What do Kasar Devi, Machu Picchu and Stonehenge have in common?

Kasar Devi Temple in India, Machu Picchu in Peru, and Stonehenge in England appear to have very little in common at first sight. One is a peaceful Himalayan hill temple, another is a spectacular Inca fortress clinging to the side of a mountain in the Andes, and the third is a prehistoric stone circle in the English countryside.

They differ in age, culture, architecture, and geography.Yet over the years, a popular claim has linked these three sites through what is often called the “Van Allen Belt phenomenon.” The idea suggests that all three locations lie along a specific band of geomagnetic or cosmic energy associated with Earth’s magnetic field. But what exactly does this mean, and how much of it is supported by science?

Understanding the Van Allen radiation belts

The “Van Allen Belt” is the name given to the Van Allen radiation belts, which were discovered in 1958 by American physicist James Van Allen using data from the satellite Explorer 1.

The Van Allen radiation belts are doughnut-shaped regions around our planet that are filled with high-energy charged particles trapped by the Earth’s magnetic field. They are thousands of kilometers above the surface of the Earth and are a part of the Earth’s magnetosphere.The main significance of the Van Allen belts is in space science. The Van Allen belts are not fixed points on the surface of the Earth. Therefore, no single location, including Kasar Devi, Machu Picchu, or Stonehenge, “sits on” the Van Allen belts in a literal sense.

The claim

The connection between these three sites usually stems from a different but related idea: that they lie along a band of unusual geomagnetic activity or magnetic anomalies on Earth’s surface.

Kasar Devi (India)

Located near Almora in Uttarakhand, Kasar Devi Temple sits atop a ridge in the Kumaon Himalayas. The area has gained attention for reports of unusual geomagnetic activity. Some studies have indicated that certain parts of the Almora region fall within a zone of relatively strong geomagnetic variations.

Over the decades, the site has attracted spiritual seekers, including very known figures like Swami Vivekananda, Bob Dylan - the legendary American singer-songwriter, Allen Ginsberg - the American poet, D.H.

Lawrence - the English writer, George Harrison - The Beatles member, and Uma ThurmanT - the Hollywood actress. However, there is no peer-reviewed scientific consensus proving that Kasar Devi sits on a uniquely powerful global magnetic energy line linked directly to the Van Allen belts.

Machu Picchu (Peru)

Built in the 15th century by the Inca civilisation, Machu Picchu sits at about 2,430 metres above sea level in the Andes. Its dramatic location between mountain peaks and its advanced stone architecture have long fueled speculations about astronomical alignments and energetic properties. History strongly suggests that the Inca were advanced astronomers who aligned some of their architecture with solar phenomena such as solstices.

However, claims that Machu Picchu lies on a specific Van Allen-related energy strip are not supported by established geophysical research.

Stonehenge (England)

Stonehenge, dating back to around 3000–2000 BCE, is widely studied for its astronomical alignments, particularly with the summer and winter solstices. Archaeologists and astronomers agree that its builders carefully positioned stones in relation to solar cycles. As with Machu Picchu, some alternative theories suggest that Stonehenge stands on a geomagnetic or “energy” line connected to global magnetic fields.

While minor local magnetic variations can occur anywhere on Earth due to geology, mainstream science does not recognise Stonehenge as being uniquely positioned because of the Van Allen radiation belts.

Why does the idea persist?

The theory likely persists because all three sites share certain features:

Their commonality lies less in space physics and more in humanity’s shared impulse to connect sacred architecture with the cosmos.

Conclusion

Kasar Devi, Machu Picchu, and Stonehenge are remarkable in their own right. The common suggestion that these sites are connected through the “Van Allen Belt phenomenon” is not supported by scientific fact, as the Van Allen radiation belts are high above the Earth, encircling the planet, not at particular points on the surface.It is, in fact, the common thread of human fascination with the sky, the power of the Earth, and the search for meaning that connects these sites, not a radiation belt.