25 Most Amazing Ancient Ruins of the World
25 Most Amazing Ancient Ruins of the World
Check out all the places seen in this video: https://www.touropia.com/ancient-ruin…
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.
Content
13.4 -> The world is home to a plethora of fascinating
ancient ruins, from crumbling cities to temples
20.2 -> that have withstood the test of time.
22.59 -> Many of these ancient societies were incredibly
innovative and forward thinking.
27.77 -> Just take a look at their meticulous city
planning and incredible feats of engineering;
33.09 -> some of which we are yet to fully understand.
36.44 -> Some of the most captivating ancient ruins
are full of thousand-year-old mysteries that
41.44 -> will boggle even the most curious of minds.
55.04 -> Number 25.
56.92 -> Ayutthaya.
58.36 -> Founded around the year 1350, Ayutthaya is
a historical city that began as a Khmer military
64.71 -> and trading post.
66.21 -> It wasn’t long before this thriving trading
port became the ancient capital of Thailand.
71.47 -> It held onto this title for four centuries
until it was burned down by Burmese invaders.
77.17 -> As many of the temples and relics of the city
were crafted from wood, the large majority
81.79 -> were destroyed.
83.39 -> Only around 50 stone relics and temples survived
the fire and can still be seen today.
89.28 -> Since renovations started in the 1970s, exploring
Ayutthaya’s mix of Siamese, Sri Lankan and
95.45 -> Khmer architecture has become a popular day
trip from Bangkok.
114.57 -> Number 24.
116.45 -> Stonehenge.
117.78 -> Dotted along the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire,
England, Stonehenge is easily one of the most
122.45 -> recognized ancient ruins in the world.
125.51 -> Dating back over 5,000 years, these curious
stone rings are some of the oldest stone structures
131.22 -> on the planet.
132.95 -> Created out of sandstone, they are ensconced
in mystery.
136.7 -> Who built them and why is still largely unknown.
140.73 -> Two popular theories maintain that Stonehenge
was used as a site for religious rituals or
146.079 -> otherwise to monitor the movements of the
sun and moon.
149.529 -> As you only need two hours to explore the
ruins of Stonehenge, a day trip from London
154.439 -> is often combined with a visit to Windsor
or Bath.
165.739 -> Number 23.
167.4 -> Mesa Verde.
168.879 -> Deep in the American Southwest, you’ll find
Mesa Verde National Park with its fascinating
174.099 -> collection of 600 ancient clifftop dwellings.
177.69 -> The most famous of these dwellings is the
Cliff Palace, built into an enormous sandstone
182.8 -> alcove that’s protected it from the elements
for over seven centuries.
187.439 -> It’s the largest of its kind in North America
and unlike the rest of the dwellings that
192.549 -> contained just a few rooms for residential
purposes, the palace had over 150 rooms and
198.79 -> 23 sacred kivas.
201.409 -> Having been lived in for close to a century,
these unusual cliff-side villages were suddenly
206.65 -> abandoned in the 13th-century.
223.049 -> Number 22.
224.049 -> Sigiriya.
225.049 -> Sigiriya is an ancient fortress carved into
a 200 meter vertical rock face in Sri Lanka.
231.98 -> On top of what is now known as Lion Rock are
the fascinating remains of an ancient civilization,
237.84 -> thought to be the capital of the kingdom of
Kassapa.
241.189 -> In its heyday, it included a citadel, a mirror
wall with stunning colorful frescoes, and
246.989 -> a gateway in the shape of a lion.
249.269 -> After the king passed, the capital was abandoned
and it was used as a Buddhist monastery.
255.049 -> While the climb to the top of Sigiriya is
certainly not for the faint-hearted, the views
259.459 -> of the ramparts, terraced gardens and cave
shrines will be worth the effort.
316.81 -> Number 21.
318.31 -> Masada.
319.43 -> The ancient fortress of Masada is possibly
one of the most impressive ruins on the planet.
325.12 -> Perched on a cliff top overlooking the Judaean
Desert and the Dead Sea in Israel, the site
330.43 -> is hauntingly beautiful.
