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Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

This month, Muslims from around the globe traveled to Saudi Arabia to begin the annual Islamic pilgrimage known as the Hajj. On Voyager in Google Earth, you can follow their footsteps and learn more about its history through Pilgrimage to Mecca, an interactive story that celebrates the Hajj.

 

Caption: A photo of the Great Mosque of Mecca surrounded by people, taken at night. (Local Guide MUHAMMAD KASHIF ABRAR)Caption: A photo of the Great Mosque of Mecca surrounded by people, taken at night. (Local Guide MUHAMMAD KASHIF ABRAR)

Travel photography and photospheres taken by Local Guides like you bring each stop of the pilgrimage to life. They transport Google Earth users to significant sites with 360° views and capture the spirit of this epic journey. Flying first to Jeddah Airport’s Hajj Terminal, the itinerary moves from Mecca to Medina and back again.

 

For more than one million Muslims taking part in this year’s Hajj, the journey begins on Aug. 19. Every Muslim is encouraged to undertake the Hajj at some point in their life, and this multimedia trip gives users a glimpse at its fascinating history.

 

This story takes the user on a captivating, multimedia tour, while explaining the history behind a journey which is more than a thousand years old. Thanks to guidance from Akbur Ghafoor, chief education officer at The Council of British Hajjis and a Google employee, the story explains each stage of the Hajj, and how certain rituals retell key moments from Islam’s history.

 

Caption: A photo of the Kaaba, a sacred structure in Mecca, surrounded by people taken during the daytime. (Local Guide Mohamed Gouda)Caption: A photo of the Kaaba, a sacred structure in Mecca, surrounded by people taken during the daytime. (Local Guide Mohamed Gouda)

Learn more about the prophets Ibrahim and Muhammad and the meaning behind the ceremonies observed in mosques, on mountains, and along flat desert plains. Find out why it is customary to drink water from an age-old well, throw pebbles at three pillars, and make seven rotations around the holy square structure, the Kaaba.

 

We are excited to share this with the Local Guides community, particularly those who captured their Hajj journey and shared this imagery on Google Maps. These contributions enabled us to produce this visually immersive, engaging educational resource.

 

Take the tour on Voyager and tell us what you think in the comments below.

58 comments
Level 10

Re: Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

@LucyPalmer Thanks for sharing and I enjoyed it a lot. Is it allowed people from other religions to visit the Great Mosque of Mecca? 

Level 9

Re: Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

finally a great post about Alhajj 

thank you so much @LucyPalmer

waiting this post long time 🙂

Level 9

Re: Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

Hello @OSAMA

Is other relgioure people allowed to see this mega event

Level 10

Re: Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

Thanks a lot @LucyPalmer for share this post .

This is also Muslim religious holy mount jil hajj .

Hope all people like and learn about Muslim religious .

2 holy place of Muslim one of this Mecca . we believe this is house of God and

many more history about this place  

Mahabub Hasan
Level 9

Re: Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

@ShravanJain its very difficult for us as Muslims these days to participate in Alhajj because its one of the 5 pillars of Islam and we must make this pilgrimage "Hajj" once in our life , as the number of Muslims around the world 2 billions so they accept people by Age so for example from my country Jordan they accepted elderly people to make the pilgrimage the reason is to let them make this pillar "Hajj" before dying

Level 10

Re: Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

Hello @LucyPalmer thank you for writing this nice post. FYI, for Indonesian like me, we need to wait until 2040 if register for Hajj in last year. This happened due to timing (only held in specific Islamic month, once a year) and capacity limit of Mekka. 

 

Bro @AnuradhaP I think Mekka will full capacity during Hajj season. Muslims from around the world come together. It will very hard to approach the place without specific visa (for Hajj reason and supporting team)

Level 9

Re: Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

Wwwoooo great post @LucyPalmer

about my country, I hope everyone understand our culture and religion

Thanks again for sharing

Cheers

Saudi local guide 🇸🇦

Level 9

Re: Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

Thank you @LucyPalmer for sharing this wonderful post

 

@ShravanJain @AnuradhaP, There is a severe limitation on Muslims to attend Hajj, now are only allowed once in a lifetime. Non muslims are not allowed in the holy cities of Makkah and Madina.

 

The good thing is now everyone can explore the city and pilgrimage using Google!

Level 2

Re: Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth