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10 Most Religious Cities In The World

Published

12 months ago

September 8, 2024

Religion has long played a crucial role in shaping human societies, providing both unity and division throughout history.

The following ten cities have witnessed epic religious events and continue to serve as pilgrimage sites for millions.

1. Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, attracts millions of Muslims each year for the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. This journey is obligatory for every capable Muslim at least once in their lifetime. Non-Muslims, however, are not permitted to enter Mecca. The city’s history dates back to a pre-Islamic legend involving Adam and Eve. More accurately, around 2000 BC, Abraham and his son Ishmael built the Kaaba, Islam’s most sacred site. In 570 AD, the Prophet Muhammad was born here, and later in 630 AD, he declared the city a center for Muslim pilgrimage.

2. Lhasa, Tibet

Lhasa, meaning “place of the gods,” was the home of the Dalai Lamas from the 1600s until 1959. Although Tibetans are now a minority, the city remains a hub for Tibetan Buddhism. Notable sites include Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Many pilgrims come to Lhasa to follow one of the three pathways that lead around Jokhang Temple, seeking spiritual merit.

3. Bethlehem, West Bank

Bethlehem is revered as the birthplace of Jesus, making it a major pilgrimage destination for Christians, especially during Christmas and Easter. It is also historically significant as the birthplace of David, the King of Israel. Despite the city’s tumultuous past, including numerous invasions and occupations, it remains a focal point of Christian pilgrimage. The Church of the Nativity, one of the world’s oldest churches, is believed to mark the location of Christ’s birth.

4. Varanasi, India

One of India’s most sacred cities, Varanasi holds religious importance for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. Legend states that the city was founded by Lord Shiva, while historical records suggest it emerged 3,000 years ago as a center for textiles. Many Hindus come to Varanasi to bathe in the Ganges River, which is believed to cleanse sins. The city is also notable as the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon.

5. Vatican City

Situated in Rome, Vatican City is the epicenter of the Roman Catholic Church. The world’s smallest independent state, it holds some of the most significant religious and cultural sites, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. Once part of the Papal States, it became independent in the 20th century after a treaty signed by Mussolini.

6. Haifa, Israel

Haifa, a city on Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean, is a center for the Bahá’í faith. The Bahá’í World Center, with its golden-domed shrine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bahá’í, a religion founded in 19th-century Iran, emphasizes unity among all religions and the oneness of humanity.

7. Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by Mormon pioneers escaping persecution. Today, it serves as the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). The city’s religious landmarks include the iconic Salt Lake Temple, which took 40 years to complete, and the Family History Library, the largest genealogical library in the world.

8. Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem is a spiritual hub for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It has been a focal point of religious significance for millennia and has faced destruction and invasion multiple times. Sites like the Temple Mount, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Western Wall draw millions of pilgrims annually. The Old City of Jerusalem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remains a testament to the city’s profound historical and religious legacy.

9. Pushkar, India

One of India’s oldest cities, Pushkar is a sacred site for Hindus. The city is associated with Lord Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Pilgrims visit Pushkar Lake and the Brahma Temple, one of the few temples dedicated to Brahma. The city is also home to the Pushkar Fair, one of the world’s largest camel fairs.

10. Medina, Saudi Arabia

Medina is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca. It is where the Prophet Muhammad sought refuge after being driven from Mecca. The Prophet’s Mosque, Al Masjid al-Nabawi, stands on the site of Muhammad’s home and is where he is buried. Only Muslims are permitted to enter the city, which serves as a key stop during the Hajj pilgrimage.

These cities offer a deep spiritual experience for visitors, filled with history and religious significance.

VANGUARD

Headline

US Suspends Work Visas For Nigerian, Foreign Truck Drivers

Published

5 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The United States government has suspended the issuance of work visas for Nigerian and other foreign truck drivers, citing job security concerns and safety risks for American citizens.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Thursday, saying it takes immediate effect.

According to him, the rising number of foreign truck drivers on U.S. highways is both threatening lives and reducing opportunities for American truckers.

“Effective immediately, we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers.

“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Rubio said.

The move comes under President Donald Trump’s renewed clampdown on immigration since returning to office in January 2025.

As part of new measures, travellers from countries with high visa overstay rates or weak travel databases will be required to pay a bond of $5,000 to $15,000 before obtaining certain categories of visas.

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria also directed all visa applicants to disclose their social media handles from the past five years, warning that failure to comply could result in denial of applications and possible ineligibility for future visas.

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Judge Orders Closure Of Trump’s Controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Migrant Camp

Published

18 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

A US federal judge on Thursday barred the Trump administration and Florida state government from bringing any new migrants to the detention centre known as “Alligator Alcatraz” and ordered much of the site to be dismantled, effectively shuttering the facility.

Florida’s government swiftly announced it would appeal the decision.

The detention centre was hastily assembled in just eight days in June with bunk beds, wire cages and large white tents at an abandoned airfield in Florida’s Everglades wetlands, home to a large population of alligators.

President Donald Trump, who has vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants, visited the centre last month, boasting about the harsh conditions and joking that the reptilian predators will serve as guards.

Headline

Japan City Mulls Two-hour Daily Smartphone Limit

Published

18 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

A Japanese city will urge all smartphone users to limit screen time to two hours a day outside work or school under a proposed ordinance that includes no penalties.

The limit, which will be recommended for all residents in central Japan’s Toyoake City, will not be binding, and there will be no penalties incurred for higher usage, according to the draft ordinance.

The proposal aims “to prevent excessive use of devices causing physical and mental health issues… including sleep problems,” Mayor Masafumi Koki said in a statement on Friday.

The draft urges elementary school students to avoid smartphones after 9:00 pm, and junior high students and older are advised not to use them after 10:00 pm.

The move prompted an online backlash, with many calling the plan unrealistic.

“I understand their intention, but the two-hour limit is impossible,” one user wrote on social media platform X.

“In two hours, I cannot even read a book or watch a movie (on my smartphone),” wrote another.

Others said smartphone use should be a decision for families to make for themselves.

The angry response prompted the mayor to clarify that the two-hour limit was not mandatory, emphasising that the guidelines “acknowledge smartphones are useful and indispensable in daily life”.

The ordinance will be considered next week, and if passed, it will come into effect in October.

In 2020, the western Kagawa region issued a first-of-its-kind ordinance calling for children to be limited to an hour a day of gaming during the week, and 90 minutes during school holidays.

It also suggested children aged 12 to 15 should not be allowed to use smartphones later than 9:00 pm, with the limit rising to 10:00 pm for children between 15 and 18.

Japanese youth spend slightly over five hours on average a day online on weekdays, according to a survey published in March by the Children and Families Agency.