332.43 -> Dating back over thousands of years, it was
built as the palace of King Herod.
337.04 -> It had modern creature comforts such as a
bathhouse and even private swimming pools.
342.389 -> More famously, the enormous fortification
saw the last stand of the Jewish Revolt who
347.36 -> chose death over a life of Roman slavery.
350.85 -> Two pathways lead to the top and while grueling
in the beating sun, the views are worth it!
379.27 -> Number 20.
380.689 -> Hampi.
381.689 -> The second-largest medieval city after Beijing,
Hampi was one of the wealthiest in India.
387.46 -> Once the thriving epicenter of the Karnata
Empire with temples and imperial palaces,
392.38 -> now only crumbling ruins remain.
395.5 -> Founded in the 14th-century by two princes,
the former capital began as a simple riverside
400.92 -> religious center.
402.65 -> Highlights include the temple that served
as the royal family’s personal place of
406.21 -> worship, the House of Victory, the Vitthala
Temple with its stone chariot and musical
411.409 -> pillars, and the main temple with its carvings
of strange-looking sea creatures.
466.99 -> Number 19.
468.53 -> Pompeii.
469.55 -> The eerie ruins of Pompeii can be found near
the Italian city of Naples.
474.58 -> When the iconic Mount Vesuvius erupted in
79 AD, it destroyed the Roman city in waves
480.979 -> of lava and took the lives of over 2,000 residents
along with it.
485.72 -> The ancient city first discovered by accident
beneath the volcanic rock in the 1950s is
491.379 -> remarkably well preserved.
493.34 -> However, it wasn’t until two decades later
that it was properly excavated.
498.62 -> You can walk down the streets of these ancient
Roman ruins and imagine the town as it was
504.3 -> in its heyday.
505.499 -> There are the remains of stone houses, temples,
bakeries, and even a brothel.
553.75 -> Number 18.
554.8 -> Tulum.
555.8 -> An hours’ drive from Cancun, the Tulum ruins
are the remains of an ancient cliff top fortress
561.4 -> built by the Mayans.
563.34 -> Walled on three sides with the fourth open
to the Caribbean Sea, the views are simply
568.09 -> incredible.
569.45 -> Even though it dates back to 564 AD, Tulum
was at its prime during the 13th and 14th
576.01 -> centuries.
577.01 -> It was a powerful trading hub for jade, cotton,
and cacao beans.
580.72 -> Apart from the El Castillo pyramid, the main
attraction, have a look at the beautiful mural
585.78 -> inside the Temple of the Frescoes and go for
a swim at Tulum’s secret beach, surrounded
591.45 -> by palm trees and sunbathing iguanas.
643.14 -> Number 17.
644.56 -> Ephesus.
645.56 -> One of the most impressive Greek and Roman
ruins on Earth, the ancient city of Ephesus
651.12 -> can be found in western Turkey.
653.18 -> Dating back over 2,000 years, it was once
home to the famous Temple of Artemis.
658.44 -> But what makes these ruins stand out is just
how immersive they are.
663.12 -> Unlike many other protected archaeological
sites, you can touch, stand on and walk through
668.52 -> every part of the city.
670.57 -> Highlights include a series of ancient public
toilets, the Library of Celsus and Hadrian’s
676.16 -> Temple.
677.16 -> It is also home to the 25,000-seater Great
Theater of Ephesus, the largest outdoor theater
682.88 -> in the ancient world.
735.37 -> Number 16.
736.73 -> Ellora Caves.
738.4 -> The Ellora Caves are made up of a series of
caves, monasteries and temples carved into
743.83 -> the side of a basalt cliff.
746.1 -> Out of 100 caves, only 34 are open to the
public.
750.36 -> Located in Maharashtra, India, Ellora dates
back to 600 AD and took Buddhist, Hindu and
756.67 -> Jain monks over five centuries to craft.
759.87 -> The highlight of the Ellora Caves is the Kailasa
Temple.
763.33 -> Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is the largest
monolithic sculpture in the world.
