The World’s Most Captivating Ancient Ruins 🏛️

The world is home to a plethora of fascinating ancient ruins, from crumbling cities to temples that have withstood the test of time. Many of these ancient societies were incredibly innovative and forward-thinking. Just take a look at their meticulous city planning and incredible feats of engineering; some of which we are yet to fully understand. Some of the most captivating ancient ruins are full of thousand-year-old mysteries that will boggle even the most curious of minds.

Ayutthaya, Thailand 🌺

Founded Around 1350 AD Ayutthaya, a historical city established around 1350, began as a Khmer military and trading post. It quickly rose to prominence, becoming the ancient capital of Thailand for four centuries. Unfortunately, it met a tragic end when Burmese invaders burned it to the ground. As many of the temples and relics were made from wood, they were mostly destroyed. Miraculously, around 50 stone relics and temples survived. Since renovations began in the 1970s, Ayutthaya’s mix of Siamese, Sri Lankan, and Khmer architecture has become a popular day trip from Bangkok.

Stonehenge, England 🪨

Over 5,000 Years Old Dotted along the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, Stonehenge is one of the most recognized ancient ruins globally. Dating back more than 5,000 years, these sandstone structures are shrouded in mystery. Who built them and why remains largely unknown. Some theories suggest that Stonehenge was used for religious rituals or to monitor the movements of the sun and moon. Only needing around two hours to explore, a day trip from London often combines a visit to Stonehenge with Windsor or Bath.

Mesa Verde, USA 🏜️

Established by Ancient Puebloans Deep in the American Southwest, Mesa Verde National Park is home to 600 ancient clifftop dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloans. The most famous of these is Cliff Palace, which has been sheltered from the elements for over seven centuries thanks to its enormous sandstone alcove. This dwelling is the largest of its kind in North America and contains over 150 rooms and 23 sacred kivas. These unique cliff-side villages were abruptly abandoned in the 13th century.

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka 🏞️

Lion Rock Fortress Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, is an ancient fortress built into a 200-meter vertical rock face in Sri Lanka. Atop this massive rock, you'll find the remains of an ancient civilization, believed to have been the capital of the Kingdom of Kassapa. Highlights include a citadel, a mirror wall with colorful frescoes, and a lion-shaped gateway. After the king passed, the capital was abandoned and used as a Buddhist monastery. While the climb to the top is challenging, the views of the ramparts, terraced gardens, and cave shrines make it worth the effort.

Masada, Israel 🏰

Palace of King Herod The ancient fortress of Masada, perched on a clifftop overlooking the Judaean Desert and the Dead Sea, is one of the most impressive ruins on the planet. Built thousands of years ago as King Herod's palace, Masada features modern comforts such as bathhouses and private swimming pools. It also served as the site of the last stand of the Jewish Revolt, where rebels chose death over Roman slavery. Two pathways lead to the top, offering breath-taking views.

Hampi, India 🕌

Wealthiest Medieval City Once the second-largest medieval city after Beijing and one of the wealthiest in India, Hampi was the thriving epicenter of the Karnata Empire. Founded in the 14th century, it started as a simple riverside religious center. Today, visitors can explore the ruins of temples and imperial palaces. Highlights include the royal family's personal place of worship, the House of Victory, the Vitthala Temple with its musical pillars, and the main temple adorned with carvings of strange-looking sea creatures.

Pompeii, Italy 🇮🇹

Destroyed in 79 AD The eerie ruins of Pompeii are located near Naples, Italy. Destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the Roman city was buried under lava, taking the lives of over 2,000 residents. When discovered under volcanic rock in the 1950s, it was remarkably well-preserved and later excavated properly. Visitors can walk down Pompeii's streets and imagine the city's heyday, with the remains of stone houses, temples, bakeries, and even a brothel.

Tulum, Mexico 🌊

Ancient Mayan Fortress An hour's drive from Cancun, the Tulum ruins are the remains of an ancient cliff-top fortress built by the Mayans. Walled on three sides and open to the Caribbean Sea on the fourth, Tulum's views are breathtaking. Dating back to 564 AD, Tulum was a powerful trading hub during the 13th and 14th centuries. Highlights include the El Castillo pyramid, the colorful mural in the Temple of the Frescoes, and a swim at Tulum’s secret beach, surrounded by palm trees and sunbathing iguanas.

Ephesus, Turkey 🏛️

Greek and Roman Ruins One of the most impressive ancient Greek and Roman ruins can be found in Ephesus, Western Turkey. Dating back over 2,000 years, Ephesus once housed the famous Temple of Artemis. Unlike many other archaeological sites, you can touch, stand on, and walk through every part of Ephesus. The city highlights include ancient public toilets, the Library of Celsus, Hadrian’s Temple, and the Great Theater of Ephesus, which was the largest outdoor theater in the ancient world, seating 25,000 people.

Ellora Caves, India 🕉️

Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain Monasteries Ellora Caves, located in Maharashtra, India, features a series of caves, monasteries, and temples carved into a basalt cliff. Of the 100 caves, only 34 are open to the public. Dating back to 600 AD, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monks spent over five centuries crafting these marvels. The highlight is the Kailasa Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, the world's largest monolithic sculpture. Other significant attractions include the Carpenter’s Cave, which houses a large preaching Buddha.

Terracotta Army, China 🏇

Life-Sized Clay Warriors The Terracotta Army in Xi'an, China, is a stunning collection of thousands of life-sized soldiers and horses. Dating back to the 3rd century BC, they were accidentally discovered in the 1970s when locals were digging for a well. While many remain unexcavated, three pits are open to the public, enclosed within the Museum of the Terracotta Army. Each soldier has a unique face, making this exhibit even more fascinating.

