Dvarkadhish Temple- Mathura, India

The first place that I decided to visit was Mathura, India, one of the seven holy towns of the Hinduism religion. It is one of the major centers of the Hindu religion. Mathura is jam packed with holy places all around town, and I saw one almost everywhere I went.

One popular site that I visited in the city was the Dvarkadhish Temple. This temple was built in 1814 and is the most visited temple in Mathura. It has a unique and distinct architecture including complex and colorful patterns. The temple is a hub of activities during Holi, and continues to be a place for worship and pilgrimmage.

Maya Devi Temple- Lumbini, Nepal

I chose Lumbini in Nepal as my place to explore Buddhism. Lumbini is the birthplace of the Lord Buddha. This town is a major destination for Buddhists who are making pilgrimages for their religion. In my time in the town, I saw many buildings with unique architecture. Before leaving, I made sure to visit the Maya Devi temple, the actual birthplace of the Lord Buddha. It was rectangular shaped and white, and had a gold pointed top. Many tourists and people who observe the Buddhist religion visit this sacred site. This site brings new people, even those who are not part of the religion together to observe its beauty.

Western Wall-Jerusalem, Isreal

The Western Wall is the holiest of Jewish sites, which made this a must-visit place. When I first arrived, I saw that the wall was very tall and was composed of ashlars, or lower stones. It had a very precise architecture, as the ashlars were carved very carefully and placed on top of eachother. When I visited, I saw many people wearing the mandatory robes to get in. This sacred site serves as an open synagogue, however, it is open to all religions. The Western Wall brings people of all religions together for prayer and is a sacred site of Judaism.

St Peter's Basilica- Vatican City, Italy

Being Catholic, I knew that I had to visit Vatican City in Italy. I decided to make a stop by St Peter's Basilica and look at the beautiful architecture. As I walked in, I was surrounded by the artwork of Michaelangelo and Raphael. This church is a symbol of Catholicism and is the largest Christian church in the world.

Mecca- Saudi Arabia

Mecca is the holiest of Muslim cities, which made it a great place to learn about Islam. Even though I was not able to enter the city because I was not Muslim, I got to have a peek of the unique architecture. There were many domed roofs, and pointed tops of buildings. I saw and met many Muslims who were in the middle of making their pilgrimage to Mecca, as all devout Muslims attempt to make a trip in their lifetime. Mecca is the birthplace of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, which makes this the most important city to the Islamic religion.