The seven Wonders Of The World are indeed fascinating, but what about the other incredible feats of architecture that are often overlooked? In many places in the world, you'll find ancient sites, temples and ruins that could definitely give the official "Wonders" a run for their money. Here are some top archeological wonders that we feel deserve some more attention.
1. Angkor Wat - Siam Reap, Cambodia
Spanning over 400 square kilometers, this massive park houses the remains of several capital cities of the Kmer Empire. The temples and carvings here are very religious in nature, primarily Hindu, with a few remaining Buddhist reliefs. You will notice many of the temples are built to represent the mythical "Mount Meru" - each have a moat around them and they're built up like a mountain with five towers on top (representing the five peaks of Mt. Meru).
You will also see statues of Lord Shiva throughout the temples. Ta Prom is the famous temple where Angelina Jolie filmed Tomb Raider! The Angkor Archaeological Park is so large and so important that we suggest seeing it on a three-day pass. There are numerous ways to navigate this complex - by car, elephant, bicycle, tuk-tuk, bus, horse and carriage or motorbike...take your pick!
2. Persepolis - Fars Province, Iran
This historical site was once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (550 -330 BC). However, the earliest remains from this ancient city date back to 515 BC! Persepolis literally translates to "City of Persians" and when you wander around this vast site, you can practically hear the trumpets blasting for the arriving delegates and kings, and feel the hustle and bustle of the people rushing around the palace.
The ruins, carvings and columns here are in immaculate condition. Make sure to venture partway up the mountain to see the tombs of Artaxerxes I and II, but most importantly, it's a great vantage point over Persepolis.
3. Ruins of Ani - Province of Kars, Turkey
Located in Eastern Turkey right on the border with Armenia, the ruins of Ani are amazing and in a beautiful location. The backdrop of rolling green hills, flowering meadows and a river cutting through the site makes this a special place to visit. During its heyday, Ani was the capital of the Armenian Empire, rivaling even the most powerful cities in the Middle East.
Although it wasn't on any important trade routes, due to its size and wealth, Ani traded with the Byzantine Empire, Persian Empire, the Arabs and small nations in Russia and Central Asia. Unfortunately, today Ani is actually quite neglected by the Turkish authorities.
Earthquakes, poor restoration, vandalism, looting and (apparently) Army target practice by the Turkish Military have all lead to the deterioration of this beautiful site. The churches, cathedrals and frescoes here are all incredible. Get here soon before they completely deteriorate!
4. Ruins of Bagan - Bagan, Myanmar
This ancient site is home to not only the largest, but the densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, ruins and stupas in the world! During the mid-9th century, approximately 13,000 temples and stupas stood on this vast 42 square kilometer plain. Today, around 2,200 remain, all threatened by the wind, erosion and the rising Irrawaddy River.
UNESCO has not included Bagan on its list due to some of the temples being restored in an un-historic way, which is a shame. With so many temples to see, definitely plan to visit Bagan for at least two days. Renting a bicycle, ox cart, private car or horse and carriage are all ways to get around this vast site. Make sure to visit during sunset to see the silhouette of the temples dotting the landscape.
5. Baalbek - Beqaa Valley, Lebanon
During the period of Roman Rule, this city was known as Heliopolis and was one of the largest sanctuaries in the empire. Today, it contains some of the best examples of Imperial Roman architecture. Many of the stones used in the moldings and columns of the colossal buildings weigh between 60 and 100 tons...and are raised to 19 meters above the ground! The temples and columns here are incredible; definitely a must-see if you are anywhere near the Middle East.
Even though the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Giza are amazing and definitely deserve to be Wonders of the World, we think that these temples and ancient cities are equally impressive! What do you think?
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
