mountain east of center, Governador Knob

Ku Sehn Pin, Tewa sacred mountain, Truchas Peaks

Sacred to Pueblo Indians, Chicoma Mountain

Tse Shu Pin, Tewa sacred mountain, Mt. Conjilon

Mescalero Apache sacred mountain, Mt. Capitan

Mescalero Apache sacred mountain, Mt. San Augustin

Mescalero Apache sacred mountain, Mt. Salinas

Hosta Butte (Ak'i Dah Nast'ani)

Stone Lion shrines of Yapashi, near Running Eagle Falls, Bandelier National Monument

Petroglyphs National Monument

Oku Pin, Tewa sacred mountain, Sandia Crest

New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma

Antelope and Buffalo springs, Arbuckle mountains

Spiro Mounds State Park

Oregon Puerto Rico

Cagüana Ceremonial Indigenous Heritage Center
South Dakota

Harney Peak

Wind cave

Craven Canyon

Sacred mountain of Cheyenne and Sioux Lakota Indians, Mt. Inyan Kara

Sacred mountain of Cheyenne and Sioux Lakota Indians, Bear Butte (Noaha-vose)

Bad Lands

Old Baldy

Texas

Sacred to Tonkawa, Apache and Comanche Indians, Enchanted Rock

Mescalero Apache sacred mountain, Guadalupe Peak

Utah Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
URUGUAY

Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, Florida

Cham ruins of My Son

Huong Son: Huong Pagoda and Huong Tich cave

Tam San Hoi Quan Temple, Saigon

Tay An Pagoda, Chua Doc

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon); Tom Son Hoi Quan Pagoda

La' Vang Marian shrine

Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue

Ba Chua Xu Temple, Chua Doc

Perfume Pagoda, Chua Huong

Vinh Ngheim Temple, Saigon

Khmer ruins of Amratavati, near Hoi An

Nha Trang shrine dedicated to Hindu goddess Po-Nagar, Nha Trang village, north bank of Cay River

Tay Phuong Pagoda, Ha Tay Province

Sam Mountain, Mekong Delta; Holy mountain with temples

Da Nang; Nga Hanh Son; Five Stone Hills Buddhist shrines

Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi

YEMEN

Sana'a: Al Hoteip - Grave mosque of Da''I al-Hatem Ibn Ibrahim al Hamdani

ZIMBABWE

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Tomb of Hazrat Ali Mazari Sharif Ziyarat-i-Sakhi, Kabul (Shrine of the Generous One; sacred to Hazrat Ali) Chishmah-i-Ayyub, Balkh Province (Shrine built over hot spring where Job is believed to have rested while journeying through Afghanistan) Shrine of the Seven Sleepers, Ashab al Kahf Chishma-i-Hayat, Samangan Province (sacred to Khwaja Khizr) Gazur Gah, mausoleum of mystic Abd Allah Ansari, Herat Kharqa Sharif, Kandahar (Shrine of the Cloak) Mount Tomorr Shrine of Abaz Aliu, Mt.

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The writer and comedian looks at antisemitism and the progressive left. From theatre to football, Baddiel explores a political blindspot with Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes and Neil Gaiman.

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The writer and comedian looks at antisemitism and the progressive left. From theatre to football, Baddiel explores a political blindspot with Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes and Neil Gaiman.