List of Holy Cities

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Contents 1 Indigenous Australian 2  3  4  4.1  5  5.1  5.2  5.2.1  5.2.2  5.3  5.3.1  5.3.2  5.3.3  5.4  5.5  6  6.1 Seven Sacred Cities 6.2  6.3 51 6.4  6.4.1 Other \"Snanam\" sites 6.5 The 6.6 Subrahmanya Kshetrams 6.7  7  8  9  10  11  11.1  11.2  11.3  12  13  13.1  13.2  13.3  14  15  16  17 See also 18 External links

This is a list of cities that various groups regard as holy. Cities may be either considered holy in themselves (as Mecca for Muslims), important sites for worship or study (swamithoppe for Ayyavazhi), or the high seat of particular religions (Moscow for Russian Orthodox).

Indigenous Australian

1. Devil's Marbles Conservation Reserve, A geological site sacred to the Arrernte people of northern Australia. Possibly the oldest continually used by man.

1. Babylon, The Gate of God, Known as Babilu in Akkadian and Kadingirra in Sumerian.
2. Ashur, The City of the Patron God of Assyira, the Sky God.
3. Nineveh, Capital of the Assyrian Empire.
4. Ur, The birthplace of Abraham the father of Christians, Jews and Arabs.
5. Nippur, holy capital city of Sumerian

1. Baghdad, House of Bahá'u'lláh where Bahá'u'lláh lived in from 1853 to 1863
2. Shiraz, House of the Báb where the Báb declared his mission to Mullá Husayn
3. Acre, Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh
4. Haifa, Shrine of the Báb and administrative headquarters of the Bahá'í Faith

''See also: Bahá'í pilgrimage

1. Bodh Gaya, where Gautama Buddha's attained Enlightenment
2. Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded
3. Kushinagar, where Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana, and was cremated
4. Lumbini, commonly recognized as the birth site of Gautama Buddha
5. Anuradhapura, which contains the 2300 year old holy Bo tree relic Sri Maha Bodhi
6. Kandy, which is the site of the Dalida Maligawa, the Temple of the Tooth

More important than anything inherent to the places is the presence of the holiest leaders, the highest lamas, who are considered reincarnations of their predecessors.

1. Lhasa, seat of the Dalai Lama (now in exile in Dharamsala, India) in the Potala palace, also national (and under Chinese rule regional) capital of Tibet
2. Shigatse, seat of the Panchen Lama, also the country's second city
3. Tsurphu, (later in exile Rumtek in Sikkim, India), seat of the Karmapa Lama, not a proper city, rather a monastic site fairly close to Lhasa

1. Jerusalem, The site of some of Jesus's teaching and entombment; Christians believe he was crucified on a nearby hill, Golgotha. Nominally the earthly model (under king Solomon) of Heaven, hence old maps in Christian countries were traditionally oriented towards it (and Catholic and Anglican cathedrals point approximately towards it).
2. Bethlehem, Birthplace of Jesus
3. Nazareth, Jesus's hometown and site of many of his acts and miracles
4. Antioch, Once the center of Christianity

In addition, various Christian denominations have separate holy cities:

1. Echmiadzin

1. Rome and Vatican City, Center of the Catholic Church, and site of the four Major Basilicas that are required to be visited to gain a Roman Jubilee
2. Santiago de Compostela, Site of the tomb of St. James the Greater
3. Santo Toribio de Liébana, where the largest single piece of the True Cross is kept.
4. Caravaca de la Cruz, where it is claimed a piece of the True Cross is kept.
5. Assisi, Birthplace and site of the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi. Also an important place for pacifism and tolerance between different religions

1. Aparecida, The largest Marian shrine in the world, as well as the most popular pilgrimage site in Latin America. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil's patron saint.
2. Mexico City, Popular pilgrimage site after a 16th century appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe
3. Knock, Popular pilgrimage site after a 19th century appearance of the Virgin Mary
4. Lourdes, Popular pilgrimage site after a 19th century appearance of the Virgin Mary
5. Fatima, Popular pilgrimage site after a 20th century appearance of the Virgin Mary
6. Jasna Góra, Popular pilgrimage site - monastery with an icon of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa

1. Constantinople, today Istanbul, Once the center of the entire Church, and still the spiritial centre, and and the cathedral Agia Sofia, now museum.
2. Mount Athos, Site of 20 monasteries
3. Kiev, Origin of Slavic Christianity, which evolved into Russian Orthodox Church
4. Alexandria, Site of Patriarchate, seat of St. Mark, and residence of Jesus Christ
5. Ephesus, Site of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary

1. Axum - holiest pilgrimage site as the location of the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion that is said to house the Ark of the Covenant
2. Lalibela - pilgrimage site with an extensive complex of monolithic churches

Moscow

1. Moscow, Capital of Russia
2. Sergiyev Posad, The center of the modern Russian Orthodox Church

1. Tbilisi, Capital of Georgia
2. Mtskheta

1. Canterbury, Kent, The center of the Anglican Church

1. Wittenberg, where Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses

Kasi (Varanasi) is the oldest living city in the world and is considered as one of the most sacred places of pilgrimage for Hindus irrespective of denomination.[link]

1. Ahobilam
2. Amarnath
3. Ayodhya
4. Kasi (Varanasi)
5. Gaya
6. Haridwar
7. Kanchipuram
8. Katra
9. Madurai
10. Mathura
11. Mount Kailash
12. Pandharpur
13. Prayag
14. Sabarimalai
15. Thanjavur
16. Tirupati
17. Udupi

Seven Sacred Cities

1. Ayodhya
2. Madhura
3. Haridwar (Maya)
4. Kasi (The Holiest of the Holy)
5. Kanchi
6. Ujjain (Avantika)
7. Dwaraka

1. Bhimashankar
2. Deogarh
3. Dwarka
4. Grishneshwar
5. Kedarnath
6. Omkareshwar
7. Rameswaram
8. Somnath
9. Srisailam
10. Trimbakeshwar
11. Ujjaini (Avantika)
12. Kasi (Varanasi)

51 See: Shakti Peethas

Satellite image of the largest religious gathering on Earth in Hindu holy city of Prayag. Around 70 million Hindus from around the world participated in Kumbh Mela on the banks of river Ganga.

1. Haridwar
2. Nashik
3. Prayag
4. Ujjaini (Avantika)

Other \"Snanam\" sites

1. The Mahamaham at Kumbakonam
2. The Pushkaram at Rajahmundry

The The four Peethams established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya

1. South: Sringeri
2. West : Dwaraka
3. North: Jyotirmath (Badrinath)
4. East : Puri Jagannath Peetham

Subrahmanya Kshetrams

1. Tirupparamkunram
2. Tiruchendur
3. Tiruvavinankudi (Palani)
4. Tiruverakam (Swami Malai)
5. Kundruthoradal (Tiruttani)
6. Palamuthircholai

The three Ranganatha Swamy kshetrams on islands standing on the river Kaveri -

1. Adi Ranga at Srirangapatna
2. Madhya Ranga at Shivanasamudram
3. Antya Ranga Srirangam'''

1. Independence, Missouri
2. Nauvoo, Illinois
3. Salt Lake City, Utah
4. Palmyra, New York
5. Kirtland, Ohio

1. Qufu

1. Abydos - center of worship for several gods connected to death and the dead, including Upuaut, Anhur, Anubis, and Osiris.
2. Alexandria, Egypt - in the Hellenistic period, the center of worship for Serapis.
3. Bubastis - site of the primary temple of Bast.
4. Crocodilopolis - center for the cult of Sobek.
5. Deir el-Bahri - site of temples to the pharaohs Mentuhotep II, Hatshepsut, and Thutmose III.
6. Dendera - site of cults of Isis and Hathor.
7. Heliopolis - major cultic center with temples for Atum and the Ennead.
8. Leontopolis - a cultic center for the worship of Maahes, Sekhmet and Bast.
9. Karnak - center for the worship of Amon-Re, Montu, and Mut, as well as, briefly, Akhenaten's god Aten.
10. Medinet Habu - mortuary temple for Ramesses III.
11. Memphis, Egypt - cultic center for Ptah and Apis.
12. Mendes - the center for the Mendes Triad: the ram deity Banebdjed the fish goddess Hatmehit, and their child Har-pa-khered, who were eventually identified with Osiris, Isis and Horus, respectively.
13. Nekheb - cultic center for Nekhbet, patron-goddess of Upper Egypt.
14. Tanis, Egypt - the northern center for the worship of the Theban Triad (Amun, Mut, and Khonsu).
15. Thebes, Egypt - cultic center for the Theban Triad.

