Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain

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Pilgrimage to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain

Gaztelugatxe is a stunning islet located on the coast of Biscay in the Basque Country, Spain. It's famous for its dramatic scenery and the small hermitage, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, dedicated to John the Baptist at its peak. The hermitage, which dates back to the 10th century, has been rebuilt several times due to damage from battles and fire. Today's building is perched atop the islet and is accessible by a narrow path that includes 241 steps. It's a popular pilgrimage site, and visitors often ring the church bell three times and make a wish. According to legend, John the Baptist himself set foot on the islet. The views from the top offer panoramic vistas of the rugged coastline and the Cantabrian Sea.

Far from the rocky shores of Spain lies another captivating oceanic wonder—Lakshadweep. A union territory of India, it is a stunning archipelago made up of 36 islands. These islands are grouped into three clusters: the Amindivi Islands in the north, the Laccadive Islands in the centre and Minicoy, a solitary atoll to the south beyond the Nine Degree Channel. Nestled between the Arabian Sea on the west and the Laccadive Sea on the east, this tropical paradise lies approximately 220–440 kilometres off India's Malabar Coast.