10 beautiful sacred spots

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By Sandra Ramani | Budget Travel – Thu, Apr 5, 2012 12:19 AM EDT

Mount Parnassus (Photo: age fotostock / SuperStock

When we modern folks visit a beautiful natural site, the experience may evoke a sense of peace, a feeling of awe, or just the need to snap a million photos.
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For our ancient forebears, though, these places were so much more. Throughout history, civilizations all over the globe have attached spiritual or religious importance to natural spots that played key roles in their respective cultures.
From the mythological homes of powerhouse gods like Zeus and Shiva to the serene spot where the mortal Buddha achieved enlightenment, these are the places of legends. Some are still used for age-old rituals, others have been lost to time, but all crackle with a special energy and, if you’re lucky, just a little bit of leftover magic.
Mount Parnassus, Greece

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g189408-d199056-Mount_Parnassus-Delphi_Central_Greece.html
Towering above Delphi in central Greece,  this limestone mountain looms large in Greek mythology. In addition to  being sacred to the god Apollo, who often visited the nearby Oracle at  Delphi, the mountain was thought to be the residence of the Muses and,  as a result, the home of poetry and song.

http://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/~oesis/field/index.html

http://marvaoguide.com/picturesofgreece/tag/mount-parnassus/
The three Corycian  Nymphs, each of whom was romanced by a major god, were born of springs  located on Parnassus, and the mountain was also the setting for many  minor myths. Today, the only sacred activity takes place on the slopes:  The mountain is topped by two popular skiing centers, and is dotted with  scenic hiking trails.

Mahabodhi Tree (Photo: Photononstop / SuperStock) Mahabodhi Tree, Bodh Gaya, India
According to Buddhist  traditions, around 500 B.C., when the ascetic Prince Siddhartha was  wandering through what’s now the state of Bihar in India, he took rest  under a native bodhi tree. After meditating there for three nights, the  prince awoke with enlightenment, insight and the answers he had been  seeking, which developed into the teachings he went on to spread to his  disciples.
Naturally, the place where the Buddha reached  enlightenment is one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists and has been a major pilgrimage destination for centuries. Today, a temple complex  surrounds what is believed to be a direct descendant of the original  majestic tree itself, which sits in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by protective carved panels. A beautiful Buddha statue under the tree  marks the significant spot.

http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/NorthIndia/BodhGaya/UABodhiTree4.jpg

Bodh Gaya or Bodhgaya (Hindi: बोधगया) is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous for being the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have obtained Enlightenment (Bodhimandala).

The place-name, Bodh Gaya, did not come into use until the 18th century BCE. Historically, it was known as Uruvela, Sambodhi, Vajrasana or Mahabodhi. The main monastery of Bodh Gaya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra (Pali). Now it is called the Mahabodhi Temple.

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The surrounding town, by contrast, is dusty and somewhat noisy.^[3] A new development plan has been proposed to “ensure a sustainable and prosperous future” for Bodh Gaya, but has become controversial because such a plan may require the relocation of whole neighborhoods.

Mount Sinai (Photo: Paul Prescott / Dreamstime.com) Mount Sinai, Egypt
Some of the basic tenets of Judeo-Christian  beliefs can be traced back to this mountain on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula,  for it was at the top of this peak that Moses is said to have received  the Ten Commandments from God.

http://www.touregypt.net/walkingtours/MOUNTSINAI.htm
Though there is not much  archeological evidence confirming this as the exact place, and biblical  scholars have theorized for years about the mythical mountain’s  location, early Christian monks believed this was the sacred site and  established several monasteries in the area.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ste2479/3468545725

Today, visitors can start  at St. Catherine’s Monastery at the base of the mountain, then climb to  the summit, where there is the small Holy Trinity chapel and stunning  views, especially at sunrise.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Photo: Twickey / Dreamstime.com) Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Australia
Located in Australia‘s Red Centre in the heart of the continent, these two natural rock formations are the  main attractions in the World Heritage Site Uluru-Kata Tjuta National  Park. One of the country’s more recognizable landmarks, Uluru is a  flat-topped sandstone rock standing about 1,100 feet high and almost six miles around, with a soulful, deep-red hue that changes throughout the  day. (The site is also known as Ayers Rock, so named by the colonial  surveyor who “rediscovered” the place in 1873.)
About 30 miles  away, Kata Tjuta (a.k.a. The Olgas) is made of more than 30 domes of  varying rock types, including granite, sandstone, and basalt; the  tallest point is almost 1,800 feet high.  Both sites are sacred to the  Anangu people of the Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal tribe, who believe the  rocks were built during the ancient creation period and are still  inhabited by ancestor spirits. (Archeologist work suggests there were  humans in this area over 20,000 years ago.)
Owned by the Anangu  and leased by the government, the park is open to the public, though  tribespeople continue to perform rituals and ceremonies in various  locations, such as the sacred “Dreamtime” track that runs near the  modern hiking trail. The park also houses a Cultural Center and  Aboriginal rock art sites, and ranger guided tours are available.

