Yuletide: Nigerian tourist sites to visit
In spite of the ongoing fuel crisis, the festive period provides great opportunity for people to tease off.
Undoubtedly, some historical– cum tourist sites across the country could be visited by Nigerians of all ages and sexes during this year’s Christmas and New Year festivities.
No doubt, Nigeria is rich cultural heritage. It can boast of several hundreds of languages and various historical sites and tourist attractions, including long stretches of exotic beaches, lush mountains, well-preserved traditions, culture and beautiful enchantments.
Some of these sites are;
Ogbunike Caves
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in Ogbunike, Anambra State. The caves have retained the same biodiversity for hundreds of years, have been in use for centuries by local people for whom it has particular spiritual significance. Visitors must remove their shoes before entering the caves, as tradition demands, and women on menstruation cannot go in.
Descending into the valley where the caves are located is a lengthy walkway made up of about 317 steps!and are like a glimpse into another world. Climb over slippery rocks into the main chamber, where you see bats nest high above the cave floor.Test the water and feel the threshold between the warm water that runs from the caves and the cold temperature of the Nkisa River in Alhambra state that flows into it.
Ancient Kano City Walls
The Ancient Kano City Walls (Hausa: Kofar Na’isa ) The wall which was built between 1095 through 1134 and completed in the middle of the 14th century, were ancient defensive walls built were built in order to provide security to the natives. In the 16th century, the walls were further extended to their present position. The gates are as old as the walls and were used to control the movement of people in and out of the city. Though, most of them are in ruins. Ancient Kano City walls and associated sites are places of spiritual, historical and cultural significance.The Ancient Kano City Walls were described as “‘the most impressive monument in West Africa”.
Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
This sacred forest is situated along the banks of the Oshun River, on the outskirts of the capital city of Osogbo, which is regarded as the home of the goddess of fertility – Osun.
There are shrines, art works, sculptures and sanctuaries that dot the river in honour of the goddess and other local deities.
It is considered as the last of the Yoruba’s sacred forests that are still standing. In 2005, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Its yearly festival brings thousands of spectators, tourists and Osun worshippers from around the world.
Arochukwu Long Juju Slave Route, Abia
This is the home of the shrine of Ibin Ukpabi with a domineering cult statute of Kamalu-‘The Ancient Warrior god’ still standing. It contains an altar, a water fall and there is a six-foot gully that leads people to this cave temple. There is a famous feature the Iyi-Eke which was an outlet for slaves to be transported to Calabar.There are lots of myths about this area which was listed in 2007 on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Oduduwa Grove world Temple
It is located in Ile-ife, Osun state. The site is notable for being the point where oduduwa, the legendary progenitor of the Yoruba race landed with a chain. He founded Ile-life which became his final resting place, at this location, a statute of Oduduwa with the chain and staff can be found. This place has attracted so
Surame Cultural Landscape, Sokoto
Surame is an ancient city in Sokoto State, created in the 16th Century by Muhammadu Kanta Sarkin Kebbi and abandoned in the `1700. It is regarded as one of the world’s wonders of the human civilization, ingenuity and creativity.
Its wall is made of massive stones and has a Palace of the Hidi; the chief of the village. It was declared an ancient Nigeria’s National Monument in 1964 and added in the Cultural and Natural category of the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 200
Ganiyu Obaaro, with Agency report