1. Aegina - A cultic center of Zeus.
2. Argos - A center of worship for Hera, Zeus and Hermes.
3. Athens - Major cultic center for Athena.
4. Corinth - Cultic center for Hera.
5. Delos - Birthplace of Apollo and Artemis; cultic center for Hera.
6. Delphi - Site of the Oracle of Apollo.
7. Dodona - Cultic center and oracle of Zeus.
8. Eleusis - Cultic center for Demeter and Persephone, site of the Eleusinian Mysteries.
9. Leuce, center of the cult of the hero Achilles.
10. Olympia - Hallowed site of the ancient Olympic Games and the Heraea.
11. Paestum - Cultic center for Athena, Hera and Apollo.
12. Pheneos in Arcadia was the main center for the cult of Hermes.
13. Rhodes - Sacred to the sun-god Helios and the sea-god Poseidon.
14. Samos - Cultic center of Hera.
15. Samothrace - Cultic center (see Samothrace temple complex) for a cthonic mystery religion worshipping the "Great Mother" as well as Hecate and other fertility gods.
16. Thebes, Greece - Mythical home of Cadmus; birthplace of Dionysus and cultic center for Heracles.
17. Tiryns - Birthplace of Heracles; cultic center for Hera.

1. Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. Location of the Ka'aba - the basis of the Qibla (direction of prayer), focus of the Hajj.
2. Medina, the second holiest city in Islam, site of Masjid al-Nabawi, where the final prophet of Islam, Muhammad, is buried. Where early Muslims Muhajirun emigrated to following the Hijra.
3. Jerusalem, the third holiest city in Islam. Location of the Masjid Al Aqsa where Muslims believe that Muhammad ascended through the heavens to God. Also city of the earlier Israelite Prophets and the Dome of the Rock.

In addition to the cities listed above the following are holy cities for some Islamic sects:

While there are no specific holy cities outside of the above mentioned three for Sunni Muslims, there are several important cities that are respected for their significance to the formation of Sunni islam.

1. Baghdad, where the Caliphate at its height ruled from.
2. Damascus, seat of Umayyad rule.
3. Samarkand, especially significant for Eastern Muslims, capital of Timurs kingdom.
4. Timbuktu, especially significant for African Muslims, Capital of the Empire of Mali, and centre of African Islamic learning.

1. Najaf, site of the tomb of Imam Ali in Imam Ali Mosque, who the Shi'a consider to be their founder. Also site of Wadi-us-Salaam cemetery.
2. Mazar E Sharif, another shrine of the Imam Ali, while the majority of Muslims believe Ali was buired in Najaf, a significant minority believe he is in Mazar E Sharif, in Afghanistan.
3. Karbala, tomb of Husayn bin Ali in the Mashhad al-Husain
4. Mashhad, site of burial of Imam Reza Mashhad ur-Reza
5. Qom, site of the shrine of Fatima Masoumeh, sister of Imam Reza. Also site of Jamkaran mosque.
6. Samarra, tombs of Ali al Hadi and Hasan al Askari, and mosque where Imam Mahdi went into occultation.
7. Kazimain, tombs of Imam Musa al Kazim and Imam Muhammad al Taqi.

1. Ajmer, India, site of the shrine and tomb of Moinuddin Chishti. Considered significant by most, holy by very few Sufis.
2. Türkistan, Kazakhstan, site of the mausoleum of 12th century Sufi Hodja Ahmed Yassawi. Known as the Second Mecca of the East in mediaeval times. In Kazakhstan, three pilgrimages here seen as equivalent to one Hajj.
3. Konya, Turkey, site of the tomb of Mawlana Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, a 13th century master of tasawuff.
4. Delhi, shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.
5. Lahore, Pakistan, shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh.
6. Pakpatan, Pakistan, shrine of Hazrat Baba Fareed Gangj Shakar.

