At some or the other point of our lives, we all have been enchanted by history. It is something that reminds us of our roots. It is history that keeps us grounded and enables us to not make mistakes of the past. When it comes to holiday destinations, history has an all together different place. All of the places we visit have some or the other spots that have historic importance. One can say, that travel and history walk hand by hand. But some places are absolute gems when it comes to history. They reflect the culture, heritage, architecture of the by gone days. So here we are with some of the best destinations that will totally sweep history lovers off their feet.
Machu Picchu, Peru – Also known as Lost City of Incas, it was built around 1450, only to be abandoned at the time of Spanish Conquest. It stands 2430 meters above the sea level on Andes Mountains, above the Urubamba River valley. Clouds that sway around the site, add so much beauty to the backdrop. This UNESCO World heritage site can be reached through a 4 day hike, with ensured adventure.
Petra, Jordan – Also known as Red Rose City, its history dates back to 400 BC, when it was the capital of Nabatean Kingdom. It was the time when people traded, Arabian Incense, Indian Spices, Chinese Silk. The site consists of Tombs and temples carved out of Sandstone cliffs. The highlights of this place are Monastery, Treasury, Colonnaded Street and Theater.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia – Its history dates back to early 12th Century when it was built by the King of Khmer Empire, King Suryavarman II. This Hindu temple complex consists of structures built in stone, dedicated to Hindu Gods. Spread across 400 acres, it is the world’s largest religious structure. One of the major highlights of the place is UNESCO recognized Angkor Archeological Park.
Athens, Greece – The capital city of Greece, is a history power house. AS being one of the oldest cities of this world, it has lot to offer besides Greek Mythology. It is here you can trace the origins of Greek gods like Poseidon and Zeus. The major highlights are Acropolis which is also home to the four master pieces of classic Greek Art, and Parthenon dedicated to Greek Goddess Athena.
Cairo, Egypt – Located by the Nile River, it has been the epicenter of Egyptian civilization that connects Middle East to the Africa. The major highlights of this place are Pyramids of Giza, and Great Sphinx. The history of Pyramids dates back to 2500 BC, when 480 feet building was made, that too without the use of any machinery. Egyptian pharaohs believed that they will become god after death, so they created Pyramids and stuffed it with Jewelry, furniture, sculptures, for their afterlife.
Rome, Italy – This list would have been incomplete without the mention of Rome, which was home to the world’s most powerful kingdom at a time. Rome undoubtedly is dotted with many historical sites, and is a treasure to visit. Some of the major highlights of ancient Rome are, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Catacombs of San Callisto, and Villa dei Quintili.
Chichen Itza, Mexico – Located in the jungles of Yucatan Peninsula, it is one of the largest Mayan Cities. It is believed that this city had most diverse population of Mayans, because of the mixed style of architecture found in the ruins of buildings. The major highlights of this place are Great Hall Court, Temple of Warriors, and El Castillo, which is a step pyramid and most beautiful of them all.
Vatican City – It is the smallest country in the world, by the measure of land mass. IT is also the centre of catholic faith, and holds a high importance in religion and history. It became independent from Italy by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. It is also home to Apostolic Palace which has housed Popes in the past. The major highlights of this place are St. Peters Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Museums.
Agra, India – There are too many historic places in India that deserve to be in this list, but when choosing one, it has to be Agra. Though Agra is shadowed by Taj Mahal, the gem of Mughal Dynasty, it is also home to once Indian Capital Fatehpur Sikri, which has many historical palaces in a planned fortified city. It is estimated that 20,000 craftsman from central Asia completed Taj Mahal.
Easter Island, Chile – Located 2200 miles off the coast of Chile, it was discovered by Dutch on the day of Easter hence got its name from there. It is popular for more than 1000 mammoth statues, which are believed to be carved by Polynesian inhabitants. The most popular site of this place is Tongariki, which has 15 carved statues. These statues are made of soft volcanic rock, tuff.
Travel is a time machine into history!
