Celebrate the journey of a lifetime on Google Earth

[NandKK]

Thank you so much @LucyPalmer for sharing this beautiful post about Mecca pilgrimage. 

Though it is pity that we non-muslims can not experience the feeling of this holy place. 

 

[cherradi]

السلام عليكم salam Alaikum @LucyPalmer

and thank you for this beautiful post about this beautiful religion.

just about the number of pilgrims you speak it about 1 million but numbers show that In 2017, 2.4 million pilgrims fulfilled the Hajj according to https://www.statista.com/statistics/617696/saudi-arabia-total-hajj-pilgrims/

thank you again

have a nice day 

[MeharDestinations]

No. Only Muslims are allowed to go inside the mosque. 

[zahidbabu]

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@LucyPalmer wrote:

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)

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)

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.

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[zahidbabu]

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@MeharDestinations wrote:

No. Only Muslims are allowed to go inside the mosque. 

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[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for this great post, being a Muslim i wish to travel Mecca and perform Hajj and Umrah, my ever dream place is Khana Kaba, Mecca, May Allah leads us all to the right way.....Ameen

[Elhassanali]

Very nice

[davidhyno]

Thanks @LucyPalmer for this post! 

It is always very intriguing and at the same time fascinating to understand different religions as different traditions.

It must be an experience both magnificent and profound .... to be part of millions of people from different countries in the same place, at the same time, sharing the same faith: the highest point achieved in a lifetime. I wish all the participants a true and heartfelt Hajj!

Bye, 

David 

[Siddiqui-BA]

@davidhyno, @Elhassanali, @zahidbabu, Thanks to all of you for sharing the topic on Hajj. @davidhyno specially for your comments.  

[ShafiulB]

@LucyPalmer Thanks for this post !  I missed this post !! My respect gone high for the Local Guides connect team. Nice topic............................