The history of earth has always fascinated humankind. Man has always been curious about the ancient cultures that have shaped the civilizations for years and defined the way we exist today. World over there are heritage sites that stand tall as witness to all that has gone into the making of the world we see today. In them, they preserve a part of what we have lost, a part that is true to the existence of the human race world over.
The Island of Delos (Greece)
The historically celebrated island of Delos is a little world isolated and protected from the rest of the civilization in the centre of Cyclades archipelago, near Mykonos, Greece. The island is an elongated, dry mass of land, about 5 km long and up to 1.3 km wide. The highest and historically point on the site is the 113-meter-high hill Cynthus. For years, this has been one of the most valuable and insightful mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece and the world. The excavations that are found on in the island are considered to be some of the most extensive projects that are underway in the Mediterranean region. Most of the archaeological finds at this Hill indicate a settlement as early as the 3rd millennium BC. Currently, the island is off limits in the night and can only be explored only on a daytrip.
Eastern Turkey's Lost Kingdoms
Eastern Turkey is the land of everything dramatic and mystical. The fertile plateau of eastern Anatolia calls explorers to witness its breathtaking lakes and glorious mountains that have been a part of the architectural legacy of the Urartian, Armenian, Seljuk and Ottoman kingdoms. Every step in this part of Turkey is different from another. On the one hand, one can witness the beauty of cascading waterfalls, green pastures and on the other hand are dry, arid desserts that have witnessed several battles and bloodbath. This part of the country is also home to some of the most majestic castles and fort cities. If you decide to take a road trip, you would be able to experience the unique culture of each village en route; so much so as witnessing nomadic tribes who still live in tents.
Angkor, Cambodia
Angkor is perhaps the most fascinating of the archaeological sites of the world. The gateway to the Angkor region is Siem Reap, which is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia. Angkor is a historical gem since it served as the epicentre of the great Khmer Empire for six centuries, approximately from the 9th to 15th century. Most of the Angkor is ruins located to the south of the Kulen Hills and north of the Great Lake and is deemed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is studded with numerous temples what are over a thousand in number, the most magnificent of them being Angkor Wat, known as the world largest religious monument on earth.
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza is one of the world’s most renowned archaeological zones. The site is located around 120 km from Merida in the State of Yucatan Mexico. This significant archaeological site is neatly divided into three areas that are distinctly different from each other. The first is the Northern group, which is specifically Toltec and includes The Pyramid of Kukulcan (also known as The Castle), The Marketplace, The Steam Bath, Temple of the Warriors, Platform of Venus or of the Dance, The Sacred Well or the Well of the Sacrifices, Tzompantli, that displays figures of skulls in relief and Platform of Eagles and Jaguars. The Central group has remains of the early period like The Ossuary, The Caracol or Observatory, The Temple of the Carved Panels the Bearded Man, The Well of Xtoloc, The Akab Dzib and The Church. The last is the Southern area known as the Old Chichen and is the farthest from the main site and requires a local guide.
Batujaya Archaeological Site, Indonesia
Batujaya is an important and intriguing archaeological site located in the village of Batujaya, Karawang in West Java, Indonesia. The site measures five square kilometers in area and comprises at least 30 hunyurs (mounds of earth) exploding with knowledge from the past. The site is relatively newer on the global archaeological map considering it was discovered only in the year 1984. The two major structures recovered are in the structure of temples. One of them is the beautiful Jiwa Temple built in the 2nd century.