10 Magical Locations Perfectly Aligned with the Spring Equinox

On March 20, the vernal equinox will signal the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Ancient cultures constructed calendars and observatories to follow celestial patterns and commemorate this significant event. Today, people continue to celebrate with various customs and ceremonies to honor the balance of light and darkness. For an unforgettable celestial experience, explore these 10 destinations that align with the spring equinox.

1. A giant serpent shadow forms on the temple at Chichen Itza.

According to legend, the Maya city of Chichen Itza is visited by Kukulcan, the feathered serpent god, during the spring and fall equinoxes. A shadow resembling a snake descends the side of the deity's namesake pyramid. As the temple darkens, a beam of light runs from the top of the northern staircase to the serpent's head at the base, creating the illusion of a moving reptile.

2. A ray of sunlight highlights a petroglyph inside Arizona’s Boulder House.

The Boulder House in Scottsdale, Arizona, appears to be an unusual residence nestled among a cluster of rocks. However, it is actually a modern dwelling constructed around a sacred Native American site. The Empie family, who purchased the desert property in the 1980s, hired architect Charles Johnson to convert the ancient 1.6-billion-year-old boulders into a livable home. Johnson designed a distinctive structure, integrating the rocks into the house’s foundation and safeguarding the prehistoric carvings. During the equinox, sunlight streams through a gap between two boulders, illuminating a spiral petroglyph on the wall, creating a stunning natural decoration.

3. A row of Moai on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) gaze directly at the sunset.

Humans aren’t the only ones who stop to admire the sunset on the first day of spring. On Rapa Nui (Easter Island), at the sacred site of Ahu Akivi, a row of seven Moai—the island’s iconic, enigmatic statues—stare directly at the spot where the sun dips below the horizon during the equinox.

4. Sunlight bathes a cairn filled with petroglyphs at Loughcrew.

The hills of Loughcrew, one of Ireland’s four major passage tomb sites, are home to 5000-year-old megalithic structures. At sunrise on the equinox, light floods Cairn T, a passage tomb adorned with remarkably preserved Neolithic art. As the light replaces the darkness, the cup marks on its walls and the symbols on its back stones become vividly visible. This illumination lasts for approximately 50 minutes, allowing visitors plenty of time to take turns entering the cairn.

5. Sunlight pours through one of the Mnajdra Prehistoric Temples.

The Mnajdra Prehistoric Temples on Malta’s southern coast are archaeological marvels. Constructed between 3600 and 2500 BCE, they are considered among the oldest freestanding stone structures in the world. Little is known about the builders of these megalithic wonders, but it’s evident that one temple was designed with the heavens in mind. During the equinox, sunlight flows through the South Temple’s main entrance, illuminating the structure’s central axis.

6. The sun aligns perfectly above the central temple at Angkor Wat.

Witnessing the sunrise at Angkor Wat is enchanting on any day. Spectators fall silent as vibrant colors bathe the world’s largest religious monument in a golden light. The experience becomes even more extraordinary during the equinoxes, when the sun ascends behind the main temple and momentarily appears to rest on its pinnacle like a blazing crown.

7. The sun ascends through the entrance of Stonehenge Aotearoa during the Southern Hemisphere's spring equinox.

Stonehenge has inspired replicas worldwide, including one in New Zealand. Stonehenge Aotearoa, completed in 2005 by the Phoenix Astronomical Society, serves as an astronomical instrument for studying the local skies, merging contemporary astronomy with ancient celestial knowledge. On the Southern Hemisphere's vernal equinox, standing at the center of the circle allows you to see the sun rise precisely through the Sun Gate, a pair of carved pillars marking the henge’s entrance.

8. At noon, the shadow of the intihuatana at Machu Picchu vanishes.

A unique stone monument sits atop a temple at Machu Picchu. It’s one of the few remaining intihuatanas that escaped destruction by Spanish conquistadors. This “hitching post of the sun” is thought to have served as an astronomical device. At noon on the equinox, the shadow of the granite pillar momentarily disappears. Sadly, the priceless artifact now appears somewhat damaged. In 2000, a crane fell onto the intihuatana during a beer commercial shoot, breaking a portion of it.

9. The sun shines brilliantly through the doorway of a temple at Dzibilchaltún.

Though now a collection of ruins scattered across the jungle, Dzibilchaltún was once the longest continuously occupied Maya administrative and ceremonial center. The highlight is the Temple of the Seven Dolls, named after the peculiar human-like figurines found inside. At sunrise on the equinox, sunlight streams through the temple’s main doorway. It’s believed the sacred structure was aligned with the equinoxes to signal the start of the planting season and the conclusion of the harvest season.

10. The 'Woodhenge' at Cahokia Mounds aligns perfectly with the sunrise.

During the Mississippian era, Cahokia's population surpassed that of London. Alongside its massive pyramids, this North American city also included circles of wooden posts, now known as “Woodhenge.” These wooden markers were likely used to monitor the sun’s path. One post aligns with the equinoxes and the front of Monks Mound. At sunrise on the equinox, it appears as though the sun is rising directly from the mysterious earthwork.