TelosianEmbrace
1st February 2016, 05:25
I was surfing the net looking for spiritual places to go worldwide, and came upon a few pilgrimages I hadn't heard of before so I thought I'd share.
We have all heard of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, with all it's permutations and combinations. We have, most of us, also heard of the trek up Croagh Patrick, Ireland, following in Saint Patrick's footsteps. The pilgrimage around Mount Kailash, a holy mountain in both Buddhist and Hindu faiths, is another beast entirely. Then there are a few more intriguing options.
There's the Inca Trail, or Camino Inca.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu might be one of the most breathtaking walks in the world. The 26-mile trail through the high Peruvian Andes winds through lush jungle and cloud forest and past the ruins of Inca settlements before ending at the Sun Gate entrance to the iconic ancient city.
The Incas built a series of trails through the rugged Andes mountains thousands of years ago to connect parts of the empire. But the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has become an especially popular tourist trek in modern times. Though the high-altitude trek is a challenge, many people can complete the walk in four days.
Because the trail is so popular, the Peruvian government limits how many people can walk the trail every year. Only 500 permits are issued a day, and of those, only 200 for tourists, so if you go, make sure to book in advance. from www.weather.com
There's the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury, England. I am of English parentage, and this one seems short enough and amenable enough, often traipsing over farmland and through wilderness (Or so I am led to believe from the website!) www.pilgrimswaycanterbury.org
This one I have never heard of, the Kumano Ancient Trail in Japan.
It would be hard not to feel a sense of spiritual reverence when making a journey on Japan’s Kumano Kodo, or "Old Road," an ancient pilgrimage dotted by sacred Buddhist/Shinto temples and shrines. If you pause amidst the trail’s peaceful cedar forests, you may be able to imagine the Japanese imperials and aristocrats who traveled the route thousands of years ago.
Winding its way through the Kii Mountains an hour south of Osaka, the Kumano Kodo is made up of seven trails that connect three grand shrines: Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha, according to CNN. Since the 6th century, people have traveled the 190-mile route as part of an important religious and purification rite through what is seen as sacred land.
Between towering waterfalls, deep forests, giant rocks and stunning views of the mountains, there are plenty of natural wonders for modern-day hikers to explore. But visitors who stop by the shrines will also get a pleasant dose of Japanese culture. The route is one of only two pilgrimages in the world registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site from www.weather.com
I am sure there are plenty of others, but I decided to narrow my search to my doorstep, Australia, and here is what I found, the Aussie Camino!
The Aussie Camino is a pilgrimage route running from Portland in Victoria to Penola in South Australia, inspired by the life and journeys of Australia’s Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and her mentor Fr Julian Tenison Woods. Based on the traditions of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, pilgrims receive passports, scallop shells and stay in the local towns along the way. Although the Aussie Camino is designed to be self-guided, groups of around 20 -30 depart at various times of the year. However those more adventurous are encouraged to go on their own with the assistance of a guidebook.
www.aussiecamino.org
Luke Mills walked this route with two friends in 2013 and it is taking on a life of it's own.
There! Has anyone been on these walks, particularly the lesser known ones?
We have all heard of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, with all it's permutations and combinations. We have, most of us, also heard of the trek up Croagh Patrick, Ireland, following in Saint Patrick's footsteps. The pilgrimage around Mount Kailash, a holy mountain in both Buddhist and Hindu faiths, is another beast entirely. Then there are a few more intriguing options.
There's the Inca Trail, or Camino Inca.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu might be one of the most breathtaking walks in the world. The 26-mile trail through the high Peruvian Andes winds through lush jungle and cloud forest and past the ruins of Inca settlements before ending at the Sun Gate entrance to the iconic ancient city.
The Incas built a series of trails through the rugged Andes mountains thousands of years ago to connect parts of the empire. But the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has become an especially popular tourist trek in modern times. Though the high-altitude trek is a challenge, many people can complete the walk in four days.
Because the trail is so popular, the Peruvian government limits how many people can walk the trail every year. Only 500 permits are issued a day, and of those, only 200 for tourists, so if you go, make sure to book in advance. from www.weather.com
There's the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury, England. I am of English parentage, and this one seems short enough and amenable enough, often traipsing over farmland and through wilderness (Or so I am led to believe from the website!) www.pilgrimswaycanterbury.org
This one I have never heard of, the Kumano Ancient Trail in Japan.
It would be hard not to feel a sense of spiritual reverence when making a journey on Japan’s Kumano Kodo, or "Old Road," an ancient pilgrimage dotted by sacred Buddhist/Shinto temples and shrines. If you pause amidst the trail’s peaceful cedar forests, you may be able to imagine the Japanese imperials and aristocrats who traveled the route thousands of years ago.
Winding its way through the Kii Mountains an hour south of Osaka, the Kumano Kodo is made up of seven trails that connect three grand shrines: Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha, according to CNN. Since the 6th century, people have traveled the 190-mile route as part of an important religious and purification rite through what is seen as sacred land.
Between towering waterfalls, deep forests, giant rocks and stunning views of the mountains, there are plenty of natural wonders for modern-day hikers to explore. But visitors who stop by the shrines will also get a pleasant dose of Japanese culture. The route is one of only two pilgrimages in the world registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site from www.weather.com
I am sure there are plenty of others, but I decided to narrow my search to my doorstep, Australia, and here is what I found, the Aussie Camino!
The Aussie Camino is a pilgrimage route running from Portland in Victoria to Penola in South Australia, inspired by the life and journeys of Australia’s Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and her mentor Fr Julian Tenison Woods. Based on the traditions of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, pilgrims receive passports, scallop shells and stay in the local towns along the way. Although the Aussie Camino is designed to be self-guided, groups of around 20 -30 depart at various times of the year. However those more adventurous are encouraged to go on their own with the assistance of a guidebook.
www.aussiecamino.org
Luke Mills walked this route with two friends in 2013 and it is taking on a life of it's own.
There! Has anyone been on these walks, particularly the lesser known ones?