Cenote Sagrado (Photo: (imagebroker.net / SuperStock) Cenote Sagrado, Mexico
The ancient Maya revered water for its life-sustaining power and worshiped Chac, the god of rain, because of this awe of H20. Many areas of Mexico are dotted with cenotes–natural underground sinkholes–and the Maya believed that some of these sites were visited by Chac himself. As a result, some cenotes were designated as “sacred” and kept for rituals, offerings, and sacrifices, while others were set aside for bathing, drinking, and crop water. One of the most notable of the sacred springs is Cenote Sagrado, located near the major Mayan archeological site Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula. Created from a natural limestone cave, with steep sides stretching about 60 feet above the water line, this cenote was specifically used for ceremonies and occasional sacrifices; for the latter, men, women, and children were thrown in during drought times to appease the water gods. When archeologists dredged the spring in the 20th century, they found gold bells, masks, cups, rings, jade pieces, and more (many from the post-Spanish period) along with human bones.

Mount Kailas (Photo: Glebsokolov / Dreamstime.com) Mount Kailas, Tibet
This black rock mountain in western Tibet is something of a holy hat trick, since it is sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains and is thought to be the mythical Axis Mundi, the center of the universe.
Hindus believe it is the residence of Lord Shiva and the land of eternal bliss, and have celebrated the mythical Kailas in temple carvings throughout India. Tantric Buddhists say the mountain is the home of Buddha Demchog, who represents supreme bliss, and that three key Bodhisattvas live in the surrounding hills, while Jains believe it is the site (which they call Mount Ashtapada) where the first Jain attained nirvana.
The peak is part of the Gangdise Mountain range and is set near the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia, including the Sutlej, the Indus, and the Ghaghara (a tributary of the holy Ganges River). Nearby Lake Manasarovar, considered the source of purity, is another major pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists.

Glastonbury Tor (Photo: Radomír Režný / Dreamstime.com) Glastonbury Tor, England
Rising out of the middle of the Summerland Meadows in Somerset, England, is a hill that has long had magical connection. For centuries, Glastonbury Tor (Celtic for “hill”) has been a source of myths: Some ancient Celtic civilizations considered it the entrance to the home of the Gwyn ap Nudd, alternately regarded as Lord of the Underworld and King of Fairies (a theory that resurfaced in the 19th century), while pagans may have used it for ceremonies celebrating the Goddess.
Later, the site was considered a possibility for King Arthur’s Avalon, since Arthur and Queen Guinevere’s coffins were supposedly discovered at the top of the hill in the 12th century. And even more recently, theorists have linked the hill to the quest for the Holy Grail. To further add to all the speculation, archeologists have found remains of seven deep, symmetrical terraces on the hill’s slopes, which could be anything from Middle Age crop land to a Neolithic labyrinth.
Whatever the history, the hill is still thought to have spiritual energy, as visitors often report feeling more hopeful and positive after a walk on its slopes. Topped by the remains of the 15th-century church of St. Michael, the hill has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and is managed by the National Trust of the United Kingdom.

Crater Lake (Photo: Matthewjade / Dreamstime.com) Crater Lake, Oregon
Formed nearly 8,000 years ago after an alleged massive eruption caused Mount Mazama to collapse, this deep blue, freshwater caldera lake in south-central Oregon plunges nearly 2,000 feet below ground, making it the deepest in the United States and the seventh deepest in the world.
The Native American Klamath tribe has long considered the lake a sacred site: Their legends say a battle here between the Chief of the Above World and the Chief of the Below World led to the destruction of Mount Mazama. (Historians believe the Klamath may have witnessed the actual implosion of the mountain.) The tribesmen used Crater Lake in their vision quests (tasks may have included scaling the crater walls), and it is still considered a spiritual spot. The lake is now part of Crater Lake National Park.

Lake Atitlán (Photo: (F1 ONLINE / SuperStock) Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Set up in the Guatemalan Central Highlands, and bordered by three volcanoes, Lake Atitlán is the deepest lake, at 1,114 feet, in Central America. Along with its natural beauty, the lake is famous for the Maya villages that ring its shores, many of which have been there for centuries.
Ninth-century Panajachel, one of the largest, has been drawing tourists since the 1960s, while in Santiago Atitlán, residents are known for their worship of Maximo, a local idol that fuses Mayan gods, Catholic saints, and Spanish legends. Mayan ceremonies still take place at various sites around the lake, from caves to the top of an adjacent hill. The lake’s shores are also strewn with archeological sites and ruins of pre-Spanish towns, including Chiutinamit, a mythological “underwater city.”