Chichen Itza, Mexico 🏺

Mayans’ Thriving City Chichen Itza, on the Yucatan Peninsula, is one of the most famous archaeological sites. Built by the Mayans around 600 AD and abandoned in 1221, Chichen Itza includes the Temple of Kukulkan, a stone pyramid with four stairways representing a compass, and 365 steps for each day of the year. Best visited during the spring or fall equinox, the sun creates a light show on the pyramid stairs. Other must-sees include the Ball Court, the Wall of Skulls, and the Sacred Cenote.

Acropolis, Greece 🇬🇷

Temple City on Athenian Hills The Acropolis, perched above Athens, Greece, topped by the Parthenon, offers panoramic views of the city. Initially built and inhabited by Pericles in the 5th century BC, the Acropolis was later transformed into a city of temples. These ancient structures were crafted out of bronze, marble, and some even gold-plated. While restorations are ongoing, many original artifacts can be seen at the Acropolis Museum.

Bagan, Myanmar 🛕

Temple Town of 2,000 Remnants The ancient city of Bagan, Myanmar, was a flourishing temple town during the 11th and 13th centuries. Once the capital city of a powerful kingdom, Bagan had over 10,000 temples, monasteries, and stupas at its peak. However, Mongol invasions, neglect, and natural disasters have reduced these sites to around 2,000 scattered ruins. While exploring the Archaeological Zone on foot is possible, a hot air balloon ride offers the best view of these ancient wonders.

Tikal, Guatemala 🌳

Mayan Metropolis in the Jungle Located deep in the Guatemalan jungle, the ruins of Tikal are a sight to behold. As one of the largest archaeological sites in Mesoamerica, Tikal was the most powerful Mayan city around 600 AD. Notable features include pyramids, temples, and palaces. Don't miss the Temple of the Two-Headed Snake, one of the tallest pre-Columbian structures, offering stunning 360-degree views of the rainforest.

Karnak, Egypt 🏺

Massive Temple Complex The Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, Egypt, impresses due to its sheer size, covering an area larger than most ancient cities. Construction took over 2,000 years, with each Egyptian pharaoh leaving an architectural mark. Highlights include the Avenue of Sphinxes, the Great Hypostyle Hall with its towering pylons and sandstone columns, the Sacred Lake, and a nearby granite scarab.

Borobudur, Indonesia 🛕

Largest Buddhist Temple Crafted from two million blocks of volcanic stone, Borobudur in Indonesia is the world's largest Buddhist temple. Dating back to the 9th century, it fell into ruin before being rediscovered in the 1800s and restored to its former glory. Particularly popular at sunrise, the Borobudur monument has six square platforms topped by three circular platforms and is decorated with over 2,000 reliefs and 500 Buddha statues.

Teotihuacan, Mexico 🌌

Aztec Megalopolis Teotihuacan, located near modern-day Mexico City, is one of the most famous Aztec archaeological sites, despite not being built by the Aztecs. Abandoned and later inhabited by the Aztecs, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the Western Hemisphere. Its iconic highlights include the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Moon, the Avenue of the Dead, the Citadel, and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.

Moai Statues, Easter Island 🌄

Monolithic Statues The Moai Statues on Easter Island in Polynesia are iconic monolithic statues recognizable worldwide. With the tallest weighing over 80 tonnes, these 800-plus statues, mostly facing away from the sea, were carved from volcanic ash by the Rapa Nui people between 400 and 1500 AD. Each statue, created using rudimentary tools, took about a year to complete, likely serving as a way to honor clan ancestors or improve the soil.

Colosseum, Italy 🏟️

Roman Gladiator Arena One of the most iconic Roman ruins, the Colosseum, was used primarily for gladiator battles and animal fights. Inaugurated in 80 AD, this ancient amphitheater seated 50,000 spectators. The Colosseum's architecture, including three levels of archways adorned with columns and marble statues, is still impressive today. Its top level once supported an awning to shelter spectators from the elements.

Great Wall of China 🧱

Longest Man-Made Structure Spreading through 15 Chinese provinces, the Great Wall of China is the world’s longest man-made structure. Built over six Chinese dynasties to defend against invaders, the wall is now over 2,000 years old. Parts have fallen into ruin, but walking the entire length would take approximately 18 months.

Petra, Jordan 🌹

Rose City Carved in Rock The Rose City of Petra in Jordan, carved out of pink sandstone cliffs, was a desert metropolis filled with greeneries, palatial houses, and bustling markets thousands of years ago. Today's visitors can explore abandoned caves, temples, and tombs. The Telegraph's two-story Treasury is one of Petra's most beautiful landmarks, with a facade worth viewing and an Indiana-Jonesy royal tomb inside.

Machu Picchu, Peru 🏞️

City of the Incan Empire Machu Picchu in the mountains of Peru is one of the most famous cities of the ancient Incan Empire. Hidden so well that Spanish invaders never found it, Machu Picchu was accidentally discovered in 1911. Highlights include advanced engineering with 60% of construction built underground and foot or train access to explore these walled ruins.

Angkor, Cambodia 🏯

Thriving Ancient Metropolis The ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia was the capital of the Khmer Empire between the 9th and 15th centuries. Famous for its Hindu Angkor Wat Temple, the world's largest religious shrine and sunrise hotspot, the Angkor Archaeological Park includes over 1,000 temples scattered throughout the forest. Highlights include the Tomb Raider Temple and the 12th-century Bayon Temple.

Giza, Egypt 🏜️

Mysterious Pyramids The Pyramids of Giza in Cairo are one of the most mysterious ancient sites. Created as enormous tombs for pharaohs in the Fourth Dynasty, the pyramids are marvels of ancient engineering. They served as burial chambers filled with treasure for the afterlife. Don't miss a kissing photo with the Sphinx for a mandatory travel experience.

 

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