Most Amazing Ancient Ruins

05/01/2023

Tikal

With its grey temple-tops protruding through the lush canopy of the Guatemalan jungle, catching a glimpse of the ruins of Tikal is something truly special. A popular day trip from Flores or El Remate, these remote ruins are dotted with pyramids, temples and palaces.

One of the largest archaeological sites in Mesoamerica, Tikal was the largest and most powerful of the Mayan cities around 600 AD. Don’t miss the Temple of the Two Headed Snake while you’re here. As one of the tallest pre-Columbian structures in the Western Hemisphere, climbing to the top will treat you to incredible 360-degree views of the rainforest and beyond.

05/01/2023

Bagan
The ancient city of Bagan is a captivating temple town in Myanmar. Once the capital of a powerful kingdom during the 11th and 13th centuries, it had over 10,000 temples, monasteries, shrines, pagodas, and stupas in its zenith.

In the years since, these sacred sites have fallen into ruin as a result of Mongol invasions, neglect and natural disasters. Just 2,000 temple ruins remain and are scattered over the horizon. While you can explore the Bagan Archaeological Zone on foot, the sheer volume of temples is best appreciated from the air.

A hot air balloon ride over Bagan is a worthy addition to the bucket list!

05/01/2023

05/12/2022

Sigiriya

Sigiriya is an ancient fortress carved into a 200-meter vertical rock face near the town of Dambulla in Sri Lanka. On top of what is now known as Lion Rock are the fascinating remains of an ancient civilization, thought to be the capital of the kingdom of Kassapa.

In its heyday, it included a citadel, an upper palace, a mirror wall with stunning colorful frescoes, and a gateway in the shape of a lion. After the king passed, the capital was abandoned and it was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th-century.

While the climb to the top of Sigiriya is certainly not for the faint-hearted, the views of the water features, ramparts, terraced gardens and cave shrines will be worth the effort.

30/10/2022

Mesa Verde

Deep in the American Southwest, you’ll find Mesa Verde National Park with its fascinating collection of 600 ancient clifftop dwellings. The most famous of these dwellings is the Cliff Palace, built into an enormous sandstone alcove that’s protected it from the elements for over seven centuries.

It’s the largest of its kind in North America and unlike the rest of the dwellings that contained just a few rooms for residential purposes, the palace had over 150 rooms and 23 sacred kivas. Having been lived in for close to a century, these unusual cliff-side villages were suddenly abandoned in the 13th-century. Nobody really knows why.

Today, around 4,800 archaeological sites dating back to 550 AD can be found in Mesa Verde, some of which are open to the public.

28/10/2022

Stonehenge

Home / Travel Inspiration / 25 Most Amazing Ancient Ruins of the World
25 Most Amazing Ancient Ruins of the World
Last updated on January 16, 2022

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.

And while there’s so much we can learn from these prehistoric people, perhaps the most enchanting part is what we don’t know. Some of the most captivating ancient ruins are full of thousand-year-old mysteries that will boggle even the most curious of minds.

25. Ayuthaya[SEE MAP]
Ayuthaya
Founded around the year 1350, Ayutthaya is a historical city that began as a Khmer military and trading post. It wasn’t long before this thriving trading port became the ancient capital of Thailand. It held onto this title for four centuries until it was burned down by Burmese invaders.

As many of the temples and relics of the city were crafted from wood, the large majority were destroyed. Only around 50 stone relics and temples survived the fire and can still be seen today. Since renovations started in the 1970s, exploring Ayutthaya’s mix of Siamese, Sri Lankan and Khmer architecture has become a popular day trip from Bangkok.

24. Stonehenge[SEE MAP]
StonehengeNatesh Ramasamy / Flickr

Dotted along the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, Stonehenge is easily one of the most recognized ancient ruins in the world. Dating back over 5,000 years, these curious stone rings are some of the oldest stone structures on the planet. Created out of sandstone, they are ensconced in mystery.

Who built them and why is still largely unknown. Two popular theories maintain that Stonehenge was used as a site for religious rituals or otherwise to monitor the movements of the sun and moon. As you only need two hours to explore the ruins of Stonehenge and its adjacent museum, a day trip from London is often combined with a visit to Windsor or Bath

28/10/2022

Дорога в осень

24/10/2022

Ayuthaya

Founded around the year 1350, Ayutthaya is a historical city that began as a Khmer military and trading post. It wasn’t long before this thriving trading port became the ancient capital of Thailand. It held onto this title for four centuries until it was burned down by Burmese invaders.

As many of the temples and relics of the city were crafted from wood, the large majority were destroyed. Only around 50 stone relics and temples survived the fire and can still be seen today. Since renovations started in the 1970s, exploring Ayutthaya’s mix of Siamese, Sri Lankan and Khmer architecture has become a popular day trip from Bangkok.