ABSTRACT
Sacred sites are diverse and are found in various cultures around the world (Ramakrishnan et al., 1998). Particular elements of nature such as mountains, gorges, trees, springs and stones as well as entire landscapes and seascapes such as groves and lakes can be considered sacred areas (Aitpaeva, 2006; Verschuuren et al., 2010). Sacredness, that is, spiritual or religious significance of a particular site, is often related to worldviews, beliefs and traditions that can be manifested in a form of tribute to ancestors or holy people, access to supernatural dimensions, and respect to spiritual entities and gods that reside in the area (McDonald, 2003; Schaaf and Lee, 2006). Aitpaeva et al. (2007) observed that there is usually an element of power attached to sacred sites – powers that pilgrims may be seeking (Aitpaeva et al., 2007).