768.9 -> Other worthy sights include the large preaching
Buddha in the Carpenter’s Cave, so-called
773.96 -> because of the rock’s resemblance to polished
wood.
823.07 -> Number 15.
824.73 -> Terracotta Army.
825.88 -> The Terracotta Warriors are an impressive
collection of thousands of life-sized soldiers
830.59 -> and horses.
831.84 -> Located in Xi’an, China, there are around
600 underground pits dating back to the 3rd-century
838.29 -> BC.
839.29 -> They were discovered by accident in the 1970s
when locals were digging for a well point.
844.75 -> While many remain unexcavated, three of these
pits are open to the public and are enclosed
850.19 -> within the Museum of the Terracotta Army.
852.75 -> Apart from their sheer volume, what’s interesting
about these clay soldiers is that every single
858.43 -> face is unique.
860.11 -> They were hand-carved with individual features
and took around 40 years of craftsmanship
865.3 -> in total.
883.75 -> Number 14.
884.95 -> Chichen Itza.
886.3 -> One of the most famous archaeological sites
on Earth, Chichen Itza was once a thriving
891 -> city on the Yucatan Peninsula.
893.44 -> Built by the Mayans in 600 AD, it was abandoned
in 1221 when Mayapan became the region’s
900.37 -> new capital.
901.69 -> Highlights include the Temple of Kukulkan,
a giant stone pyramid with four stairways
906.56 -> representing a compass and 365 steps for each
day of the year.
912.26 -> It is best visited during the spring or fall
equinox when the sun creates a light show
917.48 -> on the stairs of the pyramid.
919.67 -> Other must-see sites include the Ball Court,
the Wall of Skulls, and the Sacred Cenote
924.56 -> that was once a site of human sacrifice.
957.98 -> Number 13.
959.58 -> Acropolis.
960.69 -> From its perch above the city of Athens, the
Acropolis topped by the Parthenon can be seen
965.76 -> from any corner of the city.
968.11 -> First built and inhabited by Pericles in the
5th-century BC, the Acropolis was eventually
973.44 -> transformed into a city of temples.
976.38 -> These ancient structures were crafted out
of bronze and marble, and some were even gold
981.47 -> plated.
982.47 -> Restorations are still ongoing so don’t
be surprised to find scaffolding still in
987.07 -> place.
988.16 -> Many of the original artefacts were relocated
to the Acropolis Museum so this is worth a
993.32 -> visit while you’re here.
1037.06 -> Number 12.
1038.6 -> Bagan.
1039.6 -> The ancient city of Bagan is a captivating
temple town in Myanmar.
1044.339 -> Once the capital of a powerful kingdom during
the 11th and 13th centuries, it had over 10,000
1050.17 -> temples, monasteries, shrines, pagodas, and
stupas in its zenith.
1055.03 -> In the years since, these sacred sites have
fallen into ruin as a result of Mongol invasions,
1060.2 -> neglect and natural disasters.
1063.37 -> Just 2,000 temple ruins remain and are scattered
over the horizon.
1068.25 -> While you can explore the Archaeological Zone
on foot, the sheer volume of temples is best
1073.54 -> appreciated from the air.
1075.26 -> A hot air balloon ride over Bagan is a worthy
addition to the bucket list!
1104.69 -> Number 11.
1106.17 -> Tikal.
1107.23 -> With its grey temple-tops protruding through
the lush canopy of the Guatemalan jungle,
1112 -> catching a glimpse of the ruins of Tikal is
something truly special.
1116.13 -> A popular day trip from Flores, these remote
ruins are dotted with pyramids, temples and
1121.81 -> palaces.
1122.81 -> One of the biggest archaeological sites in
Mesoamerica, Tikal was the largest and most
1127.93 -> powerful of the Mayan cities around 600 AD.
1130.53 -> Don’t miss the Temple of the Two Headed
Snake while you’re here.
1134.94 -> As one of the tallest pre-Columbian structures
in the Western Hemisphere, climbing to the
1139.29 -> top will treat you to incredible 360-degree
views of the rainforest and beyond.
1149.91 -> Number 10.
1151.22 -> Karnak.
