The pilgrimage itself is compulsory for the Muslims. As far as people preaching other religions are concerned, this is a fascinating encounter with an unknown culture. The Hajj is performed between the eighth and the thirteenth day of the Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. The exact date is different every year.

The Hajj includes the following rituals:

– Circle the Kaaba temple counter-clockwise seven times. In the past, the pilgrims had to kiss the Black Stone on the eastern part of the temple each time they make a full circuit. Practically, this is impossible, since literally millions of people join the ritual. Since several years ago, the ritual is optimised and instead of kissing the stone, it is enough to only point at it. The event is broadcasted live by several televisions in the world. Sometimes, so many pilgrims join the ritual that some of them have to go round the temple hundreds of meters away of it.

– Run back and forth between the Al-Safa and Al-Marwah hills.

– Drink water from the Zamzam well.

– Go to the Mount Arafat.

– Stoning of the Devil – in the past people used to throw the stones at high pillars but for security reasons over the past years the stones are thrown at low walls with catch basins below them to collect them.

After that the pilgrims shave their heads, make an animal sacrifice and celebrate the Eid al-Adha. The ritual killing of the animal can be done by any pilgrim or by a professional.

The story of the Black Stone

The Black Stone itself has an interesting story. Just like in any other religion, this most sacred element of the Islam is shrouded in mystery. It is believed that the stone is a meteorite that fell on the Earth many years ago. According to Islamic religion, on the other hand, it was sent by Allah to the Earth after Adam s original sin as a sign of care and reminder by the almighty powers.

If you decide to visit Mecca during the Hajj, you should be very careful because a large number of people die every year as a result of collapsed bridges, barriers, other facilities or stampedes.

In addition, if you are not a Muslim, you should avoid demonstrating disrespect towards the most sacred places of one of the biggest religions in the world through your behaviour or appearance. You shouldn’t do anything that you wouldn’t want any person of a different faith to at a temple of the religion you follow. And you should never forget that you are in Saudi Arabia, a country with severe laws, especially towards people who disregard Islam.

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1. Africa is the only continent situated in all the four hemispheres – the western, the eastern, the northern and the southern.

2. Lesotho, The Vatican and San Marino are the only three countries in the world that are surrounded entirely by only one country. Lesotho borders South Africa, The Vatican and San Marino border Italy.

3. The Greek national anthem consists of 158 verses. It is not known if there is a Greek who can sing them all by heart.

4. There is not a single river in Saudi Arabia.

5. The shortest place name in the world is Å. Villages with this name can be found both in Norway and Sweden. In the Scandinavian languages “Å” means “River”.

6. The smallest country area is that of the Vatican (2 square miles/5 square kilometers), while the largest city area is that of Hulunbuir in China (101,912 square miles/263,953 square kilometers)

7. New York drifts away from London 1 inch/2,5 cm every year.

8. Dust from Africa can reach as far as Florida.

9. The Himalayas are getting higher 0,6 inch/1,5 cm every year.

10. There is a heart-shaped coral reef in Australia.

11. Cuba is the only Caribbean country that has a railway.

12. The biggest pyramid in the world is not in Egypt but in… Mexico. It is called Cholula and is currently covered in grass.

13. All the gondolas in Venice must be black unless they are the property of a high-ranked official.

14. The name of Canada comes from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word kanata or canada, meaning village or settlement.

15. The Transsiberian Railway in Russia crosses 3901 bridges along its way.

16. The Philippines Archipelago consists of 7107 islands.

17. Around 90% of the world population lives in the northern hemisphere.

18. Until 2002 there was an agreement between Monaco and France that if the principality doesn’t have a male heir, Monaco would lose its independence.

19. It’s forbidden for airplanes to fly over the Taj Mahal.

20. Mexico City sinks 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) a year because it was built over a lake. The city has sunk around 32 feet/10 m in the last 60 years.

21. The first city to reach 1 million inhabitants was Rome in 133 BC. London reached the line in 1810, New York – in 1875. Nowadays more than 300 cities in the world have more than a million inhabitants.

22. Amman – the capital of Jordan, used to be called Philadelphia.

23. If a man gives a woman a compliment in Togo, he should marry her.

24. Until almost the end of the 80’s there was not a single phone in Bhutan.

25. On the 18th of February 1979 it was snowing in the Sahara.

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Go to the spring of the river Ganges, India

They say more than 10 million people walk the way to the sacred water every year. Those who are determined to reach the very spring, need to go to the western part of the Himalayas. For Indian Hindus, the Ganges embodies divinity and purity. Legend has it that the waters of the river purify all sins of the people who touch it.

>>> Read more: 25 quotes about India explaining why everyone loves it

Walk or bike Camino de Santiago, France/Spain

The Camino de Santiago, also known as El Camino, is a religious route attracting more and more enthusiasts. The unforgettable journey may continue for more than one month, starting from France through the Pyrenees and crossing the whole of Spain. The last point is the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, as it is believed that St. James’s remains were buried there. The length of the route may vary, depending on where you start. The route from France to the famous cathedral is almost 800 km (497 mi).

Visit Medina, Saudi Arabia

Medina is a holy Muslim city, the second most important city after Mecca. Medina attracts millions of pilgrims every year, because it contains the remains of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In Medina, you can see the three oldest mosques in the world, one of which is the Prophet’s Mosque.

Walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

The Inca Trail consists of three trails – Mollepata (six or seven days), Classic (four or five days), and One Day. Regardless of which trail you choose, you will see many ruins of the Inca civilization before reaching Machu Picchu Mountain itself. Concerns about overuse, harming the nature and the historical sites along the way, led the Peruvian government to limit the number of tourists allowed to hike this trail to 200 per day. As a result, advance booking is mandatory. More information here.

>>> Read more: 8 unique things to do in Peru for first-time visitors

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