Vortexes (Photo: Bill Gozansky / age fotostock / SuperStock) Vortexes, Arizona
Sedona, Ariz., has long drawn people interested in healing, spirituality, mysticism, and metaphysics, who come for more than just the dramatic red-rock beauty.
The area is famous for its vortexes, powerful centers of kinetic energy that can have a deep effect on those who visit them; there are four main ones spread around town, including one near the airport. The ancient Native American Yavapai people knew about these centers, and celebrated this “Great Mother” energy with petroglyph paintings and sacred dwellings.
Today, visitors can easily walk or hike to the four spots (the one in Boynton Canyon is among the most popular), and once there, can meditate or just soak up the good vibes. Many feel recharged and uplifted after visiting a vortex, and some guests even report having visions or deeper experiences while in town.

Pakistani troops dig for 135 missing in avalanche

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By ZARAR KHAN | Associated Press – 1 hr 35 mins ago

FILE – In this Feb. 19, 2012 file photo, Pakistani Army soldiers with the 20th Lancers Armored Regiment, carry supplies up the 2,400 meter (8,000-foot) mountain near their outpost, Kalpani Base, in Pakistan’s Dir district. An avalanche smashed into a Pakistani army base on a Himalayan glacier close to India on Saturday, April 7, 2012, burying around 130 soldiers. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Rescue workers used bulldozers Sunday to dig through huge banks of snow following a massive avalanche a day earlier that engulfed a military complex and buried at least 135 people, most of them soldiers, in a mountain battleground close to the Indian border.

More than 24 hours after the disaster at the entrance to the Siachen Glacier, no bodies have yet been recovered, military officials said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The army said 240 troops and civilians worked at the scene Sunday with the aid of sniffer dogs and heavy machinery, some of which was flown in on military aircraft. They struggled to dig through some 25 meters (80 feet) of snow, boulders, mud and slush that buried the rear headquarters building in the Gayari sector early Saturday morning.

Pakistani army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited the site Sunday to supervise rescue operations. At least 124 soldiers from the 6 Northern Light Infantry Battalion and 11 civilian contractors are missing.

The U.S. expressed its condolences and offered to help with the search and rescue operation.

The accident in Siachen, which is on the northern tip of the divided Kashmir region claimed by both India and Pakistan, highlighted the risks of deploying troops to one of the most inhospitable places on earth.

The thousands of soldiers from both nations stationed there brave viciously cold temperatures, altitude sickness, high winds and isolation for months at a time. Troops have been posted at elevations of up to 6,700 meters (22,000 feet) and have skirmished intermittently since 1984, though the area has been quiet since a cease-fire in 2003. The glacier is known as the world’s highest battlefield.

The headquarters in Gayari, situated at around 4,572 meters (15,000 feet), is the main gateway through which troops and supplies pass on their way to other more remote outposts in the sector. It is situated in a valley between two high mountains, close to a military hospital, according to an officer who was stationed there in 2003.

More soldiers have died from the weather than combat on the glacier, which was uninhabited before troops moved there.

FILE – In this May 2003 file photo, an army helicopter flies over the Siachen Glacier on Pakistan-India border. An avalanche smashed into a Pakistani army base on the Himalayan glacier close to India on Saturday, April 7, 2012, burying around 130 soldiers. (AP Photo/File)

Conflict there began in 1984 when India occupied the heights of the 78-kilometer (49-mile)-long glacier, fearing Pakistan wanted to claim the territory. Pakistan also deployed its troops. Both armies remain entrenched despite the cease-fire, costing the poverty-stricken countries many millions of dollars each year.

Pakistan and India have fought three wars since the partition of the subcontinent on independence from Britain in 1947. Two of the wars have been over Kashmir, which both claim in its entirety.

 

Bald eagle in crosshairs of US fight over lead bullets

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By Kerry Sheridan | AFP – Sat, Apr 7, 2012

Environmental groups say 20 million birds die worldwide each year from consuming bits of lead in animal carcasses, as many US hunters use lead ammunition which leaves toxic fragments in gutpiles and unclaimed kills. (AFP Photo/Mike Zarrilli)

The bald eagle that came into wildlife rehabilitator Belinda Burwell’s care last month, just as the hunting season was coming to a close in North America, was a shadow of its former self.

