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Sacred Wonders of the World - BBC One's latest series
BBC1’s beautifully shot new three part series, Sacred Wonders, takes us to some of the world’s most famous landmarks that have been built in the name of religion. Whatever your religious beliefs, it's fair to say these man-made wonders are nothing short of magical.
Here are a few sacred wonders we'd be delighted to take you to.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Known as the biggest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat is the largest temple in the vast temple complex of Angkor. Dating back to the 12 th century, the temples are architectural masterpieces, each with hundreds of intricate carvings telling various tales of love and war. A visit here is sure to leave you awe-struck. We’ll make sure you don’t miss out as each of our holidays in Cambodia include a dazzling tour of Angkor Wat.
The Golden Temple, India
The Golden Temple is the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. The top structure of the temple is covered with pure gold leaf, hence the name. It appears as if its floating, surrounded by a pool of water in which pilgrims bathe and pray. Enclosing the pool and temple are ornate marble buildings with four entrances, the four sides symbolise equality and that all people are welcome, wherever they are from. Enjoy a full afternoon exploring this breath-taking sacred site on our
Gentle Walking, Indian Hill Stations & the Golden Temple tour.
Nachi Shrine & Nachi Falls, Japan
The Nachi falls is the tallest waterfall in Japan at 133 meters, considered to be sacred by both the main religions in Japan, Buddhism and Shinto. For believers and non-believers alike, the thundering sound of water cascading in the middle of a primeval forest is sure to offer a spiritual experience. A complex of shrines has been built on the nearby mountainside, including, one of Japans most photogenic places, the stunning Nachi Grand Shrine overlooking Nachi falls. Experience Nachi Shine and Nachi Falls, plus many of Japan's ancient cultural delights on our Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trek.
Taktsang Monastery
Perched dramatically on a cliff above the Paro Valley this very photogenic attraction has genuine wow factor. It is said to be where the legendary saint, Guru Padma Sambhava, flew from Tibet on the back of a tiger to defeat five demons, who were opposing the spread of Buddhism. You can visit this breath-taking sight on all of our trips to
Bhutan apart from our Gentle Walking Eastern Bhutan trip.
Boudhanath Stupa
Located about 11 km (6.8 mi) from the centre of Kathmandu, lies one of the biggest and most impressive stupas in the world - Boudhanath Stupa, said to house the remains of Gautama Buddha. The structure dates back to the 14th century but still remains in perfect condition. This is due to the flood of donations coming from the local people, who in return hope for good karma. Legend has it, each part of the stupa represents one of the elements, the plinth symbolising the earth, the dome depicts water, the tower fire and the rings from the bottom to the top signify the path to enlightenment. Explore this sacred wonder on any of our Nepal trips that features a sightseeing day in Kathmandu, or alternatively add it as an extension.
All the episodes of BBC One’s Sacred Wonders are now available to watch here on iPlayer.
Related News
Farewell to Wilderness Lectures
One summer’s day in 1987 Steve Berry (our MD) and fellow adventurer, Steve Marriott, were standing at the foot of the cliffs in Avon gorge. Having agreed that it was too hot to climb, they had been killing time in a ‘Wouldn’t it be great if…’ competition. This was when the fantasy of listening to the epic stories of their favourite heroes became a solid plan…
Since then, the two Steves and their caving friend Dick Willis, have organised more than 400 lectures whose general theme has been ‘Worldwide Adventure’. These epic stories have taken the audiences from the deepest point of the deepest ocean to the summit of Mount Everest, and from darkest, dankest inner spaces of our planet to even darker journeys in Outer Space. There have been mountaineers, sailors, cyclists, divers, balloonists, and even a man who cycled around the world on a penny farthing, and another who flew his car from Europe over the Straights of Gibraltar to Africa. There have been world famous explorers, record breakers, and people who have headed out into the remote unknown just for the hell of it.
Having run Wilderness for 36 years the three friends have decided to step back and retire so there will be no series this winter. However, they would be really happy if a younger individual, or a group of friends, would step forward to take over Wilderness and pick up where they are leaving off. If anyone is interested contact Wilderness Lectures here.
NEW Naar Phu Circuit Trek
We've just launched new tea house trek in the heart of the Annapurna Mountains in Nepal. An exhilarating, 18-day trekking trip, the Naar Phu Circuit takes you away from the popular trails of the Annapurnas, into a genuinely remote and truly spectacular region where access remains restricted.
Take a look at the full trip details here or speak to Harry in the Mountain Kingdoms office who completed the Naar Phu Circuit Trek earlier this year and rates it as the best he's ever done.
Holidays with Festivals
If you love a festival, but hate muddy fields, tent villages and rubbish food then it may be time to look beyond Glastonbury and Reading. In our latest enews we reveal alternative festivals in the Himalaya and Mongolia that offer amazing music, unusual sports and unique cultural experiences.
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