bbc.co.uk navigation

IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Travel Nav

World’s most-visited sacred sites

In
25 January 2012 | By April Orcutt

More photos

from Travel + Leisure
See more from T+L

See more of the world's sacred sites

  • Meiji Shrine and Sensoji-Temple, Tokyo
  • Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, India
  • Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City
  • Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams Temple, India
  • Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris
  • Meiji Shrine and Sensoji-Temple, Tokyo
    Meiji Shrine and Sensoji-Temple, Tokyo

    Built 100 years ago to honour the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, the tranquil Meiji Shinto shrine is surrounded by a holy forest of more than 100,000 trees. Sensoji, also in central Tokyo, was dedicated to Bodhisattva Kannon, the most compassionate Buddha, in 628. Continuing centuries-long tradition, stalls along the temple’s Nakamise Street sell goods to visitors — whose numbers swell around New Year’s. Annual visitors: 30 million each. (Julie Nassiet)

Meiji Shrine and Sensoji-Temple, Tokyo

Built 100 years ago to honour the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, the tranquil Meiji Shinto shrine is surrounded by a holy forest of more than 100,000 trees. Sensoji, also in central Tokyo, was dedicated to Bodhisattva Kannon, the most compassionate Buddha, in 628. Continuing centuries-long tradition, stalls along the temple’s Nakamise Street sell goods to visitors — whose numbers swell around New Year’s. Annual visitors: 30 million each. (Julie Nassiet)

2012 around the BBC

Sam Warburton

Welsh heroes ready to carry torch

Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton and Olympic gold medal winners Lynn Davies and Darren Campbell will carry the Olympic torch as it travels from Worcester to Cardiff.

Volodymyr Gerashchenko

Official 'offers 2012 tickets'

A senior Olympic official is suspended after a BBC investigation revealed he was willing to sell thousands of pounds worth of 2012 tickets for cash.

Olympic Stadium, London

Olympics launch Foursquare tie-up

A tie-up between the Olympic Games and Foursquare means users can now "check-in" at past and present Games landmarks.

BBC Travel content is produced in partnership with Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet is a unit of BBC Worldwide. The information supplied by BBC and its partners was accurate at the time of publication. BBC accepts no responsibility for any loss resulting from this information. Verify critical information before travel.

More

BBC © 2012 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.