1152.22 -> The Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, Egypt,
is impressive due to its sheer size.
1157.61 -> Covering an area that’s larger than most
ancient cities, it’s dotted with temples,
1162.31 -> obelisks, and shrines.
1164.02 -> It took over 2,000 years to build and each
Egyptian pharaoh left their own architectural
1170.39 -> mark.
1171.39 -> Walk through the Avenue of Sphinxes and discover
the Great Hypostyle Hall.
1175.4 -> This enormous room filled with towering pylons
and solid sandstone columns is one of the
1181.1 -> most famous and photographed attractions of
Ancient Egypt.
1184.57 -> While you’re here, stop to admire the Sacred
Lake and the nearby granite scarab.
1205.96 -> Number 9.
1207.55 -> Borobudur.
1208.8 -> Crafted out of an impressive two million blocks
of volcanic stone, Borobudur in Indonesia
1214.22 -> is the largest Buddhist temple in the world.
1217.41 -> Dating back to the 9th-century, it eventually
fell into ruin until it was discovered again
1222.52 -> in the 1800s.
1223.57 -> Since then, it has been restored to its former
glory and is particularly popular at sunrise.
1230.46 -> The Borobudur monument consists of six square
platforms topped by three circular platforms.
1236.32 -> A pathway of enlightenment leads from the
base of the pyramid up through the three levels
1241.32 -> of Buddhist cosmology, the world of forms,
and the world of formlessness.
1246.02 -> It’s decorated with over 2,000 reliefs and
500 Buddha statues, each one outlining a Buddhist
1253.16 -> teaching.
1261.59 -> Number 8.
1263.19 -> Teotihuacan.
1264.34 -> Located on the outskirts of modern-day Mexico
City, Teotihuacan is one of the most famous
1269.74 -> Aztec archaeological sites.
1272.03 -> But the Aztecs didn’t actually build it.
1274.86 -> Despite many theories, nobody is really sure
who did.
1278.559 -> However, the Aztecs did name it and make it
their own when they stumbled across the abandoned
1284.19 -> city.
1285.19 -> In its prime, it was the largest city in the
Western Hemisphere and home to a plethora
1289.51 -> of residential compounds and pyramids.
1292.17 -> Today, its two iconic pyramids, the Temple
of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon, are
1297.121 -> the major highlights.
1298.86 -> Stroll along the Avenue of the Dead and visit
the Citadel and the Temple of the Feathered
1303.98 -> Serpent.
1311.43 -> Number 7.
1312.69 -> Moai Statues.
1314.32 -> With the tallest weighing in over 80 tonnes,
the Moai Statues on Easter Island in Polynesia
1320.25 -> are iconic.
1321.69 -> In fact, you’ll probably recognize them
from a picture even if you hadn’t heard
1325.95 -> of them.
1326.98 -> These 800-plus statues, most of which face
away from the sea, were carved from volcanic
1332.49 -> ash by the Rapa Nui people somewhere between
400 and 1500 AD.
1338.15 -> Likely created using rudimentary basalt stone
picks, each of these enormous monolithic statues
1343.75 -> would have taken close to a year to complete.
1346.88 -> There are many theories as to why they were
built, including as a way to honor important
1351.22 -> clan ancestors and because of a believe it
would improve the soil.
1381.64 -> Number 6.
1383.17 -> Colosseum.
1384.17 -> One of the most iconic Roman ruins, the Colosseum
was an ancient gladiator arena.
1390.06 -> Unveiled in 80 AD, the 50,000-seater amphitheater
was used for staging various events.
1396.87 -> These included animal fights and blood-thirsty
gladiator battles where contestants would
1401.57 -> fight to the death.
1402.96 -> The architecture of the Colosseum is impressive
even by today’s standards.
1407.32 -> The outer walls are made up of three levels
of archways topped with Ionic, Doric and Corinthian
1413.11 -> columns.
1414.11 -> In its hey-day, they were decorated with marble
statues.
1417.68 -> The top level once supported an enormous awning
that sheltered spectators from the elements.
1472.47 -> Number 5.