The stiff and wobbly bird clung to life but showed distinct signs of lead poisoning, likely from scavenging the remains of big game left by hunters who killed their prey with lead bullets.

“She couldn’t walk, couldn’t fly,” said Burwell. “If she tried to move, she would fall over, she would stumble.”

Environmental groups say 20 million birds die worldwide each year from eating bits of lead in animal carcasses, because many US hunters use lead ammunition which leaves 3,000 tons of toxic fragments in gut piles and unclaimed kills.

The dangers of lead have been well known for decades, and steps have been taken to prevent human consumption by removing it from paint, gasoline, pipes, children’s jewelry and more.

A ban on hunters’ use of lead shot for killing waterfowl was passed in the United States in the early 1990s because birds were being poisoned by ingesting the pieces that fell into waterways and ponds.

But the question of whether to do the same for hunters on land has thrust the eagle, the national symbol of America, into a fresh political battle over gun rights and environmental protection.

On one side is the powerful US gun lobby, which disputes science on lead poisoning and insists that any measures to regulate lead ammunition would spell a ban on hunting in all its forms, infringe on gun rights and raise costs.

A bald eagle at its enclosure in Boyce, Virginia. Environmental groups say 20 million birds die worldwide each year from eating bits of lead in animal carcasses. (AFP Photo/Kerry Sheridan)

On the other is a dogged but weary wildlife protection movement that is pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to take steps to regulate the use of lead ammunition in order to protect birds and humans against lead poisoning.

Both have adopted the bald eagle as a symbol of their efforts, with the bird featuring on the cover of the Center for Biological Diversity’s petition to the EPA as well as on the web page of the National Rifle Association.

“This is the last unregulated, widespread distribution of toxic lead into the environment,” said Jeff Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity, which is seeking US federal rules to require non-toxic bullets in hunting and shooting sports.

“We know it is getting into the food chain. We also know that humans are eating it and there is no safe level of lead in the human body so it is most certainly a human health issue too.”

Miller said 150 groups in 40 states now support the petition, including hunters, scientists, American Indians, conservationists and veterinarians.

The EPA turned down a similar request for a ban on lead bullets in 2010, saying it did not have the authority to regulate ammunition. However, environmental advocates say the EPA does have the right to regulate components of ammunition.

More than a dozen countries in Europe have banned lead ammunition for hunting waterfowl and Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden are among a handful of countries that have totally banned lead bullets.

Germany, Japan and Belgium have passed limited restrictions on their use.

The Peregrine Fund, a nonprofit group in Idaho, has posted online a host of peer-reviewed studies on the effects of lead on wildlife, with some figures showing as many as 10-15 percent of young eagles die each year from lead poisoning.

While the bald eagle is no longer a threatened population in the United States, it and other birds that scavenge like the endangered California Condors, vultures, herons and golden eagles, are among the species most at risk.

One study by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources showed how a lead ballistic tip bullet could fragment into an average of 141 pieces per carcass, reaching as far as 14 inches from the wound (35 cm), indicating a danger for humans who eat meat killed with lead bullets, too.

Pro-gun groups like the National Shooting and Sports Foundation say there is no “sound science” to support a ban.

“If wildlife management decisions become about preventing harm to individuals within a species and not about managing a species itself, then you have essentially made the argument to ban hunting,” said Lawrence Keane, senior vice president of the NSSF.

The NRA has urged Congress to “step in and ensure this restriction never happens,” asserting that the effort is being headed by “gun-grabbers… disguised as nature lovers.”

A House subcommittee in late February approved a bill that would prevent the EPA from taking action on the CBD’s petition, and some senators with ties to sportsmen’s groups are considering the same.

Rick Watson of the Peregrine Fund said switching to copper bullets costs the same as buying a box of premium lead ammunition, about $45 a box, while the cheapest lead ammo can be had for $15.

“Hunters historically and traditionally have been some of the best conservationists this country has had. And given accurate facts we believe the vast majority will choose to use lead-free ammunition because it protects the wildlife they so enjoy,” he said.

Matt Miller, an outdoor writer and hunter, said he switched to copper bullets years ago after learning of the dangers of lead, and is pleased with the results.

“It has not increased the cost of my hunting. The bottom line is if you know your rifle and you shoot it well, a big game hunting trip costs you one bullet.”

Burwell, who has been treating her eagle for three weeks and is ready to release her into the wild on Saturday, said she is not optimistic that the EPA will act.

“With the NRA pushing to prevent any type of regulation, the word on the wildlife side is it will never happen,” she said.

“It depends on who has the most money. Doesn’t it seem sometimes that that is who wins these things?”