1. Mount Abu, site of the Dilwara Temples
2. Shravanabelagola
3. Palitana, also known as Shetrunjay
4. Sammed Shikarji Hills, where 20 of the 24 Tithankaras attained Nirvana.

The primary holy city in Judaism is Jerusalem—the ancient capital of the united Kingdom of Israel and then of the Kingdom of Judah. It is the current capital of the State of Israel. Mentioned repeatedly in the Torah and the site of the Temples in Jerusalem: the First Temple (Solomon's Temple) and the Second Temple. There are also three other holy cities of somewhat lesser importance to the Jewish people. These cities have played important roles in Jewish history, and were (along with Jerusalem) the main centers of Jewish population in Palestine between the Roman conquest of Jerusalem and the 19th century:

• Hebron—the second-holiest site and the place where the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs is located. According to Jewish tradition this is the burial place of the great patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and matriarchs (Sarah, Rebeccah, and Leah). The capital of the Kingdom of Israel before David moved it to Jerusalem.
• Tzfat, where much of the Jerusalem Talmud was written and kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) was developed by Isaac Luria.
• Tiberias was the last meeting place of the Sanhedrin and the site of a number of important tombs.

While not considered holy cities per se, the following cities had great spiritual significance to Jews through the ages because of their close association with the development of Jewish law and culture:

• Be'er Sheva, settlement attributed to the patriarch Abraham.
• Bethel town associated with the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob.
• Bethlehem, burial place of the matriarch Rachel and birthplace of King David.
• Shechem, site of the tomb of Joshua. Also holy to the Samaritans; situated near their cultic site of Mount Gerizim.
• Shiloh, site of the Tabernacle.

• In ancient times, alternative temples to the one in Jerusalem were established at Elephantine and Leontopolis.
• Yavne and Sepphoris, sites of the Sanhedrin following the destruction of the Second Temple.
• Bnei Brak was the home of Rabbi Akiva and the site of his court.
• Sura and Pumbedita (and earlier Mahuza and Nehardea), sites of the Talmudic academies in Babylonia.
• Cordova, Kairouan, and Narbonne were early centers of Jewish learning in the West.
• Mainz was the site of the home and yeshiva of Gershom ben Judah, the "founder" of Ashkenazi Judaism.
• Troyes was the home of Rashi.
• Lublin, site of the Council of Four Lands and center for Ashkenazi religious and political life for much of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries CE. Vilna and Munkacs were also major centers of Jewish learning, and were often referred to as the "Jerusalems" of Europe.
• Thessaloniki (Salonika), center of Sephardi learning under the Ottoman Empire and refuge for Jews fleeing from Spain.

• Belz*, home of the Belzer Hasidim.
• Góra Kalwaria, home of the Ger dynasty
• Lubavitch, in Belarus, was the focal point of Lubavitcher Hasidism.
• Medzhybizh, where the Baal Shem Tov lived and taught.
• Satu Mare, Transylvania, where Satmar Hasidism began.
• Uman, Ukraine, burial place of Nachman of Breslov.

1. Ise, Site of the Grand Shrine of Ise
2. Nagoya, Site of Atsuta Shrine
3. Izumo, Site of the Izumo Taisha
4. Kyoto, Site of other important shrines, such as Yasaka Shrine, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Iwashimizu Shrine. This was also the old capital where the Emperors once resided.
5. Kamakura, Site of other important shrines, such as the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, Hase-dera, and hundreds of other sites of religious and cultural importance.

1. Amritsar, Site of the most holy location in Sikhism, the Golden Temple
2. Nankana Sahib, The Birth place of Guru Nanak. the founder of Sikh religion.

See also

• Pilgrimage

External links

• [Sacred Destinations]
• [Sacred Sites]
• [Sacred Places]

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