Sometimes you get the kind of wanderlust that requires a spiritual awakening, and another read of "Eat, Pray, Love" is just not enough. A number of places around the world are just so holy their walls tell the stories of our ancestors, their waters hold healing powers, and the grounds on which they were built protect the bones of gods and pharaohs. These places have not only been the foundation of religious practices for centuries but have also offered us a glimpse into the ancient world.

Scholars can speculate on prehistoric building techniques by studying the architecture of Stonehenge, for instance, which was built before the invention of the wheel. Meanwhile, guests to Grand Canyon National Park can see with their own eyes land that is 2 billion years old, buried under layers upon layers of sedimentary rock. These places are spiritual in that they're sacred to various religious groups, but even a non-believer would be able to feel a powerful energy in the mere presence of something as old as these structures are. These are the 20 places to visit when you're feeling spiritual.

20 Machu Picchu, Peru

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National Geographic calls Machu Picchu "one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century." This site of ancient Inca ruins in Peru was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. It was originally discovered in 1911 by a Yale archaeologist who had heard rumors of the ruins and embarked on an adventurous hike through the jungle to find them. On the Andean mountaintop, he found a citadel of palaces and temples, all made from stone in the ancient puzzle-piece way without using mortar. Machu Picchu, which means "old peak," is the site of at least 300 dwellings that were used during the mid-15th to mid-16th centuries, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. The remarkably preserved site radiates spirituality, surrounded by the towering, lush mountains of Peru.

19 Angkor Wat, Cambodia

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This UNESCO World Heritage Site located near the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia, holds a world record for being the largest religious structure on earth. Stretching over 400 square kilometers, surrounded by the lush jungle of Southeast Asia, Angkor Wat was built during the first half of the 12th century. Now, the ancient temple ruins are open to tourism, but are still inhabited by the descendants of families from the Angkor period. Sunrise is a good time to visit this archaeological masterpiece. The calm of the morning and the soft colors of the rising sun evoke a calming energy throughout the temple, where monks worship and wander peacefully about.

18 Stonehenge, United Kingdom

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Seeing a ring of giant upright stone slabs is a spiritual experience in itself, but discovering the story behind England's prehistoric Stonehenge makes this monument even more astonishing. The magnificent rock city was erected by Neoloithic builders who worked on it for an estimated 1,500 years, according to History.com. Comprised of about 100 colossal stones stacked on top of one another, this sacred site was produced even before the invention of the wheel. While scholars are still somewhat puzzled by the purpose of this extravagant stone village, they do agree that it was used as a burial ground.

17 Uluru, Australia

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In the middle of the vast, open Australian Outback, one vibrantly red mountain rises dramatically above a sea of flat desert. Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, and the neighboring Kata Tjuta "provide physical evidence of feats performed during the creation period," says the Uluru travel website. The first sighting of this spectacular scene was logged in 1872 by Earnest Giles, who saw Kata Tjuta towering above the desert and tried to reach it but was held back by the landscape's salty marshes. The following year, William Christie Gosse, another European, reached Uluru by camel train. But Australia's indigenous Aborigine people had been roaming the territory all along. They believed that these mountains were created by ancient beings, and that each detail of its facade told a story. Their descendants still live on the property and practice cultural ceremonies around the holy rock today.

16 Borobudur, Indonesia

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A Buddhist temple complex in Central Java, Indonesia, Borobudur remains one of the largest Buddhist temples in the world. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these temple compounds date back to the 8th and 9th centuries. Their distinct architecture — consisting of a pyramidal base, topped by a circular platform and stupa — lend to a unique aesthetic. The complex is striking against the lush landscape of palms, but perhaps the most extraordinary part of Borobudur is its strength. The temple has withstood volcano eruptions, terrorist bombings, and a 5.9-magnitude earthquake, too, Lonely Planet says.

15 Meteora, Greece

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From Buddhist temples to Orthodox monasteries, these mountaintop places of worship decorate sandstone cliffs overlooking the Greece's Meteora landscape, just a few hours away from the bustling city of Athens, CNN says. The soil of this historic site has provided insight into the transition between Neanderthals to Homo sapiens, and still today, 60 monks and nuns inhabit these iconic monasteries in the sky, the article says. According to the Visit Meteora website, the monasteries were built at such great heights so that they would provide ultimate isolation, and for "spiritual elevation," both metaphorically and physically. Whether to worship Christ or nature or science, the Meteora monasteries is a spiritual place for all.

14 The Dead Sea, Israel

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Floating in the Dead Sea is more than just an experience people seek for lust-worthy Instagram photos; it's a once-in-a-lifetime dip into holy water. The Dead Sea holds many references in the Bible and remains a significant part of history for Judaism today. Even the mineral-rich mud of this spiritual sea is said to have healing properties. The multi-national Dead Sea — between Jordan and Israel — is the lowest body of water on earth, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. In fact, this sea is below sea level, because it's actually a landlocked lake. And with 33.7 percent salinity, it's one of the world's saltiest bodies of water, too.

13 Lourdes, France

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The French town of Lourdes was once a small, little-known marketplace, before a servant girl in 1858 claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary in the nearby Massabielle grotto, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. The pope of that time declared her visions authentic, and suddenly, the small market town of Lourdes became a major pilgrimage, which it remains still today. Lourdes now sees more than 5 million visitors from 140-plus countries per year. Guests marvel at the Sanctuaries of Our Lady of Lourdes, including the grotto where the original sighting of the Virgin Mary took place long ago.

12 The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

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The pyramids of Egypt are some of the world's most mysterious structures. Built for the kings and pharaohs of their time, these ancient masterpieces were intended to last forever — and so far, they have. The oldest and largest pyramid, the Great Pyramid, originally reaching a height of 147 meters, was erected for Khufu and is "perhaps the most colossal single building ever erected on the planet" to this day, says Encyclopedia Britannica. Its sides are built at an angle that perfectly aligns with the four cardinal points of a compass. How these impeccable tombs were built in ancient times we still don't know.

11 Bodh Gaya, India

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India's Bodh Gaya is the birthplace of Buddhism. This is where a man by the name of Prince Siddhartha Guatama once sat under a bodhi tree millennia ago and became the "Awakened One," who we better know now as Buddha himself. Lonely Planet calls this site "the crucible of Buddhism." The "tiny temple town is to Buddhists what Mecca is to Muslims," it says. About 2,600 years ago, Siddhartha Guatama reached the tree after six years of searching for the meaning of life, and after meditating all night, he became enlightened. Both he and the tree were then thought to be sacred, and today, this decorated site, for Buddhists, is the center of the universe.

10 Grand Canyon, USA

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What better place to reflect than this sweeping red canyon, practically emitting energy from the Native Americans who have inhabited and worshipped it for centuries? Like Uluru, this purely natural wonder is sacred because its original founders thought it so mysteriously marvelous that they attributed it to a higher power, and, well, who's to say they were wrong? Standing 4,000 feet over the cliff's edge, marveling at the unconcealed layers of earth and imagining what prehistoric beings once roamed there is a spiritual experience in itself. Seeing it through the lens of the Havasupai tribe that has lived in and around the South Rim for 800 years is even more enlightening.

9 Chichen Itza, Mexico

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It's said that during the autumn and spring equinoxes, the sun reflecting on the famous Pyramid Kukulkan resembles a snake slithering up and down its stairs. Kukulkan, who Chichen Itza's main pyramid is named after, was a Mayan god represented by a snake, which is why, if you look at the intricate detail on the pyramid's walls, they're decorated with serpentines. This site is one of Mexico's most popular and famed destinations, CNN says. There's no question that the builders behind Chichen Itza were attentive to detail. The Kukulkan structure boasts the same number of steps as days of the year, and, similar to the Great Pyramid in Egypt, its corners point in the four cardinal directions.

8 Mount Kailash, Tibet

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This 22,000-foot mountain is regarded as sacred territory in four different religions. In a faraway land in western Tibet, the black rock mountain is thought to be the home of Lord Shiva, according to Hindu religion. The Jains, alternatively, believe this is where the first of 24 Tirthankaras was liberated. Other religions have cast their beliefs upon Mount Kailash, too, but despite what you believe in, the rugged peak is wild as can be. The nature of this holy Himalayan mountain speaks for itself. Needless to say, Mount Kailash — sometimes referred to as "the roof of the world" — isn't easy to get to, but the strenuous journey there only adds to the spirituality of the place.

7 Sandunóvskie Baths, Moscow

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Moscow's Sandunóvskie Baths beckon spiritual cleansing, both physically and metaphorically. Nicknamed Sanduny, the building that houses these baths are ornate with extravagant mosaics and frescoes, Lonely Planet writes. Visiting bath houses is a Russian tradition, after all, so while this hot sauna, heated naturally with wood, might feel like a luxurious vacation, it's actually a lesson in history, too. During the early 1800s, the Sanduny Baths were the epicenter of social life for the capital city. They were originally built with money from diamonds gifted by Empress Catherine the Second, the Sanduny website says, but were later inherited by another party and reconstructed into the true palace it is today.

6 The Ganges River, India

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This is the third largest river (by discharge) in the world, but that, alone, isn't why it's one of the world's most spiritual destinations. It has long been recognized as the holy river of Hinduism, and despite the widely publicized litter and contamination it's been plagued with in more recent years, its waters are still thought to hold healing properties. The self-purifying waters of the Ganges River are believed — by actual microbiologists — to be able to naturally cure such diseases as tuberculosis, pneumonia, cholera, meningitis, and more, according to Condé Nast Traveler. Considered by Hindus to be the personification of the Goddess Ganga, worshippers dip into the holy water to rid their sins.

5 Jerusalem, Israel

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This Middle Eastern city, lying between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea — also one of the world's most sacred places — is the holy city of Judaism. Jerusalem is more than a city, though, The Guardian says; rather, it's a "religious concept that transcends time." Jerusalem is a significant place because it was chosen by David as the capital when Israelites returned to their homeland after fleeing from famine and being enslaved in Egypt. The root meaning of Jerusalem, according to the article, is a city of peace. Despite the many forces that have tried to destroy it, it has always remained a harmonious place.

4 Gergeti Trinity Church, Georgia

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The Holy Trinity Church, as it's also called, is a three-hour hike up a mountainside. The 14th century structure sits amidst the rugged Caucasus mountain range, which span between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The Gergeti Trinity Church is not just a place of worship, but of refuge for tired mountaineers, according to Atlas Obscura. Its design is simple, yet stunning, with no elaborate ornaments or loud colors; just a cross-copula church and a bell tower is all. Even though it's not the biggest, the oldest, or most elaborately designed, this simple building is impressive against the backdrop of the towering mountains that surround it.

3 Batu Caves, Malaysia

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The Batu Caves in Malaysia are comprised of three limestone caves housing Hindu ornate temples and shrines. This landmark is guarded by a giant, regal gold statue of a Hindu god named Lord Murugan, Lonely Planet says, who holds a spear to scare away evil spirits from the cave entrances. Inside, the Batu Caves are decorated with elaborate shrines. In the Ramayana Cave, paintings of Hindu gods can be found adorning the cave walls. The main cave, Cathedral Cave, is accessed by a steep staircase of 272 steps, but spits you out into a massive cave scene with high ceilings and a temple to Lord Murugan, who stands outside. Just 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, these sacred cave-enclosed shrines are a Southeast Asia must-see.

2 Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal

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A stupa is a building dedicated to Buddhism that is defined by its distinctive mound-like shape. The Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in Nepal, located on the outskirts of Kathmandu. The Boudhanath Stupa, or Bodnath Stupa for short, is believed to have been built during the 14th century. The 1959 Chinese invasion caused thousands of Tibetans to flee to Nepal, and they needed somewhere to practice their religion, so the Bodnath Stupa was born. It is now a major place of worship, pilgrimage, and meditation not only for Tibetan Buddhists, but for local Nepalis, too.

1 Notre-Dame Cathedral, France

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There's something spiritual about standing next to something that's absolutely massive, and France has many things that could make one feel small — the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and The Louvre, to name a few. Amongst those things is also the iconic gothic church that attracts more visitors than any other landmark in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, which is Notre-Dame Cathedral. About 13 million visitors flock to this famous church each year to see its grand spires, rose windows, and gothic gargoyles. Notre-Dame de Paris is more famous than any other gothic cathedral built during the Middle Ages.