1473.85 -> Great Wall of China.
1475.78 -> Spreading through 15 Chinese provinces and
autonomous regions, the Great Wall of China
1481.179 -> is the longest man-made structure in the world.
1484.59 -> It is made up of a series of separate sections
of walls and moats that were built over the
1489.39 -> course of six Chinese dynasties as a defense
from invaders.
1493.88 -> Now well over 2,000 years old, some parts
of the wall have fallen into ruin.
1499.14 -> Interestingly, for those who wanted to attempt
it, walking the entire length of the Great
1503.69 -> Wall of China would take approximately 18
months.
1541.52 -> Number 4.
1542.95 -> Petra.
1543.95 -> The Rose City of Petra is an ancient desert
town that was carved out of pink sandstone
1548.64 -> cliffs by nomads thousands of years ago.
1552.23 -> Located in Jordan, tucked between the Red
Sea and the Dead Sea, it’s hard to believe
1557.11 -> the city was once filled with green gardens,
palatial houses, and bustling markets.
1562.94 -> Instead, a walk or camel ride through the
ruins of Petra will reveal abandoned caves,
1568.4 -> temples, and tombs hidden within the city
walls.
1571.6 -> The two-story Treasury carved into the rock
face is one of the most beautiful landmarks
1576.61 -> in the old city.
1577.85 -> It’s worth viewing for the facade alone
but the interior with its Indiana-Jonesy royal
1582.95 -> tomb is worth a look.
1628.45 -> Number 3.
1629.71 -> Machu Picchu.
1631.09 -> A huge tick off the travel bucket list, Machu
Picchu is one of the most famous cities of
1636.48 -> the ancient Incan Empire.
1638.59 -> This historical fortress lies hidden in the
mountains of Peru.
1642.61 -> So well hidden in fact that it was never found
by Spanish invaders when they arrived in the
1647.68 -> 1500s.
1648.88 -> They were only accidentally discover in 1911
by an American explorer called Bingham.
1654.71 -> A wonder of advanced engineering, it’s estimated
that 60% of the construction was built underground,
1661.85 -> mainly for fortification and drainage.
1664.43 -> Today, these walled ruins can only be reached
by foot or by train.
1669.27 -> Don’t miss the Machu Picchu Museum for an
insider’s look into the Lost City of the
1674.44 -> Incas.
1704.13 -> Number 2.
1705.54 -> Angkor.
1706.54 -> Once the capital of the Khmer Empire between
the 9th and 15th centuries, Angkor was a thriving
1712.23 -> ancient metropolis.
1713.59 -> Today, the city is most famous for its Hindu
Angkor Wat Temple that claims the title as
1719.5 -> the largest religious shrine on Earth.
1722.21 -> It’s famously visited at sunrise when the
lighting over the temples is simply magical.
1728.07 -> But the Angkor Archaeological Park actually
includes many more fascinating landmarks aside
1733.57 -> from Angkor Wat.
1735.23 -> Over 1,000 temples lie scattered throughout
the forest, rice fields and farmlands.
1740.78 -> Highlights include the jungle-clad Tomb Raider
Temple with trees growing out of it’s ruins
1745.9 -> and the 12th-century Bayon Temple that marks
the historical center of the ancient city
1751.41 -> of Angkor Thom.
1797.54 -> Number 1.
1799.08 -> Giza.
1800.08 -> One of the most mysterious ancient sites on
Earth, the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo are truly
1805.74 -> fascinating.
1807.28 -> Created as enormous tombs for the pharaohs
of Ancient Egypt in the Fourth Dynasty, there’s
1812.35 -> plenty of speculation as to how they were
built.
1815.18 -> With such precise and immaculate detail, they’re
yet another remarkable feat of ancient Egyptian
1821.18 -> engineering.
1822.45 -> They were used as burial chambers and were
littered with treasure for the Pharaoh to
1826.559 -> use in the afterlife – something that attracted
many a grave robber over the years.
1831.799 -> Don’t forget to get a kissing photo with
the Sphinx – it’s pretty much mandatory.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq70UHD8DrM